Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1922-08-04
CHAPT Err II

Old Jerome and Dave and the Older
men gathered in one corner Of the
stockade for a council of war. The
boy had made 1t plain that the attack.
Ing party was at least two days be-
hind the three Indians from whom he
had escaped, so that there was no
danger that day, and they could wait
until night to send messengers to warn
the settlers outside to seek safety
within the fort. Meanwhile, Jerome
would dispatch five men with Dave to
scout for the three Indians who might
be near by in the woods, and the boy,
who saw them slip out the rear gate
of the fort, at once knew their pur-
pose, shook his head, and waved his
hand to say that his late friends were
gone back to hurry on the big war
party to the attack, now that the
| whites themselves knew their danger
i Old Jerome nodded that he under
stood, and nodded to others his appre-
! cation of the sense and keenness of
4 the lad, but he let the men go just the
same
Mother Sanders appeared and cried
to Bud to bring the '1njun" to her
cabin. She had been unearthing
clothes for the little heathen," and
Bud helped to put them on. In few
minutes the lad reappeared in fringed
hunting shirt and trousers, wriggling
in them most uncomfortably, for they
made him itch, but at the same time
wearing them proudly.
On the mighty wilderness the sun
sank slowly and old Jerome sat in
the western tower to watch alone. The
Ssilence out there was oppressive and
/. Significant for it meant that the boys
Theory was right; the three Indians
thad gone back to their fellows, and
fwhen darkness came the old man sent
runners to the outlying cabins to warn
Me inmates to take refuge within the
fort. And the gathering was none
too soon. The hooting of owls started
before dawn. A flaming arrow Kissed
From the woods, thudded into the roof
|of one of the cabins, sputtered feebly
ION a dew-drenched ridge-pole, and |
went out. Savage war-whoops rent |
the air, and the battle was on. All day |
the fight went on. There were feints |
of attack in front and rushes from the |
rear, and there were rushes from all |
sides. The women loaded rifles and |
cooked and cared for the wounded. |
Thrice an Indian reached the wall of |
the stockade and set a cabin ON fire,
hlt nj of OF 70
the woods alive. The stranger boy sat
in the center of the enclosure
everything, and making no
effort to take part. Late in the after
noon the ammunition began to run
low and the muddy dlscoloration of
the river showed that the red men had
begun to tunnel under the walls of the
fort. And yet last sally was made
just before sunset. A body pushed
against Dave in the tower and Dave
saw the stranger boy at his side with
his bow and arrow. A few minutes
later he heard a yell from the lad
which rang high over the din, and he
Jaw the feathered tip of an arrow
shaking in the breast of big Indian
Who staggered and fell behind a bush
lust at that moment there were yells
rom the woods behind-the yels of
White men that were answered by
oyful yels within the fort:
1.-THE Virginiansl The Vfrginiansw
md as the rescuers dashed into sight
N horse and afoot. Dave saw the lad {
cap the wall of the stockade and dis
ppear behind the fleeing Indians. ,
Gone back to 'em," he grunted to '
mself. The gates were thrown open. S
I'D Jerome and his men rushed out. [
nd besieged and rescuers poured all i
heir fire after the running Indians. q
ONE Of whom turned brayely TO emp S
their rifles once more.
cit I'M Git in, quick :" yelled old a
DEL. He knew another yolley would
ONE as soon ms the Indians reacbed .
ne cover OF thick woods. and come u
ne Y0lley did. Three men fell-0ne D
ne leader of the yirginians, whose
cad Hoped forward as he entered y
ne gate and Was caught IN old Josl's "
rms, Not another sound came from :"
ne woods, bot again Dave from the ~
'Ner saw the cone-brush rustic az the 81
lse u o tbickef, saw q hand Thrust ~
lN"rd with the palm OF pence ~
ward The fort, aud again fbe -
'ahser hoy emerged mis- dime with
N,pody soolp dungllng IN has lefi pl
'Nl Dave snrnDR down ana MOI him ~
me gate, The boy shnok he bon "a
~ WfNN proudly, pointed f0 orlss an
s s'al on the scalp gnd pafp an
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