Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/406



crossing, when he would move on by the main trail, and all would meet on the other side, thus giving an opportunity for some to escape, or to rescue the others in case of an attack.

When he had reached half way to the bottom of the ravine the horses gave unmistakable signs of smelling Indians, and the cap tain, in a low voice, gave the order to trot briskly forward. They were met at the bottom by a volley of rifle shots. Putting their horses to the top of their speed, the company made a dash for the opposite side in the darkness and gained the bank, the Indians shouting and yelling. As soon as the volunteers were out of the ambush they returned shots and yells. Leaving their horses in care of a guard, they poured a brisk fire into the thicket where the In dians were stationed, but without being able to take aim at any thing. However, in a short time the Indians stopped firing and were heard retreating up the opposite side of the ravine; and the darkness not permitting a pursuit, the company, which had sus tained no injury, pursued its way to the house of Dr. White, where two men, neighbors, were found stationed midway between the house and the horse corral, guarding both, while Mrs. Guess, not knowing what was going on outside, sat waiting for her husband, ignorant of though fearing the cause of his absence so far into the night.

The volunteers placed their horses, ready to mount, under guard, and set out to look, or to feel in the darknes for the body of the mur dered man, under the guidance of Mr. Weaver. As they neared the field they heard the oxen with which Guess had been ploughing still hitched to the plough running and surging around the field in great terror. The captain divided his men, sending one squad to the left hand side of the field, with orders to go up the outside to the middle, and there leave all but two who were to climb the fence and cross over to the middle of the ploughed ground, and there await further orders, while he performed a similar movement on the right. Cautiously each party filed up the sides of the fence to the place where they were to cross and meet in the middle of the field.

Not a sound could be heard save the dull measured tread of the men, and an occasional rush and quick spasmodic snort of the oxen. Soon was heard the anxiously expected " Here it is ! " and all was again hushed and still. The oxen seemed to know that friends were near, for they were now standing quietly by the fence and did not move when Weaver went to them, but when they heard his voice, with which they were familiar, they answered with low plaintive lowing, while to make their recognition complete, they tried to touch him with their noses as he passed before them.

When all was ready, four men took up the body on a stretcher rudely constructed of rails, and preceded by a guard set out for the house. Taking the body into a small room it was hurriedly pre pared for burial, for it was now nearly dawn. Four bullets were