2-26 



THE AMElliUAN BEE-KEEPEAl 



ntSny 



ludiaiis. The two horsemen were Buf- 

 falo Bill and Major North, and the sig- 

 nal directed by riding in a circle is only 

 too well known to any one who has 

 spent any part of his life on the plains. 

 By this time we could make out the ob- 

 jects, as the Gun beat down on them. 

 They were redskins sure enough, and at 

 least 50 of them, while our command 

 numbered less than 25. They were com- 

 ing at a furious gait, and each one was 

 bending under his pony to keep out of 

 sight as much as possible. 



" 'Ready,' ordered the lieutenant. 

 'March, trot, ' and then 'March, gallop, ' 

 and we were off in the direction of the 

 two scouts, who had ridden to the top of 

 the hill again and were watching the 

 reds. When we arrived near enough, 

 Cody told us that he and his partner 

 had been watching the Indians all day 

 and keeping them in sight, while they 

 remained under cover. After consulta- 

 tion between the leaders, it was decided 

 to let every man go it for himself and 

 give the Indians all they bargained for. 

 This meant that every man was to get 

 his arms in shape and then go at them 

 for all he was worth, and never stop 

 fighting until the reds were licked or 

 had runaway. Arms rattled as the men 

 adjusted them and knives were jerked 

 jO the front of the belts and with a de- 

 termined look on every man's face the 

 3ommand to trot was received. 



"The stream in front of us, that di- 

 vided us from the redskins, was ford- 

 able at several points, wlierever we 

 could find a buffalo path. I struck out 

 for myself at once and soon found my- 

 self separated from the others, who 

 vere s(;atteriug. In front of rae was ■■% 

 oeaten ford, and I made for it. I was 

 the only one of the party to cross this 

 particular ford, and I didn't ^^■iut to al- 

 low my thirsty animal to driuk, but 

 hurried him over and almost before 7 

 knew it was on the land again and go- 

 ing along at a gallop. Under ordinary 

 circumstances, when my horse was not 

 tired out, he was as sure footed as a 

 cat, but just then he was very uncertain 

 and I felt a little lump rise in my throat 

 as I saw directly in front of me, lesn 

 than a mile off, a little biinch of braves 

 coming for me. I never halted, but 

 pushed along until the reds began tc 

 circle about. By this time firing was 

 eoinG' on about me. and in antsther sec- 



ond four of the Indians in front of me 

 left the circle and v^'ithout firing a shot 

 came directly at me, their ponies cu a 

 dead run. 



"I have never felt just that way be- 

 fore or since. I can't describe my feel- 

 ings for a minute, but there was nc 

 time to hesitate, and I slowed up and 

 finally dropped to the ground, with my 

 carbine unslung. The Indians did not 

 offer to open fire, so I dropped on one 

 knee, and when they were near enough 

 I opened fire and shot as careful as I 

 might. JSIy first shot took effect, and 1 

 knew I had made a hit when one of the 

 braves let out a yelp. I had not fired 

 more than the third shot, when the reds 

 turned and made off again and joined a 

 larger force which was coming up from 

 the west. 



' 'I reloaded, mounted and took af tei 

 them again. They were running freely 

 in front of us, and, as their ponies were 

 fresh, they had little trouble in keeping 

 oufof the reach of our shots. Our men 

 were pretty well scattered, but finally 

 to the east I saw a little knot appear on 

 the brow of a slope, and among them 

 was Cody. They galloped down aftei 

 the reds, and the direction taken by 

 them soon brought me in their midst. 

 Then it became a steady trot. The reds 

 loafed and did not seem particularly 

 anxious to get away or to stoji and give 

 battle. This seemed to bother Buffalc 

 Bill considerably, and after we had been 

 on the chase for over an hour he called 

 a halt. He had tumbled to the little 

 game planned by the Indians. He ex- 

 plained that by their manner he knew 

 they were leading us i)ito a trap, and 

 that it was more than likely that some 

 distance on, hidden from view, there 

 Was a big village encamiD^d, and if we 

 kept on we were liable to find ourselves 

 in a trap, and no one in the party would 

 live to tell the tale. I don't exactly 

 know whether Bill was right or wrong. 

 He was not riding his own horse at the 

 time, and had tried to exchange the 

 animal he had for one of ours, but nc 

 one would change, and I kind of thought 

 he was fearful of risking a fight on the 

 horse he rode, because he would stand 

 no chance in getting away in case it 

 was necessary to retreat. Subsequent 

 de\-^lopmeuts demonstrated that he was 

 I'ight when he said we were being led 

 into a t ran. and it was luckv for us that 



