his badly wounded comrade…
source date: 1891
availability: public-domain

his badly wounded comrade. The Indians saw him and opened fire, but Kirker ran on, reach- ing his partner in safety. Ophner was soon revived, and while helplessly wounded, was still able to use his Winchester, and the two Ameri- cans soon made it so interesting that Mr. Lo retreated and waited for a better opportunity. As soon as the firing ceased Kirker again pick- ed up his comrade and started for the spring, realizing that without water his friend could not live through the day. The Indians again commenced firing and another halt was made. During the day Kirker made three trips to the spring for water, under a steady fire from the Indians’ rifles, each time carrying his com- panion a little nearer the water. How he es- caped without a scratch the Lord only knows, as he was shot at several scores of times during the day. The long hours of sunshine finally wore away, when under cover of the darkness, Kirker carried his fainting companion five miles, then secured a horse and again returned to the can- yon. Ophner was tied onto the horse, and the animal led into camp. Other horses were then secured, and with fresh assistants, Kirker re- turned to the scene of the fight where the man- gled remains of the three brave boys killed early in the morning were secured and brought back to camp.