Year: 1861

could not see his pistol, felt sure that he
had it handy. To secure ny pistol with
out letting him know that | was awake was
very delicate operation, and | attempt
ed to accomplish 1t IN the following man
ner: Ny pistol and bowie knife were both
under nay saddle, which / used for psi


low. l threw my right arm up over my
head. taking care not 10 touch the robbcr


and yawned, as if I was half awake, but
ready with my LETT hand to catch his arm
IN the event Of his attempting to stab ne


l had my eyes partly shut, 50 that he could
not easily see them glisten, but sufficiently
open to see his every move, which I could
do, as it was clear starlight night. On
the instant that / moved, lie raised his
arm to strike. and | was nearly betrayinr
to him my being awake by throwing uplny
left hand. but some strong impulse pre-
vented me from doing it, and he held his
knife suspended to give the blow had ]
made another move When I threw my
hand over my head, with the same move
ment placed it under tie saddle and ON
the butt Of my pistol, which was cooked
ready for use. | lay in that position for
about half minute, but it seemed ike an
hour. BY that time l had power over my
breathing which on first waking came very
thick. As soon as Le thought that I was
sound asleep again. he lowered his hand
and began operating on my shirt, clearing
it away from tie belt. Then | thought
my opportunity had come, and tried to
ri Oh Int
way, and would net come. thougbt that
my time had arrived, for as quick as
thought he drew and struck with his knife.
He struck at my throat, Ny eyes were
broad open then, and l saw where the
knife was coming. By quick involunta-
ry movement, | threw myself aside, and he
must have overreachcd himself, for the
knife struck into the saddle, and so tight
that he could not get it out. In trying to
get my pistol, my hand touched tie cold
silver hilt of my bowie. Instinctiyely
took hold of it, abandoned the pistol, and
was nerving my arm for The blow when
felt the cold muzzle Of his pistol against
my forehead. struck out blindIy, and
as I did SO there was the stunning report
of his pistol. How l escaped | do not
know; my face was blackened with the
powder, and my whiskers nearly burnt eff,
but that was all the damage done to me-


My blow, though struck at random. had
proved severe one. My knife had gone
into the left side of his neck, lis de of the
collar bone, The knife must have reached
bis heart, for as Idrcw out to strike again,
he fell on NE with his whole weight, and
his blood spirting all over my face. He
gave one CULVER, and stretched cut his
length and lay perfectly still-stone dead
The whole transaction did not take three
quarters of minute. The report of the
pistol had aroused the companv-every
man sprung to his arms. Son were look
ing fer the ma es, willie others were ask
i,g who fired tie shot, and where the In
dians were. called to the Us to take
the dead man off me, for was as weak as
child. \ couple Of them did as 1 re-
quested, while others threw fresh sage
brush on the half smouldering campfire,
and we soon had plenty of light to sec what
had happened. | told the boys all about
what had occurred. We found all the
mules in their places but niue. which was
staked off about twenty yards from camp,
with one Of the other boys saddle and bri-
die on her. I went into The river and
cleaned myself from his blood, and then
sat down by the campfire, where l re-
mained till morning, unable to sleep.