The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1895-12-21

Everybody hustled and hustled, and m
hour later camp was broken. and twelve
people headed for the north. the strong
rs' nah breaking the way. and the Col
ensis wife bringing up the rear. with Z
aihd word and q smile for every soldier
ne iran ed Up harrow valley, and the
ahd gale had drifted the snow until the
nae hac TO move forward at q snaii's
pser. Al nightfsll they had made jus,
naii the distance 20 the fort. In thicke,
all ate supper together. Said the Ser
g-sns. ~ be looked Ia vain for the stars
\. saw Injun signs back by the creek. -
see that you have revoirers as well
a. mnsk~fs. remarked the Coloners wife
tFase gire me one and extra ammunI
uon- IN Try and not be burden 10 you,
81 least"
A. the gale came sweeping down the
valley and roaring around the mountain
base. there were Wild war whoops and
the crack Of riaes In the darkness, 4
eeof~ OF lndinns had crepi close upon rhs
camp. both ssniries were sho; dead.
its only lnjuns. boys. only injunsr'
shouted the Sergeant. and he cred his
brit sho,- Nov. then. push out"
They had not moved ven rods before q
stne cfscked and one Of the men pitched
forward. sho, through the heart. A
nihnis later two more bullets whis,lssI
over the meas heads. Then the little
band was hidden from sigh, Of the In.
dian sen'insls By the binding whiri OF
snow.
They're after us. ne am. f" said the Ser.
geani
They won't take me prisoner whis.
rcred the Coicaei's wife. as abe held on,
the revolver,
THAT'S right. ms'sm- We are headed
Tor The fort riEht enough. and maybe the
r'@i hends will haul on after a bi, and le,
" So 10 peace, 4 merry Christmas 10
you. though I've seen ,uerrier ones In
my time"
Tor mile or more tho little parry
breasted the storm. Then came a sud.
den sho', and ID. rear guard went down.
There were seven men aud a woman a,
O'Clock. At . o'clock there were bu,
Eve men. at 10 but four. a, midnirh,
only two Two men and a wonan-;be
S"rresn'. the soldier operator, and the
'oloh.ls wife. The others had been
p'ch~i of one by one. aud the Indian.
s'lll followed. Now and then the trio
halted. tn~l' down. and reering into the
snow Nhiri, opened a fusilladc which
checked pursui, II IL did no, wound or
kill
Instinct must have guided them In
tina; storm Providence must have shield
ed them from the bullets, but the storm
c"n'inued TO rage aud the vengciul foe
10 pursue. till the -sport Of the firearms
reached the ears Of the sentinel a; the
fort No one bad yet learned what wa.
happening, when three figures staggered
M To the gate. and on into the fort. and
NJ 80 the door Of the Cclonci's headouar
tiers Two Of the figures held up a third
between them. A. h. pccred IN the Ser.
ecant salutcd and said:
Col pawsnn. ! IMPORT myself, and I
bring yon a Christmas present"
And rs the Colonel uttered a shout Of
surprise and rushed forward with ont.
stretched arms. the brave little woman
fell into them. and the two men sank
down In their tracks. and those who lifted
them M wet their fingers with the blood
Of heroes
A handsome merry faced woman. who
il Eve years older n Sergeant OF infantry
who limps a hit-a lone grave In which
sleeps the soldier operator nothing more