The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-12-15
SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS.

SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHASThkS.
The famous Corpl Pike, OF the Attn ONO
Cav. had a life of almost continual ad-
venture. His services to the Union cause
in the civilwar were very valuable. When
a Young man. in 1889 he left Missouri Tor
Texas md became Texas ranger. when
the civil war broke out he at once plunged
into its most active and dangerous opera
tioDs He gives us a story of wonderful
deeds innocently Teclted and appearing
10 have been looked upon as matter oil
course. While acting as scout Tor Gen.
Stanley one day on Cumberland Mountain,
he saw party Of rebel caval-y-home-
guards-who had about so davi<ies chopping
down trees across the road, thus effectu-
ally blockading the gap at place where
ii could not possibly have been seen until
turning this short spur that projected
into it. Believing this trap for Union
soldiers, Pike fired down among the rebels.
Below he tells what happened after that.
A puff of wind raised the smoke from
my rifle, and | could see when the ball
struck. 1t must have missed the man
entirely, for the horse reared almost
straight on his hind feet and gave ter
rifle bound, which tumbled the rider out OF
his little old "terrapin-shell" saddle upon
the rocks so violently that he must have
been severely injured, for one of the
negroes ran 20 him and helped him up,
while several of the white men caught and
brought back his horse, which was bleed
ing profusely from point in the middle OF
the right hip. While this was going on
everything was in the highest state of ex-
element. The soldiers ran together, look
Ing in every direction IN the widest
alarm, and every darby ceased chopping
inStanter. One fellow, who was much
closer 10 me than the others, bawied out
at the top of his voice:
"Who fred that shot?" But he received
no answer save the echo of his own voice;
but determined to know, he raised him
self in his stTrups, and baw led out louder
than ever:
Il say; who fired that shot?" but he still
received no answer.
By this time my gun was loaded, and |
took good aim at him and fired, Just as
The word shot shot shot was echo
ing among the hills; and without wait
ing To see the effect Of it, | sprang upon
The rock, in plain view OF them, and began
10 order an imaginary comrade TO run
pack and tell the regiment 10 hurry up >"
and then turning, with my gun loaded, ]
sent another shot whizZing among them
at the same time ordering some siIiImish-
ers to come down from the opposite ridge
and close in with the rebels accompany
ng ny speech with a violent gesture, as
though pointing right at my supposed
friends. | then fred third shot and
raised loud "huuah, boys, and wen
surround EN-, when the Johnnies fed
N the widest confusion, hardly taking
time TO help their comrade to mount his
wounded horse, which was almost un-
manageable.
As the cavalry was speeding down the
pass. and the darkies were Shutting after
hem, ran back up the mountain, and. |
descending 1t, Climbed the opposite side /
and kept on my journey, following the top
Of the ridge the rest of that day. and also
sn the following night and the next day, |
until about O'clock in the morning. when