The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-09-18
THE CAPTAINS PREMoN,TloN-
He Obeyed 1t, and by So Doing Averted
q Tragedy.

Az ten O'CLOCK IN the forenoon the
valley suddenly narrowed until we had
no choice but to take the path leading
between two fir-crowned ridges. We
had sighted Indians the day before, but
the night had passed without an Aarm
and the morning had slipped along
without sight of warrior. Had the
savages figured it out that the SO Of us
guarding the ten wagons Of clothing
and provisions were too strong for
them, and that our keeping so well
closed up and on the alert made the cap
tnre Of stragglers impossible?
Haiti" 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 away until it crossed creek and
was lost in the gloom beyond Not =
bird sang from the branches-not {. rab-
bit skurried away in alarm. There was
the silence of death along the path.
Foot by foot, with ears bent forward
and nostrils 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 running up the
path and dashed through the column
There was fire in his eyes, but yet his
tail was down.
a ''Skeered!" whispered an old veteran.
'and by Injuns at that! That wolf has
been turned out of his lair by the
reds!"
out!" whispered a 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 till we strike another patht
Don't hurry-don't shout! Corporal
French, strike up 'Dixie's Land and
you boys all join in the chorus!"
In five minutes we were out cs the
mouth of the gorge and marching away
tc 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 it? What did the captain
see down there?" was asked from man
to man.
The captain saw nothing. He was
obeying an instinct-one of those pre-
which sometimes stop man
n time to prevent a terrible tragedy.
The men TESTED and sang. but now and
hen one looked back over his shoulder
Ind gave the lie to the jest on his lips.
No one had seen anything-no one had
heard anything. Miles away taey found
| safer if longer road, and the fort was
cached at last without sight of an In
liam. Around the mess table they
oked the captain for backing out of the
'orge and adding miles to his journey. y
"All on account of a scared wolff"
aughed one.
And scared at his own shadow at
hat!" added second.
The captain had no reply. but to him
elf he wondered if he had not been over
autious. It was months later whena
aptive squaw told him a tale. All night
ing, as the wagon guard lay sleeping,
he hostile Indians were coming up by
ozens and scores and going into am
ush along the creek. They had dug
fie-pits-they had piled up logs and
ones-they were hidden under the
'dars until over 300 of them lay wait
g with bated breath for the train to
tier the trap.
When the last wagon and the last
copper had passed a certain spot the
gnaf was to be given to open fire.
hree hundred jets of flame-3oo bull
is seeking living targets! There would
vt have been 20 troopers left after that
st volley. AT the end of five minutes
cry man would have been dead and
e red demons screaming with g.ee as
ey twisted off their scalps. A fright
ed wolf betrayed the ambush. The
am took another route and was saved.
II an hour or more the Indians
ltched and waited. none daring to
i've for fear of betraying his pres
&c. At last all realized that their
me had escaped from the trap, and
llenly and noiselessly the 800 moved
wn the path, up the rise, into the
lars where their ponies were heisied.
d without shout or curse or sound to
heard ten yards away they mounted
rode away and the ridges hid them
I'M view.-Detroit Free Press,
The Wrong Word.
rattered Pete was acfrallx- r.,on.-