THE PRAIRIE DUEL.
Warren Starr could have hugged his pony in his transport of delight.
Until a moment before he was sure several of the Sioux were upon him;
when, wheeling about, he was confronted by Jack, whom he had been
desirous of meeting above every other person or animal in the world.
The action of the horse he understood. On the sudden flight of his
master he had attempted to follow him among the rocks and trees of the
ridge; the Indians, in the flurry of the occasion, paying no attention
to him. Failing, he was making his way back to the open prairie, when
the sight of his master sent him galloping after him; Warren being too
panic-stricken to suspect the truth until he was well-nigh run down by
the faithful animal.
"Heaven bless you, Jack!" he exclaimed, with glowing face and joyous
heart; "you are in the nick of time."
Saddle and trappings were unharmed, though the tapering limbs of the
creature had been scratched and cut by his attempt to follow his master.
The youth was in the saddle in a twinkling, and, but for the sad
situation of Tim Brophy, he would have uttered a shout of triumph.
For in truth he felt safe, even though the hostiles were dangerously
near. Remembering this, he rode farther out from the ridge, and whooped
and swung his arms at the Indian ponies, who dashed still farther out on
the plain.
It was inevitable that this tumult should become known to the captors of
Tim Brophy. Young Starr expected it, and therefore was not surprised
when he saw the figures of several warriors at the base of the ridge. He
could not forbear swinging his Winchester over his head and taunting
them. They replied with several shots, but the distance was too great
for Warren to feel any alarm. He, too, discharged his gun at the group,
and acted as if he meant to challenge them to come out and attack him.
If such were his intentions, the challenge was accepted. Several
warriors ran out on the prairie, calling to their ponies, in order that
they might mount and take up the pursuit. Their action caused the youth
no alarm, for the test of speed had already been made, and he feared
none of the Indian animals.
The latter may have been under good discipline when their masters were
astride of them, but they showed anything but obedience now that they
were free from their control. They kept trotting about in circles, and
avoided the warriors with a persistency that must have been exasperating
to them.
Only one displayed consideration for his master. He was among the
fleetest, and after some coy dallying he stood still until the athletic
Sioux came beside him. He vaulted upon his back, and then accepted the
seeming challenge of the youth.
The latter had checked his steed at a safe distance on the snowy plain,
and confronted the Indian party. Looking beyond the warrior nearest him,
he strove to catch sight of Tim Brophy; but he was too far off, and the
trees interfered with his vision. Before he could continue the scrutiny
long, the mounted Sioux demanded his attention.
Prudence would have suggested that now, since young Starr was well
mounted, he should take no chances, but scurry away at the top of his
speed, leaving the discomfited warrior to nurse his chagrin over the
clever trick played upon him.
But the young rancher saw no reason why he should flee from a single
buck, no better mounted or armed than himself. He had had enough
experience in the Northwest to understand those people well, and thought
he knew how to take care of himself. No, he would fight him; and now
opened a most extraordinary prairie duel between Warren Starr and his
dusky enemy.
The youth glanced at his Winchester, and saw that it was all right, as
was the case with his revolver. His saddle was firmly cinched in place,
Jack was at his best, and what cared he for a single Indian, even though
he was a warrior that had taken the scalp of more than one unoffending
pioneer!
Jack stood as motionless as a statue, with his nose toward his enemy. A
gentle wind blowing across the prairie lifted his luxuriant mane
slightly from his neck and swung his heavy tail to one side. His head
was high, and the nostrils seemed to breathe defiance to the dusky foe,
who approached at a swinging gallop, as though he meant to ride down the
animal and rider.
But he held no such intention. The Sioux required no one to tell him
that that stationary figure, sitting so firmly in his saddle, meant to
fight.
While more than a hundred yards still separated the combatants the Sioux
horseman wheeled to the right, and, without checking his speed, started
to describe a long circle around the youth. The latter spoke softly to
Jack, who slowly turned, so as to keep his head continually pointed
toward the enemy. Evidently the animal understood the situation, and was
competent to do his part.
The Sioux at the base of the ridge had given over their effort for the
time to capture their ponies. All their attention was centred on the two
horsemen out on the prairie.
As yet the Indian made no move to fire. Warren was looking for him to
throw himself over the side of his animal, and aim from under his neck,
screening his own body meanwhile from the bullet of the young rancher.
Instead of doing so, however, he described a complete circle about
Warren, coming back to his starting point, while Jack continued to move
around, as if on a pivot, keeping his head always facing his foe.
The warrior was starting on his second round, when, without any
perceptible movement, he discharged his gun. Warren saw the blue puff of
smoke, the report sounding dull and far away in the wintry air.
The bullet did not pass nigh enough for him to be aware how close it
was. It would seem that the Indian ought to have done better, for it was
noticeable from where Warren sat that in completing his circle he had
shortened it, and was now several rods nearer than when he set out to
circumnavigate him.
"It is no more than fair to return the compliment," thought Warren,
raising his Winchester, taking careful aim, and pulling the trigger.
Truth compels us to say, however, that his shot went as wide of the mark
as the one aimed at him. Thus far honors were equal between them.
The Sioux continued his trip around the central object, though what he
expected or hoped to accomplish by this curious proceeding was more than
his antagonist could conjecture.
The advantage during the performance possibly was with young Starr; for,
by keeping the nose of Jack pointed toward the other he offered the
least possible target to the foe, while the course of the Indian
compelled him to hold his pony broadside, himself remaining a
conspicuous object on his back.
"I think I can shorten this business," reflected Starr, "by another shot
or two. I am standing still, and if I can't bring that fellow off his
horse I'm of little account."
But the Sioux was more watchful than he suspected. Hardly was the
Winchester raised when, presto! the warrior disappeared. He had flung
himself far on the other side of his pony, and was capable of
maintaining that situation while making the circuit of the youth.
The latter held his fire. He was confident of being able to hit the
other animal, but to his mind that would be taking a dishonorable
advantage, though none knew better than he that he was dealing with an
enemy to whom treachery was a cardinal virtue.
The horse showed no decrease of his speed, but continued galloping
forward with the easy swing shown by the trained circus animal when an
equestrian is giving an exhibition. That the rider, from his position on
the other side of his body, with his moccason extended over the spine of
the animal, was keeping close watch of the youth the latter did not need
to be told.
He must have seen Warren, after holding his weapon levelled for a
moment, lower it again, disappointed at the vanishing target. The next
moment the Sioux discharged his weapon.