The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1908-08-29

the sage-busheS. l hadn't time
speculate before a low voice. CRU
and angry. spoke to me in the Kiov
tongue. bidding me get down on han,
and knees.
Il lost no time in getting down. TIL
Indian had taken me for one OF h
fellows. and evidently none of tn
craWlers had taken a second glanc
at me, for had on a wool hat an
citizens clothes.
1T was darker down among tn
sage-bushes. and l lay quiet for
minute, waiting for a safe chance t
slip back into the ravine. Then Their
was rustic of newcomers, who ha,
dropped on all tours close to my heels
and it was these fellows sneaking owe
the ridge behind whom I'd mistaken
in the darkness for horses!
And this whole bunch was creep
ing down to the crossing to pour q
murderous fire into the coming coach
doubtless when it should be mos
helpless. trying to struggle out Of
the food.
They were keeping low because
the messenger sometimes secuted
ahead Of his coach, and neither his
horses hoof-beats nor the rattle of
the wagon could be heard above the
noise Of the swollen current of the
Big Sandy.
There was but one thing could
do to prevent immediate contact with
the Indians in my rear, and that was
to crawl forward. With my head I'M
der sage-bush, pulled off my wool
hat. crushed it into a ball and thrust
1t into pocket. Then l crept down
the Slope, edging to one side in the
hope of getting free of my unwelcome
company.
This / might have done, but an
awkward young buck floundered
through the bush, came plump along
side. and on the wrong side, too.
He spoke to me, and gave him an
angry and contemptuous grunt.
"He said no more. but stuck to
me like a brother, so that l was COM
PEELED to lie close to the ground and
worm along like snake In the grass.
When we reached the bottom Of
the slope. and lay amid the low sage
punches within a dozen PAGES of the
fradl at the crossing. l was hemmed
n on all sides by the hiders.
Il do not know how many there
we're. but, judging from the firing
alter. there. couldn't have been less
han thirty. and most likely there |
we're forty or fifty Of them.
well, as l lay there among the |
my thoughts We're not to
'e envied. l knew the stage was to
re attacked at close range, and knew
Bill Thorpe, the conductor in charge.
there would be, whatever the out
ONE, the hottest kind of a fight. Sup
'ose l were to be killed or severely
rounded before l could extricate my
Ell from this murderous gang! There
'ould be a pretty story to tell Of
dck Weymeier all along the line.
1T was well known that l had been
prisoner among the Kiowas, that l
poke their tongue. and that l had
lends among them, especially in
hief Katzatoa, who had saved my
Re. The stampeding of our horses,
lis carefully laid plan of attack on
le coach. would point straight to {
e, II l were to be found among the
Fad Kfowas. :
Il grew frantic as the possible out
ME forced itself upon my mind. 1
arted to crawl backward, hoping to
Id way open for retreat, and my
ct came in contact with an Indian.
no grunted at me under his breath, I
Hing me clumsy turtle Luckily,
wore mcccasins. II had worn
'ots, 'twould have been all up with {
e then
Il then crawled forward fiat upon
y face until I came to the creek
nix, and could peer out upon the Il
dened current. Here had a Kiowa d
thin arms reach on either hand, t
d here lay calling together nerve o
d resolution for the most desper- k
: move Of my life. "
Presently could see a dimly NOV fp
shadow seventy.fve yards away, 7
Itch apparently sank out of sight, IL
opping slowly into the current. b,
ard a low ejaculation at my left, Ii
Itch was cautiously passed to rear, "
d was aware Of the pressure of te
movement which aimed to "t
ing the Indians into more compact .f
Ing-line. &c,
The stage-coach had already enter. 81.