The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-03-31

start back toward tho soldiers, stop suddenly,
! jerk his revolver from its holster, aud run
straight back toward his chief. -
Fairfax was down again. He seemed badly
hit. Laurence reached him the fraction OF a
minute before the Indians, and we could see
him standing aStride Of the PROSTATE form oil
his chief firing his weapon with the regularity
of machine into the horde rushing down
| upon him. Its six cartridges were exhausted
| in the space of half as many quick-drawn
breaths. and then we saw him jerk the weapon
from old Fairfax's belt and straighten up.
Then the demons swirled down upon him.
He was shot somewhere. As the yelling horde
swsrmed over him, sinewy hands clutched INN
by the hair and the arms and he was swung
up in front of s:alwart warrior, struck sense
less, and then we came up in time to save
Fairfax.
There was a horrible whirlwind of shots and
yells across the little valley and away as the
soldiers charged in pursuit. And then. pres
emily, it was all over. The soldiers had beaten
off the Indians for that time, but they had failed
to rescue young Laurence.
Fairfax was painfully but not seriously
wounded, aud the survey went on under the
direction of the Assistant Engineering Chlef.
Next day we found all that the Indians had
left Of Steve Laurence, who had given his lie
for the man who had befriended him. Fer
haps they had left it as n reminder TO the rest
of us of what they had in store for US. lie had
been scalped. The honest brown face had been
hacked aud slashed, the nose had been cut off
aud the tongue cut out. Fingers and toes had
been hacked of, and the poor body was man
gled in every way that savage ingenuity could
suggest.
That was all done while he was yet alive"
said an old plainsman who was member OF
our party. l have seen it before. My only
brotheTh-
Il Il "a him IN
tinue
We buried the poor body where they had left
it, and the survey pushed on. Upon the NOR
row our mail and that of the soldiers came
under a strong escort from the nearest post.
Among the letters was one addressed to stephen
Laurence, in dainty, womanly hand. Far
fax was delirious from his wound, aud we felt
that Laurence's relatives ought to be notified
of his death. And so his letter was opened by
the Assistant Chief Engineer.
1t was only love letter, tender, trusting
missive from a true heart that had loved him
well. Reading between the lines one learned
little of the dead mans history. He had been
a farmer boy, as we had suspected, and had
worked and saved till he was able to accom-.
plish the dear desire of his hcart-to become
civil engineer. He had begun at the bottom,
that lie might learn his profession thoroughly,
and, after finishing the theoretical course,
which had cost him more than a little self
denial, had sought the humble position in our
corps that he might obtain the practical expe-
rience.
He had been working for something else,
too-for the little woman who lovingly waited
for him. We gathered that she was a school
teacher, poorly paid, not over strong, and an
orphan. His advancement meant very much
to them BOTH for, by -and-by, when he had won
little share of fortune, he was to have come
back for her.
She was afraid for him, she hardly knew why,
she said. 1t was SO terribly dangerous out
there in the wilderness. But she prayed to
the good God, and trusted Him to watch over
her dear boy and bring him back safe to her.
There were trusting little condolences, for it
was a long letter, and CHEEKY words that he
might not grow h0mesck or discouraged.
And then the letter closed with words Of
endearment and trust, which il seemed almost
like PROCLAMATION to read. There was little
bunch of pressed flowers tied with tiny blue
ribbon. And the man for whom they had
been plucked lay under the sod.
The Assistant Chief Engineer was q profane.
finty-faced man, but his chin quivered and
the tears ran down his hard face as he read.
Poor devil" he said. Poor DEVIL"
And then he turned away aud cursed our red
brother in way that was good to hear. And
the survey went on.