Just before reaching Tisdale’s ranch Mike Shonsy, foreman of the Western Union Beef Company, rode up to the advancing column with the information that there were rustlers in the neighboring ranch, and after consultation among the leaders of the band that night, a change of route and plan was agreed upon. CHAPTER V. COWARDLY ATTACK UPON THE K. C. RANCH--FLIGHT OF JACK FLAGG UNDER FIRE--CAPTURE OF THE TRAPPERS JONES AND WALKER--SHOOTING OF RAY--BURNING OF THE RANCH HOUSE--ATTEMPTED FLIGHT AND KILLING OF NATE CHAMPION--CHAMPION’S DIARY As indicated in the last chapter, the information brought by Shonsy to the effect that there were rustlers at Nolan’s K. C. ranch, on the North Fork of Powder River, changed the route of the invaders. Friday, the 8th, was spent at Tisdale’s waiting for the supply wagons to come up. In the afternoon, Shonsy, in charge of a squad, was sent to reconnoitre, the balance of the party following after nightfall. The design was to reach the ranch before daylight and blow up the house with dynamite, thus destroying all who chanced to be in the building. But daylight had broke when they reached the place and safety forbade too near approach to the dwelling, where “dead shots” might get the drop. So they concealed themselves in the stable, along the creek, that nearly surrounded the house, and in the brush of the ravine on the side opposite the creek. Having the premises completely surrounded, and being themselves concealed, the besiegers waited the appearance of the inmates, expecting to shoot them down as they came out. Seeing a traveler’s wagon in the yard, the suspicion was raised in the minds of the leaders that possibly some of their friends might be in the house, and orders were given “await orders” before shooting. Presently a man came out with a bucket and walked down to the creek. He was captured and concealed behind the creek bank. Another man came from the house after a time and walked to the stable. He was captured and held. These men proved to be Jones and Walker, two trappers who had stopped over night at the ranch. In a little while Nick Ray came out of the house and walked several steps from the door when he was shot and felled to the ground. Champion rushed to the door, gun in hand, and poured a volley at the besiegers, all the time a hot fire being directed at him. He closed the door and evidently watched from the window whence he could see that his friend Ray was slowly crawling toward the door. When Ray was close to the step, Champion opened the door, sent another volley toward the stable and creek, then laid down his gun and, with bullets thick as hail flying about him, stepped out and dragged his friend into the house.