The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1893-04-15

SCuuOTS. tucy IC---tucy TO SOiuS oii
to fight the Indians. Papa will have
to leave me, won't he? and he may be
killed. Oh. Connors, do you think he'll
he Kill ed?" and she bent her head over
Connors' blue sleeve aud sobbed as il
her heart would break.
Don't cry, MISS" said Connors.
"Kilied? Why, he couldn't get killed
ued. grandly. "Injuns is all towards
they'd run if you waved your hand at
EN-" He knew that, not to put too
fine a point upon it, he was lying
outright; but he told himself that he
was used to it and ought not to mind
it now.
do you think, Connors. you could
take care of him some and not let him
get shot?' said the little girl.
"Why, certainly, miss" answered
Connors, promptly.
You see, I'd feel more comfortable
if knew you were looking out for
him.
''I'll take care of him all right,
miss, said Connors. Don't you worry.
Why. in few days he'll be back here
same as to-day"
"Connors," said the little girl,
brokenly, in rush of childish graft
tude, 'you're-you're SO good"
me good, groaned Connors. inward
ly, as they turned back toward the fort.
Four days afterward all that was left
OF detachment of twenty officers and
men from y Troop, Tenth United
States cavalry, were grouped in an ir-
regular circle on small hillc ok in
Devils Creek canyon, outstanding their
remaining cartridges, and sometimes
wondering whether they would ever
see the familiar buildings of the fort
again-a hypothesis that seemed ex-
tremely improbable even to the most
sanguine. They knew that two of their
number had been killed when the led
horses were captured, and the bodies of
two more were lying SIDE by side in the
center of the group, while three were
wounded and one of whom was slow
ly dying behind a protecting rock. The
rest were crouching or lying behind
the rocks and rubbish they had hur-
riedly heaped up as breastwork,
for stray shots at the dusky
figures that were occasionally seen
darting from rock to rock or leaping up
suddenly to fire into the little circle.
They knew that there had been some
in the information they had
received. No one had imagined that
there were such numbers of hostilcs so
near them. They had been entrapped,
cut off from the horses and surrounded
before they fairly knew what had hap
pened. The regiment was doubtless
expecting their return, but could have
had no news of their danger or of the
proximity of the Indians unless the
ledskins had been bold and numerous
enough to attack the whole force sent
against them. The small supply of
water was going fast and the number
of cartridges was becoming smaller
and smaller They knew very well |
what to expect; in few hours there |
would be the yell, the rush of the hos
lies, the hand-to-hand fight, and all |
here would be left would be the heap
Of bodies on and about those forms al |
'eady in the center. But the discipline |
II the regular service was strong even |
q this crisis, and the love of fighting |
or its own sake, that makes good sol |
liers, was still apparent in the CLEAN 1
hat shone in a mans eve when he |
aw through the smoke of his carbine
NE of those dark figures throw up its
rms and fall back. Most of the men
cit in some way that there was some
hing heroic in this position; they
Understood that they would die as true
oldiers should fighting to the last.
sut the lieutenant wondered, as he
teadily watched rock from behind
which two Indians were trying to get
hot, why the inspiration supposed to
company such scenes was wanting.
In ano Their part of the circle Connors
ad been meditating plan for the last
our, and as night approached it be-
anne determination. Near his posi-
ion, outside of the circle, was quite a
arge number of powders piled togeth-
r, around which the sage brush had
prung up rather thickly. On this side
ne Indians were fewer, and he thought
nat perhaps it might be possible for
ian to get through them in the dark.
the scene had been changed to tia
ums of Chicago, and the Indians to
olicemen, he felt quite sure he could
o it easily. But he reflected that In
ians and policemen differed. Still.
iere was bare chance, better. at ;
asst than waiting to be bu.chered, +,
nd he determined to try it.
When the stars began to appear, and
re enemy commenced to fire more rap
lily. he turned to the man next to him.
Look a-here, Jim," he said; .l'm-"
There was crash of two or three
lots from the Indians, and Jim rolled {
'er on his side, his arms and legs con-
acted. then stiffly extended, while his
zee turned CHASTITY white. and Con-
'rs saw that he was stone-dead. They 4
jagged the body into the center and {