Evening journal., 1892-09-29


to ye. The Indians hev got mad, and
nothin but yer promise and the quick
performance Of it will save yer scalps.
If a gun is fired | can't hold 'en a
mint"
If we turn back we will not be mo
lestedY queried the captain.
Not a red shall cum nigh ye."
"But we have only your word for it."
(which orter be good 'nuiT. am
workin to save ye scalps."
And you think the way to do it is to
turn US all over TO theml Get back, you
lying renesade-get out of range or
wen drop you!"
The renegade beat a hasty retreat,
and a few minutes later the Indians dis
mounted, crept about the plateau to
form circle, and opened fire on the
breastworks from three hundred rifles
They had waited too long for a rush,
but the little band was encircled.
Waterl Not drop
Foragel Not an ouncel
Provisionsl Yes, but they must be
eaten in q raw state.
The Indians had but to preserve their
circle Of fire about the fort and nature
would do tho rest Men may escape the
bullet, bat thirst kills.
And what Of Joe and Bess? As soon
as the Indians appeared on the fianlls 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 inn
minent he did not conceal tho fact from
her. She grew q shade paler. bat she
shut her teeth hard and threw OF the
womanish feeling which would have
weakened her.
1--WE are to be attacked?" she queried
as the wagons were packed and the men
began at the breastworks.
"lt looks that way" replied Joe, "but
il may be only bluster. You had best
keep ont of sight"
But every one Of us will be wanted
to handle n firearm. ] can shoot with
either rife or revolver. See? have a
revolver. If there is danger Imust take
share with the rest"
A moment later her father came up.
lie looked very anxious as he said:
"My daughter, fear that our situa-
ton could not be worse. We have ten
TO one in front Of us and We shall pres
emily be attacked. You had better lie
down on the bottom Of the wagon"
II should soon be helpless from fear"
she replied Let me remain here be-
hind the 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 inclosura.
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 80 elevate
their guns at an angle of forty-hve de-
grees to fire, most of the bullets passed
over, cutting the tops Of the wagons, but
leaving the animals unharmed.
1t was we'll for the band that an old
soldier had command. He took in tho
lay of the ground made up his mind
where the blow would fall and noti-
fed every man to be ready for the sig
nal. The redskins would soon tire Of
wasting their ammunition, and then the
more enthusiastic among them would
demand a charge.
An Indian is patient only when over
powered. He is brave enough to face
death only after he has worked himself
up to fury. The one sided battle-the
yells. shots, screams and change of po-
sitions-had their due effect. Half an
hour before sundown the young war
riors We're clamorous to be led to the
charge The white men had shown
their cowardice by Withholding their
fire. 1t was sign, too, that they were
short of cartridges. A rush from a
hundred warriors would carry the camp
ind give up its plunder.
The renegade white man, whoever he
was. had some military ideas in his
head. He was seen hurrying from one
noint to another to consult, and he Sc.
ed tho point to be advanced against
Owing to the scarcity of material, the
north side Of the inclosure was not as
high Gs the rest. The approach to this
side was not as steep. One Of the dry
gullies ran parallel to this side, and the
aErging warriors would have only
aroe hundred cset - open ground tC
sgoaa
W llCa l4-N aDN sun Nsh6 NaLQly talAIt
than ahand breadth above tho plains thC
n.iag suddenly ceased. The captain
had been expecting it Ro knew wher.
tho charge waa 80 como from. Ther,
would be feint on the south side e
distract attention, but he left only thro,
men 10 resist It. Ali others were scat
tered a,oag tho north side. arranging
Tor n cross fro when possible, and thoJ
we're not stationed a moment TOO soon
At the sound Of a shrill warwhoop ut
tered by Iron Heart, who was the rank
ing chief, fusillade was opened against
the south side. and hundred or more
warriors, the pick Of all the force
sprang out Of the gully and dashed a
the north side They expected to find i
unprepared.
Crackl Crack! Crack! One of thu
very first tufted heads showing abov'
the bank received bullet Twenty-on'
Winehesters famed and roared as fas
IS men could throw out the shells an'
pull trigger
A besom OF death and destruction wa
g...t... .-sa.s.t.f f..r