The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-03-08

N
mendous splashing in the river few
hundred yards below, followed by
shots and yels and the sound of gal.
Looping horses. A moment later four
men rode into camp like whirlwind.
Loud cries of "Where is hep" "Don't
let him get awayw ."Who's got the
rope?" gave me an inkling of what
they were after They wanted me.
The camp was n large one and gem
orally there were eight or ten white
men and forty or fifty Indians about;
but this happened to be holiday, and
all the men had gone away except my
tent mate, Barton, and myself. We
were building some large irrigating
bitches, aud had come out to take
charge of the work only short time
before. / had found it necessary to
discharge u number of the men and
replace them by others. Only the
day before | had had trouble with one
of the men, Leonard by name. He
went little too far, and / Knocked
him down. As he arose he picked up
n heavy club and came at me with it,
but throwing up my left hand to guard
my head / caught the blow on it aud
knocked him down again with my
right. That settled the matter,I sup
posed, for the fellow went Off to his
tent, swearing roundly and calling
for gun with which to clean out the
camp.
But when heard the splashing at
the ford remembered the incident of
the day before, and on the instant it
flashed into my mind that had no
weapon of any kind and that might
need one. slipped out quickly, and
r0nning down to tent near the end
OF the line l seized revolver and
belt of cartridges which | knew were
there and was back when the men rode
up.
/ remained in my tent while the
men dismounted and tied their horses
together Leonard appeared to be the
leader Of the gang, for 1 heard him
say:
!. "Look here, boys, I'm the captain
of this outfit, and you've got to do
just what tell you. Well do all
that we came down here to do before
we leave; you must leave it to me-"
"All right" responded another.
''We're here for fun"
"We'll have our fun all right" re-
piled Leonard. "Come into my tent
and talk it over. You, Miller, stay
here with the horses and watch that
tent there so he can't get away"
Leaving one of their number out
side with the horses under the big
tree, the men went into the tent next
to mine. They had all been drinking,
and as 1 was separated from them
only by two thin canvas walls and
twenty feet of space, their converse
tion was easily audible.
The conversation | heard was anus
ing, even under the circumstances.
Leonard was laying out the program
to be followed and telling his com
panious what a worthless cuss" 1
was, the burden of his accusations
being that 1 wore white shirts in
camp and was "a long-legged cuss
from the east"
The man left on guard outside I
knew; he was one of our own men.
While the talking was going on in the
next tent he came in to see me and to
explain that he had been forced to
come down with the others against
his will. He added that if wished
to get away he would make no effort
to stop me.
My plan was to run out Just as the
rife was fired aud bringing down the
man who had it. for l could hardly
miss him at twenty feet distance, get
in one more shot as the others crowded
to the door and were we'll punched to-
gether and then break for the big tree,
from behind which as shelter / would
stand as good chance as two men in
the open.
Filling my coat pocket with loose
cartridges and taking my revolver il
my right hand, L was on the point OF
stepping outside and opening the pro
ceedings when l heard one of the men
say:
That's no fun. Let's make him
put up his fists before we hang him
or, if he won't do that, we'll make
him wade the river"
That's great" replied another.
''We might as well have some fun out
of him first. Come on"
Remembering the old western
maxim, "Never show gun until you
use it,, tucked my revolver into my
vest so that it was out of sight, bu
with the butt not more than two inche!
from my hand as held my pipe to my
mouth. turned to Barton, who wa,
trembling, and cautioning him to con
troll himself l lighted my pipe and re
sumed my stool near the front of thu
tent. A moment later the canvas doc
was thrust aside and man entered
followed by two others.
The first conner was little fellow
slender and not much over five feet il
height, but he had wicked look il
his eyes and the face of professional
desperate. / learned aiterward tha
he was considered the "bad man" O
the neighborhood. Behind him wa
. big man in flannel shirt aud N,