The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-12

after all? Mechanically we closed up--a
fatal move. FOR with Enearthly yeiis and
blood-curdiing whoops. the indians. from
low sag in the ground on the lett, sent
murderous volley crashing into our midst.
Down went our brave horses, and down
went their riders. Four of US scrambled
to our feet as we cleared ourselves from
the stirrup feathers, only to throw our
selves behind our lead-ridden, dying ami
mails just in time to save ourselves; Tor
again the villains poured their lead into
us-this time, thank heaven, doing Us no
harm.
Using our horses for breastworks, we
tried to return their fire, but they were
effectually concealed.
Anybody hit?'
Yes, ! saw Hank throw up his hands
and fall face down"
Boys, we've got ter get out of this or
they'll surround us sure.''
kin we make break for the cabin ?''
81 think we might manage ter crawl
thar by kinder keeping the horses between
US and the red cusses.'
"Hark, somebody is hollering!"
Looking over our shoulders, we saw that
the door of the shanty was partly open,
and the settler vigorously reckoning to US.
''We must try an see if poor Hank is
clean done fer, fust."
One of the BOYS crawled cautiously
around to the dead horse and fallen rider,
and, returning in the same manner. whis-
pered sorrowfully that poor Hank he'd
passed in his checks"
Now, boys, we'll make run fer it
stoop low" and with spring, away we
rushed for the door.
Another stream of lead whistled by US,
but nobody fell, and in another second We
were inside the heavy door and helping
the settler barricade it.
II heard you when you charged by, men,
but it took me some time to open the
door, as l had hull lot of things piled
agin it,"
"Are we all safe SO far, Stanton?'
Eyes, thank God. Ny wife is guarding
the back of the house, and I'm watching
this part What we feared most is that
they will fire the place, like they did the
barn. My little daughter reached you
safely, did she?"
Yes, and is STAYING in the dug-out at
the corral. We left two of the boys with
her."
Now, men. I'll show you the loop-holes
in the logs, and I'll go and tell the wife
the little one is SAFE"
Hour after hour we strained our eyes,
peering through the loopholes to catch
sight Of the redskins. But they were very
wary, and seemed to have a wholesome
dread of venturing into the firelit space in
the front of the house.
Presently Stanton came quietly in and
.
at the back that 1 don't understand.
Leaving one man in the front room, we
repaired with him to the room in the rear
of the building.
Jack pressed his face close to loophole
and stared steadily out into the darkness.
Suddenly he stepped back and pulling his
six-shooter, pointed it through the loop
hole ard fired.
A wild yell of rage answered the shot.
AHA, l thought l could fetch him. l
saw him crawling up, an he he'd burn
ing stick under his blanket. l guess he
won't burn no more shanties. Give me
chaw of terbacker, somebody"
And now We saw faint streak of dawn
In the east, and soon the sun was gliding
the distant Badly mountain, and-what to
US was far more welcome sight still
was glistening on the scabbards and &C
coutrements of a company of Uncle Sans
boys as they came through the pass at a
sharp trot.
The barricaded door was quickly thrown
open. and. rushing out, we saw the Indians
in full retreat a mile out on the mesa.
Judging from their haste they must have
seen the cavalry, for they were pushing
their ponies.
The cavalry had also caught sight of
them. for they were coming like the wind,
and as they swept by, in spite of our weari-
ness and grief at the loss of our pard, we
cheered them until we were hoarse
The next day we obtained horses and
safely escorted the settler, his wife and
baby to the Cactus ranch. w. H. RoBB.