. Our pioneer heroes and their daring deeds . der fire, and give em somethingto fight up to to-morrow. What shall it be—pistols at three paces, or hand to handwith the bowie ? Jist what yer like. N^o, answered Bill, with some scorn; the general cant af-ford to lose his men that way j but Ill bet my horse agin yournthat I kin ride closer to the Feds line than you kin, Humph! answered Lawson, as he took a fresh chaw, andturning on his heel strode back into his tent. Whats the matter, Jake? Are you afraid? No, I aint afeared, but whats the sence or fun in such ad—d trick as that ere? WILD BILL. 5
. Our pioneer heroes and their daring deeds . der fire, and give em somethingto fight up to to-morrow. What shall it be—pistols at three paces, or hand to handwith the bowie ? Jist what yer like. N^o, answered Bill, with some scorn; the general cant af-ford to lose his men that way j but Ill bet my horse agin yournthat I kin ride closer to the Feds line than you kin, Humph! answered Lawson, as he took a fresh chaw, andturning on his heel strode back into his tent. Whats the matter, Jake? Are you afraid? No, I aint afeared, but whats the sence or fun in such ad—d trick as that ere? WILD BILL. 545 Kone at all for them as as dont see any. I just wanted to seeif you would go. Kinder looks as ef Jake wasnt the reel stuff, arter all,remarked a bystander, and taunt and jeer soon drew Jake outagain, resolved to disprove their opinion of his courage. Anx-iously were the two followed by the eyes of the whole companyas they rode forward on what seemed truly a fools errand. Asthey dashed onward, the Union pickets began to fire upon TAKING TO THE WATER. Hold your fire, shouted the foremost man, Im Wild Bill,trying to get into the lines. The Confederate, thus apprised of his companions character,drew his pistol and took aim, but before he could pull the triggeraljullet went crashing through his brain, and he reeled and fellfrom his horse. The riderless steed galloped onward, and stoop-ing from his saddle, Wild Bill caught the bridle and led it besidehis own. The passage of the creek was fraught with the greatestdanger, as his progress was necessarily slow, and the Confeder-ates had gathered in great force on the bank. Thick as hail thebullets fell around him from at least fifty rifles, but he escapedunhurt to the farther side. In conseq^uence of this exposure of 546 WILD BILL. their designs, the Confederates broke camp that night, and re-treated farther towards the Arkansas, swearing over the waythey had been deceived. Gen. Curtis continued the pursuit, and before long
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectindiansofnorthamerica, bookyear1887
