The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-16

those two shots had warned the maraud- CTS of the approach of the rescuing party. Spence and Williams, rejoining the party, declared that they had got lost and had
 fired the two shots in hopes of receiving
 answering signals so that they might find their comrades. But dark suspicion con
 cernlng the two hunters now filled every
 breast and the men were carefully
 watched.
 The party took possession of the circular clearing which the Indians had abandoned and, after quenchng their thirst in a small pond of deep, clear water which oc- cupied the center of the open space, posted sentries and layG down to sleep Dawn
 was just breaking and the men were pre- pairing to resume the trail when suddenly the forest echoes were awakened by the discharge of firearms. The Indians were upon them-apparently numerous band. All day they fought there keeping off the | indians, who, time after time sought to rush them by creeping from tree to tree. At first the conflict was fierce. then
 It died down and only a few shots
 came from the enemy. The men of the
 rescuing party went in relays to the
 pool to slake their thirst Food they
 had not eaten since they left the plan
 tation. They realized that they were
 besieged Water they had. but the only
 food left them was Hckman's horse.
 which he had shot when the fight be-
 gan The other horses had galloped
 away, frightened by the firing. Collops were cut from the dead horse, Toasted over a fire and greedily eaten They
 knew the Indians were about them, but i for some reason they made no attempt
 to rush them.
 | But now in the darkness the Indians
 suddenly resumed their heavy fire and l seemed pressing in upon the party.
 whole Volleys were poured In. As he
 was firing from his position behind a
 tree trunk George suddenly felt his
 arm jerked upward. He had been shot
 and shot from behind As he paused to
 look to his wounds the firing of inc Toe suddenly ceased There was pause or absolute silence And then came a cracking sound and the light of flames The Indians had retired and had set the dead forest on fire behind them, 2, The, white men were encircled bv q roaring iurnance of flames. George tried to get to the open ground as he saw others doing, but fell senseless from loss of blood
 when he came to himself he was lv- Ing In the pool np to his neck in watar and most of the other members of tbe party were there also. By his side was his faithful attendant, Black lake
 Jake had carried him to the place ,f sa1e'y' The fire was burning out but sun enough remained to make the heat almost unsupportable. Yet he saw a group of men who appeared not to
 mind the intense heat--a group of hunters, foremost among whom was old | Hickman They were trying by sum
 mary .courtmartial the Ringgold hunt
 CTS. William and Spence. The trial was
 shcrt. The two men had been seen to shoot at Randolph in the midst of the l fight. Hickman and Weatherford ad- | justed their sights and two corpses lay
 upon the ground.
 The party lived upon the carcass of Hickman's horse and upon such roots
 as they could gather until the forest had cooled off enough for them to take | the route They were surprised by a party of half-breeds and mulattos
 many of them killed and the rest taken to mulatto settlement in the depths
 of the wilderness There they found who had been the raider of the Ran dolph plantation-for there stood in judgment over them Yellow Jake, wear ing the three black plumes-even as Osceola wore them. There also they found Virginia and Viola safe but in dire peril
 George ands Black Jake were con- demned to die by torture. but before