The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-04-21

"TLat night we camped within 9
shelter Of natural rifle-pits, made by
short curve ,ust below . short curve
of the creek just below a grove OF
young ash. We kept close to this TIM
ber, so that We could take to it quickly
if attacked by the Crows, and deep.
dry ditch protected our position per-
fectly from q horseback rush out OF
the woods.
I'VE hac. one Of the pumpkins for
supper, and while Bat was cutting 1t
up an idea came into my head. When
We had finished the meal it was dark,
and I asked Little Chief to find the
Crow camp for me.
"While he was gone I made Jack
o'-lantern of the shel: Of the biggest
pumpkin. Then I shaved the end OF
dry ash pole to a broom head, and
filled the splints with elk tallow melted
by fire brand. I put the smooth end
Of my pole through the top OF my
Jack-o'lantern and through a hole IN
the bottom till could fasten it with
the shavings torch inside. I then tied
crosspiece to represent outspread
arms, and was ready for my trial
"Bat watched my work curiously.
and though 1 said nothing, he under
stood my purpose.
"sHuh,' he said, finally, 'me, I have
seen one those-not lax these one
just one leetle head. think these
weel scare those viii lngin some eef
you geet close 'nough.'
when Little Chief came in lie said
the Crow camp was about gunshot
above the grove, and that there were
two scouts on horseback on the prairie
below US, and how many more on the
watch he could not say. When
showed him my Jack-o'-lantern, ne
looked at it long and earnestly, evil
dently regarding it as fetish of some
kind. HUH he said: My brother has
made a medicine!
81 then told him and Bat to stay by
the goods at all hazards, took my gun,
the Jack-o'- lantern and two blankets,
and let them. I went directly to the
mouth of the dry ditch. This was
fifteen or twenty feet deep and ran into
the creek parallel with curve or loop
on which the Crows were camped.
81 felt my way cautiously up this un-
til I could actually hear the Crows
talking at their camp, and also the
sound of ponies grazing close at hand.
So far 1 had found my path clear. 1t
was neck or nothing with me now.
II hung two blankets on the arms,
and lighted the torch Of my pumpkin
head. Grasping the pole so as to draw
the blankets about my face, yet leav-
ing the eyes uncovered, I scrambled
up steep bank of the ditch. Before
my feet touched the level I heard
picketed ponies running the length OF
their ropes and snorting with fright.
Some of them pulled their pins and
scampered off, and then yells from the
Indians camp and q wild rout of con-
fusion followed.
"With my grinning fire-face turned
upon them, with fame and smoke for
a scalp-lock, I bore down on the camp.
walking steadily, as if intending to eat
up every thing in the way.
1.-The Crows camp was cleared al
most as quickly as if cyclone had
passed over it. In every direction l
saw the Indians run for their horses,
and when they got to them they simply
took themselves out Of that country as
if a cavalry troop were after them.
1.-THE next morning we picked up
nine ponies which they had left behind
Six of these were our own, and so we
had no trouble in getting back to the
Missouri with our freight. t."-Iouths
Companion.