The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-05-05
ghe 4aiIy gaole ghursdau gor ning gaY S. 1892

hold the fort. Anyway, we KIN Keep ZEN
from setting the shanty afire, till the cav
airy comes. BY this time the troops mus
be on the trail an after 'em red hot. They
can't be great ways off. nohow''
Silently as sDecters we led our horse.
down the g?ily, carefully avoiding the
rocks that here and there cropped OFT
through the sand. Reaching the scrut
willows, we found ourselves within 3O(
yards Of the house, and perhaps about 10
from the burning barn
Climbing quietly into our saddles, WI
bent low to keep out of the glare, and JACK
whispered, "Are yer all ready"
YES" whispered Jack, and we pressed
our sombreros tightly down on our heads
With rush and crash we tore through
the brush and rode at full speed out int
the clearing. now almost as light as day
for the big, heavy barn timbers were burn
ing clearly and steadily. Across we went
our excited animals plunging and leaping
like panthers, but still no Indians.
Past the house and within a few yards
OF the burning barn we pulled up. The
silence confused us. Were we too late
after all? Mechanically we closed up-a
fatal move, for, with unearthly yeils and
blood curdling whoops, the Indians, from
q low sag in the ground on the left, sent a
murderous volley crashing into our midst
Down went our brave horses and down
went their riders Four of US scram bled
to our feet as we cleared ourselves from
the stirrup feathers, only to throw our
selves behind our lead riddled, dying ami
mails just in time to save ourselves, for
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 eff.
fectually concealed.
Anybody hit?"
"Yes. l 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"
II think we might manage ter crawl
thar by kinder keeping the horses between
US and the red cusses.''
''Hark, somebody is ho,lering"
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 tho dead horse and fallen rider,
and returning in the same manner whis-
pered sorrowfully that poor Hank he'd
passed in his checks"
Nov boys, we'll make run fer it;
stoop low" and with a 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 elping the
settler barricade it.
II heard you when you charged by, men,
but it took me some time to open the door,
as had a hull lot of things piled agin it."
Are ye all safe so far, Stanton?"
Eyes, thank God. My wife is guarding
the back Of the house and Pm watching
this part. What we feared most is that
they will fire the place, like they did the
barn. My little daughter reached you safe
ly, did she?"
eyes, and is staying in the dugout at the
corral. We left two Of the boys with her. 4"
Now men, I'll show you the loopholes
in the logs, and I'll go and tell the wife the
little one is safe"
Hour after hour we strained our eyes,
catch sight OF the redskins, but they were
very wary and seemed to have whole
some dread of yenturing into the frelit
space in front of the house.
Presently Stanton came quietly in and
said, Boys, there's something going on at
the back that dent 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 Ioophole
and stared steadily out into the darkness.
he stepped back, and pulling his
six shooter pointed it through the loop
hole and fired.
A wild yell of rage answered the shot.
"Aha, thought | could fetch him. ]
saw him crawling up, an he he'd burning
stick under his blanket. guess he won't
burn no more shaRties. Give me a 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
ghstening on the scabbards and accouter-
ments 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 mile out on the mesa
Judging from their haste, they must have
seen the cavalry, for they were pushing
their pennies.
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
:heered them until we were hoarse.
The next day we obtained horses and
safely escorted the settler, his wife an baby
10 the Cactus Ranch.-W. ?. Rowe in
Overland Monthly.