按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the way to it was commanded by the Indians who now occupied the low
hill to the east。 It was close range； for the hill could not have
been more than fifteen rods away。 But the Indians were not good
shots； evidently； for our men brought in the water without being
hit。
Beyond an occasional shot into camp the morning passed quietly。 We
had settled down in the rifle pit； and； being used to rough living；
were comfortable enough。 Of course it was bad for the families of
those who had been killed； and there was the taking care of the
wounded。 I was for ever stealing away from mother in my insatiable
curiosity to see everything that was going on； and I managed to see
pretty much of everything。 Inside the corral； to the south of the
big rifle pit； the men dug a hole and buried the seven men and two
women all together。 Only Mrs。 Hastings； who had lost her husband
and father； made much trouble。 She cried and screamed out； and it
took the other women a long time to quiet her。
On the low hill to the east the Indians kept up a tremendous
powwowing and yelling。 But beyond an occasional harmless shot they
did nothing。
〃What's the matter with the ornery cusses？〃 Laban impatiently wanted
to know。 〃Can't they make up their minds what they're goin' to do；
an' then do it？〃
It was hot in the corral that afternoon。 The sun blazed down out of
a cloudless sky； and there was no wind。 The men； lying with their
rifles in the trench under the wagons； were partly shaded； but the
big rifle pit； in which were over a hundred women and children； was
exposed to the full power of the sun。 Here； too； were the wounded
men； over whom we erected awnings of blankets。 It was crowded and
stifling in the pit； and I was for ever stealing out of it to the
firing…line； and making a great to…do at carrying messages for
father。
Our grave mistake had been in not forming the wagon…circle so as to
inclose the spring。 This had been due to the excitement of the
first attack； when we did not know how quickly it might be followed
by a second one。 And now it was too late。 At fifteen rods'
distance from the Indian position on the hill we did not dare
unchain our wagons。 Inside the corral； south of the graves； we
constructed a latrine； and； north of the rifle pit in the centre； a
couple of men were told off by father to dig a well for water。
In the mid…afternoon of that day； which was the second day； we saw
Lee again。 He was on foot； crossing diagonally over the meadow to
the north…west just out of rifle…shot from us。 Father hoisted one
of mother's sheets on a couple of ox…goads lashed together。 This
was our white flag。 But Lee took no notice of it； continuing on his
way。
Laban was for trying a long shot at him； but father stopped him；
saying that it was evident the whites had not made up their minds
what they were going to do with us； and that a shot at Lee might
hurry them into making up their minds the wrong way。
〃Here； Jesse；〃 father said to me； tearing a strip from the sheet and
fastening it to an ox…goad。 〃Take this and go out and try to talk
to that man。 Don't tell him anything about what's happened to us。
Just try to get him to come in and talk with us。〃
As I started to obey； my chest swelling with pride in my mission；
Jed Dunham cried out that he wanted to go with me。 Jed was about my
own age。
〃Dunham； can your boy go along with Jesse？〃 father asked Jed's
father。 〃Two's better than one。 They'll keep each other out of
mischief。〃
So Jed and I； two youngsters of nine； went out under the white flag
to talk with the leader of our enemies。 But Lee would not talk。
When he saw us coming he started to sneak away。 We never got within
calling distance of him； and after a while he must have hidden in
the brush； for we never laid eyes on him again； and we knew he
couldn't have got clear away。
Jed and I beat up the brush for hundreds of yards all around。 They
hadn't told us how long we were to be gone； and since the Indians
did not fire on us we kept on going。 We were away over two hours；
though had either of us been alone he would have been back in a
quarter of the time。 But Jed was bound to outbrave me； and I was
equally bound to outbrave him。
Our foolishness was not without profit。 We walked； boldly about
under our white flag； and learned how thoroughly our camp was
beleaguered。 To the south of our train； not more than half a mile
away； we made out a large Indian camp。 Beyond； on the meadow； we
could see Indian boys riding hard on their horses。
Then there was the Indian position on the hill to the east。 We
managed to climb a low hill so as to look into this position。 Jed
and I spent half an hour trying to count them； and concluded； with
much guessing； that there must be at least a couple of hundred。
Also； we saw white men with them and doing a great deal of talking。
North…east of our train； not more than four hundred yards from it；
we discovered a large camp of whites behind a low rise of ground。
And beyond we could see fifty or sixty saddle…horses grazing。 And a
mile or so away； to the north； we saw a tiny cloud of dust
approaching。 Jed and I waited until we saw a single man； riding
fast； gallop into the camp of the whites。
When we got back into the corral the first thing that happened to me
was a smack from mother for having stayed away so long； but father
praised Jed and me when we gave our report。
〃Watch for an attack now maybe； Captain；〃 Aaron Cochrane said to
father。 〃That man the boys seen has rid in for a purpose。 The
whites are holding the Indians till they get orders from higher up。
Maybe that man brung the orders one way or the other。 They ain't
sparing horseflesh； that's one thing sure。〃
Half an hour after our return Laban attempted a scout under a white
flag。 But he had not gone twenty feet outside the circle when the
Indians opened fire on him and sent him back on the run。
Just before sundown I was in the rifle pit holding the baby； while
mother was spreading the blankets for a bed。 There were so many of
us that we were packed and jammed。 So little room was there that
many of the women the night before had sat up and slept with their
heads bowed on their knees。 Right alongside of me； so near that
when he tossed his arms about he struck me on the shoulder； Silas
Dunlap was dying。 He had been shot in the head in the first attack；
and all the second day was out of his head and raving and singing
doggerel。 One of his songs； that he sang over and over； until it
made mother frantic nervous； was：
〃Said the first little devil to the second little devil；
'Give me some tobaccy from your old tobaccy box。'
Said the second little devil to the first little devil；
'Stick close to your money and close to your rocks；
An' you'll always have tobaccy in your old tobaccy box。'〃
I was sitting directly alongside of him； holding