OUR FRIENDS BESIEGED--WE SURPRISE THE COMANCHES--OUR VICTORY, AND OUR
FRIENDS RELIEVED--WHAT THEY HAD SUFFERED--THE YOUNG GIRL RESTORED TO HER
HOME.
"Forward!" was the word, and our whole troop galloped on, eager for the
information the scouts could give us. We pulled up as they drew near.
At first all we could make out were the words, "The Comanches are there;
on, on! our friends are well-nigh done for." I ordered a halt, that we
might hear more exactly the information they had obtained, and have time
to form a plan, of operation with calmness and judgment. They had found
themselves, from indubitable signs, in the presence of a numerous band
of Indians. Soon the sound of firing reached their ears. Two of them,
leaving their horses with the rest, crept forward on foot, till they
caught sight of a rocky mound partly covered with trees. The Indians
surrounded this mound, and on the top of it some sort of fortification
had been thrown up, which they had no doubt was held by our missing
friends. From the slow way, however, in which they were firing, it was
very evident that their ammunition was almost exhausted, and that in a
short time longer their fate would be sealed. The Indians seemed aware
of this, for, though completely besetting the hill, they kept close
under shelter at a distance, only showing themselves when they had to
advance to get a shot at the besieged. One thing was certain--there was
not a moment to be lost; for, even while we were advancing, the savages
might make one of their fierce onslaughts, and destroy our friends.
Still, the very greatest caution was necessary. The enemy far
outnumbered us, and were brave and wary. It was advisable, if possible,
to take them by surprise, an undertaking of no ordinary difficulty, as
Tony Flack observed, in his peculiar way, when I proposed it: "Cap'n,
did you ever catch a weasel asleep? No, I guess; then you'll not catch
these here red-skinned varmints, when they know an enemy's not far off."
However, there was nothing like trying. I first ascertained from our
guides and the scouts the line of country which afforded most shelter,
and then directed them to lead us along it. Though speed was important,
concealment, till we could make a rush at the Indians, was still more
so; and I therefore ordered, as we got nearer, all the men to dismount,
and to lead their horses, one following another, in single file, so that
there would be less risk of our being perceived. I threw out scouts at
the same time, that we might not ourselves be surprised. As we
advanced, we listened anxiously for the sound of firing, to assure us
that our friends were still holding out. Not hearing any shots, I was
considering whether we ought not to mount and dash on all risks, when
one of my companions assured me that there was no hurry, that the
Indians were too wary to attack the fort till long after our friends had
ceased firing, and that very likely they would attempt to starve them
out. Thus reassured, we cautiously continued our progress as before.
Our well-trained hones seemed to understand the necessity for silence,
and, it appeared to me, trod as cautiously as any of the party. At
last, emerging from a valley, the report of a musket-shot reached our
ears; another and another followed; they sounded louder and louder; we
knew that at all events our friends were still holding out, and, what
was of infinite consequence, that the Indians would be so engaged in
front, that they would probably not discover our approach in their rear.
But a thin belt of wood intervened between us and the enemy. I called
a halt. Every man looked to the priming of his rifle and pistols, and
felt that his sword drew easily from the scabbard. At a word they
sprang into their saddles. Still I was unwilling to order a charge till
we had got so close that we could not fail to be discovered. Ready,
indeed, very nearly betrayed us, by barking at an Indian dog which
strayed up to us, and I had to call him off, to prevent a combat, but
not without difficulty, as he seemed highly delighted at having found an
antagonist worthy of his prowess. We now pushed steadily on; not a shot
was fired from the fort. We guessed, and rightly, that our friends'
powder was expended. The Indians redoubled their fire, and with
terrific yells were pushing on in dense masses towards the fort.
"They have calculated to a nicety the quantity of ammunition used, and
they know that it is all expended," observed the person who rode next
me. The Indians were, apparently, not much better supplied with powder
and shot. We could see our friends springing to the ramparts to receive
the savages, who were rushing up the hill-side in overwhelming numbers,
intent on taking the scalps of those who had so long resisted their
attacks. In a few minutes more, there could be little doubt that none
of our friends would have been left alive. We had reached the very edge
of the wood, and as we were full in view of the savages, we should have
been perceived by them, had they not been so intent on the attack as not
to turn their heads towards us. Our friends might have seen us, but
they took us, we guessed, for a fresh body of their foes. The time was
come agreeably to undeceive them. Forming my party by signs in close
ranks, I led them slowly on, so as to get still nearer, if possible,
before we commenced our charge. The frightful yells of the savages
prevented their usually quick ears from detecting the footfall of our
horses. I looked round at my men. Their knees were pressed tight to
their saddles; their teeth were firm set; their heads, with their eyes
wide open, were bent forward: their hands grasped their swords.
