Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1894-1895, 1895-05-10


Juh to tote" were Collins reflections
Into his pocket he Shipped a Derrin-
ger, saying: II don't take any chances
Oh being taken alive"
Strips of blanket were tied deftly
around the horses feet, that no chinl
of hoOf on stone might warn the Keen
eyed besieSers of his passage and
when the moon was fairly set, Collins
led his stallion down the slope of the
mound, vaulted upon his back, and
saying quietly TO Clay. IF the troops
amt here by an hour after moOnset to-
morrow night you may know I'm gone
UNDER stole slowly away in the dark
ness.
Those left behind waited. listened,
with anxious hearts dreading any mo-
ment to hear the tumult which should
announce that their messengers flight
had been discovered.
Five minutes paSsod-ten minutes
twenty minutes; Clay had just drawn
long sigh of relief. and was turning
away with the remark, Il reckon he's
safe by this time" when Il fash caught
his eye out on the plain. Another and
another succeeded; and the report of
rifles came to their ears.
They've seen him. They're after
him" exclaimed Finch; but vainly did
the beleaguered watchers listen and
strain their eyes for further indica.
tons as to the fate of their courier.
Would he Outstrip his pursuers? Had
he escaped, or was he already dead, or
n piniOned prisoner, helpless to aid
them? These were questions which no
one on the mound could answer.
The night dragged by. and another
day of thirst and suffering dawned. A
feeble groan from Pike, the wounded
man, drew Finch's attention; he
walked back to where poor Aleck lay,
and awkwardly but tenderly adjusted
his head in an easier position. As he
stood looking down upon him, he
lay delirious in a Grow lodge, and
lOathsOme from head to foot with feS-
tering disease.
He remembered, too, Who it was that
had nurSed that sick man through that
time of horror, who had stayed by him
and watched over him as tenderly as q
mother over her child, when even the
stoical Indians had fled appalled-whO,
when the grip of death was broken,
had painfully carried him for weary
mile upon mile, till help was reached;
and then, laying down his helpless bur-
den at the post-surgeon' feet. had fall
len, senseless, in the middle Of the
parade ground.
''And l have quarreled with this
man-this friend-this brOther-abOut
n horse!" thought Finch. bah. AL
the horses from the Rio Grande to the
Columbia weren't worth one hair on
Tom Collins head. Oh. what a fool
what fool I've been. Can | ever
make it up to Tom for the wrong I've
done him."
The day, with ever-increasing mis-
cry, wore away. With mouths too
parched for talk, the men lay watch
ing at their posts. Aleck had died at
noon. Save now and then a plaintive
neigh from the thirsty horses, or a
distant whoop of derision from the
expectant Apaches, scarcely a sound
broke the wretched mOnotony on the
mound.
Clay sat and watched the red sun
sink behind the distant range. II, nor
none of us, will ever see another sun
set" he murmured to himself unless
Tom did get through, and perhaps not
even then"
Gradually the darkness descended
and night gathered about them; but
still, grimly at their places, the front
iersmen lay, well-nigh hopeless now,
but none the less determined to die
fighting to the bitter end.
But what clear, sweet sound was
that which suddenly broke on the dull
and oppressive stiffness of the dry
night air? 1t was-and what shout
rose from these parched throats!-it
was bugle call Hank! 1t sounded:
open orders, fours!'
"Draw sabers.'
"Trot. Gallop. Charge"
Then came flash OH flash, and loud
hurrahS, blending with wild, fierce yells
and the rumble of charging cavalry.
Soon Il dark form of a horseman de
tached itself from the surrounding
obscurity and dashed up to the foot of
the mound. An anxious voice called
out, "Hello! All safe?"
"All safe thank GOd"' answered
Clay, reverently.
"ShOw n light, Them
In 4 moment Il fire Of dry Sage-bruSh
shot up, and the fight glistened on the
brOnZed faces and the painting horses
of Kirby's troop of dragons. But in
the middle of the group, on black
charger, reeled a swaying figure, sup
ported by a trooper on each side. On
his bare breast was crimson streak.
Rushing down the slope of the mound
| Finch reached his side.
"Tom are YOU hurt?'
| "Killed, | reckon, old pardr' he
gasped, family; 1.-The redskins have got
me this time. Ease me down."
They lifted him down tenderly from
| the horse, and laid him on blanket
on the ground.
"Sam" he yhiSDpreI