The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-04-18

past me up the bank, and was en-
gagged in a hand-to-hand struggle with
the remaining two sayages. He made
short work Of it, for before 7 could
reach the spot he had them at his feet,
and was in the act Of stripping then
psint-bedaubed scalps from thei,
skulls. This done, he turned to the
wounded savsges he had shotfrom be-
meath the bank and served them in the
same way, and then made finish oi
them with his knife.
CT reckon, stranger, that ERE othe,
scalp Of right belongs to you," said
he, as he pointed his dripping blade
toward the body Of the savage 7 had
dispatched before his opportune ar
rival.
care there any more of the var.
mints about?'' inquired my resouer.
as be deliberately proceeded to wipe
out and recharge his rifle. "Here's
one, two. three, four, five on 'em; is
that all?'
eyes," said T; sthere were but FIVE
Of them. A1d now, my friend, I must
thank you for your timely aid, without
which I am sure 7 should not be among
the living"
"What would you thank me for,
stranger? Why, it's my bis'ness to
kill the red varmints. I've followed
it all my life, and I reckon I'd rather
do it than eat any time. Cuss 'em!
they wiped out my poor father and my
only sister, and I owes 'em a grudge
ali their soalps can't satisfy. I seed
the varrnints making a dash for the
bottom here, and / knowed they wan t
arter no good. I reckoned they'd
scented you out-for I'd diskivered
yer trail two days ago-and I knowed
lone traveler'd be sure to draw the
Yarmints out, and so I followed arter
yer
I had now leisure to take survey
-ef my Trsserrer. He WIS a singular
rleoksag ;ndividuaI, about iddle-aged,
with 6 tall, muscular person, which
was clothed in well-greased and shiny
suit of buckskin that had evidently
seen much rough service. About his
waist was a broad leathern belt, in
which were couple -f heavy cavalry
pistols, a keen, long-handled hatchet,
and the scabbard Of the heavy bowie.
knife he had just been using so skill
fully. These, with his long two-bar-
relied rife, constituted a very efficient
armament for one person to carry con.
tinually about him. To one unaceus.
toned to them they would prove a
rather heavy burden. But the stran-
ger appeared not the least incommo-
ded by them, and moved with all the
lightness and grace of young Indian
warrior beneath his quiver Of arrows.
In place OF hat the stranger wore
on his head a sort of tuGban, made
from folds OF piece OF figured calico,
which, confning his sandy locks upon
the top Of his head, brought his bold
and rather handsome features into
strong relief. But the most attractive
features about his face were pair OF
large, prominent gray eyes that seemed
to take in every object about him ct a
single glance. In their calm, yet
penetrating gaze I can compare them
to nothing but the eye Of half-do-
mesticated eagle. Such was the ap-
pearance Of this man, as with one foot
resting upon the breast Of the savage
ne had last scalped he was leisurely
recharging his weapons.
II reckon, stranger" commenced
my new companion, as he returned the
last pistol to his belt, ''yer'd better
gather up yer traps and jine me at my
camp tonight; and in the morning we
car ride in company-that is to say as
if 'twould be agreeable to you"
I assured him that nothing would
give me greater satisfaction.
"But,' said I, perhaps our trails
don't run in the same direction.
"Where mought yer be bound?"
"To the Spanish colony" Unanswered
"Ah. that's fortunate! Ny frill runs
through the same settlement. So
we'll catch that runaway nag of yourn
and put out to my camp. It's but 6
little way from here in this same creel
bottom
In another half hour We had arrived
at his camp, and after relishirg sup
per of 'thump'' and marrow bones
spread my blanket, and was soon for
getful Of the exciting incident Of tht
| day. Whether my companion slep
or not I cannot say, for when I awokt
at dawn he was already about, having
changed the feeding-place of tn
horses, and prepared a fragrant roas
of buffalo fish for an early breakfast
Partahing Of the repast, we were sool
on our way to the Leon, the belts 0
timber which skirted the river bein!
plainly visible from the swells Of tn
prairie as We rode along.
I found my fellow-tra7eler, though
not very loquacious, very sensibl
and pleasant companion. He wa
familiar with every foot Of the grount
over which we travelled, and said tha
he had camped on every water-course
river and spring branch between tn
Red River. of Louisiana and Mexico
But in all his conversation he neVe
used an egotistical remark. Hi
modesty Sas remarkable, and, beyont
what he had ssid Of killing Indian
afsas TIA sk;rRish as ny es@ns b!