A Man With One Winchester, and Two Bullets

Chapter 14

Three men sat amazed. For I sat before them, sipping my tea.

"A nice camp," I said, "you are the captain, are you not?"

"Yes..." he gulped.

"It's quite big, but I've burned bigger one to ashes."

They didn't know what to say, and none dared try to shoot or scream, for a black powder shot-gun was aimed at them.

I poured some tea, and sipped. "What is this dreadful tea?!" I yelled, "This is a disgrace!" I took out some of the syrup and poured it in. "Yes! This is tea for the elegant!"

The captain finally mustered enough courage to speak "Do you plan to defeat us? Men surround you, and if a gun fires or I yell they'll come."

I dumped the rest of the syrup into the pot of tea, and poured more into my cup. "I am a man who shall live. Rather an army comes, or a large camp fights me, I shall win!"

"I wouldn't yell so loud, they'll come."

He began reaching to pour some tea for himself, but I slapped it, and he screamed in pain. "Did you not hear me say? This is tea for the elegant!"

Suddenly I heard men moving about in the tents, for they heard the scream.

"It is fine!" I yelled, "The captain only burnt himself!"

"No I didn't, the man is here!" The captain howled.

"You son of a gun, you shall die!" I screamed.

I pulled my saxe out and stabbed him in the neck. The two other men pulled their guns out, but I quickly slit their throats their necks with my razor sharp blade.

I jumped out of the tent in a sprint, and ran. Ran faster then I ever had to before. I heard shots behind me, but I kept running. In the same direction I had gone yesterday, they day before, and the day before that. The trail that would be take me to a wall! Flame Wall! Yes, that is what I shall call it, Flame Wall! I run to the impenetrable Flame Wall!

My encounter with the camp had been lucky. Finding a black-powder shotgun and being able to sneak through the camp to find a captain was truly lucky! Though, all my syrup was gone... So sad... While pouring syrup on my pancakes I never dreamed of pouring it into my tea! But, it truly was good, especially after drinking bitter, disgusting tea.

I slowed down to a jog, and after an hour stopped and rested in a small clearing.

I awoke to the sound of men running towards me. I looked, and five men were coming. It was still dark, and they couldn't see me yet, so picking up my shot-gun I crawled to the forest edge. When they came upon the camp I landed bullets in two of them. They turned quickly, but I shot another. Next thing I knew the two men were shooting crazy like! The banging of guns wafted into the night. A bullet brushed my arm, but I got a bullet into a man's chest and he fell. The fifth man rushed towards me, and there was no chance I could reload, it took much time. So I pulled out my saxe and rushed towards him. Running at each other, we fought. He tried to shoot, but missed, and couldn't reload with me in front of him. So we punched and kicked, my knife slicing him here and there, but his fist landing into my face. Finally my knife caught his arm and half severed it. He howled and fell down, grasping his dangling arm.

"A good fight, but I win." I said with a grin, then kicked him.

I frisked him, finding a Winchester, and a black-powder shot-gun with ammunition. I took the ammo and whinchester, but left the shot-gun, for I already carried one.

I forced myself to start walking again, but I was sleepy. I wished to be cozy in my blanket, but I also wished to live.

After walking for half an hour, I found a small tree with a small hollow in it. I crawled into the tree, and snuggled with my bear skin.

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Once I awoke I ate some of the beer meat, and cleaned my wound. Forgetting to clean it yesterday had made it quite an annoyance.

I decided to rest today, and get ready for twenty-miles-a-day travelling.

I found a creek and collected fresh water, then getting a small, smooth stone I sharpened my knife. Then made new arrows, and practiced loading my black-powder.

At noon I began looking around, and I found a small absent camp. Rations laid around it, and I took them all. It was a small, one manned camp and no doubt the man would return, so I hastily took the rations and left.

I returned to my hollow and slept, for I needed energy on these next days of travelling. Yes, much energy for my travel to the impenetrable Flame Wall!