The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-02-12

something in the center of the crowd.
AS the surgeon approached he was sur
prlsed to see an unInistakablc Indian
pony standing perfectly blown near
the knot of men, its legs wide apart
and head down, while the steam rose
from its wet skin. "IIere's the doc
tor" said some one, and the surgeon
made his way into tho center of tile
group.
Connors was on The ground, his head
and shoulders supported by one of the
men. He was trying to say something,
but could hardly whisper
Tho details up i'll Devils canyon
eight milcs-cast side. lnjuns all
around 'cm-shootin' 'em like dogs
may be all dead now. For Gods sake
hurry" whispered Connors, weakly,
and then tainted.
In the circle in the canyon a little
flicker of hope had arisen when Con-
nors was missed, and the shots and
yells of the enemy thus accounted
for; but the probabilities were so much
against any man being able to get
through alive that it was very small
flame, indeed. The heap in the center
was larger, and the grim certainty that
that fatal rush would come and the
wish of all that it might come soon
were stronger every minute 1t was
quite clear moonlight now The shots
OF the enemy came faster, and had
closed in pcrccptibly in the last hour.
The men fired slowly, and the order
was given for each man to use his last
two cartridges on no account till the
end. They could net see the Indians,
but fired at the flashes The faces of
the men were set and rather pale; one,
with bloody shirt sleeve bound tight
ly around his head, looking particular
ly CHASTITY. The widest rumors were
entertained by the most hopeful, but
the determination of despair had set
tied on most. One poor wretch, NOR
tally wounded, lay near the center,
talking loudly in his delirium. He
thought he was back at the fort with
his chum, Tom Gordon, one of his
trumpeters.
Suddenly the shots came faster, and
the flashes drew quite close, especially
on the side where the defense was
lowest
They're coming in minute" said
some one.
In an instant there was n harsh, wild
yell of Il single voice from the savares.
and immediately the cry was taken ND
by the creatures hidden behind rock
and sage bush, till the whole CANYON
seemed to be full of devils.
Here they come, boys!" shouted the
sergeant. lie was an older man than
most of them, and his stern white face
looked steady and cool as he raised his
carbinc for those last two shots.
But there was a pause among the
savages. Most of the men thought it
was the stiffness that came before the
rush. In the lull in the firing the
voice of the wounded man could be
heard
''IIarls.'' he said in hoarsc whis-
per, and raised his hand warningly.
There's the bugle! It's Tommy. I'd
know that bugle anywhere" But they
thought he was raving, and he lapsed
again into his fever, thinking he was at
some great review.
But the lieutenant bent forward and
listened. keep quiet" he said. Lis
ten" And up the canyon. through the
heavy smoke of the rifles, came the
notes of bugle clear and distinct in
the sudden silence. 1t was the gal
lop."
1t was rather choking, feeble cheer
they gave, but it reached the rcri-
ment.
''There they Gomez yelled the SER
gcant, eXc;tedly. And they dimly saw
dark mass in perfect order come
around projecting crag of the canyon
and move swiftly and steadily up the
great gulch. A few shots met the adj
vancing column. The Indians around
the circle were slipping away.
In Il few moments the colonel stepped
over the low breastworll, went up to
the lieutenant, who was leaning dizzily
against rock, and took his hand. The
colonel did not say anything. for he
was not demonstrative man, and per-
haps he thought no words were needed.
But he stood silent for several min
utes, and the men came up and stood
about looking with half-smothered
curses and wild faces on the debris
strewn bit of ground, on the cartridge
shells, cantcens, torn pieces of cloth
ing, and on the pathetic heap in the
center Gordon, the trumpeter, had
one of the bodies in his arms, and.
with his back to the moonlight, was
crying like boy.
Connors woke at last, with rather
luxurious sense of weakness, with a
dim recollection of some horrible
dream, but with feeling that it was
all over now, and that he was rather
happy and contented than otherwise.
HIS head felt COOL and though when he
tried to raise his hands he found that
they were SO heavy he could not lift
them six inches, the discovery some