St. Landry democrat., 1892-04-30

| With a rush and crash we tore
through the brush and rode at full speed
out into the clearing, now almost as light
as day, for the big, heavy barn timbers
were burning clearly and steadily.
Across we went, our excited animals
plunging and leaping like panthers, but
still no Indians.
Past the house and within few yards
of the burning barn we pulled up. The
silence confused US. Were we to late
after all? Mechanically we closed up
fatal move, for with unearthly yells
and blood curdling whoops, the Indians,
from low sag in the ground on the left,
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 our
selves from the stirrup feathers, only to
throw ourselves behind our lead-riddled,
dying animals Just in time to save our
selves; 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
efectually concealed.
"Anybody hit?'
Eyes, | 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?"
Il think we might manage ter crawl
thar, by kinder keeping the horses be.
tween 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 beckon.
ing to US.
1--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 ter 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 help
ing the settler barricade it.
II heard you when you charged by,
men, but it took me some time to open
the door, as had hull lot of things
piled agin it?''
care We all safe so far, Stanton?'
eyes, thank God. My wife is guard
ing 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?"
eyes, 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 loop-holes trying to
catch sight of the redskins. But tasy
were very wary and seemed to have
wholesome dreasadoffT enturiug into the
tirelitt space pace in the front of the house.
Presently Stanton came quietly in and
said: Boys, there's something going on
at the back that 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 loop
hole and stared steadily out into the
darkness. Suddenly he stepped back,
and, pulling his six-shooter, pointed it
through the loophole and fired.
A wild veil of rage answered the shot.
"Aha. Thought | could fetch him. |
saw him crawling up, an had burning
stick under his blanket. | guess he
won't burn no more shanties. Give me
O 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 scab-
bards and accoutrements OF q company
of Uncle Sans boys as they came
through the pass at 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 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 WEAKNESS and grief at the loss Of our
pard, we checred them until we were
hoarse.
The next day we obtained horses and
safely escorted the settler, his wife and
baby to the Cactus RANCH Overland
Monthly.