Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-02-28

ing charge, straight at the painted,
feathered bipeds leaping for their
ponies along the opposite rise. Distant
Indians let drive long-range shots,
in hopes of downing a horse and
breaking the impetus of the cavalry
dash. There are three or four of these
who have reached their ponies, 1eaped
into saddle, and, as they scurry away,
bend low and send wild shotNor two
at the rushing horsemen, but all to no
purpose. Thornton and his followers
come cheering, charging on, straight
for the second crest, and in an instant
one luckless warrior is tumbled over
by the leaders, while LETTERS and Nal
10y, long used to hunting in couples,
have run down another, who, farther
to the left, had sought to mount and
escape. The ping and crack of re-
volvers and Winchesters echoing back
from the rocky range are suddenly
dwarfed by the louder bang of the
Springfield rife. Dashing up and over
the ridge, occupied but an instant be-
fore by the red men, Thornton comes
| into view of a little party away down
| the trail ahead of him. Two of their
| horses are already shot, stiffening out
in death, one rolling in agony. Two
white men, dismounted, are battling
| for their lives against circling rush
of Sioux, and, borne by the mad i'm
petus of the charge, Perry and the half
dozen at his heels swoop hesdlong
down among the combatants, and
the Sioux, amazed yet never be-
wildered, bend low on their
up the farther side of the long ravine,
! - y
and at long range resume the fight.
| Their bullets are whistling about
| Thornton's ears as he reins up in the
midst of the rescued party. One man,
with the film of death already glazing
his eyes, stranger, lies gasping on
the turf. Over him, piteously crying
| his name, a mere boy is bending.
Sergt. Schultz, grave, yet with culver
| ing lip and trembling hand, gives
| greeting to his young officer. eve
were surprised, sir, and cut off. We
had no hope of rescue" he is saying
while the men are rapidly dismounting
and running out to kneel and return
the fire now coming in from almost
every side, Schramm, cheering with de-
| light and enthusiasm, leading the way
Then comes the uphill fight to gain
the cove. Not an instant can be lost
Already, with so1dier1y appreciation OF
the situation, Sergt. LETTERS has
dismounted two or three men to hold
the ridge over which lies the line OF
retreat, and Thornton, directing two
men to lead back the horses, disperses
his little force as skirmishers
''Get your wounded back up the
HILL he says to Schultz. "Jeffers knows
where we are to make our stand. Fall
back, fast as you can. Well keep ZEN
off, The bullets are ripping the
bunch-grass all round them, and the
old German sergeant's face is very
grave and white, but he never waivers
Schramm, after hosting the wounded
stranger into saddle and giving the
reins into the hands of the weeping boy
and calling for some one to steady HI:
father, runs back to join the firing line
Slowly up the trail now Schultz mar
shals the led horses. Back slowly be
tween them and the yelling Indians
now each moment reinforced, comes
the little band of defenders. Over tx
the left, young trooper, under fire fol
the first time, suddenly drops his car
bine, claps hands to his leg, and set
up a howl of misery.
Help uhiro if you can, Schramm,
sings out Thornton. ''Keep your places