Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-04-26

a
which was exposed. even as he was looking
down the gun BARREL which was aimed at my
head The ball knocked the bark off the tree
about an inch above his head. He sprang be-
hind the tree. / ordered his surrender. He
replied that he had nothing to fear where he
was that couldn't ride away from him nor
come to him; that already he could hear his
men rallying, and in a few minutes ! would
be forced to surrender by renforeements COM
ing to him. knew he was right, and spent a
few moments in studying the situation
II could think of but one thing which held
out ray of hope. 1t was my only chance
/ knew that he would shoot at the first thing
in sight
81 was riding a horse to which was much
attached. had named him Ben Bolt. He had
a beautiful neck, arched and graceful as a
swans; and he was a horse of high blood
and nervous temperament, I seldom mounted
him without his making a tremendous bolt
as though he were shot out Of a cannon.
looked at my horse and said inwardly: You
must die in my place l drove spurs into his
sides. He made one spring and his head came
within sight of the captain; he fired a ball into
his brain. and Ben Bolt fell dead. In the fall.
as my horse went down. leaned around the
tree and without being able to see my enemy
/ fired.
THE horse settled down on my right foot
and pinned mo to the earth, and at the same
time was jerked from the saddle by the fall
and the back Of my head struck the ground.
/ was unconscious for a few moments, and
when recovered saw a soldier in blue with
his gun dubbed and ready to knock my brains
out. and he was saying: I'll give you chance
to surrender. You are down, and your foot
is under your horse, and there is no chance
for YOU This was a truly generous act be-
cause when we went into the fight and he re-
fused to surrender. we agreed to fight under
the black flag, and the fight could not end till
one or the other killed. I remembered
that had made the promise and he had ac-
cepted it
When ] was sufficiently conscious l began
to think that might still have a hope of sue
cess, as had pistol in my hand, and might
fire 1t before his gun could reach my head. But
as the gun came down with tremendous force,
saw that it was necessary for me to use my
pistol for protection of my head; as even If
he were wounded by my shot, the blow would
crush my skull Being on my back threw
the under side of my pistol up to catch the
blow The butt of the musket descended upon
the ramrod of the weapon, dashed on down,
and mashed the brass guard over the trigger.
which disabled 1t, and at the Same time caught
the end OF my forehnger under the guard. My
life was saved, but the blow was so heavy
that my own pistol was knocked down upon
my head, and was stunned second time.
When | was conscious again the captain
was still generous, and was offering me my
life, as he had every advantage My pistol was
hanging to the end of my finger, but the handle
was at right angles with my arm My finger
had begun to be painful. I saw that it was i'm
possible to use the pistol again. except 10 ward
Ing of blows | stuck the end o. the weapon
into the ground and turned the handle around
SO that could get hold Of it. The captain
still urged my surrender and showed the folly
OF lighting longer. But CLEAN Of hope had
come to me- decided to draw with my left
hand the pistol on which was lying and use
the other to protect my head But in my dazed
condition | was too long in unbuckling the
holster and drawing the pistol with my left
hand Seeing what | was trying to do, he
seemed to be annoyed. and said If you don't
surrender at once I'll knock your brains out
And he meant what he sad for in moment
/ saw his gun fly through the air. Again |
threw my pistol up for protection. The blow
tore or the end Of the hnger which relieved