White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1928-11-09
Copyright by Hugh Pendexter.
WNU Service
CHAPTER Ix-Continued
M1ussrations BY
Irwin Myers


CHAPTER IX-Continued
-2o-
With the shattered army In a Wild
rout the Onondaga and fell back to
the wagons where / had left the girl.
| stepped over man dying from ar
row wounds and would have left him
had not recognized him as Busby,
my old playmate. This was sorry
ending Of all our boyish dreams, when
we played at Indian fighting and al
ways emerged the victors. For love
of the old days, caught him around
the shoulders and yelled for the Onon.
daga to pick him up by the heels. The
Indian had no desire to interrupt his
fighting by helping one as good as
dead. Yet he would not leave me.
and he did as directed, and we man.
aged to get Busby to the first wagon.
Busby stared at me vacantly at first.
then knew me, and tried to pull me
down to him. l kneeled and he faint
ly whispered: "What id, fools we've
been, Web. Tell Joe I'm sorry"
1t was his last effort, and he was
dead when Strengthened up. The
savages were now assaulting the
wagons from both sides. We fought
our way through the terribly unequal
melee. It did look as II not man
would survive the day unless it be
some of those who had taken to trees
outside the road, or who had cut the
horses loose from the wagons and had
fled at the beginning of the battle.
Dunbar the Tardy was still in the
rear. 1t was just as we'll. The more
men crowding into the road simply
meant more victims.
''This way, Brondl Brown-hair's
here" howled voice in my ear
Cromit. was speaking. His mouth was
fixed in a CHASTITY grin, his eyes set
and staring. He was bleeding from
wound in the head.
This is q severe wring," he shouted,
and fired soldiers musket at a
painted face showing at the side of a
tree.
Then with screech that sounded
above the groans and shrieks of the
wounded and the yells of the savages.
he dived into the bushes. The next
moment he staggered back into the
road, with knife buried in his breast.
and yet dragging after him stalwart
Ottawa he had clutched by the throat.
The two fell at our feet, and with a
final effort Cromit tore the red throat
open; and so the two died and went
among the ghosts. n
Dan Morgan was down and the
tch-girl was standing over him an
az in one hand, her pistol in the
other.
Get OF of herei Go to the riverl'
| cried to her.
Cant leave him." she painted kiss
me, mister!"
4 kissed her, believing it was very
close to the last act inemy life. And
pitied her as | had never pitied any
one in my life. Morgan got up on
his knees. He had been shot through
the back of the neck. the ball passing
through his mouth and taking several
teeth with it. He gained his feet and
pushed the girl toward us.
"Must git hoss!" he told me as 1
seized the girl and began working my
way along the wagons Many of the
drivers already were in flight, each to
announce himself to be the only sur.
vivor of the massacre, and despaired
of securing an animal for the girl.
Morgan went ahead; after the girl
came the Onondaga and myself. Round
Paw endeavored to shield her from
the cross-fire of the hidden savages
He reeled, then raised his war.whoOp
and swung his ak. and saw the white
paw IN the chest was turning crimson
A wounded Potawatomt rolled from
the bushes like dying snake and
coiled about his legs in an attempt
to trip him and bring him to the
ground. Round Paw quieted him with
swing of the AK and shouted:
"Yo-hahl 1t Is good They say two
very brave men will soon diel Yo-
hah!" Then in mighty voice he told
the concealed roe:
II am man of the Wolf clan. My
teeth are sharp. Hol Hol Come ON
and help brave man die like Chief
He would have penetrated the cover
In search of a worthy antagonist had
| not forcibly restrained him. Dead
man. dying men. crazy men; and the
last we're the worst OF all. We ran
almost as much risk from our own
soldiers as we did from the fort In
dams. Especially was this true con
corning the Onondaga. Morgan was
keeping his feet brs aely and the girl
was willingly accompanying him. and
even helping him. so long as her back
ward giances told her the Onondaga
and were following. But did we
pause to meet rush from the woods
then, did she hold back and attempt
to gain MY side.
With hOarse cry Morgan seized
horse by the nose as the frightened
animal burst through the bushes and
into the road Other hands tried to
appropriate the prize. but ! brushed
them hack and tossed the girl on the
back Of the crazed brute. Morgan mo
TONED for me to mount.
take her out of thisl For G-d's
sake lose no time |" | cried.
"She sorter seems to like you" ne
began. but lifted him up and placed
him behind her and struck the horse
ON the flank with my rifle barrel.
! knew she cried out although l
could not hear what she said. She
made to dismount, but young Morgan
passed an arm around her slim waist
and the hnrap nlIInvpd dnun Tho ..oa