The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-09

their path, and Bremmer wheeled his
horse about and rode by the captains side,
eagerly explaining in low tone Will
caught 6 the words, fright ahead: You can
OF him could not quite control the futter
OF his heart. Haiti Dismount and wait
here were the next orders, almost whis-
pered, and again Farwell pushed out to
the front andagain the column swung out
OF saddle, watched and waited, and pres
entity men began to stamp about in the
snow and thrash their stiffening fingers.
Are we close to 'em now, Masther
WHY" asked old Terry, unrebuked..
hight ahead, they say, corporal. But
this, remember, is only the women and
children, with few of the old men,"
All, it's yer fathers son we are. SOFT
God rest his SOUL If it was daytime We
could almost see from here the breaks of
the Mini Pusa. where we struck these In
dams three years ago this cruel winter"
81 know" said VIII briefly, land Tiff
it comes to fighting here, Rorke, remember
fathers last order. 1t may be harder than
ever to tell buck from squaw in SO dim a
light, but want the men to heed it."
''They will, sorr, as they would if the
captain himself was at their head, and,
Masther Will, for the love of heaven,
wherever We have to go this night let me
be wan OF thin that go wild We, if We only
take wan" and there was break in the
old fellows voice as he began his plea.
"Hush, Rorke. Wen see to that" said
Farrar. Here comes the captain back
And Farwell came with speed.
"Mr. Farrar,' he said, an unmistakable
tremor in his tone, there's not moment
to be lost. They arc passing through the
canyon now. We can hear them plainly,
but they have fiankers out along the bluff.
Two bucks rode by not moment ago, and
Bear says the whole outfit is pushing for
the racetrack Tive head than off
further up the gulch. Bear says we can
get down in single by an old game-trail
there, and want you to dismount right
here, line this slope with your men, send
at least dozen down into the ravine and
stand off Big Road and his fellows while
we corral that whole village and start it for
home. They can't tell how few you are in
number, and Fenton will be close at their
heels. Between you they ought to be
forced to the north side, while I'm driving
the village out to the south. You under
stand, do you? It's a fight in the dark,
and they're afraid of it, anyhow. You've
got splendid troop, lad, and they won't
fail you. Don't be ashamed to ask your
fully
ii do" said WILL stoutly, though his
young heart was hammering in his breast.
We'll do our best, sir. Form fours, SER
geant, and link-ively," he added, then
q
fore the latter turned away. Silently,
quickly, the men linked horses, and leav-
ing number four of each set in saddle,
came running up to the front, unslinging
carbines on the way. Farwell and his fell
lows went trotting off among the clumps
Of pine as the last man fell in on the left.
Then, quickly dividing off dozen troop
ers from that flank, Will placed the first
sergeant in charge and babe him find the
way down the steep incline to the bottom
of the gorge, which, there, was not more
than $50 feet below, giving him instructions
to be ready to sweep it with their fire when
the warriors came, as come they speedily
must. Next, facing eastward, he deployed
his men, causing them to stand or kneel in
the shelter of the little trees, but to keep
yigilant lookout. Another little squad was
strung out down the face of the bluff to
keep connection with the men descending
to the depths of the canyon, and these prep
riding at rapid gait, two horsemen came
lashing up the eastward slope. The pant
ing of the ponies could be heard before
anything could be seen, but the instant the
vague shapes appeared, two sudden shots
rang out on the night, and then DOZEN
a spluttering yolley--hashed from the line.
Down went one pony, struggling and roll
ing in the snow. Away sped the other back
into the blackness of the night. Then a
dark objects eemed to disengage itself from
the struggling pony and go crouching and
hmpipg away. Two or three excited young
soldiers banged their carbines with the
faintest aim. Then it seemed as though
the hillsides woke to a wild revel of battle. |
for, behind them, far up the canyon, there
rose wall of terror from the fleeing squaws
and shouts of the few old braves left to
guard them, resoundlng war whoops of
younger Indians somewhere, anywhere,
everywhere, down the slopes to the east |
"a h,ior1 .&Ea A. L
In air over among the rocks to the north
OF theSgate, and afar out over the eastward
prairie Big Road and his braves came dash
ing, driving, laundering to the rescue.
They'll not try the gulch, sorr," shouted
Rorke, in his ear. .'Only few will push
in there. Most of 'em will come this way
and get around US to our right"
"Open out, men! Push out southwark
there as far as you can," shouted Will, as
he ran bounding through the snow toward
the right of his invisible line. "Watch for
themI They'll come with a rush when
they come at allr'
And Rorke, whose business it was to re-
main with his comrades in battle where
first he was posted near the brow of the
steep. went running after his young COM
mander as hard as he could go, with no
man to stop him.
In the excitement and darkness, in the
thrill OF the moment, some of the men
SecueU UlSpOSeQ TO nuQQie together rather |
than to increase their intervals, for plainly |
now could be heard dull thunder of |
Notes.-The roar of the coming storm. Then,
too, shadowy specters of horsemen could
be dimly seen darling into partial view and |
out again like the fash that greeted them. |
But far up the gorge, behind Farrar's line,
the sound of battle grew fiercer and louder.
Then down from the depths of the canyon
there came sudden clamor of shot and
cheer and challenge and yells of rage and
defiance; and then, all in sudden, out
from among the stunted trees, with pant
ing, struggling, bounding ponies, with
flashing, bending, yelling braves, there
burst upon them the main body of the In
dians-three- warriors at least-and, |
despite the ring of shots, on and through
and over they rushed, the slim and ex-
tended skirmish line, and Will Farrar,
springing for the shelter of little cedar,
was struck full in the breast by muscular
shoulder and knocked backward into the
snow. He struggled to his feet, cropping
Tor his revolver, just in time to meet the
dash OF half dozen racing braves, all yell
ing like tiends Something crashed upon
his skull and struck million sparks or
stars, and everything whiried out of sight
and sound and sense as the young officer
went down face foremost into the drifts