“It is now about noon. There is someone at the stable yet; they are throwing a rope out at the door and drawing it back. I guess it is to draw me out. I wish that duck would get out further so I could get a shot at him. Boys, I don’t know what they have done with them two fellows that staid here last night. Boys, I feel pretty lonesome just now. I wish there was someone here with me so we could watch all sides at once. They may fool around until I get a good shot before they leave. It’s about 3 o’clock now. There was a man in a buckboard and one on horseback just passed. They fired on them as they went by. I don’t know if they killed them or not. I seen lots of men come out on horses on the other side of the river and take after them. I shot at the men in the stable just now; don’t know if I got any or not. I must go and look out again. It don’t look as if there is much show of my getting away. I see twelve or fifteen men. One looks like (name is scratched out). I don’t know whether it is or not. I hope they did not catch them fellows that run over the bridge towards Smith’s. They are shooting at the house now. If I had a pair of glasses I believe I would know some of those men. They are coming back. I’ve got to look out. “Well, they have just got through shelling the house like hail. I heard them splitting wood. I guess they are going to fire the house tonight. I think I will make a break when night comes, if alive. Shooting again. I think they will fire the house this time. It’s not night yet. The house is all fired. Goodbye, boys, if I never see you again. “NATHAN D. CHAMPION.” The above diary written while half a hundred armed men had the house surrounded, with all avenues of escape shut off, with a constant hail of bullets entering from every direction; with his dead friend lying on the floor beside him, knowing, in fact, that these fifty men were thirsting for his blood, is a remarkable production, and will be quoted in history as the utterance of a brave man throughout all time to come. No stronger expression of nerve and heroism has ever been recorded, and coming generations will point to Nate Champion as one of the coolest and bravest men of the Nineteenth century.