Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-03-12

ened vengeance if the boys were ar
rested.
at was time to show bold front.
There were enough hungry warriors
waiting for rations to destroy US all II
they should 60 on the warpath, and
every one was armed. :,
"Agent Pierson saw trouble ahead.
He mustered all the force of Indian
police and scouts he had, and called
for a detail of cavalry from the post.
I was ordered to take my company
and the entire force, numbering 100,
was put under my command subject to
the agents orders.
"When we rode into the village there
was not a soul in sight. We made
first for Lone Wings tepee. The old
chief stalked to the entrance when
the agents messenger spoke to him
He said that his people were still
friendly, but refused to tell where the
boys were.
"sThen we will search every tepee,
said the agent. -,
~ saw from the chiefs looks and the
frowns on the glowering faces showing
now in the doors of the adjacent tepees,
that there would be trouble if we tried
to do that. Finally the chief said il
we would give him an hour, he would
tell where the boys were. | advised
the agent to accept this. 'They can.
not get away on their half-starved
ponies in an hour I said; so it was
decided to wait.
"When we went back, Lone Wing
was ready to receive us.
"'Where are the young thieves?
demanded the agent.
""The great father drives his chill
dren from their hunting grounds to
starve them, and then calls them
thieves for not being willing to die like
rabbits. The young braves are not
here. The white chiefs will find them
in the hills waiting for them.'
"They have left the reservation p
exclaimed the agent, his blood hot
put spurs, captain, and overtake
them Better send some of the trail
ers ahead to find which way they
have sneaked off,
81 had a pretty good idea where we
would find the boys, and said, Il
don't think trailers will be needed in
this case. They are not far off,
"Why,' said he; where do you
think they have gomez"
II pointed toward the hills where
two faint specks showed, and handed
him my glass. He looked and put
spurs to his horse.
"'No need to hurry 1 said they
are not running away
"And I was right. When we got
near enough to make them out clearly,
there stood the two little fellows in
war paint and feathers, their ponies by
their sides, and their rifles in their
hands.
"sWhat do the rascals mean p said
the agent.
"But understood it well enough.
"Their Indian blood wouldn't let
them suffer imprisonment or possibly
whipping, and rather than thus be
degraded in their own eyes and those
of the warriors of their tribe, they
had resolved to court warriors death
alone, outside the reservation, and
thus shield the rest of the tribe from
sharing in the punishment.
when we were within 300 yards OF
them they mounted their ponies and
brandished their rifles, and I could hear
their shrill, boyish voices in defiant
tones shouting the war-whoop of their
tribe. Before any of us could get our
breath, they leaped to their ponies
back, and charged down toward us at
furious gallop.
81 think it was a moment or TWO
before any of us took in the audacity
of the thing-two Indian boys charging
right into the ranks of 100 armed
whites when they got within rifle
range they opened our eyes by lying
fat on their ponies and shooting
straight at US.
"'Give the young imps volley,
captain = excitedly directed the agent.
'I hated to do it, but there they
came riding US down, and shouting
like all possessed. Calm high; fire j.
l commanded the men, for | couldn't
bear to slaughter the brave little chiefs.
On they rode unhurt, of course, right
into our teeth
"'Open ranks !"
"They shot like wild6re through US,
and were out of reach before we could
halt and reform.
"I supposed all we would have to DO
now would be to chase the little ras-
Gals back into the camp, and deliver
them over as prisoners of war. But,
bless my stars, if they didn't wheel,
as soon as they could, bringing their
ponies to dead stop, and with anoth-
er whoop of defiance come charging
back up the hill at us.
"It was the most desperate exhibit
ton of courage I had ever witnessed
in a human being, red or white-a
cool and grim determination to keep
up the fight until they died fighting.
"Pop! One of our horses was hit.
"Pop! A cavalryman dropped his
Winchester, hit in the arm. l dared
not spare them longer.