Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-02-28
CHAPTER xI.
pyright. 1898. by J. B. Llppinbott Co.

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 were,
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
would not attack at the moment, but
wait until they had more of their kind
to back them. There could not be less
than two or 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. All this was hurriedly
discussed, then up spoke Thornton:
well 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
ready"
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?" mutters one poor
trooper, as he braces tighter the cinch
of his saddle. There is, indeed,
mounting in bot haste" yet without
noise or confusion OF any kind. Perry's
young heart is beating like forge,
and for the life of him he can't prevent
trembling of the knees as he swings
int tho 6I1o and lO0lxS 10 tho oh
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
plan is the right one-to burst from
their covert, stampede the dozen In
dians close at hand, then slip away
with the victims that We're 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, otherskyeterans
at the business, cool and imInrturba-
bic, 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 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.
shan't give any commands"
Up the slope they ride in column Oh
twos. There's no space to form front
into line" Perry's heart and Perry's
horse alike are bounding. Ten seconds
and they are over the crest and in full
view of their foemen four hundred
yards away, between them only the
open rolling surface of elastic turf
Quick as each man reaches the summit
he plunges ahead, "opens out" and
rides up on line with the leaders
Thornton, still curling his excited
horse, riding at p1unging 1ope and
sglancing back to see his followers out
of the ravine. Then LETTERS come:
tearing up to Join him. Then comes 6
loud, resonant, Indian warning
shouted from somewhere down the sun
ny slope, and then there's no time Il
think. Every man at the instant clap:
spurs to his horses tanks and sets up
yell, and then down they go in sweep