Already, in anticipation, the onslaught had commenced. There was no
necessity for longer holding them in. I shook my reins, and waved my
sword. We should be among the foe while our horses were fresh and
vigorous. On we dashed. We could no longer restrain from giving way to
a loud shout. The Redskins heard it and turned their heads. Our
friends heard it too, and, recognising us, returned it with a will; but
their voices sounded weak and faint. The Indians who were climbing the
hill sprang down to join their companions, who hurried together in a
mass to oppose us; but they seemed to be a mob without a leader, and,
unaccustomed to fight except on horseback, they were utterly unprepared
to withstand a charge of horsemen. We galloped towards them on their
front; our friends rushing down from the hill, attacked them furiously
in flank. In another instant we were upon them. The front ranks stood
bravely, and seizing our horses' reins, endeavoured to grapple with us;
but we shook them off, and cut them down, and went on riding through and
through them, till the greater number fled on every side. Some fought
to the last, trying to wound us and our horses; with most of these our
friends on foot settled; we disposed of the rest, and then galloped on
in pursuit of the flying multitude. I shouted to my men to keep
together, for I caught sight of a group of horses, held by Indians, in
the distance; and I knew that if we could capture them, we should have
little difficulty in overtaking the men on foot. Unfortunately several
of my party, unaccustomed to discipline, had scattered on either side in
pursuit of the flying foe. Some of the Indians had turned to bay, and
were fighting furiously with them, and more than one man was wounded or
unhorsed by the savages. In the meantime, the Indians who held the
horses seeing us coming, mounted and galloped off at full speed, the
whole stud following them at a rate which precluded all hopes of their
being overtaken.
Our victory was complete, but an important object would be lost unless
we could make prisoners of some chiefs or leading men, whom we might
hold as hostages for the delivery of the people who had been first
carried off. We were by this time at some distance from the hill, at
the foot of which our friends were assembled. I shouted to all my
followers, who were considerably scattered, to assemble round me, and
directed them, having fixed on three or four of the fugitives, who by
their costume we supposed might be chiefs, to ride after them and to
take them prisoners. All were, however, by this time at a considerable
distance. Three of the Indians we pursued managed to catch some of the
horses galloping round, and leaping on their backs were soon out of
sight. One tall chief alone, who seemed to be wounded, did not attempt
to fly, but leaning on his spear calmly awaited our coming. I was in
great hopes of taking him without resistance, but as we got close up to
him he sprang forward in a defensive attitude, thrusting his spear at
us, and evidently resolved to fight to the last. He had already wounded
one of our men and two of our horses, when a Spaniard, whom he was
attacking, drew his pistol and fired at him. With a ferocious grin on
his countenance he sprang into the air, and fell forward on his face,
dead.
We now rode back to join our friends, anxious to hear an account of
their adventures. The field was strewed on every side with dead bodies
of Indians. We had killed nearly thirty, while two of our own men had
fallen and four had been wounded. On reaching the hill we were warmly
greeted by our friends, whose haggard looks told the sufferings they had
endured, even before they had time to describe them. They had, it
appeared, day after day, perseveringly pursued the enemy, whose traces
they were on, but with whom they could not manage to come up. At length
they got within four or five miles of them, and began to entertain hopes
of surprising their camp. Preparations were made, and they were
actually advancing to the attack when the scouts brought in word that
the Indians had disappeared. They were now well into the Indian
territory, and it was necessary to advance with the greatest caution.
They were in the neighbourhood of the hill where we found them, when the
scouts brought word that, at a short distance off, there was a large
camp of Indians containing a number of warriors, quite capable of
overwhelming them. It might have been wiser to retreat, but instead of
doing that they at once rode up to the top of the hill, and began
throwing up fortifications from such materials as were at hand. While
some were thus employed, others remained in the plain to cut forage for
their horses. They themselves had but food sufficient, on reduced
rations, for a week or ten days. Their scouts meantime were watching
the camp of the enemy, in case any opportunity might occur for rescuing
the prisoners. They soon ascertained that their hopes on this score
were vain, for preparations were seen to be making for the usual mode by
which the Indians torture and then execute their prisoners. Two
unfortunate men were thus destroyed the next day, and on the following
two more were killed. It was proposed by some of the more daring of the
party to attack the camp at this period, and I think that the attempt
might have been successful, but the counsels of the timid prevailed.
