White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1858-02-11

| No SIT, know ms cut. well-but he's no
along And that's odd too, for he and Captain
Preston always be together, like two dogs hunt
ing in couples"
"ThOn we have himp' said Major LINDSAY
exulting. I" He cannot escape us.'
shall we blow trumpet and charge at once7'
said the orderly. /" Our men will 20 at 'em like
hungry wolves. They have long score to set
tle." ~
Not yet" said Major Lindsay, ave will
wait till these fellows come up; then boot and
saddle upon them. would not have them es.
cape us for my life.''
The dragons, informed who the enemy was
chafed impatiently to begin the attack-for they
had hundred insults to avenge on the bold par
tisans before them. Meanwhile, our hero, for
the orderly had been right IL saying Captain
Preston led the troop, approached on trot,
completely unconscious of the presence of his
hidden enemy. He was engaged in scouting
expedition of some extent, and had no idea an
armed royalist was within twenty miles. Sud-
denly, however, he drew in his rein, for he imag-
ined he heard a horse stamping in the forest;
but he was too late-Major Lindsay saw they
we're discovered, and Immediately gave the long
wished for word.
" Charge" he said, plunging his rowels into
the side of his horse, and clearing at one bound
| the space between him and the mad.
With loud huzza, the dragons, shouting
emo quarter" followed his example, horse and
man suddenly filling the road like apparitions.
Preston saw he was surrounded. Their cries
told him, moreover, that it was to be a life and
death struggle. Five against fifteen was fear,
full odds, yet he cried:
" Marion forever" and drawing his sabre, he
dashed at Lindsay, whom he recognized. ala.
have we metz" he cried.
"Yes! and have you" was the reply Kissed
between his adversary's teeth.
As Major Lindsay thus spoke, he raised him
self in his stirups, and throwing all his strength
into one gigantic blow,-fIe brought his heavy
sabre down on the almost unprotected head of
Preston. For a moment it seemed as If the
trenchant blade would cut through cap and skull,
even TO the shoulder. and had it struck fair 1t
would; but with dextereus movement, our he
70 evaded the stroke, and in return dealt side
cut that, if Majors Lindsay's horse had not
fortunately swerved, would have ended his life
at once.
But though foiled in his first attempt, each
was eager to return to the charge; wheeling
their horses, they rushed again upon each other
It was Preston's turn now to deal the first blow.
He rode with very short stirrups, of which he
took advantage to throw himself backward, and
then, projecting himself forward, and casting all
his strength into the blow, he brought his sabre
down on the helmet of Major Lindsay with a
force that was irresistible. Cutting clean through
the crest, as if it had been a smoke wreath, the
well proved blade descended with full violence
on the steel cap, through which it crashed like
an egg-shell; but here it stopped, broken into
fragments BY the tremendous stroke and the re-
sistance of the iron casque combined. Nothing
but the well-tempered steel head-piece could
have saved Major Lindsay's life. As it was,
stunned and bewildered, he reeIed in his saddle.
"Hew him down, Use the cold lead! Have
at him there, and ally'
Such were the ordinations that met our he
ro's ear as he recovered himself from that blew,
and found the hilt and fragment OF his broken
blade LEFT in his hand. He looked around has
tily. His four followers were already put hrs
d. combat, and the dragons were now, like dogs
around wild boar, waiting chance 10 rush in
on him, encouraging each other by shouts; for
such was the terror of Preston's name, and 80
terrific was the blow they had just seen dealt
their leader, that each man hung back an in
slant, preferring that his neighbor should go
first. Preston saw this advantage, and hasten
ed to avail himself of it; for, as pistols were
already drawn, he knew his chance would last
scarcely n moment.
"Ho, Thunder'' he said, addressing his
steed-a powerful animal, jet black all over
and turning his head toward that part of the cir
Gle Of his foes which seemed the thinnest, he
added, Stand by me now and we escape them
yet"
As he spoke he dashed his spurs into his
horses sides till the blood spurted beneath the
sharp steel, and, with pistol in his right hand,
sprang fiercely forward. Right and LEFT the dra-
goons, panie-struck, gave way, as when flock
of sheep fly before the onset of an angry wolf
Only one attempted 70 stop his progress. But
without so much as being wounded, the trooper
went down headlong, overthrow by the shock
of Prcston's powerful charger; and our hero,
Welding to an uncomfortable impulse, as hesaW
the way clear before him, rose in his stirrups,
and waving his hand on high, looked back and
gave utterance to shout that long after he had
vanished, like bolt shot from some huge cat
apult, echoed and re-echoed in the startled
woods.
"He is off, by God.' said the orderly. "Ssw
you ever the Iike7"
For a second the dragons stood stupidity look
ing at each other; then all at once dozen pis-
tolls were snapped at the fugitive, and dozen
sseeds put to the pursuit Moreover, Maj. Lind |
say, though his head was still warm from that
tremendous blow, had recovered sufficiently to
understand what was passing, and now lent his
voice to encourage the chase, and himself press
ed forward among the first
All this occupied less time than it has taken
to relate it. The attack, the fight and the es-
cape succeeded each other ike flashes of sum-
mer lightning-and when Preston, adroitly tur-
ming his horse into the narrow and winding road
where his foes had lain in ambush, passed mo- I
mentarily out Of sight, unharmed by shots that