As if following Joseph’s suggestion the Indian suddenly raised his gun and fired. The fleeing boy was crouching so low that he seemed almost a part of his horse’s back. As he saw the redskin lift his gun to take aim he flattened himself out still further and held his breath as he waited for the result of the shot.
At last the time had come which was to decide his fate. As the sharp bark of the Indian’s rifle sounded over the prairie Joseph felt a burning sensation in the fleshy part of his shoulder. He was wounded. It was his left shoulder, however, and so excited was the young volunteer that he scarcely felt the pain of the wound. He quickly stopped his horse and straightening up in the saddle lifted his gun to his shoulder.
The Indian seeing that he was tricked tried desperately to turn his pony. At the same time he hurled his tomahawk, but the distance was too great and it fell short of its mark. Joseph pulled the trigger and immediately the Indian threw up his hands. For a moment he struggled convulsively to keep his seat, but it was of no avail. He fell to the ground, dead, a bullet through his temple.
Joseph was stunned for a moment, and then, realizing that he was safe once more, a great wave of joy swept over him. He felt no remorse at having killed this man, for by doing so his own life had been saved. Perhaps, too, this Indian was one of those who had massacred his family. The young volunteer dismounted and drew near to his fallen foe.
The young Indian was lying face down upon the ground. Joseph rolled him over and noticed at his belt two freshly taken scalps. Suddenly a great wave of horror rushed over the young frontiersman as he looked. One of the scalps at the Indian’s belt was bright red.
For a moment Joseph was too stunned to move. Shaking all over with anguish he stood still and looked at the blood-stained trophy fastened at the Indian’s belt. The hair was exactly the color of Robert’s, and Joseph felt sure that his brother had fallen a victim to this redskinned warrior. A great sob rose in the boy’s throat and the tears welled up into his eyes, as he stood on the prairie and gazed at what he considered the proof of his brother’s death.
“The only one left,” thought Joseph. “My whole family wiped out by Black Hawk. Thank goodness, I am still here and I swear I’ll have revenge.” He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth as he thought of all he had suffered at the hands of the savages.