Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-12-19

Everybody hustled and hustled. and an
hour later camp was broken, and twelve
people headed for the north. the strong
est man breaking the way, and the Col
one's wife bringing up the rear, with Il
kind word and smile for every soldier.
The trail led up a narrow valley, and the
wild gale had drifted the snow until the
line had To move forward ut n snail's
pace. At nightfall they had made just
half the distance to the fort. In n thicket
all ate supper together. Said the Ser
geant, as he looked in vain for the stars:
Il saw Injun signs back 10y the creek" )"
Il see that you have revovers as well
as muskets.' remarked the Colonel's wife
please give me one and extra ammuni-
ton. Ill try and not he II burden To you
ut least
AS the gale came sweeping down the
valley and roaring around the mountain
base, there were wild war whoops and
the crack of rifles. In the darkness a
score of Indians had crcpt close upon the
| camp. Both sentries were shot dead.
Its only lnjuns. boys; only lnjuns!
shouted the Sergeant, and he fired his
first shot. Now, then, push out
They had not moved ten rods before a
rifle cracked and one of the men pitched
forward. shot through the heart. A
minute later two more bullets whistled
over the mems heads. Then the little
band was hidden from sight of the In
dian sentincls by the binding whirl of
snow.
They're after us. ma am" said the Ser
| gcant.
They won't take me prisoner" whis-
pered the Colonel's wife. as she held out
the revolver.
That's right. ma am. We are headed
for the fort right enough. and maybe the
red fiends will haul off after IA bit and let
us 20 in peace. A merry Christmas 10
you, though I've seen mcrrier ones in
my time"
For Il mile or more the little party
breasted the storm. Then came sud
den shot and the rear guard went down.
There were seven men and woman at
\ o'clock. At o'clock there were but
five men. at 10 but four. at midnight
only two. Two men and a wOman-the
Sergeant, the soldier-operator. and the
| Colonels wife. The others had been
picked off one by one, and the Indians
still followed. Now and then the trio
halted, knelt down. and peering into the
snow-whirl. opened fusilade which
checked pursuit if it did not wound or
kill.
Instinct must have guided them in
| that storm-Providenc must have shield
ed them from the bullets. but the storm
continued to rage and the vengeful foe
| To pursue. till the report of the firearms
reached the ears of the sentinel at the
fort. No one had yet learned what was
happening, when three figures staggered
up to the gate, and on into the fort, and
| up to the door of the Colonels headuuar-
ters. Two of the figures held up third
between them. As he peered In the Ser
| geant saluted and said:
| "Col. Dawson, l report myself and I
bring you a Christmas present"
And as the Colonel uttered n shout OF
surprise and rushed forward with out
stretched arms, the brave little woman
fell into them, and the two men sank
down in their tracks. and those who lifted
them up wet their fingers with the blood
of heroes.
A handsome merry faced woman. who
is five years older-a Sergeant of infantry
who limps bit-a lone grave in which
sleeps the ier-operator-nothing more