The consequence was that two of their scouts were caught and scalped,
and they found themselves closely beset by the enemy. In this condition
they had remained day after day, surrounded by such overwhelming numbers
that they had no hopes of cutting their way out. The forage collected
for the horses was soon consumed, and, one after the other, most of the
animals died. They soon, too, had to kill more for the sake of
supplying themselves with food. They had now no means of escaping, and
they had made up their minds to fight to the last, and to sell their
lives dearly unless relieved. Several of their number had fallen, but
fewer than might have been expected.
Attacked day and night, their provisions entirely expended, with the
exception of a little putrid horse-flesh, our friends were on the point
of rushing out against the enemy to perish in the fight, when we were
seen charging down on the enemy. Never did succour more opportunely
reach a hard-pressed garrison. What was next to be done was now the
question. A number of the Indian horses were still scampering about,
and fortunately the greater portion were captured. We were thus able to
mount all the heavier men of the party, while the stronger horses were
made to carry two men each. As the day was drawing to a close before
all our arrangements were made, we resolved to camp on the hill, where
we could defend ourselves, rather than risk a march at night, when we
might be attacked to disadvantage. Having lighted our fires, attended
to our wounded, cooked our provisions, and made ourselves as comfortable
as circumstances would allow, we sent our scouts as usual to give notice
of the approach of an enemy. Though the Indians had been signally
defeated, they still mustered we knew in the neighbourhood in numbers so
overwhelming, that we could scarcely expect they would not make another
attack on us. I felt the responsibilities of my office, and could not
rest, in spite of the fatigue I had gone through, more than a few
minutes at a time. I rose several times during the night, and,
accompanied by Ready, climbed to the top of a rock on the brow of a
hill, whence I could look out on the wide extent of open country, which,
with the exception of small spaces covered by woods, stretched around.
Not a sound, however, was to be heard: there was not a sign, that I
could discover, of a foe near us. I regretted that our expedition had
not proved more successful. We had relieved our friends and gained a
victory, but another important object was not attained. We had not
recovered any prisoners, and the poor young girl, in whose fate I had
become interested, was still a captive in the hands of the savages.
Again I awoke and went to the rock. A few streaks of light were
appearing in the east, and grey dawn was stealing over the landscape.
It was time to arouse the camp, and to commence our journey, unless our
scouts brought in such information as might lead us to hope that we
might recover any survivors among the prisoners, either by force or
negotiation. I was about to utter the usual shout to awaken the
sleepers, when my eye was attracted by an object moving in the distance
over the plain. What it was I could not tell, till it resolved itself
into a horseman galloping at full speed towards us. Presently, as the
light increased, I observed some other objects still further off, moving
at like speed, and which I took to be other horsemen, very probably
pursuing the first. The first was seeking us--of that there could be
little doubt. Not a moment was to be lost; I shouted loudly to my
companions, ordering them to mount their steeds, and follow me. Peter
had run for my horse, which was picketed near. I dashed down the hill;
about a dozen men followed me closely. I galloped on. The long locks
of the seeming horseman, streaming in the wind, told me that a woman was
approaching, while almost close behind her came eight or ten savages
with their lances in rest, intent on her destruction. This made me the
more eager to place myself between the lady and her pursuers. My men
came on in good order, while others were hastening down the hill to
their support. The stranger was fair and young. We opened our ranks to
let her pass, pointing to our friends behind, and then spurred on
against the Indians. Seeing that their prey had escaped them, they
turned and galloped off. We sent some shots after them, and two fell
dead from their saddles. The rest we pursued for some distance; but,
unwilling to tire our horses, and aware of the danger of getting far
from our main body, we allowed them to escape, and returned towards the
hill. We found a group at the foot of it. They were surrounding the
fugitive, who was no other than the young girl of whom we were in
search. She had fainted when she found herself in safety among her
friends. After a little time, however, she recovered, and was able to
give an account of the fate of her companions. Every one of them had
been tortured and murdered. She had stolen out of the tent of the
chiefs in which she had been confined, and, mounting the fleetest
mustang of his stud, had made her escape.
There was now no reason for our remaining in the neighbourhood. We
reached the settlement without any further adventure, when I had the
satisfaction of restoring the young girl to her friends, and receiving
their thanks.