by Ambrose Bierce

queer story of David William Duck, related by himself Duck is an old man living in Aurora, Illinois, where universally respected commonly known, however, as "Dead Duck "

" autumn of 1866 private soldier Eighteenth Infantry My company was one stationed at Fort Phil Kearney, commanded by Colonel Carrington The country is more or less familiar history garrison, particularly slaughter Sioux of detachment of eighty-one men and officers--not one escaping--through disobedience of orders by its commander, the brave but reckless Captain Fetterman occurred, trying my way with important dispatches to Fort C F Smith, Big Horn country swarmed with hostile Indians, I traveled by night and concealed myself as best before daybreak The better , I went afoot, armed with Henry rifle and carrying three days' rations in my haversack

" second place of concealment I chose what seemed darkness narrow canon leading through range of rocky hills It contained many large bowlders, detached slopes hills Behind , in clump of sage-brush, my bed day, and soon fell asleep It seemed I had hardly closed my eyes, though near midday, when awakened report of rifle, the bullet striking the bowlder just above my body band of Indians had trailed me and had me nearly surrounded; the shot fired with an execrable aim by fellow who had caught sight of me hillside above The smoke rifle betrayed him, and no sooner on my feet than off his and rolling down the declivity Then I ran in stooping posture, dodging clumps of sage-brush in storm of bullets from invisible enemies The rascals rise and pursue, which rather queer, for known by my trail had to deal with man The reason for their inaction was soon made clear I gone hundred yards before I reached the limit run--the head gulch which I had mistaken for canon It terminated in concave breast of rock, nearly vertical and destitute of vegetation cul-de-sac caught like bear in pen Pursuit was needless; they had only to wait

"They waited For two days and nights, crouching behind rock topped with growth of mesquite, and cliff at my back, suffering agonies of thirst and absolutely hopeless of deliverance, I fought the fellows at long range, firing occasionally smoke rifles, , dare to close my eyes at night, and lack of sleep was keen torture

"I remember the morning third day, which was my last I remember, rather indistinctly, that in my desperation and delirium I sprang out open and began firing my repeating rifle without seeing anybody to fire at And I remember no more fight

"The next thing that I recollect was my pulling myself out of river just at nightfall I rag of clothing and knew nothing whereabouts, but all that night I traveled, cold and footsore, toward the north At daybreak myself at Fort C F Smith, my destination, but without my dispatches The first man that I met was sergeant named William Briscoe, whom fancy his astonishment at seeing me condition, and my own at his asking who the devil

"'Dave Duck,' I answered; ' I be ? '

"He stared like an owl

"' look it,' , and I observed that he drew little away from me 'What's up ? ' he added

" him what had happened the day before He heard me through, still staring; then :

"'My dear fellow, Dave Duck I ought to inform you that I buried you out with small scouting party and found your body, full of bullet-holes and newly scalped-- somewhat mutilated otherwise, too, sorry --right where you say your fight Come to my tent and I'll show you your clothing and some letters that from your person; the commandant has your dispatches '

"He performed that promise He showed me the clothing, which I resolutely put on; the letters, which I put into my pocket no objection, then took me commandant, who heard my story and coldly ordered Briscoe me guardhouse way :

"'Bill Briscoe, did you really and truly bury the dead body that you found togs ? '

"'Sure,' he answered--'just as you Dave Duck, all right; most of us knew him And now, you damned impostor, you'd better tell me who '

"'I'd give something ,'

"A week later, I escaped guardhouse and got country as fast as Twice back, seeking fateful spot hills, but unable it "