The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-11-03


and glanced nervously around, and in
q moment there rode into view, full
tilt, one after another, half dozen
more wild warriors in the full panoply
of their craft. And-it was his first
campaign, he was only boy-Perry
Thornton's heart leaped up in his
throat, for the sunslliny, breezy, bill
lowy upland was simply alive with war
parties of Sioux.
81 am willing to do my share of fight
fight double my weight of Indians,
gentlemen" the guide was saying a
moment later God only knows what S
nations coming up from the Mini Ska,
and we're cut off. I can't fight all h,
neither can you. The one chance of get
ting out of this is by way of Slaughter
cove. There's a game trail over the
range back Oft. They ain't seen us yet.
Now is our time
"Whom have they seen? What are
they watching over there?" asked
Thornton, his lip trembling bit de-
spite himself.
Il know without waiting to see. It's
your fellows coming back from their
chase after the road agents. They
have either got the money Or they
haven't got it. In either case it'll be
of no earthly use to them in ten min
utes. Those Indians are laying to lay
'em out as they climb the trail. See"'
/ See? 1t was plain enough now. Creep
ing like panthers, the 1.-the, sinewy fell
lows were scurrying up to line the
crest. Others, dismounting at the run,
were Fastening to join them. Others,
signalling, were conveying some It'd
ings to another party that, three miles
away, could now be seen sweeping at
full gallop across the Pawnee road.
/, Come. gents said the guide. slid
ing back to his horse and quickly
mounting. MY partner had more
sense n when he swore he wouldn't
: trust his scalp north Of Wagon gap. If
you want to save your souls alive,
mount and follow while there's yet
time. I'm bound for the cove and back
to Gods country beyond"
/ a nervous young trooper started to
follow as the foontiersman went slid
ing and sprawling back down the trail,
but stern voice checked him. One
glance in the sergeant's eyes was all
! the reinsurance Thornton needed. The
spirit of his soldier father spoke out on
| the instant:
''Stop where you are. men! Let that
ID coward go. We're here to save
Schultz and Schramm
! CHAPTER X1
! a moment longer the two soldiers,
boy lieutenant and veteran sergeant,
remained crouched at the ridge, peer
ing over, and in low eager tones max
ing their plans. The actions of the In
dams clearly indicated that they we're.
as the guide remarked. ''laying' for
some party coming back along the
! trail There could not be more than
four or five in the party, or the Indians
! s-ait antis they had more of their kind
to back them. There could not be less
! than two on three, Or the warriors
would have been down on the poor
devils before this, six to one. The one
dread now was that they might shoot
from the rocks before their friends
could interfere. AL this was hurricdly
discussed, then up spoke Thornton:
! We'll charge at once. We can drive
+; them off, get Schultz and Schramm out,
! and then all retire together into the
cove Mount! Tumble up there, you
men. Drop carbines and draw pistols
! Keep watch sergeant. Wait till we're
I; ready
j And now the intense excitement Of
| the moment seems to communicate it.
self even to the tired horses. Eagerly
| they begin to toss their heads and paw
the earth and sniff and snort. Smell
| the Sioux, do you?" matters one poor
trooper, as. he braces tighter the cinch
of his saddle. There is. indeed,
mounting in hot haste" yet without
young heart is beating like a forge,
and for the life of him he can't prevent
trembling of the knees as he swings
into the saddle and looks to the cham
| Der of his revolver. It's his first fight,
! yet SO constantly has he studied and
pondered over all the experiences OF
his comrades that he feels certain his
| PlCth ID viz 1iS IAu viz W. IAtA ~ - SAAA
their covert, stampede the dozen In
| dams close at hand, then slip away
with the victims that were to be be-
| fore the more distant warriors can
reach the spot. Once back within the
| natural fortress of the cove they can
bid defiance to five times their number
Meanwhile the men. some a little
| white and tremulous. others, veterans
at the business, cool and imperturba-
| BILE, have mounted, slipped the muzzles
OF their carbines into the ready sock
cts. and, like their young leader, are
testing their pistols LETTERS raises his
hand in signal. They're getting ready,
sir Two of them are sighting now"
''Then we haven't a second to lose"
says Thornton. ''Just follow me now,
full dash; but don't yell till | do. Keep
quiet till we get right on 'em. Then
gather in our fellows and get back here
as quick as you can. Forward now. I
shant give any commands"
Up the slope they ride in column OF
twos There's no space to form front
into line.'' Perry's heart and Perry's