The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1893-04-15
western outposts. while some confusion

cries for the surgeon, and that officer,
who had been interrupted by the noise
at the height of ore of his best storie |,
the spot where group of men had
gathered, bending forward to look at
something in the center of the crowd.
AS the surgeon approached he was sur.
pr sed to see an unmistakable Indian
pony standing perfectly blown near
the knot of men, its legs wide apart
and head down, while the steam rose
tor" said some one, and the surgeon
made his way into the center of the
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.
1.-THE details up in Devils canyon
eight miles-east side. Injuns all
around 'em-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 proba bilities were SO much
against any man being able 10 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 al 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 perceptibly 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 fred 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 u minute" said
some one.
In an instant there was harsh, wild
yell of a single voice from the savages.
and Immediately the cry was taken up
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. He was an older man than
most of them, and his stern white face
looked steady and cool as he raised his
carbne for those last two shots.
But there was 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
heard
''Hark!" he said, in hoarse whis-
per, and raised his hand warningly.
There's the bugle! It's Tommy. I'd
know that bugle anywhere Butt they
thought he was raving, and he lapsed
again into his fever, thinking he was at
;ome great review.
But the lieutenant bent forward and
istened. Keep quiet" ne said. Lis
en.' And I'd the canyon. through the
leavy smoke of the rifles, came the
notes of q bugle clear and distinct in
he sudden silence. 1t was the gal
op."
1t was rather a choking, feeble cheer
hey gave. but it reached the regi-
nent.
s'There they comet" yelled the SER
cant, exc;tedly. And they dimly saw
J dark mass in perfect order come
round a projecting crag of the canyon
nd move swiftly and steadily up the
'reat gulchL A few shots met the ad.
ancing column. The Indians around |
he circle were slipping away.
in few moments the colonel stepped |
yer the low breastwork, went ND to |
he lieutenant, who was leaning dizzily |
gainst a rock, and took his hand. The |
olonel did not say anything. for he i
'as not a demonstrative man, and per-
APPS he thought no words were needed.
tut he stood silent for several min
ties, and the men came up and stood
bout looking with half-smothered
urses and wild faces on the debris
trewn bit of ground, on the cartridge
hells, cantcens, torn pieces of cloth
lg. and on the pathetic heap in the
enter. Gordon, the trumpeter, had
ne of the bodies in his arms, and,
18th his back to the moonlight, was
rying like boy.
Connors woke at last, with a rather
luxurious sense of weakness, with a
i'm recollection of some horrible
ream, but with feeling that it was