Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1898-08-13


dications that were so rich that they I
made a permanent camp. intending TO T.
examine the lodges that criss-crossed /.
the country thoroughly. They had
seen no Indians. and expected none.
One day, though. as they sat at din
ner. a shot came from out OF the
pines. and before the echo had died
away 1t was followed by a score OF
others Old JEFF Bramlett, who was
20 have led them TO untold wealth,
DIR pped the tin plste-from which be
was eatinS-on the ground. Not
abruptly. bat so gently tina. II hardly
male sound. and, as IL fell, he ap-
pa-entiy made an effort 20 rise 20 his
feet. only 20 fall face forward into the
fire. where still simmerei the uneaten
portion OF the MONDAY meal.
The three remaining men spraag 20
their feet unframed. and rushed 20
seek cover behind trees and powders.
picking up the arms that came nearest
70 their hands. As Barrett passed the
fire, he drew from It the body OF the
old man. The face was covered with
ashes and blood. while the long hair
aud open shirt were smoking from the
coatac. with the Goals. The limp
body and relaxed Jaw told how sud
denly death had come
~ the young man threw the BODY
70 one side from the fire. aud sank un-
der the cover OF bowlder, he glanced
IL the direction from which the shots
had come. but could see nothing. As
he watched, there would occasionally
rise purs OF white smoke. followed by
tbc report of rifle, and he would fire
in return. Through the whole after
noon never once did ne see an Indian :
face or form After the frs. surprise.
the three had called 20 see one an
other. and were reioiced 10 know that
none was hit. The oldest had taken
the direction of affairs.
Hold your ammunition, aud wait
until 10 night, and then We viii break
back for the canon aad try 70 reach
the settlements. There are too many
of them for Us 20 stand of, he said
and SO through the long afternoon thev
waited TIE fire they had kiadiec
, burned ont, AMI the body os the dea.
man beside it grew cold and rigid
Tie blood no longer flowed from ia,
, wound. When the wind would blow
, the ashes from the Goals left by tn
, h-e, they would still glow. as If il
! mockery OF the quick death that ha,
, ove~taken the outstretclei form be
side him.
2 When darkness had come. the tire
> nen gradually crept back-keepin. a
closely together as possible-in tn
IS 81 l., ~.
: Occasionally. out ofthe darkness, woul
D come a flash % light from a rifle fire
] N their direction. To these. at first
: they replied; but when they had &c
{ some distance from the camp wher
- the dead man lay. they rose TO thei
D feet. and As rapidly and noiSelessly a
= possible retreated 10 the canon. \
& one spoke, but each knew that tn
, faces of his comrade were, like his owl
1 glowing with tia. feeling os eratitud
j tia. comes only when man has {.
i capped almost certain death. The
n would never see the man they had lie
II behind again; but, after all. he Wa
/ Cd aud alone in the world, while the
% well, with them life was sweeter al
,e dearer than it could possibly hay
/, been TO him.
: The three men kept closely togethe
in as If relying on one another for assis
IL auce. As they climbed down throuc
,e the canon they remained on its dar
- est side, IN order to avoid any pc
of sible discovery, although il made the
Ia narrow footway still more dsngerou
1 Far behind them they could see
"a the mountain side blaze Of light, ~
ne they knew that 1t was q signal of the
s. escape. 1t made them push forwa
with still greater excrtion. for nC
no they knew that the pursuit was clio
re behind, and that il would be only wi
so the greatest effort they could escap
4, as the indians had probably disco
in cred the direction IN which they we
or going, and woald endeavor 10 int,
i'll cept them. As they pushed forwa
To with renewed haste, the man IN I
n rear suddenly slipped and fell, carr
in ing with him his two comrades. Il
n fall was but slight one. Tue lit
ds pebbles it had started had hare
an ceased rolling before two of the m
ia were again on their feet, picking
ut. their arms. Harry tried to join the
DIV and rose to his feet. but only TO
ar again.
lie What's the roatter2" asked one