Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-14
OUR YOUTHS DEPARTMENT.
EDITED BY FRANCIS HoDGsoN BURNETT.

columns. for there me- be shallow ravines to
cross before we get there. ''Bill'' and the Paw
and tearing off any garments they fancy may
impede them in the fight. Keep we'll TO the
right shouts the colonel to the chief OF "A''
troop. Dash around the village and capture
the herd when we charge Similar orders go
to the troop on the eastern flank, "Pass around
and head them off on that side. - Every bit is
foaming now. Every carbine is grasped and
advanced. The officers have drawn their
volvers and now they twirl the cylinders to see
that all works well; Now the ground dips lit
tie and we lose sight OF the distant slopes
Now we are trotting up the gentle rise ahead.
The colonel looks back and shouts something
tk"G the breeze seems to catch and carry away.
out the gesture is enough. Left front into
line-gallop!' are the ompt orders OF the
captains. Up came the rearmost horses plung-
ing into their new places and now in long line of
dust covered blue, the battalion sweeps south
ward to the attack. Every man knows well That
the village not now be more than milo
away. few more yards and the pony heads
come into view. And now. Looki We are
scent Riding like mai, swift as a storm,
straight hawk Indian lashes his racer
across our front. We can see that he is veil
ing wild warning, but the wind-whistling
down from the mountains to the west. bears
his voice away. Not an instant to lose now.
Look! Bill has reached the edge. He swings
his broad brimmed hat and GTasps his rife.
Look! The colonel spurs to his side and turns
with ore JOYOUS wave of his hand. The trum-
peter digs spurs TO his horse's tanks and raises
his brazen clarion to his iips. No ona hears the
call. NO one warts to hear II. Every man
knows and knows well that it means charge.
'Charge!' 'C-h-a-a-r-g-e!'' shout the troop
leaders. Come on. men! Hurrah'' is the
answering yell-and in one instant we are
bursting after the chief aad the sCouts-racing
like mad down the long prairie grade beyond
the ridge and there-nestling all along the shall
low dIp-sheltered am ong the viii ows at the
springs or spreading up and down the trickliug
brook are scores of smoke stained tepees-the
lodges o! the Sioux.
Crash! crash! bang! hurrah. Heavens! what
g wild thrill Of exultatiUn there comes with it
all. Bang-baug, crack. crack! 60 rife and re-
vClver. Thunder go the hoofs. With shrek
ana yell squaws and braves come slashing their
way out OF the lodges, while others. after one
startled, terrified glance at the coming foe, dive
gain within the friendly shelter ami hurrow
under robe or blanket. In the center OF the viii
lage the warning herder and the foremost troop
ers meet face to face and down he goes. blowing
up the dust, to be trampled By the myriad hoofs
that come laundering after. eight and left our
horsemen dash, their cheers and railying shouts
ringing with their carbines the breeze. Out
to the south and west their comrades are
rounding up the great herds of startled
ponies. Down a winding ravine to the east
scores of Indians are scurrying away pursued by
the troopers OF the LETT flank co y panv. Here
and there in the struggling township fierce hand
to-hand fights are going on, but most OF the In
dams who are unable to cscaDe throw down their
ing children are driven ether in the center of
the village. and while the feeiug
warriors are followed and fought
by dozens OF the soldiery, quick search is made
for the captive women. Alas! True to their
savage custom the Indians have striven to
dead. The other still lives to tell her dreadful
story. But Tail Bail and flftv Of his braves
have paid the penalty with their lives, and the
richest village on the plains is ours.