Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1893-06-09

oeht oh getting shot at the occu-
pants.
In moment those fellows wcrc
nattened out on the ground like
hunted squirrel on the trunk of tree,
and the moisiurc-laiden air rang with
shots as tie lead whizzed over their
heads.
Every one seemed 10 wake up all at
once 10 the realization that there was a
nest of redskins up at the head of the
gully. Presently concerted effort
was made to fetch them, out.
Half dozen officers and several
dozen soldiers aud scouts took part
and, as though by common consent,
the leadership devolvetl on one of the
bravest, manifest cavslrymen it was
ever my lot to know-Philo Clark,
then lieutenant and aide-de-camp TO
General Crook.
! remember him vividly as he looked
that day, tho broad brim Of his scout
ing hat tossed back from his forehead,
the collar of his buckskin hunting
sl,irt loosely fas cncd at the throat
no sign of uniform about him, for in
those days we rarely wore the army
blue on Indian campaigns.
He came striding forward, rife in
hand, and waving the men to Ego in''
a!ong the slopes TO the right and left
Of the ravine. He himself, to my
horror, coolly pushed straight for
ward INTO what nigh: be called the
mouth gf the guliy--straight on past
the point where the venturesome
trooHfs had been fiattened out so
-sl.e4i tisae before. .-
In an instant, it seemed to me, the
ciump of bushes at the upper end
began 10 spit fire like a Fourth of July
mine. A blue cloud of sulphur smoke
hung over tho Indian burrow. The
cIatter of rifle shots was like that of
a Calling gun. Several soldiers
dropped in their tracks along the
grassy slopes.
Jim White. one oe onr best scouts
aud a great friend of Buffalo Bil's,
gave one ghastIy cry, 20 my God,
boys" cIasped his hands 10 his heart
and plunged forward on his face,
stone dead.
Keeling back from the sudden shock
our men at the moment scattered right
aud left, for we had struck formida-
Bile ambush. Not vestige of an In
dian could We see, yet that scooped-
out shelter of theirs was evidently
crammed with them,
myself was over on the right bank
at the time, and dhcked with amazing
promptltude when that storm OF fire
and lead burst on us. My next thought
when | found myself unhurt was for
Clark. We had been warm friends
from our cadet days at West Point,
and my heart was in my mouth with
fear for him.
There he stood, just where had
seen him the instant before, with the
same quiet smile on his face, never
bending, never swerving, If anything
rising higher on tiptoe, as though
striving to peer Into that dark, fire.
flashing depths up the gully.
Mechanically he was thrusting au-
other cartridge into tho 5reech of his
rifle. Bang! bangi went the Indian
guns. Whiz! zip. spat the bullets.
"Down, Clark Downp shouted
dozens of voices in tones of agonized
dread.
"Come out of that, Philo, for
heavens sake!' yelled second cava|-
ryman close beside Inc. But just as
placidly and unconcernedly as he
would have strolled into his troop
stables, smiling the while at the con-
sternation he was creating. even find
ing time for half-laughing rejoinder
to the appeal of comrade from our
side. Clark pushed ahead until he
could peer in through the veil of
smoke, raised his rifle, aimed and
fired.
Then as coolly, he motioned, "Come
on! Como oni"
1t was too much for the crowd.
Everybody seemed to make a stimuli
taneous fash then. In vain the hid
den indians fred and strove to sweep
The ravine.
A moment moro and brave old Cap
tain Munson had leaped in from one
side and was half-dragging, half-lift-
ing out some terrible squaws. Other
willing hands were passing out some
screaming little Indian children, so as
10 get the women aud papooses out of
harm's way before closing accounts
with the warriors
Then finding their '.non combat
ants" kindly treated, instead of being
slaughtered, as would have been the
case had We been the besieged. the