The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1923-06-28

be a herd of buffalo and with a sigh
of relief he decided to lie down for
a short rest. Something prompted
him to have another look at the buff
falo herd. With amazement he dis
covered that the supposed buffalo
were really a war party of Indians.
They had een him before he had
recognized their character and were
coming for him hot foot.
The Slow Blind Mule
To flee vas impossible. The blind
mule was no match for an Indian
pony. He determined to sell his life
as dearly as possible. He rode the
mule to the highest accessible point
of ground and took refuge among the
rocks. Around him on every side
were swarms of shouting, shooting
mountaineering painted savages
and every moment brought them
nearer to his place of retreat.
Could Never Forget
eff I should live to be a hundred
years old never will I forget the SEN
sations of that moment said Dris-
coll in one of those rare instances in
which he was induced to discuss the
matter, "as one by one those Indians
approached my hiding place and be-
gan to circle around me as is their
custom"
Bang" went the soldiers rifle
and a Sioux Indian gave a death
shrek and dropped in his tracks.
Bang" and another plunged for
ward as he ran. An Indian bullet
thudded near him and the faithful
blind mule dropped dead. Mean
while the approaching warriors were
uttering their blood-chilling whoops,
waving their tomahawks and dane
ing like fiends as they advanced to
the attack.
Driscoll slipped away from the
rock and behind the dead body of
the mule. Lying on his stomach, he
took careful aim across the carcass
and determined to make every shot
count. He fired carefully, every bull
let finding a target in a painted
body. His unerring aim and rapid
ity of fire was too much for Indian
bravery to undertake a frontal at
tack, and the rocks protected him in
the rear. Besides, being Indians,
they were resourceful and felt that
their end could be accomplished just
as effectually and without loss, by
burning him out. So they set fire
to the grass. The storm of the night
before had soaked the vegetation and
the grass burned slowly and with a
dense smoke.
The young soldier, who knew more
about climbing a ships rigging than
he did about frontier warfare tao
tics, was a quick thinker. When the
49, ~ hA41-11 lA--A l. -s--1@1
away or his stomach from his rocks
and made his way into the midst of
the smoke pillows. The attack had
lasted nearly all day. When Dris-
coll broke from the smoke cover on
the edge of a small stream it was al
ready night. Unmindful of chuck
holes and of the icy water he plunged
into the stream and travelled all
night. Since he had left the beleag-
uered detachment SO precious hours
had elapsed, all of which time he
had been either travelling or fight
ing. When daylight broke he found
himself almost within the confines of
an Indian camp. His approach caus-
ed an alarm by the dogs and the In
dams came for him pell-mell with
their weapons in their hands. Dris-
coll Immediately took cover. The
braves opened fire. Driscoll return
ed it, picking a mark and hitting it
each time he fired. An Indian bullet ,
wounded him in the foot but did not
interrupt his fire. He fired so rapid
ly, shifting his position after each
shot, that the Indians were Impress
ed with the thought that there were
several in his party. Being unable
to hit him and afraid to rush an un-
known number, they withdrew. With
the withdrawal of the Indians, Dris-
coll, now crawling, now limping,
now attempting a staggering run,
made for the Backbone mountains,
the top of which he expected to
the fort. He arrived at his
destination after a heart breaking
struggle. He could not discern the
stockade. The retreat had already {
been sounded. The flag had been
lowered. Driscoll, somewhat bewild- {
cred, struggled onward. Presently
be struck a well beaten trail. He
recognized it as the wood road to the
tort. :
Falls Senseless on Trail :
He had been 48 hours on the road
and so hours without sleep. The