The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-10-06

care, however, TO keep out Of range. There
were Mt least 5000 warriors present.
Through my cldylass most OF them looked
to be naked. y few Ind rifles and pistols.
but tho wca pons were principally spears
and arrows.
Conspicuous among the red riders was n
man mounted on large gray horse. lie
directed tho movements of his warriors Ivy
means OF mirror or other bright sub.
stance fastened to tho end of his lance
But what most impressed me about this
man was tho fact That he wore an officer 3
dress cont, and when hc was not signaling
his braves he was blowing n cavalry bugle
with viEor of lung wholly In excess Of
his skill.
We were in the presence of the confctlcr-
ntcd braves OF the plains, and the leader
was Roman Nose, with bare legs, an old
plug Init, Duncan tirahnm's coat AID the
cavalry buglc presented him by General
Hancock when two months before tho
white men and rcd mon on tho Iinw sworc
ito be brothers willie grass grew and wn-
ter ram"
wish | had tho time to tell how tho
pledge came to be broken, but we subse-
4uently learned that irresponsible whlto
mon were the first aggrcssors.
Without losing Il mnn or horse wc
reached the quarry where we found That
three mon had been killed and five or six
wounded
Placing the dcad and helpless in the
wagons used to carry stones to the fort. we
were about to make our way back, when
one of the wounded called ont pitcously:
For Gods sake, don't leave Tom Ryan
back there! Hes my brother'
This Tom Ryan MS l aftcrward learned,
Ind spryn1 liputcpupt In, ., l. rc,,
cavalry regiment during tho war IIo was
ut this time powerful man of 80 and In
Charge OF tho wagons.
When tie Indians first appeared, Ryan
mounted his horse and rode out to sec what
tho presence of so many warriors meant
DO WIS cut of from tho quarry, and every
man but his brother Dan believed him
dcnd and scalpcd
1t WINS hard to leave man behind IL there
was n change of saving him, but the sim
plcst could SEQ that our own safety, as
we'll as that Of the mon with Bccchcr, Halo
and Lea In tho fort, depended on our get
ting bacil as soon MS possible
We had half decided to retreat. when n
wild yell and hCnrsc shout came Ia our
ears from the cottonwoods down by the
Smoky hill.
On tho Instant every man turned in tho
direction OF the sound.
Up from tic river gallopcd bunch Of
four horsemen. The one slightly In tho
advance was Tom Ry;.n, the wagon mas
ter. His three pursucrs were Chrycnres
There was a band of quo Indians within
reach, but they must have felt certain that
their companions were equal to one white
man, for they remained spectators, while
their wild yclls and laughter told they
were enjoying the sport.
y number of dismounted rilicmcu hur-
ried out 20 help Ryan, whose horse appear
cd to be failing
We could hear the taunts Of an Indian
who had brought his horse close lp on
Ryan's bride arm, but the triumph of the
savage was brief. Tho white man st,dcnly
tightend his rein and dcytcrously wheeled
so us to bring tho Indian tn tho right.
Then came u jet of silvcry smoke the crack
of pistol md the Indian fell dead, whlo
the mustang gallopcd into our lines.
Troopers and q,arrymcn sent up Il wild
cheer, and IL required restraint to hold
them back. Had they gone to Ryans aid,
every Indian within sight would have been
down OH liz.
While disposing of the foremost Indian
the others had gained OH Ryan. They were
SO close TO him, and their positions were
changing 80 rapidly, that our best shots
wore afraid thoy might hurt our friend vet
more nervous mon could not resist the i'm.
pulse 10 fire.
Suddenly, and when within about goo
yards of the quarry, the three horses went
down In heap, and the next instant the
three mon were OH their feet
1t was now n duel to the death, with all
the odds against tho white man.
With swinging blow OF his rifle RYAN
fellcd the smaller Of the Indians, but be-
forc ho could repeat the blow the other
brave flashed something bright above his
head, and then with leap like ~ wildcat
he sprang ut tho white man. and both fell.
The two men rolled over, and save for
the occasional fash of tho Cheyennc's
knife they were hidden by the dust, for
the earth was rs dry rs powder.
Tho situation was intense, and the faces
OF the men showed how strongly they wero
stirred. In tho meantime the Indians up
the slope began to creep down, and we were
forced to follow their example
Our interest in Ryan had blinded us for
the time to tho danger of our friends in tho
fort
80 g. - - go
~ -. o.
S2S&.. MsSss