Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-05-30

their eagerness to escape, had thrown
away their muskets and were now.
with the exception of their sabers. en-
tirely unarmed. But the lieutenant
and myself. beside our revolvers, had
each a heavy deer gun.
''In the meantime our pack mules
had fallen into the hands of the say
ages.
4 reckoned we We're within about
20 miles or so of the fort, and proposed
to the lieutenant that while he set his
poor devils to work gathering up the
loose rocks and making a barIicade, I
would endeavor TO dash through the
Indians, and after reaching the post.
return as rapidly Is possible with a
sufficient force to relieve him.
AS this seemed to be the only feas-
ible plan, the lieutenant approved of it:
and waiting only for the cover of the
approaching night, l was prepared to
make the desperate attempt. l tight
ened Stra wberry'S saddle girth, and
during the short twilight, led him
carefully, under cover Of the scattered
rocks and muSquite bushes, to smooth
ground, and after l bad turned the
projecting point of high rocks,
mounted, and with an encouraging
hint from my heel, gave him the rein.
But cautious as l had been, the
willy Indians had been watching all my
motions, and scarcely had [ emerged
upon level ground, than filling the air
with derisive yells, a score or two Of
the painted raScals, mounted on their
fieetest mustangs, gave chase.
Yet [ knew gallant little Strawberry
could outrun any Indian nag l ever
had trial with, and without pushing
him overheard, | flew over the prairie.
The Indians on each flank of me con-
tinued to rise apparently out the
earth.
scarcely had the brief twilight
ended than the rounded disk of the full
moon peered over the crest of the hills,
and streamed a silver flood of light
over the wild scene.
But presently [ had other objects
to contemplate, for in the light of the
rising orb, [ could perceive that [ was
approaching one of those deep, almost
bOttOmlGss barrancaS, while the In
dams, yelling exultantly, gathered
close upon me.
Il was fairly entrapped! Should
draw rein and turn upon my pursuers,
or sink my rOWelS into the TANKS of
my fearless little charger and seek
death with him in the yawning chasm
below?
81 had but a breath to decide, and
as l would at least thus save my scalp
from my hated pursuerS, [ resolved to
brave the latter, and closed my eyes
and clinched my teeth for the awful
leap.
''WithOut sWerying an ircn, or
eyincing the least fear the noble am
NAL dashed on. | felt the yielding air
rush with lightning speed past me, my
breath was taken from me, and then,
quicker than the flight of thought, !
felt his fOrefeet strike upon the solid
earth-then an instant struggle with
his hind feet as if the ground was
crumbling beneath them-and then,
Heaven be praised-I saw that we
were on the firm, level ground of the
prairie with the frightful ravine be-
tween us and our baftied pursuers.
eve were safe. for not even the
, bravest of the Indians dared to make
the desperate leap; and as the bar
ranca, doubtless, extended for miles
into the prairie, further pursuit was
out of the question.
I'm less than two hours | reached
Fort Bellnap, and before the light Of
, the next morning broke over the green
= cXpanSe. a party Of troopers had fol-
lowed me to the spot where l had left
the brave young officer and the reni-
nant of his men.
But we had arrived too late. The
spot was silent, and the ground SO re-
Gently occupied by the KloYays was
| vacant, while among stones Of the de-
mOliShed barricade were found only
the scalpless and mangled remains of
my late companions.
'That little Strawberry" concluded
the guide, as he threw aside his eXtln-
guished pipe and proceeded to move
the animal to a fresh grazing spot, ii
worth his weight in gold, and reckon
if any beast ever deserved kind treat
m6nt at his masters hands, it's him."