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Show 150 FORTY YEARS AMONG THE INDIANS. circle back to the road about where we turned out, Moore holding to the off wheeler. As we ran the shots came thick and fast from the brush, clear along the half- circle up to the road. Just as we struck the road, crossing it to the west our direction of travel being to the north shots commenced coming from the left side, one striking and killing the nigh wheel mule. This stopped the team, as the leaders alone could not pull the wagon and drag the dead mule. ( The shots were now cominog thick and fast from all sides. The lead mules were trying to get away. I called to Moore to cut the breast strap of the dead mule so that the leaders could continue toward open ground. He made a strike or two with his knife, but while doing so the off wheeler fell dead. An instant after the off leader fell. I now had hold of the only mule left stand-ing. The two horsemen were just in front of the team, and when it stopped they halted also. One of them, Daniel Dafney, I shall always remember for his coolness and courage. I felt like giving the word to run and abandon the team, but knowing that we were some eight hundred miles from home, did not much like the prospect of footing it through. Moore raised his gun to shoot. I told him not to do so, as they, no doubt, would make a rush for us if we fired. In those days muzzle- loaders were all we had. One of the horsemen had a rope knocked from his hand with a bullet. On this he said to Dafney, " It is getting too hot, let's run." Dafney replied, " I will not leave till all leave." Just at this the off leader sprang up, not having been injured much, only grazed across the loins. I spoke to Moore, telling him to cut the mule out of the harness, |
