A MAN OF NERVE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4884, 24 February 1894, Page 3

A MAN OF NERVE.

(New Tori: Sun.) By aina o'clock in the morning fully three hundred Indians had gathered at the agency. Every one of them was armed with rifle or revolver, and many of them had both. There was no drinking, and but little talking. Scar Faced Charley had escaped from the guard-house at the fort the night previous and sought their protection. They were ready to fight a whole regiment sooner than give him up. They expected the soldiers to come, and they had planned how the attack should be made. Scar Faced Charley, armed with a Winchester, revolver and hunting knife, was the centre of a group at the flour house. To reach him the eoldiers would have to tide across the agency grounds between the lines of Indians. They would have to pass five ehedß and houses behind which the Indiana could find shelter. The excavation for a new storehouse would make a rifle pit for fifty redskins. At nine o'clock the agent telegraphed over to the fort: <• " Don't coma. You couldn't take him with 500 men." At ten o'clock a single white man came up the road, with his mustang going; al an easy canter. While he waa yet a rifle shot away the Indians recognised him as Wild Bill, and there wsb an uneasy movement among them. Every man was watching him as he turned to the left and rode into the agency. He might have a despatch for the agent, or he might want to make a purchase. When he did not draw rein at the store the uneasiness was more marked. The Indians gathered in groups and conversed in whispers. As the rider reached these groups he uttered a brief " howdy," but did not check his pace. At that same canter, and with his gaze fastened on the group at the flour-house, the famous scout rode down the avenue, and made no halt until he reached the group. He nodded to two or three Indiana ■whom he knew, and then said to Scar Faced Charley: " I have come after you. It is not far, and my horse will carry double." ] There was the man who had sworn never j to: be taken alive; around him were three hundred friends who had promised to wipe out any force sent to capture him'. Instead of two hundred or three hundred soldiers, here waa one lone rcac. Everyone looked at hiui in Want amazement. Ho knew why" they hud assembled, and yofc he dared lake ths risks. He had knife and revolver, but h«j did not ttere put a hand to either. " I wili sot. go I" replied the half-breed, bu.fc there waa indecision in bis tones. " I an; aont for you. I shall take you dead or alivs, f»iv* var> your arms and cored along." For thirty Beconda every Indian seemed to hold hift breath, and all stood as rigid as post*. On« well-airued bullet would uettla iU« «eout, tut not a gun was raised to firs it. Half a dorsen of those stalwart men canla rash him off the grounds, to teturr. at nig peril, but not a foot moved. A regira*ni; TcrJtl have been attacked long sgo. A w«p»Dy tokW have been wiped out with • toUoj. A squad would have been fcftok&A to pieces with tomahawks. Hut oae o+n,, »no that man Wild Bill ! Scar Fai'*i*. Charley looked to the right and' left *n# Vi»lf sai««»a bi» rifle. Then fee hinde-3 tt <;:> l 'n r ' w»p. on hie right, foßo*r>*A !- itf rtToWer, c*3t his knife to the grMxati with s curse. %nd stepped forw&r". icd ;n*n;uT>ad behind cb& Boouk The i*fct«? h*e entered the agency with a •Bile pA- J? to i%ft' It-yru- there as-he

rode up to the flour-house { there as he delivered his message; there as he rode away with his prisoner behind him. Not a rifle was discharged, not a shout uttered, not a word spoken as they rode away, i When they were out of sight behind the ridge the Indians broke up into small groups and returned to their camps. They had been awed and overcome by a single mau, but they feared that man more than a regiment of soldiers.