The Oklahoma miner. [volume] (Krebs, Okla.) 1912-192?, 1920-05-06

sky had lightened somewhat. und we
could perceive the way fairly well
when we again advanced, how travel
ing through Il more open country,
prairie, lnterspersed with groves OF
trees. Daylight overlook us at the
edge of slough which hordered n lit
tie lake, where i'm the gray dawn, Tim,
by lucky shot, managed TO kill Grip
pied duck, which later furnished us
with meager breakfast. In the Sc
curity of nearby cluster of trees, we
ventured to build a fire, and, sitting
about 1t, discussed whether to remain
there or press on. 1t was decided to
remain where we were and rest.
l need not dwell on the details of
our flight. They remain In my memory
! in all clearness, each scene distinct.
| each incident picture engraved on,
the mind. My map proved utterly use
| less, confusing me by It's wrong lOca-
! ton of streams, and Its inaccuracy in
the estimation of distances. We must
have wandered far to the north from,
our direct course, led astray in the
dark, and by our desire to advance
swiftly. For there soon came to us
warning signs that we were indeed
being pursued; and some evidence
also that we were even within Indian
! territory.
The savages had left their unmls-
taxable mark for our finding. II was
in the early twilight of the second day,
the western sky already purple with
the fast fading coors, the prairie be
fore us showing in patches of green
and brown. To our left was q thick
wood, even then grown gloomy ana
dark in shadows, and slightly In ad
vance of us Kennedy rode alone, hope
| full of thus dislodging some wild ami
NAL. ! could see the gleam of the ps-
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 'ntentIy at
something unseen from where we were
He halted his horse, which paved rest
lesSly, and sat motiOnless. staring
down into 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
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 aud mutilated
bodies of eleven men. in every diStOrt-
ed posture imaginable, some stripped
naked, and showing CHASTITY wounds {;
others fully clothed; but with the cloth
hacked into rags. 1t had once been a
camp, the black Goals of fire still
visible, with one man lying across
them, his face burnt and unrecOgniza-
ble With the exception of one only
a mere boy, who lay few rods away,
as though brought down in flight-the
entire group were together, almost
touching each other in death. Beyond
question they mad 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 Godw he muttered
grufIiy. mo guard set; the bloody
Injuns jumped 'em frum out them
? woods. Those poor devils never he'd
: no chanct. Amt thet 1t, CapT"
! mo doubt of It; the whole story rs
there. None of them aliveY
3 81 reckon not-cudn't be, hacked up
like thet, an most O. 'em skelped.
r Them reds never left a d gun be
hind neither. Why, say, this affair
/, must took place this yere very
. maunin', bout breakfast time"
He stood up In his stirrups, and
. swept his eyes anxiously about In
every direction.
=, "Good Lord maybe we better Se
. gittin long out O. yere right smart
Thar amt nuthin' ter stay fer; we
= can't help them men none, an only the
: devil knows whar them Injuns hav
gone. Yer git the gurls away afOre
= they see whuts yere-down yOndeT
! Inter the valley"
took one more glance at the sight
!, fascinated by its very horror, theI
, wheeled my terrified horse, and rods
back. Heartless as his words sounded
. they were nevertheless true. We could
be of no aid to the dead, while upOL