Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-05-01


signs utterly undiscernible by Wood
vile, Carson at once read the whole
story, declaring, much to Gerald's
comfort, that Moulton had been car
ried off unwounded.
Then, leading the way with unfal-
tering certainty through tortuous de-
files and over stretches of bare rock,
on the latter of which his companion
could not see the faintest mark, he
soon came to the spot where the band
had spent the previous night.
Feeling confident of overtaking the
marauders before night, Carson became
exceedingly circumspect toward even
ing, neither ever riding over a ridge
without first dismounting and taking
careful survey of what beyond.
At last, as they peered over the
brow of a steep descent, they saw,
right on the trail, and half mile
ahead, a wreath of smoke rising above
the tree tops.
"We've got them," said Carson.
"They're camped down at the Blue
Spring. 1 know the place well, but
the ground on this side is quite open.
Though probably not fearing pursuit,
the reds will naturally be facing this
way. We must make big sweep and
creep up on then from the other side,
for they must not have time to strike a
single blow after our attack"
The pursuers now led their horses
some distance from the trail and con-
cealed them in bush-grown coulee,
lest the Indians, while retreating,
might gobble them up. Then, guided
through the darksome rocks and un-
derbrush, only Kits perfect knowl-
edge of the locality, they made wide
detour, gliding along softly as panthers
and noiselessly as shadows-two men
fearlessly planning to attack, and on
their own ground, an unknown num-
ber of well-armed savages.
After more than an hour of palms.
taking toll, they gained the dense
chaparral fairly in the rear of, and no
more than Is yards from the enemy's
resting place. Kneeling side by side,
and peeping through the bushes, they
saw at once that the Indians consid-
cred themselves perfectly safe, for a
bright fire was burning, and in strag-
Cling row near it lounged 20 painted
warriors.
A few yards away was tethered the
beautiful horse belonging to Moulton,
and he himself sat on the ground with
his wrists brought together behind his
back and tied around sapling pine.
Carson had cautioned his impetuous
comrade not to fire until he should
give the signal, but just as the hidden
avengers had, in one swift glance,
noted all these particulars, brutal
looking savage, seeing that the prison
er was enjoying a moments respite
from suffetlng, snatched up burning
brand, strobe over in front of him, and
was about to thrust the fla ming brand
insultingly against his face, when
Woodville, no longer able to control
himself, sent a bullet through the mis-
creant's brain, and he fell like a log
across the captive's outstretched legs.
Instantly the startled Indians sprang
to their feet; one fell to Kits rifle,
and another to Gerald's revolver; and
now, as they stood for three half sec
onds, bewildered, as many additional
shots rang out, each one stretching its
/ ,,;ot;,,o npop tho aorth
Then the IA survivors turned to fly !;
but before they got beyond the fatal
circle of freight, three more pitched
headlong down.
Another of the crew, quite forget
ting in his fright that the horse was
picketed, attempted, as he ran, to
spring upon its back-a position he
never reached, for as soon as his head
rose high enough to clear the animals
withers twas pierced by Carson's bull
let.
Thus, in less than one minute, 10
members of the murderous iband had
become, as a western man of these
times would say, "good Indians" and
the rest probably never stopped rum
ming until they reached headquarters
of their tribe.
In our camp, the day of the two
mems departure had come to close
in consuming anxiety, and it was
serious party indeed which gathered
about the fire at night, while all strain
ed their ears in vain to catch the echo
of possible reassuring rifle shot.
Our guide, an old plainsman named
Joe Brooks, sustained our hopes by
telling US of several instances in which
Carson had, singlehanded, rescued
property and prisoners from strong
bands of Indians.
"Why," said the veteran, Zone time
down in Arizona, I knew Kit, entirely
alone. to trail % Apache warriors for
more than 100 miles. He came up to
them just as they were making camp
at sundown, shot down three of them
before they saw him, charged upon
the rest while yelling to his supposed
followers to come on, and escaped scot
free with a white woman prisoner
whom, in their flight at the mere sight
of Kit, they had not stopped to kill"
At last we could see in the eastern
sky the first pale simmer of coming
dawn.
"This," casually remarked Joe, lis
the hour that the redskins always Sc
lect for-By thunder, that's the Dig
gers warwhoop now!"
And we all hurried into the coral, as
again and again, far up on the hill
side, resounded that terrible cry.
D.o>1,o