The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1890-09-13


forms are outstretched upon the turf,
and others are bending over them, min
istering to the needs of those who are
not past help already. Several officers
crowd around the leading horsemen and
Hull orders: Halt, dismount and loosen
girths." The grave faces show that the
infantry has had poor luck, and the sit
uation is summarized in few words.
The Indians are in force occupying the
ravines and ridges opposite them and
confronting the six companies farther
over to the west. Two attacks have been
made, but the Indian fire swept every
approach, and both were unsuccessful.
Several soldiers were shot dead, others
severely wounded. Lieut.. Warren's leg
is shattered below the knee; Capt. Blouht
is killed.
"where's RaynerY' asks Hull, with
grave face.
"Just gone Off with the chief to look
at things over on the other front. The
colonel is hopping. He is bound to have
those Indians out Of there or drop airy
ing. They'll be back in q minute. The
general had q rousing fight with Dull
Knife's people down the river last even
ing. You missed it again, Hull; all the
--th were there but + and X, and. of
course, old Firewater wants to make as
big hit here"
"The -th fighting down the river last
nightg asks Hull. in amaze.
"Yes-swept clean round them and
ran sem into the stream, they say. !
wish we had them where we could see
'em at all. You don't get the glimpse of
a head, even; but all those rocks are
lined with the beggars. Damn them!"
says the adjutant. feelingly.
"Well get our chance here, then" re-
plies Hull, refectively. "I'll creep up
and take look at it. Take my horse,
orderly"
He is back in two minutes, graver
than before, but his bearing is spirited
and firm. Hayne watches him with
kindling eye.
"You'll take me in with you when you
charger" he asks.
sit is no place to charge there. The
ground is all cut UP with ravines and
gullies, and they've got cross fire that
sweeps it clean. Well probably go in
on the other flank; it's more open there.
Here comes the chief now"
Two officers comeriding hastily around
a projecting point of the slope and spur
at rapid gait towards the spot where the
cavalry have dismounted and are breath
ing their horses. There is hardly time
for salutations. A gray headed, keen
eyed, florid faced old soldier is the col
onel, and he is swapping with electricity.
apparently.
"This way, Hull. Come right here, and
I'll show you what you are to do" And,
followed by Rayner, Hull and Hayne,
the chief rides sharply over to the ex-
treme left of the position and points to
the frowning ridge across the intervening
swale:
"There, Hull; there are twenty or
thirty of the rascals in there who get q
flank fire on us when we attack on our
side. What I want you to do is to mount
your men, let them draw pistol and be
all ready. Rayner, here, will line the
ridge to keep them down in trout. III
go back to the right and order the attack
at once. The moment we begin and you
hear our shots, you give yell, and
charge full tilt across there, so as to drive
out those fellows in that ravine. We can
do the rest. Do you understand"
81 understand, colonel; but lis it your
order that attempt to charge mounted
across that groundr"
"Why, certainly! 1t isn't the best in
the world, but you can make it. They
can't do very much damage to your men
before you reach them. It's got to be
done; it's the only way"
Every good, sir; that ends i'll" is the
calm, soldierly reply; and the colonel
goes bounding away.
A moment later the troop is in saddle.
eager, why, bronzed fellows every one,
and the revolvers are in hand and being
carefully examined. Then Capt. Hull
signals to Hayne, while Rayner and three
or four soldiers sit in silence, watching
the man who is to lead the charge. He
dismounts at little knoll few feet
away, losses his reins to the trumpeter
and steps to his saddle bags. Hayne, too,
dismounts.
Taking his watch and chain from the
pocket of his hunting shirt, he opens the
saddle bag on the near side and takes
therefrom two packets = one heavily
sealed-which he hands to Hayne.
SIN case I-dou't come back. you know
what to do with these--as told you last
night"
Hayne only looks imploringly at him;
"You are not going to leave me here,
captainr'
Yes, Hayne. You can't go with US.
Hark! There they so at the right. Are
the packages all right?'
Hayhe, with stunned faculties, think
;nO only of the charce he loncs tn max A