Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1898-03-05
skyline look and move so much Ekc
uailopinr Indian horsemen.

xaliopine Indian horsemen.
An hour or more wore on. and the !,
Sioux had gained only slightly upon |
him. They had perceived that he was
well mounted. and had settled down
to long chase. Arson knew some
thing of their persistent, savage
patience.
Brave little Buckskin as vet held up
stoutly under the strain Of swift rid
ing. bat Arson resolved to Tighten the
pony's load. Eecut.oose his blankets,
slowed his cartridges. some biscuit
and dried beef in his coat pockets.
and flung blankets and saddle-oag
away.
Soon n chorus of shriller. longer
wells reached him from the rear. The
Sioux had Jumped 20 the conclusion
that his horse was breaking down.
They began urging their ponies %
their utmost speed. and gained rapidly.
AS their beasts had started unon the
race fresher than his hard-ridden
( Buckskin. ne realized that they might
+ soon come close enough TO shoot At
/ him effectively. The time had come,
Arson drew rein abruptly. dis
z
rage Of a born fighting man standing
righteously on his defence. brought
his fifty-calibre Winchester % has
shoulder. He expected the band TO
halt, but they only scattered ont some
what. and the swiftest ponies darted
ahead.
The foremost Indian was now with
in seven hundred yards. "a Arson
Judged Low on the neck OF his pony
lay the savage, plying his guirt with
one hand Behind him swarmed the
crowd. yelling 20 keep MP their own
courage and 70 unsott.e that OF the
white man.
Arson spoke soothinc'v to the rest
less pony. pnt the reins around one
ankle. raised his gun-si<ht for four
hundred yards, and dropped on one
knee.
The foremost rider was now SO near
| that Arson conll make out the lower
, parts or his calico SHIRT and distinguish
its color as it tapped and fiuttered
about his thighs The white man
, drew steady bead Two second.
later aud both Indian AMI pony ROLLED
| upon the ground.
| The express bullet, il Anson's ain
b. had been altogether true. must have
7 4 bored through the beasts neck an,
, + through the body of its rider. At an
r rate. neither of them rose again
Throwing another cartridge into IN
e riAe-barrel Arson aimed az the mex
Indian. who had ierked his pony to al
{ abrupt halt, aud sat bolt upright
q seemingly unaware OF his own DANCE
Z in the surprise Of the moment. Al
1 e-and-s-quarter ball knocked hin
}. out OF his saddle before he had time I
e recover himself
In a twInkling tke~ -xle-s scattere
widely apart, drew rein, 'dismouute
: and began firing from behind the
p ponies. Their bullets skipped an
2 whistled and sung spitefuny over An
q sous head as they fired hurried,
Il But he now felt that his chances
l. getting home had improved. lie VI
4 almost out Of their range. they weI
It well within his. and he was not shoe
.e ing 20 miss.
is He was very cool and careful.
F. pony went down under the third heay
% bullet and the rider scurried away
e the shelter Of small mound n
% fourth stopped an Indian In the act 4
firing under his animals neck.
Of With a certain wild impulse of To-
" for his good long Arson thre
4 open the lever for his fifth shot. B
Sc he did not speed tue ballet. Hewish'
al 10 kill no man except in defence of b
~ own life. and now the Sioux had sprur
ie to their ponies and were racing ont
n range.
ID The Indian behind the mound, ho'
ever, held his position and kept G
- firing. Arson turned his gun IA
~ way. But then be observed how (
s. short the Sioux bullet fell. Evident
the man was armed with nothing be-
e. Ter than a carbine. Arson rose 20 /
- feet without firing and examined /
or pony.
:; Finding Buckskin unframed, Il
-, marksman mounted and rode on to~a
- White River at jOg-trot, hoping
- had taught the band Of Indians a less
Ia that would keep them at a distan
until he could give them the slip.
so Thinking Of his wife and child
-. voutly, Arson regarded his eses
- almost as a direct interpretation of q
- on his behalf. More than q hnndr
-: shots must have been fired at him; I
- Indians must have been within e