Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-12-05

also that we were even within Indian
territory.
The savages had left their unmis-
taxable mark for our finding. 1t was
in the early twilight of the second day,
the western sky already purple with
the fast fading colors, the prairie be-
fore us showing in patches of green
and brown. To our left was q thick
wood. even then grown gloomy and
dark in shadows, and slightly in ad
vance of us Kennedy rode alone, hope
NAL could see the CLEAN Of the pis-
tOl in his hand, held in instant readi-
ness, cooked and primed. Suddenly he
drew rein. and then turning his
horses head sharply. advanced eau
tiously toward the miniature forest,
leaning forward to gaze intently at
something unseen from where we were.
lessly. and sat motionless. staring
down into a little hollow Immediately
in front of him; then he turned in the
saddle, and beckoned me.
Cum over yere. Cap" he called. his
voice sounding strange. mo. not the
| gurls; you cum alone"
l rode forward and joined him, only
to stare also. the heart within me al
most ceasing to beat, as l beheld the
| gruesome sight so suddenly revealed.
There, within the confines of that lit
tie hollow, almost at the edge of the
wood, lay the dead and mutilated
bodies Of eleven men. in every distort-
ed posture imaginable. some stripped
naked, and showing ghastly wounds
others fully clothed /; but with the cloth
hacked into rags. 1t had once been a
camp, the black Goals of a fire still
visible, with one man lying across
them. his face burnt and unrecogniza-
BILE. With the exception Of one only
mere boy, who lay few rods away,
as though brought down in flight-the
entire group we're together, almost
touching each other in death. Beyond
question they had been soldiers
militia volunteers-for while there was
only one uniform among them, they all
wore army belts, and service insignia
appeared on their hats. Tim vented
his feelings in a smothered oath.
Militia, by God!" he muttered
gruffiy. mo guard set; the bloody
Injuns jumped 'em frum out then
woods. Those poor devils never het
no chanct. Amt thet it, Cap?'
mo doubt of it; the whole story /.
there. None of them alive?"
81 reckon not-cudn't be, hacked VI
like thet, an most O. 'em skelped
Them reds never left d. gun be
hind neither. Why. say, this affai
must a took place this yere yer.
maunin', bout breakfast time"
He stood up in his stirrups, AM
swept his eyes anxiously about IL
every direction.
Good Lordl maybe we better b
gittin' long out O. yere right smart
Thar amt nuthin' ter stay fer; W
can't help them men none, an only tn
A devil knows whar them Injuns hay
I gone. Yer git the gurls away afor
e they see whut's yere-down yondel
: inter the valley"
!, ! took one more glance at the sigh
| 1dSCludlcu ny llS very HOlAOA, ihO
s wheeled my terrified horse, and rod
: back. Heartless as his words sounded
e they were nevertheless true. We coul
be of no aid to the dead, while upo
q US yet rested the duty of guarding th
o living The young negress lifted he
head, and gazed at me DULY, so tho
f oughly tired as to be Indifferent as
y what had occurred; but Eloise read IL
t, stantly the message of my face.
n You have looked upon somethin
= terrible" she cried. "What was 1t,
l. dead body?"
n Eleven dead bodies" answere
IT gravely, my lips trembling. "a sQua
n of militiamen were surprised by Il
e dians over there, and slaughtered to
e man, apparently with no chance
IS even defend themselves. have new
q seen a more terrible sight"
e (TO BE CONTINUED)