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Show 194 INDIAN DEPREDATIONS lariats, as was their custom. When the company got down to the Sevier River they saw a lot of cattle in the bottoms, and the appearances were to the effect that they had been gathered together by the Indians, convenient to be driven off. Having reached this place John Wilkenson said to Chris. Christensen, with whom he was riding, " If I were in command I would stop right here among the cattle, and hold our horses till morning ; it will only be an hour or two ; and if the Indians come after the stock, we would be prepared for them." Shortly before getting to the ford of the river Captain Pierson called a halt and instructed the boys to keep together and not talk loud, nor make any noise, and when in the river let their horses drink and proceed quietly up to the fort, which was about a mile distant. When they had gone about twenty- five yards from the fort they came to a stake and rider fence with large rabbit brush along by it, where the In-dians were concealed, no doubt intending to make a break on the little fort early in the morning. They permitted the boys to pass but opened fire in their back, hitting and killing Albert Lewis instantly; he fell off his horse exclaiming, ' ' Oh my God. ' ' Chris-tian Christensen who was riding beside Wilkensen was mortally wounded ; the ball fired by the Indian struck the handle of his pistol, driving part of it and the bullet into his bowels. He exclaimed, " Oh, I am shot." Wilkinson asked if he was wounded badly. He answered, " Yes, feel." Christensen wanted to get off his horse, but Wilkenson said " Let us re-treat back in the brush." The Indians fired up the line, wounding James Mortensen and John Peter-sen. The company rode up to the Fort, leaving |