Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-12-23
CHAPTER XIV.
Indian Telegraphy-A Captive.

C1AT L Ell Af.
Indian Telegraphy-A Captive.
When the sun was a little less than
two hours high the smoke began to
curl from the rimrocks at the point
where the raiders outlook had stood
at noon. The Warm Springs war
riors, headed by their chief and Dan
Follett, had made detour to the
south of the main trail and hoped TO
avoid the band of warriors from the
southwest by hiding among the sand
dunes until they had passed. But
when they discovered the smoke ris-
ing from the rimrocks they feared
that they were discovered and that
the Snakes were already signaling
their whereabouts to the two ap-
preaching bands. The war party from
the southeast, which had been Joined
by Old Egan himself early in the
forenoon whose horse had escaped the
vigilance of the raiders the previous
night, upon reaching the noon camp
of the Warm Springs party had sent
a scout to search the plains for the
escaping raiders. He had no sooner
reached the summit of the rimrocks
than the cloud of dust among the
sand dunes showed him that the raid
ers and their horses were there; and
the cloud of dust farther on to the
southwest gave him the further knowl-
edge that the other band of Egan's
warriors had seen the early morning
signal fires and were coming to aid
in recapturing the stolen horses.
The lookout gathered several arms
full of sage brush from among the
rocks and started a fire, the Indians
means of telegraphy, and soon signal
ed the two Piute bands of the whole
situation.
With a shout of exultation Egan's
braves hurried toward the common
center.
The only hope before the raiders
was to evade the Snakes until night
fall and then make their escape in
the darkness.
1t was their intention, in case they
encountered the Piutes, to have 40
of the warriors under their chief and
Dan Follett engage the enemy while
ten of the raiders would attempt to
escape with the horses. But in case
of defeat the raiders were each to Sc
lect an extra horse, abandon the
others and make their way out of the
country as best they could. If night
IIS
arrival of the Piutes, then they had
great hopes of escaping. But they
were doomed to disappointment
Shortly before sundown a band of
Piutes from the southwest was upon
them. The raiders took shelter be-
hind the sand dunes and with this
advantage, held their enemy at bay
for some time. The men with the
horses proceeded at rapid pace,
while the fight continued in their
rear and as the Piutes pressed the
raiders they backed from sand dune
to sand dune. disputing every inch of
the ground. While it was warm and
determined engagement there was
but little fatality as the men of each
side sheltered themselves behind the
sand dunes. But this scene was
changed about the time of sunset.
The other band of Piutes arrived and
attacked the raiders from the other
side. Thus attacked from front and
rear the Warm Springs warriors were
compelled to retreat and as they did
So a great yell arose from the Piutes
who gave them a warm chase. When
the raiders overlook the party in
charge of the stolen horses they hur-
rfedly took possession of an extra
horse each and abandoned the others,
hoping to escape in the darkness.
But the Piutes were not satisfied
with finding a portion of their horses.
Flushed with victory majority
rushed on while a few stopped to cor
raj the horses that had been aban-
doned.
Dan Follett was no less daring than
he was villain. Seeing in the dusk
III 80 IL, oc H.
Piutes, he turned and drew his re-
volvers and faced them, considering
that every moments time should be
gained at this point that was possi-
BILE. He was a splendid marksman
and when the Indians had approached
within range of his revolvers he be-
gan firing. and in his madness rushed
toward them. He repulsed and
routed them for a moment but in his
zeal he made fatal mistake
Flushed with his gain of time he had
crowded them still farther when. sud
denly. he discovered that larger de-
tachment of well mounted Piutes had
encircled him and cut him off from
the main band of his friends. He
turned and attempted to ride through
the Piute lines but discovered that
his revolvers were now empty and
there was no time for reloading. They
surrounded his instantly and took him
a prisoner, and when the dashing
marauding chief. for it was Old Egan
himself who led the band. laid his
hand upon Follett. he exclaimed:
You make better Piute than
Warm Springs Indian. Warm Springs
Indian coward, run away and leave
you, Piute stay with YOU. and now you
stay with Piute." chuckled the old
CHEF as he ordered his men to bind
the captive securely and guard him
closely.
The Piutes pursued the raiders for
some distance and took several more
horses and prisoners before they
abandoned the trail.
1t was late in the night before the
camp was established. aud the Piutes
were tired and hungry, but there was
one prisoner whose security was
locked after and his name was Dan
Follett.
CHAPTER XVI.
A Big Haul.
Bertha had spent several days with
her father and DrOVided for his every