Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-12-31
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J he n siege.
| Three of the whites had been wound.
ed. though not seriously in either case
| Aud as soon as their hurts had been at
tended to all the men, except five to act
as sentinels, were permitted to fling
themselves down and catch such sleep
as they could The Indians were al
lowed to remove their dead without in
terruption, but when daylight came the
blood stains on the sterile soil told of
their loss as plainly as if the bodies had
been allowed to rest where they fell.
When the sun came up the thirst.
which had been alleviated by the dew,
returned with greater severity, and now
all were actually suffering for water
The team horses were becoming violent,
but there was no relief.
eve must hold on somehow until an
other morning." said the captain as the
men gathered around him. "By that
time Joe will be here with the party he
set out to find, or we will be sure that
we have nothing to hope for. Then
we'll cool our tongues with the blood Of
the horses. Where's the galY
asleep" replied Harkins, land never
complaint of thirst, though | know
she's suffering as much as the rest of
u.s."
81 was right beside her when the
charge was made" said another of the
men, "and know she fired six bullets
into the screechlng mob swarming down
upon us. The gals clear grit, and if
had ten drops of water she should have
nine of EN-"
The Indians had not opened fire, much
ID the surprise of the trainmen, nor yet
was a single one seen in any direction.
When two hours of daylight had passed
without change in this state of affairs,
the men began to wonder if the last
bloody repulse had not disheartened the
redskins and resulted in their with
drawal
"Waity' was the grim reply of the
captain as his opinion was asked.
Nine o'clock came, and nothing was
yet in view.
Il tell you" said one of the trainmen,
as all gathered to discuss the question,
"we've given em all they want, and a
little more, and they have thrown up the
fight. I'll bet my horse there isn't liv-
ing red within ten miles Of us"
Just what | sayr' added a second.
mo Indians ever made could stand such
drubbing and toe the scratch again"
"Then let's be off for the forllsp ex-
claimed four or five in chorus
stop" commanded the captain, who
had stood one side leaning on his rifle
and seemingly bent on a study Of the
earth
"What for?"
ITO save all our hvesy' was the quiet
answer. 1.-THE redskins have simply
withdrawn behind the ridges to bait us
out. 1t is simply one of their cunning
tricks"
Nothing goes to show it," growled
one of the men.
something would so TO show it the
moment the wagons moved out. Does
it stand to sense that a force still ten to
one are going to draw off unless threat
ened? They want plumber and they
want revenge. They attempted to rush
us and got worsted, but they know our
fix. They know we haven't a drop of
water and they know we must shoot
ourselves or surrender within n couple
of days. If we move out we shall be
butchered before we have gone mile"
Il don't believe in your theories" was
the blunt reply of the man. 81 believe
they have gone off I'm so sure of it
that I'm willing to scout all over the
ridges"
You'll go to your DEATH"
"Poohl I'll come back to prove that
you don't know redskin natur as well as
you think for"
Il warn You not to CO." said the cap
tain, as the man began saddling one of
the team horses.
"Ill bring back the scalp locks of the
hull caboodle!" laughed the man, and
two minutes later he leaped his horse
over the barricade, swung his hat to
those left behind him and cantered off
to the north. He could be seen for half
a mile. He halted at the crest of a swell
and turned to the left, and as he gal
loped forward he was soon hidden from
view by ridge as high as the plateau
and three-quarters of a mile away.
The men were watching and listening
when a cry of alarm was heard from the
ridge, and a moment later the trainman's
horse came flying over the swell at his
fastest pace and made direct for the in
closure.
"Poor Jim-they've got him." whis-
pered the captain, as he climbed upon
the rocks to get q wide range of vision.
To be taken captive by hostile Indians
means more than death. Aye! bullet
in the brain at the moment of capture
would be an act of mercy to the poor
prisoner.
ITO BE CONTINUED