Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-11-03

DOunu lur, anu tHey III uGteIHllleu W
stop ye.'
"Wcll, what else?" asked the captain
as the renegade paused.
"They wanted TO wipe We out to the
last man, but I've prevailed upon EN- to
spare ye i'll Gaze yen turn back. That's
what I've come to tell 20
"If we turn back we won't be
harmed!"
Not a hair Of yer heads ,Jist take
the back track and thatll end the mat
ter at once"
"And suppose we don't?'
"Thcn God help ye! Yell be chawed
TO pieces in ten minita"
"You go back and tell your friends to
begin chawing as soon us they please"
shouted the captain, and every man in
the Enclosure chcercd the words.
There was moro delay as the renegade
went bacl, to report, and every man
worked to build the brcastworks higher
and strengthen it. Wagons and horses
occupied a solid square of less than half
an acre. 1t was the highest ground
within cannon shot. This was as good
as another foot on the height Of the
breastworlls. Twenty-Five mon distrib-
utcd around that inclosure would make
terribly thin line, but twenty-five
Winchester rifles would maintain ter
ribly destructive fire.
But treachery had not yet exhausted
itself. Your noble rcd man of Cooper
eulogy depends upon that even when at
lacking women and children. Back
came the renegade 10 say:
"Ye better take the chance 1 hold out
to We. The Indians hev got mad, and
nothin but yer promise and tie quick
performance of it will save yer sculps.
If u gun is fired | can't hold EN- q
mint"
If we turn back we will not be mo-
lested:" queried the captain.
mot "A red shall cum nigh We"
"But we have only your word for it,"
(which orter be good huff. | am
workin to save We scalps."
And you think the way to do it is TO
turn us all over to them! Get back, you
lying renegade-get out of range on
We'll drop you''
The renegade beat 4 hasty retreat,
and few minutes later the indians dis
mounted crept about the plateau to
form circle, and opened lire on the
brcastworks from three hundred rifles.
They had waited too long for rush,
but the little band was encircled.
Water! Not Il drop!
Forage! Not an ounce!
Provisions! Yes, but they must be
eaten in raw state
The Indians had but to preserve their
circle Of fire ab.ut the fort and nature
would do the rest. Men may escape the
bullet, bat thirst kills.
/ And what of Joe and BeSs? As soon
/ as the Indians appeared on the TANKS of
the train he had hidden her out Of sight,
and he had hopes up to the opening of
the battle that she had not been seen.
/ When he knew that danger was i'm
minent lie did not conceal the fact from
! her She grew Il shade paler, but she
/ shut her teeth hard and threw off the
womanish feeling which would have
| weakened her.
I'VE are to be attacked" she queried
as the wagons were packed and the men
began at the breastwOrks.
1T looks that way" replied Joe, "but
it may le only buster You had best
keep ont Of sight,
But every one of MS will be wanted
to handle tircarm. | can shoot with
either rifle or revolver. See: have a
revolver. # there is danger Unjust take
share with the rest
y moment later hey father came up.
/ He looked very anxious as he saiG:
"My daughter, fear that our situa-
ton could not be worse. We have ten
to ono in front of US and we shall pres
emily be attacked. You had better lie
down on the bottom of the wagon"
Il should soon lie helpless from fear"
she replied. Let me remain here be
hind tho rocks. If they charge US can
help repel them"
When the firing opened she was kneel-
ing between Joe and her father. Not a
return shot was fired from the Enclosure.
Now and then bullet found its way in
between the loosely piled rocks, but the
men had only to hug the ground to be
safe As the Indians had to elevate
their guns ut an angle Of furty-fvc de-
grces 20 fire, most of the bullets passed
over, cutting lNe tops Of the wagons, but
leaving the animals uMharmed
Ii was well for the band that an old
soldier had command. He took in the
lay Of the ground, made up his mind
where the blow would fall and ueti-
fled every man 10 be ready for the sig
nal. The redskins would soon tire of
wasting their ammunition, and then the
moro enthusiastic among them would