Snippet #1790761

The Indian brave had stayed with the caravan as it traveled across the open fields of the northwest plains, making sure to keep some distance between himself and Hell on Wheels wagon train. The wide open expanse eventually gave way to lightly wooded areas of considerable size. This allowed White-Owl to ride much closer to the wagons, as his movements were sufficiently blocked by the bushes and trees which lined the route before them. Having learned the intricacies and habits of the wagon train White-Ole was able to discern before-hand when the white travelers would need to stop their caravan.

The Indian dismounted and grabbed his bow, arrows, and his single-shot Springfield rifle, replacing his knife in the sheath strapped to his thigh, he crept slowly through the woods toward Daiyu and the children. The young lady did not hear the man approaching her position, her senses being no match for his experience in stalking victims and hunting animal pray. Having returned to Daiyu's side after doing their business within the woods the three young frontier travelers started to walk back to their wagon. White-Owl still crouched within the bushes slowly rose to full standing position as he simultaneously drew an arrow from the quiver on his back and placed it against his bow in firing position.

White-Owl was aiming for one of the children, with the intentions of taking out the other immediately after. The Indian had the drop on them and there was little hope of escaping his precision and speed, many tales tell of the speed of experienced warriors like White-Owl. Accounts of Indians being able to fire over ten arrows in the time it takes a settler to reload his musket were not mere legend. The sudden galloping sound coming from behind the Indian brave and the surprise of its appearance caused the young warrior to misfire, sending the arrow speeding toward a nearby tree in which it became embedded. Before White-Owl could react to the threat Jess Anderson struck the brave in the back of his head with the butt of his Winchester rifle.