The National tribune., 1899-02-02

spring directly at Gray's face. He was
large and snow white, and this made hin
companion turned upon him and fired
and he fell dead in an instant.
| AT that moment the whole Pack rushed
upon us, moro like demons than ever
dogs, and it was with difficulty that we
could see their dusky forms amid the
gloom, but their glaring eyes served as
| guides for an almost unerring aim, and
when we had discharged nine shots we
| had killed orc dog ard wounded foul
| more.
| The fash OF the pistols kept the dogs a
| bay wonderfully, but did not drive then
off; and scarcely had we fired the las
shot when the men came up, forcing
| their horses through the bushes, cursint
and swearing like madmen.
When they got within about 100 yards O
us we halted them, saying that if they
did not stop we would fire on them.
"Who are you?" demanded one of the
men.
Yankee soldiers" l answered.
What are you doing in our country
they inquired.
I've are here by order of our General"
was the response.
How many arc there of you?" they next
wanted TO know.
Tive"
Are you up tree" asked one.
NO, we are not the SOTt Oh IneH 10 take
TO trees" we informed them.
Have you killed any of our dogs"
NO." said |; and then whispering to
Gray, we moved out toward them, some
distance from the dead animal; then hail
ing the men, said
There are but two of us, but we are
well armed, and can do you great deal
of damage if you drive us to it. We know
that you have a strong force after us, for
we have seen you two or three times
to-day; we know that resistance on our
part would only result in useless blood
shed; still, it is our privilege to sell our
lives at as dear price as we can make
you pay; but we don't want to hurt you
nor do we want you to hurt US; and
prisoners of war, we will surrender with
out fight, because we see that one
would be useless"
"You will soon be made to surrender on
our terms" was the response.
Then approach. us at your peril" !
answered.; "for we intend to shoot as long
as we can crook finger"
BEST TO SURRENDER.
During this parley another large party
had Joined the first, and we could now
hear them disputing among themselves,
when presently they hailed us cheer
fully:
"HaIloo, yourself" we replied.
"If you will surrender we will treat you
as prisoners of war, and there shall not
one hair of your head be touched" said
the commander Of the party.
"All right, sir" said ]; Ion these con-
ditions and no others you can have our
arms"
then invited two of their men over to
take our weapons, but they asked that we
should fire them in the air first; but OBJ
iected as evincing a lack OF confidence in
our honor; but the truth was, the loads
had all been tried on the dogs, but they
failed TO go, ard did not want them to
know how helpless We were. They then
told us to stand still, and they would all
come TO us; and they at once 1lanked out
on both sides to surround us, every now
and then uttering assurances that we
should not be hurt.
Finally they approached us direct and
demanded the arms; and while the pro-
cess of surrendering was going on Gray,
who was one of the coolest men ] ever
met, began to crack jokes with them 10
give them confidence in our intentions
inquiring the news from Virginia." and
asking them what they were going to feed
us on, and if they had any coffee; and on
receiving a negative answer to his last
question he next asked for whisky, and to
this they replied plenty" and promised
us drink. But no sooner were our arms
delivered than they changed their man
ner. One of them, named Chamberiin-
a Massachusetts Yankee, as ] afterward
that if we had shot one of
the dogs he would have retaliated by kill
ing a man; and at once they commenced
looking among the pack to sec If any OF
them were hurt: but it was so dark. and