The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1896-06-05


Al 10 o'clock In the forenoon the val
ley suddenly narrowed until We had no
choice but TO take the path leading be-
tween two iir-crowncd ridges. We had
sighted the Indians the day before. but
the night had passed without an alarm
and the morning had slipped along
without sight OF n warrior. Had the
ayages figured II out that the atty OF
Us guarding the ten wagons OF clothing
and provisions were too strong for
them, and that our keeping 80 well
closed up and on the alert made the
capture Of stragglors impossible?
"Haltw came the word from the head
Of the column, and two men were sent
ahead TO spy out the lay Of the land.
They found the path only wide enough
for the wagons leading downwards and
way until II crossed creek and wan
lost In the gloom beyond. Not n bird
sang from the branches-not rabbit
skurrled away In alarm. There was
the silence OF death along the path.
Foot by foot. with ears bent forward
and nostrlls dilating the horses Of the
scouts moved on. and their riders had
the vigilance OF men whose lives might
be snuffed out at any moment.
No danger along the path-no danger
lurking at the crossing OF the creek.
so the scouts reported as they returned
to the column. and the captain had just
opened his lips to give the order TO
march when wolf came runningup the
path and dashed through the column.
There was fre In his eyes. but yet his
tail was down,
"Skeeredw whispered an old veteran.
"and by lnJuns at that That wolf has
bin turned out OF his lair by the reds"
AN ambush down thar to wipe US
OUT" whispered second.
The captain shaded his eyes with his
hand and peered down the path for a
moment Then he quietly said;
Turn the wagons about and keep TO
the east til we strike another path!
Don't hurry-don't shout! Corporal
French. strike up Dixie Land and you
boys all Join In the chorus!"
In nvo minutes we were out OF the
mouth OF the gorge and marching away
TO the east on the level plain again. and
as we marched every trooper sang the
chorus OF the lively song at the top OF
his voice,
"What is Il? what did the captain
see down there?" was asked from man
to man.
The captain saw nothing. He was
OF
monltlons which sometimes stop q
man In time to prevent n terrible raF.
edy. The men TESTED and sang. bu,
now and then one looked back over his
shoulder and gave the lie to the Jest on
his lips. No one had seen anything
No one had heard anything
Miles away they found a safer II longer
road, and the fort was reached at last
without sight OF an Indian. Around
the mess table they joked the captain
Tor backing out OF the gorge and adding
miles to his Journey.
IAN on account OF u scared wollv
laughed one.
And scared at his own shadow al
thatm added a second.
The captain had no reply, but to him
self he wondered II he had not beer
oyer-eautious. II was months later
when captive squaw told him tale
All night long. as the wagon-guard las
sleeping. the hostile Indiana were com
ing up by dozens and scores and soina
into ambush along the creek They
had dug fe-plts-they had piled NJ
logs and stones-they were hidden un
der the cedars until over 800 OF then
lay waiting with bated breath for tn,
train to enter the trap.
when the last wagon and the las
trooper should have passed a certain
spot the signal was to be given to oper
Are. Three hundred Jets OF flame-3Ol
bullets seeking living targets' There
would not have been twenty troopers
alive after that first yolley. AZ the enc
J Of Ave minutes every man would hay'
been dead and the red demons scream