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Learn more- The bright sun shone down on the head of an old man and a white-haired woman as they stood on the bank of the Osage River, their gaze riveted on Beecher Island in the middle of the stream. The scene brought back to the old couple visions of the stirring days when the little island was strewn with dead, and the river, as it flowed onward, was stained with the blood of paleface and redskin. And as they looked the story of their youth unfolded before the eyes of memory. Here is the story: Dan Cooper, like many another young fellow, could not resist the call of the wanderlust. As he cantered leisurely across the prairie, he saw a solitary soldier riding for dear life, with a troop of yelling redskins close behind him. Dan galloped to the fleeing man's side. The soldier was a young officer of the regular army. Together they put up a stiff fight, and drove the Indians off. The young officer was severely wounded, and asked Dan to assist him back to Fort Leavenworth. Here the young officer introduced the new-found friend to his sister Anna. For a week Dan was the happiest fellow that ever lived, but was too full of life to keep out of trouble. One day he saw a drunken half-breed beating a young and pretty squaw. He knocked the half-breed down, and won the squaw's gratitude. As he rode away, he discovered that his quirt was missing. The next day a traveler was found robbed and murdered by the roadside, and across his body lay Dan's quirt. He was accused of the crime, and Anna's father, the commander of the fort, gave orders for his arrest. Dan made his getaway before he was caught, and joined a party of miners who were on their way to the California gold fields. Anna believed that her lover was guilty, and was heartbroken. At this time old chief Roman Nose was at the height of his power. The mining party was attacked, and put up a hard fight, until their ammunition gave out. Things were looking serious, and Dan and the miners were preparing to die. The redskins were nearly upon them when they suddenly heard a bugle blast. The Indians turned to fight the newcomers, but were driven back by the cavalry, leaving their dead and wounded behind them. The party was saved by a heavily escorted government train. At this time Colonel Forsythe received notice to punish Roman Nose, and drive the Indians still further west. His troops started on the search of the enemy, and on the way were joined by Dan and the miners. After severe fighting, the white men were driven back to Beecher Island, and for seven days they repelled the repeated attacks of the redskins. Colonel Forsythe's losses were very severe, and on the seventh day only fourteen men remained alive under him. Their only hope lay in getting word to the commander at Fort Leavenworth to send reinforcements. Dan volunteered to execute the perilous mission. Under cover of the darkness he stole through the Indians' lines, which now completely surrounded the island, and for two days and nights, without food or drink, with breathless haste he traveled on foot toward the fort. There he fell overcome with hunger and weakness. Two troopers discovered and revived him. To them he told of Colonel Forsythe's plight. One galloped back and gave the alarm. In a short time the five squadrons of cavalry thundered across the plains. They fought for hours without driving the redskins back. Old Roman Nose led a picked body of horsemen in a desperate charge. A sharpshooter sent a bullet into his heart. At his death the Indians fled. In the meanwhile Dan was brought to the fort, his heart beating with joy at the prospect of seeing Anna once again. The father was about to place him under arrest when Fawn, the Indian girl, whom he had protected from the half-breed, rushed to his side and, pointing to the half-breed, said, "He killed the man and placed Dan's quirt there. 1 saw him do it." Dan was saved, and his happiness was complete when Anna threw herself into his arms and sobbed for joy.
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