The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 334: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

~_—_ -_——- a ae ae ee EE 328 and appeared to be on the best of terms with them- selves, “<‘ After a bit I watched them all more keenly than before, and in less than half-an-hour I heard great shouting from the other side of the river. “<T peeped through the thick foliage of a copse, in which 1 was concealed, and could perceive ano- ther party of Indians, and with them several French officers, and some Indian interpreters. “In a moment or two, the river was swarming with boats, which shot out from among the rushes on both sides of the river, and the Frenchmen with their Indians crossed over. — “These last Indians were a war- party of Black- feet. “«The Frenchmen brought with them several canoe loads of presents, and odds and ends, and in less than half-an-hour they were all sitting round a great council fire, having a long and noisy ‘pow wow ’ about what was to be done. : “¢ Byom what I could learn, the ‘Comanches and Blackfeet, although they had been for many years at war one with another, were so much pleased with the numerous presents which the French had given them, that they agreed to forget their old quarrels, and each send out a war-party to scour the country, and kill every soul of us.” “¢ That is if they could,’ I remarked: ** Just so,’ said the trapper. “*¢ Well, what then ?’ | ““¢ After the Frenchmen had gone over the river again, the two war-parties of Indians still sat round their council-fires smoking, but I could see it would have taken very little to arouse them, and cause a sanguinary battle among themselves, for from the looks of the treacherous Blackfeet, and the gestures of the Comanches, it even now appeared that a- quarrel was brewing among them about the fair and honest division of the gifts which the French- men had brought over. ‘“‘ When they had done smoking one of the Co- manche chiefs rose up and said that as his was the oldest and bravest tribe he should have the first choice. ‘*¢ He, therefore, seized a rifle on the instant. “** The Blackfeet, perceiving that there was trea- chery on foot, jumped to their feet and helped themselves to whatever they liked. “The Comanches were taken somewhat unawares, but, in a moment, they all rushed forward to seize something, anda general fight commenced among them, ‘( * Such shouting, yelling, screaming and cursing you never heard in all your life. “* They looked like so many devils, dancing about and fighting like furies: ry “*T haye seen a great deal of Indians,’ said the trapper, ‘but I never saw anything to equal that. ‘«* Neither side would give in. “«They were about equal in numbers, and they fought with the bitterness and obstinacy of so many inhuman monsters, «Some were scalped, others had their heads cut off, more than half-a-dozen were riddled with balls, and yet for more than an hour they fought the fight went on without abating the least in fury.’ ¢ But what did you do?’ I asked the Trapper. “¢Why, you see,’ the Trapper answered, ‘ my blood began to boil when I saw so much barbarity, and Imade up my mind to mount the mustang and hook it off as best I could, for one white man among so many red devils stands no chance at all, I jumps on the mustang, and was well nigh clear of the fight as 1 thought, when I was nea another c> _ THE BOY;SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI'S YOUNG CAPTAINS) 5 ||) party of Comanches, who were advancing to take- part in the fight against the Blackfeet.’ « ¢ Théh it was a planned affair ?’ I said. “© So it appeared to me, for the Comanches had evidently made up their minds to rob and murder the Blackfeet, and had assistance in ambush, not many miles off ; but then their chief had commenced the fight too soon, and were getting the worst of it, for the Blackfeet fought like demons.’ ‘Well, what happened to you ?’ ‘¢¢ Winding my passage debarred by this second party of Comanches, I made up my mind to retreat. 5 2S “© But they discovered me, and let fly a shower ofballsatmy head, . “© This wasn’t very pleasant, you may be sure, “‘Hang it, thought I, they shan’t kill me for nothing, so I lets fly at ‘em right and left and knocks over two of their greatest braves at one shot. ‘“¢T don’t like the Blackfeet any more than the Comanches, you know, Captain Tom,’ the trapper said, ‘but as the former were less numerous than the latter, I determined to help’em a little bit, and fight my way out of the scrimmage as best I could. “* And tough work it was, you can bet,’ said the Yankee.’ “‘¢ When the Blackfeet saw me gallop in among them, they all turned towards me, vowing vengeance against the pale-face, and I fully made sure they would massacre me. “<T made signs to them, however, and when they saw me fire among and kill several of the Comanches, they yelled with delight and danced for joy. “The Comanches rushed at me right and left. ‘“‘s Every weapon was directed at me, and how I escaped from the shower of bullets seems a miracle, “ “My cap was knocked off ; my saddle was almost riddled ; several shots struck my arms, thighs, and head, and blood poured out from a dozen flesh wounds, «The Blackfeet warriors, however, fought well, but they were not sufficiently numerous to beat back their enemies, who were now swarming on every side, 8} ““* Arrows, tomahawks, and war clubs flew thick and fast through the air. : di “A dozen times did a tall, war-like brave gallop up and attempt to strike me down. , ‘But he nearly always got more than he gave, and at last I knocked him off his horse with a heavy blow from the butt end of my rifle, and left” him sprawling more dead than alive. ) ‘“' Perceiving that the Blackfeet could not fight much longer I stopped one of their chiefs, and told him he and his followers had better take to their boats, or else steal the Comanche horses, and thus escape. ‘““* Ror, strange to say, the fight had begun so sud- denly, and had been continued with such vengeance, that most of the Comanches forgot all abont their horses, and fought on foot. ‘“* My advice was received in good part. *** Pale-face,’ said the Blackfeet brave, ‘we haye met before, to the red men of our tribe; but I forget all that for what you have done to-day. Your advice is good ; we will fly, but to return swiftly again, yea, as swiftly as an arrow from the bow,” ““*He galloped away among his followers, and told them what to do. **In a few moments several of the Blackfeet braves fell flat among the grass, a GEomichsoo You are, and never have been a friend (S@)