Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-10-24
Tht STORY Teller.
THE GUIDES STORY,
BY MAJOR HAMILTON.


branch of the Platte, hunting and
fishing party of five, with two guides,
Ned Longstone and Billy. Whether
Billy was short for William or not, or
whether it were Christian or surname,
no man knew. It was enough that
the oldest and best guide in the region
was Billy, and that he was with us.
How and where t6 find trout and deer,
when to hunt and fish, what to cook
and where to 90, Billy knew almost
intuitively.
Longstone was a good man, fair
huntsman and a faithful guide, but
Longstone and Billy were not to be
mentioned together.
"The old 'un lays over me an over
all the Others" admitted Ned, with a
grin. "He orter," he continued, after
a moments thought, "fur he's twice as
old as I am, an was born in these
mountains an raised among the tim
Der an the Ipjuns. He's been woods
man, huntsman an scout these 40
years. He orter to be better nor me,
an he is."
"Scout?" said Dick Black. "Has
the old man served in the armyP"
"Indeed he has !" replied Ned.
"He was ut the Lava Beds when Cap
tain Jack killed all the white men,
and was with Custer in his last cam
paign." 49,,
"By Jove, boys /" cried Black, "we'll
have yarn out of the old chap to-
night! Be sure to be in early"
We were in early, all of US, and
after the evening meal had been dis
posed of, and our pipes were lighted,
as we gathered about the campfire,
Billy was called upon for story.
"Give us tale of early uays and
the redskins, Billy" said Harry Webb,
our youngest companion, "and some
of your own escapes"
The old guide ruminated moment,
and then, tucking his pipe into the
corner of his mouth, he replied:
"I'll give ye bit of my own life,
boys, if ye'd like it; an about as mar.
rer a squeak it was, too, as ever l
had-from Injuns, leastwise-if ye
care to hear it."
We all signified our desire to listen
by stretching our blankets and our
selves at the old mans feet, and after
a moistening touch of my wicker flask
he began:
"Something like 20 years ago was
in the employ of the government as
scout and guide, my headquarters be-
ing at the military station near Cherry
Creek, now Denver. From that point
l ranged in all directions as informa-
ton might be demanded of the move
ments of the Injuns, sometimes alone,
or with one or two companions, and
sometimes with troop of cavalry.
The service was dangerous, but to
man of my nature it was very attract
i've.
"One morning, early in the fall
disremember the year now--the cap
tain of the post called me, and said
"'Billy, I hear rumors that the
Blackfeet are ranging along the foot
hills to the north, and that they are
gathering in force and propose to at
tack the Creek. How soon can you
examine the truth of the report and
let US know?'
"'Within five days, sir, an perhaps
three said I.
"'How many men do you want?
"'One besides myself. Tom Ster-
ling I replied.
"Sterling was a soldier, but a good
friend of mine, and an excellent scout.
"'All right replied the captain,
take Tom with you. Go wherever
you choose to the north, find out how
many Blackfeet are in the country,
and what their plans are, if you can,
and report to me as soon as possible.
Meantime, take care of your hair
81 smiled.
"'I'll try to, SIR I replied, and
turned away to find my comrade.
"Two hours later Sterling and my
self, we'll armed and mounted, rode
out of the camp.
Gall that day We galloped unhesita-
tingly forward, of course tending due
north, and not far distant from the
foothills of the Rockies. We knew
that the reds were beyond one days
journey; but at night we picketed our
beasts and rolled ourselves in our
blankets, without any fire or even a
pipe after our supper, lest the flame or
the smoke should betray US.
awe had covered more than 40
miles, and were close to the dangerous
band.
"Our precautions were evidently
needful, for about midnight, as nigh
as can recollect, Sterling awoke me,
with his hand on my mouth, and
whispered at my ear, .'listen.'
81 obeyed him, half rising. The
night was dark, for there was no
moon and clouds hid the stars. A soft
breeze was blowing, and at intervals
there came to me strange, far-away
sound, like the wild music of human
voices.
"'The redskins are holding pow
WOW back in the hills whispered Tom.
See, yonder's the reflection of their
Il ira,