Black Arrow, the Avenger — page 81: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

_ A CHARGE AND A YVOLLEY. 85 right, until a couple of shots were discharged at their leader, who was the only person visible from beyond thé camp. “Then they took good aim, anda stream of fire was poured forth from behind the wagons. The fire caused no little destruction, not among the men, but among the horses. Bill Sparks was knocked off his horse, and one or two more were wounded; but it was the havoc among the horses, caused by the low aim of those behind the ‘wagons, that made the charge a failure. So many animals were down, or careering about without their riders, that they were in the way of those who were still mounted. The ad- vance was stopped, and the assailants were glad to get out of reach of another volley. 9° © . . “Now you can sec, boys, what white Indians are,” said Wilson. “ That fellow Sparks wasaspy. It was his business to sée our'strength, and to put us on a camping-ground where ‘they would have a good chance at us. ' They expected to find us down yonder, and were as mad as rattlers when they came “ They got a pretty good dose,” remurked Henry Boyd. “ Not enough to cure'them, ‘That spy is settled, I think; but the others are likely to give us a8 much trouble as we can Wilson was right, as usua]. ‘These white Indians went to work in much the same manner as* red Indians were accus- tomed to. They had hoped to surprise the camp, of to take it ata disadvantage. Disappointed in this, they had attempted a grand rush, which had resulted im failure. As the red In- dians would have done, they then attacked on all sides, con- cealing themselves behind such cover as they could find. This was a game at which both sides could play. Those in the camp were sheltered by their wagons, and by bales of goods and other articles, of which they had’ made a breast- work ; while their assailants had only the inequalities of the ground and the li:tle holes that they scraped in the soft prai- rie soil; but the latter advanced steadily, and ‘their fire ~was quite galling, especially as it was’concentrated upon the camp from all directions. ~ It was not long before one of the teamsters was killed, Wil- gon was hit in the leg, and two others were slightly wounded. conmicldooks.con