A Man With One Winchester, and Two Bullets

Chapter 8

I swooped down the tree, and collected pieces of wood for arrows. Since I am raiding the camp tonight, I need more then five arrows.

I climbed back up the tree, ate some of the deer meat I dried, then started on my arrows. I was thirsty, I hadn't drank in a week, so I'd need to find a stream. There must be a stream by the camp, as there usually is, I'll look for it once done with my arrows.

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I finished my arrows, and climbed down the trunk. I walked to the camp, then I trudged around it, staying ten yards away. At the other side I heard water running, and I cautiously walked torward the stream.

Four men were at the stream, collecting water & boiling it for the camp. I got within ten feet, then put a arrow on my bow, I aimed at a man's neck, and shot. It landed, he fell. One of the men saw him fall, he turned around, and started taking his gun out of his holster, but I already shot another arrow and he fell. The next two heard him fall, and they turned. I knocked a arrow on my bow, but this time one man had his gun out and shot, it missed, and my arrow nailed him in the chest. The next man was slow, and he finally had his gun out, but my arrow already flew into his arm and he dropped the gun. He gave a slight shriek, and I ran forward and knocked him down. I took my saxe out and placed it on his throat, then asked, "What does this camp do?"

He was a weakling, and scared, so he easily told me "Its a place for some people to, you know . . . Get supplies, and . . . Rest..." he talked with fear.

"Hmmm... Thank you." I said.

"Your . . . Welcome...?" He said, not knowing how to reply.

Now, should I kill him? I must . . . I killed the others, why not him...? I ended up tying him to a tree, then tying his mouth with a bandage.

I cleaned out one of the canteens from the men, filled it with water, then retrieved my arrows. I headed a mile or two from the stream, made a fire, and boiled the water. I sipped it with gratitude, then poured the rest into my canteen. I didn't drink to much, for it isn't good to drink a lot of water after going without it for a long period.

I collected more wood for arrows, sat down, and started on them. I'd need a lot for tonight, because tonight, I raid the camp.

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The night came quick, it became dark two hours after I started on my arrows. I now had twenty arrows, and I knew it would be more then needed.

I headed to the stream, checking if the man had been freed. He was gone. But, only his footprints shown, no one else's tracks showed, and the body still lay there. He went the opposite direction then the camp.

I followed his tracks for a while, running at a fast pace, but avoiding areas where my tracks would show.

After running for five-ten minutes, I came before the man. His feet were still tied, and his mouth was, also. He looked like a jumping fool. His direction was now to the camp, and I bet his move to the opposite direction of camp was to trick me. He had for a bit, but I now knew it was a simple trick.

I tackled the helpless man, and with the thongs on his feet I tied him to the tree. I kept his mouth tied so he couldn't scream. And then, I headed for the camp.

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I came within five yards of the camp when I saw them. Dozens of armed men surrounded it. A barrie which I would not be able to pass.

Maybe I must turn back? No, I shall raid it tonight. But should I? Tomorrow night held a amazing chance. Or did it? The men could also be there tomorrow.

Hmmmm....

I shall raid it tonight. But I must wait for my chance. And, that would come, I knew it would.

I walked around the camp for a bit, trying to find a tree I could climb. I did, and I flew up it. Once in the tree I peered into the camp. Inside there was no guards, but the two fires still shined. All the men looked away from the fire, and their night-vision would be on. If I could get their attention on the fire, they'd lose their vision. I could make a bundle of dyes and then maybe change the color of the fire and distract them.

I climbed down the tree, and collected mushroom, leaves, any thing that I thought would work as a dye. I packed them in a small bag that was made from the leather of my bag. Once I packed it, I climbed the tree, and awaited my chance to throw it.

As I waited, men started rising from the tents and taking guard. Now all the men were switched.

I guessed the man some how contacted them and told them I was in the area. Because, people don't randomly put on this big of a guard for fun. They must contact each other. But how?

Suddenly, I heard a noise. I looked down and saw a few wild boars rampaging by the camp. This was my chance.

I placed a arrow on my bow, and hooked the pouch of leaves and mushrooms on it. I let that arrow fly, and once it hit the fire, it sprouted into green & yellow colors. I caught most of the men's attention, and they all stared into the flames.

Then, I knocked another arrow on my bow and shot it at the boar, it thought the men attacked it, and it headed straight at the barrier of men and attacked. That thing flew forward and broke the line of men. I shot another arrow at the other boar and it did the same.

All the men were frantic. Running, and shooting the pigs. Though, they missed the pigs. Each shot missed because their vision was gone.

Now, men were coming out of the tent, all curious of the sound outside.

While that was happening, I made a small fire from a spindle in the tree. It was exhausting, but I finally got a coal, and then a fire.

I lit my arrow, and I let it fly into the huge tent. It sprouted into flames, burning to the ground. But then a huge man came out. A huge, huge man.