Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-08-14

of a spur. they all sprung into gallop.
Their riders. with sabres flashing in
the pale light, and yells that, to the
poor ONE in the houses, sounded
like the cries Of demons, dashed by.
All knew that Tarleton's ruthless cav-
airy was charging. led rs it was then
believed by Tarleton himself.
Burton and Angus, all unaccustomed
to the sights and sounds of battle, fairly
held their breath rs the English troop
ers Numbered by but IA few feet away.
The very ground appeared to tremble
and it seemed to them that nothing
could resist the headlong onset. In
deed it was almost a moment of panic,
for the young volunteers saw their
comrades on the opposite side Of the
street were giving way rapidly, pursued
10y the British thanking infantry.
But Major Graham's voice rang out
above the din. STEADY. boys. Don't
mind the cavalry. Davie will take
care of them. Look to the lankers
here on your left. They're you're
game. Aim us if you were shooting
squirrels out of tree tops and snatch
ing a rifle from II trembling fe low he
stepped out in advance of his men and
dropped a leading British soldier.
But the report of his weapon was
drowned by a roar Of musketry at the
court house, about eighty yards up the
street. The long stone wall behind
which Col. Davie had posted his men
seemed lined with fire. The headlong
charge of the British troopers were
checked; the al crumbled away; a
moment later they came ~galloping
wildly back, confused, %sstounded, shat
tered.
"Hurrah!' shouted Burton, and he
emptied a saddle of one flying form.
His cry of exultation was taken up and
%resounded up and down the line; mean
while the volunteers continued loading
and firing with feverish eagcrncss.
Angus had reserved his fire till the
last moment as the cavalry retreated.
His hope was TO single out Il man whose
orders and air of authority might indi-
cate the hated Tarlcton. for the boy did
not know then that Tarleton was iii
and that Maj. Hanger was in command.
At last in the rear he saw an officer
who was e~ndeavoring to check the flight
of the troopers. Angus covered him
and fired; a horse rushed away rider
less and the panic fear was redoublcd.
The British flanking infantry, with
the steadiness of veterans, continued
TO advance, paying no attention to the
fortunes of their cavalry. Graham's
right, on the opposite side of the street,
had been driven well back. and his left
was in peril OF being surrounded. Davie
saw the danger. and sent orders that
all the volunteers should fall back and
form lines Oh both tianks, with him at
the court house. This change was
soon effected. the men firing rs they
retrcated.
Stung by their repulsc, and inspired
by the success of the infantry IN their
TANKS, the British cavalry were again
led in a furious charge by Maj. Hanger.
Angus was now on the right of the
line near the courthouse fence, and
somewhat in advance. He, with Bur-
ton. was IN "a little garden enclosure
~embowered in s%hrubbery; and the two
youths no longer felt the half-paralyz-
ing awe which for "A moment had inn
pressed them ut the first charge. In
deed, the younger boy was peer
ing through a bush with the eye
of an eagle that he might de-
tect the mar whom he regarded as the
slayer CT his father. As the troop
Numbered nearer his = attention was
caught by a dragon on his right. who
was waving his saber and looking back
toward the rushing force. Even to the
boys inexperienced eyes this man
seemed the leader. and he covered him
with his rifle, but waited until greater
nearness gave accuracy to his aim.
Then he fired, and saw this man reel in
his saddle. The next instant out leaped
again the line of fire along the court
house fence, and the front lines Of the
charging cavalry crumbled and melted
away as if smitteD by "A blast from a
furnace. Those in the rear still pressed
forward for n moment, but "A second
rank behind the fence poured in an
other volley. and from rifles like those
of Burton and Angus on the TANKS
scattering but deadly shots were fired.
Tarleton's veteran cavalry again fled,
followed by a partly exultant and part
~ jeering shout from the Wing
soldiery.
1 The horse OF a trooper who had
: been wounded became unmanagcable
and gallopcd toward our friends. When
but q short distance away the rider fell
helpless in the street, his sabre drop
ping from his nerveless grasp. Lightly
as a deer Burton bounded over the
fence. ~unbuckled the belt and scabbard
from the PROSTATE form, and Selling
the sabre, rushed back, regaining shell
ter at the side Of Angus in safety. al
though grazed by more than one bullet
from the British infantry.
That was rash, Burton" said An
GU, reproachfully.
Shut up, brother Gus, and stand
still while buckle on this SABRE" was
the laughing reply. Now we've only
to capture a pair Of pistols, and you
are as we'll armed rs / am"
CHAPTER III.