Year: 1876

what another father would feel on such a
terrible occasion. confess l thought of my dear
wife, my dear children, relatives and friends. whom
would probably more, and there before my
eyes was beng performed what in the event OF dis
covery, would DO my fate. 1 determined to hope to
the last dio had lived, and sell my life dearly
possible. Finally the squaws went away. probably
to hunt for more victims, and employed the time
thinking OF my perilous position.


yrRE


While thus engaged heard a cracking noise near
me- which investigating found proceeded from the
burning wood, the Indians having ignited Ore. The
wood being very dry the fire made rapid headway and
l was forced from my hiding place. l crawled
Of the creek bottom the way had ap-
preached, and 1 about to ascend the bank
heard voice calling, "Lieutenantl Lieutenanti" i
could see ono, but tho call repeated, and ad
vancing few yards In the direction from which II
proceeded found all three Of the party had left a
short while before hidden in the bottom Of the creek
Mr.. Gerard told no had left the horses. tied to-
gether, whore had seen .hem and followed down
after me-


found that the party like myself afraid Of the
progress Of the are but fortunately for us the wind
subsidized and little rain foil, which, thank God,
sufficient to arrest the flames and revive hopes
that we might be able remain there till night II
was now three O'Clock p M-six more hours to walt
and you may Imagine how immensely long we found
them. During this time we could hear and often SEQ





AWFUL SUSPENSE


cannot 6nd words sufficiently expressive to describe
my many thoughts during those six seven hours OF
suspense Many times l asked myself If 1t was pos
sibe that should end my life in so barbarous, in
glorious and obscure manner Sometimes
l would answer myself that II could not be;
l had gone through SO many dangers, had
made 30 manv sacrifices tor my adopted
country, could not think should die in such way
in SO unjust and obscure q manner Finally tho time
came when. under the protection OF night IL very
cloudy able to come out Of hiding place
and take the direction Of the ford, which was two
miles TO tho south. through open plain. Mr..
Gerard and tho scout mounted their horses and tho
soldier and myself took hold each Of horses tail
and followed them Mr. Gerard proposed that, in
he should bo obliged to and leave and succeeded
In joining the command he would notify Colonel
Reno, the commander, OF my position Dur
passed many Indians returning to their village and
could hear but not them, the night was very
dark. We reached the wood what took to be
the ford we had passed in :he morning, but We were
mistaken and had TO hunt for the crossing Once
fordcd the stream but found it at bend and that
we would have TO ford it again When recrossed
the river we full into band OF eight savagea


ANOTHER rHRrILixG ADVENTURE.


The two mounted for their lives; the soldier
and myself jumped into the bushes l cooked
my revolver, and, in knecl,ng position ready
nre at the savages IT they should approach They
evidently thought from the precpitato retreat of the
two mounted that all of Us had decamped, and
began to talk among themselves In few minutes, TO
my surprise, they continued their course, and
amer went out OF bearing raised up from my posi-



the soldier, who Immediately answered We then
that the fords all well guarded by the savages
and that it would be very dangerous to attempt to
cross any part Of the river. OF course We did not
know the condition of our regiment, and knew nothing
about the extent Of their defeat, that hoped
the night wo could wait for the prob
able return OF our command in the morn
ing and could then easily JOIN them We also
hoped that the Indians would leave during the night
Accordingly we searched for good place in the thick
underwood and briars tho river and there waited
with much anxiety fate the The night
passed, and in the dim dawn of day heard i'm
mense trampng as of large cavalry command, and
the splasnng Of the water convinced some troops
were crossing the river. l imagined 1t was our CON-
mand, as l could distinctly hear the sound Of the
horses shoes striking the stones cautiously stepped
to the edge Of the bushes to look out Il then
more than three yards from the bank of the rver and
thought l recognized gray horses mounted by
men in military blouses and some Of them white
hata They were, thought, going out Of the valley
and those that had already crossed tho river
were going up very steep bun, whe
others crossing after them man
with buckskin jacket pants top boots and white hat
and felt quite sure recognized him Captain Tom
Custer, which convinced me that the cavarymen
Of our command.


DANGEROUS xIsrAKE.


With this conviction l stepped boldly out on the
bank and called to Captain Custer "rom, don't leave
us herel" Tho distance was only few yards and my
call answered by Internal yell and discharge OF
found the savages clad In clothes and mounted
IN harS xhich ihcv I'D nrod frarn nne