Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-07-10

;; Scarcely two hours elapsed before
everything in the camp had become
silent. All seemed wrapped in slum-
Der except the two sentinels sitting
quietly at the opposite sides of the
camp. Anon they would become
drowsy, and, springing to their feet,
would "walk their beat" until the
llethargy was shaken off. Not the
slightest sound broke this death-like
stiffness until, by some unguarded
movement, I caused rustling of the
dry leaves with which the ground was
strewn. Quick as flash the sentinel
nearest US Strengthened up and started
toward our place of concealment.
Hurriedly cautioning me to remain
perfectly quiet, Winters moved to a
large tree almost directly between me
and the approaching sentinel. Cau-
tiously and with a cat-like tread the
Indian advances. He gains the tree /;
he peers forward into the darkness /;
he passes-but no-with a dull thud
Winters knife is buried in his heart,
while his left hand is simultaneously
clapped over his mouth. A slight
groan escapes him, and he is dead.
Returning to my side, Winters whis-
pered:
"No trouble bout disposin' O. that
varmint; but ye had better keep yer
wits bout yer, and not make no more
noise, for the next one mightn't be so
easy adzactly to git rid on"
"I will be more cautious hereafter.
But by what means do you propose to
effect the rescue?"
"Well, we mought silence that 9th
er cuss, and steal the gal away, but,
for my part, I don't want to leave a
single devil O. 'em alive"
"But how can this be accomplish
ed ?"
"Easy 'nuff. You stop at that big
tree. I'll leave my rifle with you, and
keep my revolvers and my knife my.
self. I'll slip round, easy like, and
try and give that other cuss his last
sickness. Eff I can do that 'thout
raisin' rumpus, there'll be no trouble
bout the rest. You keep still till they
git reused up, then commence holler-
in an yellin' like mad, and shootin'.
Ar ye good shot?"
assured him that was.
"Then it's all as good as done !" and
before I could reply he had disap-
peared.
After the lapse of a few minutes l
saw the remaining sentinel start
quickly, as if he had heard some un-
usual noise. He then advanced eau
tiously toward the place where sup
posed Winters to be concealed, think
ing that he, of course, had alarmed
the sentinel. Suddenly the Indian
was seized and borne quickly to the
earth, and I saw him no more. MY
suspense was of short duration, how
ever, for in less time than it takes to
record it saw Winters advancing to-
ward the sleeping Indians around the
smouldering fire. He approached and
silently buried his knife in the heart
of the first Indian. Not a man stir
red, and with renewed confidence
Winters pressed forward. saw him
raise his knife and plunge it into the
breast of the sleeping Indian next in
his course, but this time his aim was
not so true. The savage sprang to bis
feet, uttered a yell, and fell back
dead. In an instant every one of the
savages were on their feet. Winters
commenced yelling and firing his re-
volvers, and every shot "brought its
man." The Indians were completely
panic stricken. The number and rap.
! |idiSy of our shots, and the bodies of
their slain companions, seemed to con-
vey to them the impression that they
were attacked by large party. They
fed precipitately, leaving us masters
of the field. In the melee we had
slain thirteen of the Indians. Pretty
good work, we thought, for two men.
To some this may seem improbable.
Let such remember that we had, in all,
% shots without reloading, each being
possessed of two good revolvers, aside
from our rifles.
Of course the prisoner was rescued !;
of course she was grateful. I gave up
nv project of going to California, and
returned with her to Virginia, where
she had many friends.
I don't know what more to say, but
if you will call on me any evening,
reader, will introduce you to Eliza
Lacy, now my wife, and leave it to
your judgment whether my reward
is not greater than I deserve.
| have never heard from Jack Win
ters since we parted upon the prairies.