The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-15

ley of bullets fell around MIN ana ne
was carried back dangerously WOUNDED.
When we had been sitting in silence
for some time the old woman STOOD UP
and said: How many cartridges VIII
you sacrifice to clean out the islandl
Amy number, even should 1t be half
of all the ammunition we have; but why
do you ask, mother?"
Il will tell you pretty soon, but f1rst
let me know how many cartridges we
have"
Each man carries about so cartridges
and there are 80 of US" replied our
We'll" replied the old woman earn
estly. matters are not so very bad
Give me good rife and hve OF SIX
dozen cartridges and am quite sure
that can drive them away from the
island, and thus show my gratitude for
your hospitality"
shouted, "or do you think that you can
make fun of us? 1t is no time for fun
I tell you
Far be if from me to make fun of
you. That man over there saved my
life and you have all showed your
selves kind and friendly to me; on the
other side the men on that island have
One OF their bullets might just as well
have killed myself or my grand
daughter. so do not see why 1 should
One of us handed the old woman a
gun with a smile. "All you need to do
Is to aim at the water, and the bullets
Will come swarming back.
The old woman did not reply, but
without making the least noise she dis
appeared through the grass and reach
ed the waters edge. She lifted her
gun, took careful aim and fired The
report of the rifle was followed by q
cry, and we saw a man on the island
jump into the air, turn two or three
bullet in the head and fall to the
ground. We could hear his comrades
swear, and Immediately afterward they
gave US a volley which did not do the
slightest harm. / dare say that never
nave seen more surprised lot of men
than We were at that moment, and our
leader cried: IF you didn't hit that
man accidentally ccas old lady, you are
Il shall soon show you whether it
was an accident or not" she replied
softly II shall soon clear out that
1t was, of course, impossible to see
the slightest sign of anybody on the
Island. All the "blacksmith's children"
were hidden among the bushes and
trees.
az am afraid I shall have to waste
a couple of bullets" said the old wo-
man; but you might look and see if
the left"
any result. but after the fifth another
cry was heard, followed by another
volley
Il am pretty sure I hit somebody
Inat time" the old woman said. re-
loading her gun.
We began to look at her with ut
most respect, while Walter Big Nose
was heard to declare that her old
bones We're worth more than the
whole lot of us. Without losing a mo-
ment she kept on cleaning out the is
Iand' and it was wonderful how she
was able TO see, although we tried our
utmost.
When fifteen minutes had thus gone
by the boys on the island had enough,
ana voice was heard from across
ithe water begging for peace
Altnough your skin is not worth
as much as that of NANCY dog, we
ing on the condition that you throw
your guns in the water and withdraw
from the island. You have one min
ute to decide"
"Wo do not need the MINUTE" came
the reply. ut is all agreed. and we
will throw our guns in the water and
get out of here, as quick as we can"
Ihen you had better hurry"
shouted our leader. ''If your guns are
not all in the water inside of five min
utes the dance begins again. and be
kind enough to throw them SO that We
can see where they fall Co."
he mad hardly finished talking when
about ten rifles, one after another were
thrown into the dirty water of the
swamp.
Are you satisfied now?" the voice
asked.
AN right; we are satisfied; but do
land" s-Ae
Ten minutes later we saw a raft
leaving the island. On board IL were
five men. and lying on the logs covered
could see the raft for a while then ~
disappeared behind another little is
land.
Three cheers for the old ladyr' cried
Walter Big Nose
We gave the cheers with a will and
our leader paid his compliments To her
and declared that she was to have a
double share in the silver mine. The
old lady listened to them when they
ridiculed her and said: THE RihIe tells
us to respect the white hair. Do NOT
forget that children
Nobody ever did forget it after that.
The old woman was made our mascot
and she deserved the title Her o,,n
had made such an Impression on tha
"Blacksmith's Children that thew did
come near us again. She never lost any
to show her gratitude to-
ward me: also learned to love her
for the kind and good heart which she
possessed, though 1t did not prevent
her from shooting down fellow-nen like
dogs when she considered 1t necessary.
the mine turned out we'll, and I
made about five thousand dollars out of
It, and true to their promise the bows
gave the old woman twice as much
After the bloody battle with the BLACK
smiths Children" in which our female
took part we returned To
After many hardships O~e
got back, and the old woman and her
granddaughter declared they were
never going to leave me. / cannot saw
that was sorry, for the old woman
made an excellent housekeeper, and the
young girl grew prettier every dav
When she was sixteen years old sha
was one of the most beautiful girls in