Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-09-07
turf beside small stream and was soon

turf beside small stream and was soon
sound asleep.
/ awoke little after dawn, cold and
stiff and desperately hungry. was about
to move along when was startled to
hear a cracking among the brushwood.
set my teeth and brought my rife to
my shoulder, ready to fire as soon as the
thing should break cover.
Presently who should stagger into view
but Jed, the poor fellow ready to drop
with fatigue and hunger. We started off,
but soon Jed, who was carrying the gun,
while clambering over the rocks made a
misstep and fell The weapon flew from
his hand, and, the trigger striking hard
against a stump, loud report followed
| among the surrounding hills.
But that was not the worst. Jed's an
kle received very bad twist in his fall,
and for some minutes the poor fellow was
agonized with pain.
Now we noticed column of smoke ris-
ing nearly opposite our position from the
other bank of the river.
"a signal" cried jed 'They must
have heard the report. What clumsy
idiot was!"
And see," said I, there's an answer
ing signal to the right and another to the
left. But we've got good start of them,
and before they strike our trail we must
be miles away"
All that afternoon we toiled onward
over our rugged course. Meantime, how
ever, Jed's wounded ankle grew worse,
until at, sunsetrit was swollen to twice its
natural size, and he could proceed no
farther.
Twilight slowly darkened into night.
The moon rose and cast her fading light
upon the scene. A more welcome light,
think, I shall never behold.
Presently signal fires on the hills near
by told US that the rest of our enemies
were close at hand. Again looked to
the printing of my gun and otherwise pre-
pared for action.
For fully 20 minutes we heard nothing
Of our foes, though we knew well the
cowardly fellows were debating how best
to reach us. Then. from their ambush in
the wild oats, we heard voices, as though
they were encouraging each other to
charge, and we realized that the crisis
was at hand
Suddenly was startled by an exclama-
ton from Jed.
Its all up. joel" he cried. mo, use
firing. The villains have got us in the
rear"
"Hist, boys, histv' whispered voice
from the bow Of the canoe. y
"Good heavens, it's Waite"
aye, boys, and just in the nick of
time. Catch hold of this hyar line and
haul us in right smart"
This was done aud all so quietly and
quickly that the Indians knew nothing of
our re-enforcements. A minute later
they broke cover, rushed into the open
and, with a blood curdling yell, charged
pellmell down upon us.
Sire" shouted Waite in voice that
rang loud above the uproar, and instantly
five spouts of fame flashed in the faces
of our foes.
Surprised, thunderstrhck, utterly dis
comfited, the advancing body reeled back
from the volley they had so little expect
ed.
after 'em, boys!" yelled Waite, leap
ing up over the bank and giving chase.
We sent them flying in all directions,
each Indian intent only on securing his
personal safety.
Then, returning to the bank, we sought
our two fallen foes. The first we came
mp to was lying face downward, having
pitched forward as a bullet found his
heart. Turning him over. we found he
was none other than the villainous Wah-
kia-na.-Exchange.