Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-10-24

continued the ADVANCE on lOOG.
"Before we started we advised to.
gether a moment.
"'No noise, my boy said I, 'an' il
we're discovered, each must make the
best of it. No shots, either. If we
run ag'in any Injun, use the knife"
"Tom agreed, and stepping softly as
rabbits in the brush, we crept toward
the Blackfeet camp.
"One mile was passed in safety, and
we were at last climbing the only
ridge that separated US from our
enemies. The singing and shouting
had now ceased, but the light of the
great fire Aickered still, and, reflected
from the heavy clouds above, made al!
uncanny, blood-colored light, exceed,
ingly dim, in the timber all about us.
Silent as shadows, with eyes like owls,
we moved onward and upward. A
dozen rods more and we could view
the hostiles in their camp and listen to
the councils. The utmost care was
necessary.
"Inch by inch, removing every bit
of broken branch that obstructed our
way, we crawled toward the ridge
inch by inch, while the sounds of the
Iniuns so near at hand filed the air,
and the night was driven backward by
the light from their fire; slowly, but
surely onward aud upward we moved,
until at length, each sheltered behind
a stunted cedar brush, we lay at the
very crown of the gorge, and gazed
breathless into the canyon below.
"It was filled with Blackfeet. Fully
200 armed and painted for war, were
gathered about the great fire, and
more were out of sight, for we could
hear them. No squaws were to be
seen. 1t was evidently party pre-
pared to fight.
"For few moments We surveyed
the scene without moving; then, no.
ticing a tree trunk that extended over
the wall of the canyon, and from
which better view could be obtained,
while the branches of nding
trees would effectually conceal me, I
informed Tom of my intention to Sc
cure that perch, and began to wriggle
my way toward it.
"Sterling laid his hand on me, and
drawing near, whispered in my ear:
"'Don't try it,
II thrust his hand aside, and re-
piled:
s"I must"
"With watchful eyes he followed me
as writhed along the ground, reached
the tree and began to crawl slowly out
along the trunk.
at was so feet to the bottom of the
gulch or gorge-nOt a perpendicular
fall, but with steeply-sloping sides,
covered with rocks and bushes. I
had worked my way out along the
tree until Is feet in the air, when a
sudden tremor ran through me, and l
paused-the trunk was breaking.
"For a single instant I sought re-
treat, but it was too late. A sharp,
cracking sound broke upon the air,
mingled with a cry of horror from my
companion; then, with a crash, the
break came, and clinging for life to my
whirling seat, felt myself falling. I
caught one glimpse of the terror-blench-
ed face of my friend, saw the red fire
of my enemies leap up as if to receive
me, heard the wild cries of the IDjuns
and then knew no more.
~ fell into the very centre of tn cir
camp!
when consciousness returned, l
found myself bound hand and foot and
guarded by a dusky redskin, who
grunted as I opened my eyes, and
turning, called in gutteral tone to
another who stood near. He ap-
preached. AS looked up at him he
smiled.
"sAh! white scout visit red man.
Good! Come pretty quick-hurt his
head =
"And he grinned again.
~ knew my head was hurt, for it
ached terribly.
"'White scout want to 60 away?'
II wondered what deviltry was in
the redskins mind, for already I had
decided my own fate-the stake; but
muttered in reply:
"'Yes.'
"'Good the white scout shall 60 at
dawn
"And with no further explanation
he turned away.
"Although racked with pain, I
awaited the dawn with considerable
pondering on the words OF
the Ipjun, and debating what new tor
ture had been devised for me; but as
the day broke, and I was led to the
mouth of the canyon opening upon the
plain, I knew the end.
"There, in two long lines, half a
hundred warriors stood, with lane
about six feet wide between them, all
armed with knives, hatchets, bows and
arrows. AS appeared they shouted.
81 was to run the gauntlet
"Weak from loss of blood, wearied
from lack of sleep, l was placed at one
end of this red pathway to death, and
unbound. Then my questioner of the
night before appeared at my side.
"tWhite scout want to 90 home ?