Year: 1860

III Mandy. 20 secure my plstOl without


letting him know that was awake, was
very delicate operation, and attempted


to accomplish it ia the following manner:


my pistol aud bowie kn,lc were both un


der my saddle which | used for pillow.


| threw my right arm up over my head,


taking care not to touch the robber, and
yawned, as if I was half awake, but
ready with my left haud to catch his arm
in the event Of his attempting to stab
me. l had my eyes partly shut, so that


he could not easily see them gllstcu, but
sufficiently open to see his every move,


which l could easily do, as it was clear
starlight night. On the instant NOV
ed, he raised his arm to strike, and | was
nearly betraying to him my being awake
by throwing up my lef. hand, but some
strong impulse prevented me from doing
it, aud he held his knife suspended to
give the blow had made another move


When l threw my hand over my head,


with the same movement l placed it un
der the saddle and on the butt Of my
pistol, which was cooked ready for use.
l lay in that position for about half a
minute, but it seemed like an hour. BY
that time, | had power over my breath
ing, which on FIRST waking came very
quick. As soon as he thought that |
was sound asleep again, he lowered his
hand and commenced operating on my
shirt, clearing it away from the belt
Then | thought my opportunity had
come, and tried to jerk my six shooter,


but it was foul some way, and it would


not come. thought that my time had
arrived, for, as quick as thought, he
drew and struck with his kuife. lie
struck at my throat. My eyes were
broad open then, aud | saw where the
knife was coming BY a quick iuvolun-
tary movement, threw myself aside,
and he must have ovcr-reached himself,
for the knife stuck into the saddle, and
so tight, that he could not get it out
In trying to get my pistol, my hand
touched the cold silver hilt of my bowie.
Instinctivcly took hold of it, abandon
ing the pistol, aud was nerving my arm
for the blow, when felt the cold muzzle
Of his pistol against my forehead. |
struck out blindly, and, as did 50, there
was the stunning report Of his pistol
How escaped do not know; my face
was blackcned with the powder, and my
whiskers nearly burned off, but that was
all the damage done to ne My blow,
though struck at random, had proved
severe one. My knife had gone iuto the
left side Of his neck, inside of tn. col la,
\, i |


heart, for as drew out to stri'i" again


he fell on me with his whole weight, and
his blood spirting all over my face He
gave one qliver, and stretched out his
lensth aud lay perfectly sti!l--stone dead.
The whole transaction did not take three
quarters Of minute. Tho report of the
pistol had aroused the col pany-cvery
man sprung to his arms. Some were
looking for the mules, while others were
asking who fired the shot, and where the
Indians were. | called to the boys to
take the dead man off NE, for | was as
weak as child \ couple of them did
as I requested, while others threw fresh
sage brush on the haIf-smouldcring camp
fire, and we soon had plenty of light to
see what had happened. l told the boys
all about what had occurred. We found
all the mules in their places but mine,
which was staked off about twenty yards
from camp, with one Of the other boys
saddle and bride on her went into
the river and cleanscd mys If from his
blood, and then sat down by the camp
fire, where remained till morning, una
bic to sleep.