The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-02-03

Nothing OF the pride and pomp or war
was seen. The only brightness of their
arms was from usage. Near the battle
SCARED and weather stained Gismounted
troopers of the Seventh cavalry were the
black fighters of the Ninth-the Buffalo
soldiers as they are called by the Apa-
ches, with whom they have had TO cope on
deserts of Arizona, plains and canyons of
New Mexico, and in the recesses of the Mo-
COLON mountains. No outward sign indi-
Gated the impatience of the troops, but
hate burned in their hearts and flashed
from their eyes. Comrades were missing
from their ranks. Thoughts of them
cleared their vision and steeled their nerves
as they watched the ponies of the Indians
move forward on a slow walk
The sun blazed in the sky, but faint
breeze, cooled by the SHOWS on the noun
tain range modified the intensity of his
rays, waved the prairie grass into re-
semblance of ocean ripples and called forth
nodding welcome from the blood red
loco flower. A hawk circled high in the
air as the doomed trio moved forward. A
coyote leaped into view from behind sage
brush. The gaunt, gray vagrant Of the
plains--the renegade Of beasts-stared
but moment at the renegades of human
ity who had disturbed his slumber and
trotted away toward the mountain, lick
ing his chops and casting hungry and
frightened looks behind
The Indians have reached the summit
and dismounted. They seem to be holding
q consultation. Their ponies are grazing
beside them.
Softly, gradually the death song Of the
"a Ix,t that cuayr coolad brpazc
TO the ears of the soldiers. They watch the
swaying forms of the Indians as the wall
rises higher. There is solemnity as well
as fierceness in the scene. There Is psthos.
despite the bitter hatred ON both sides.
The chant of the braves swells into a vol.
ume of sound and then sinks into a sigh
For second there ID absolute silence.
4 yell. terrible in It's shrillness, cleaves
the stiffness. 1t is the warcry Of the Sioux.
The death song has ended in the battle
shout AS the lightning leaps from a
cloud the Sioux leap 20 their horses and
face the troops. Again that savage cry
goes up. and the three Brules dash in mad
fury down the hill straight toward the
cleaning rifles Of a thousand men la blue
The line is apparently notionless. The
Indians ponies are stretched to full speed
They, too, know the meaning OF that ye,;
Of defiance, and they spring toward the
troops as If they c0uld trample them under
their unshod feet and carry their red riders
TO safety beyond
The Sioux are coming within range.
They brandish their guns Then one Of
them fires The discharge of the blank
cartridge IL scarcely heard above the war
cry. The long lines Of blue seem 20 move
Make ready"
The command Is IN a cool, calm voice.
It is repeated down the line until the last
man has heard and obeyed-
The Sioux come rushing on. The brides
dangle On the ponies necks. With their
guns swinging in the air, the Indians are
shouting inalcdiCtiors-
Take aiml' comes the cold. methodical
command
The Sioux sec the barrier Of steel. 4
thousand rife muzzles are directed at their
breasts Two puffs Of smoke tell that the
last 81 the blank cartridges has been dis
charged With rcneTed yeils the three
Brules urge their ponies 20 their utmost
burst OF speed. They are now within easy
range The great daufs Of paint on thai;
faces can be plainly seen by the froops-
Their eyes fash with excitement and def
ance; their long coils q black hair foat
backward as the ponies leap forward u
Is superb picture and the commander Il
the forces feels FOR a moment it, Wild.
tragic effect. IL = only for a moment
"Flrei'
A sheet % fame, a elo1d Of white. slow
iy rising smoke, and three riderless ponies.
enc of them lane, gsilop wildly abou;
With their heads high IN the air and then
pause 20 crop the luI arisnt grzss-
Il great nation Il avenged. --hiehArr
LlnthicUm n Short Stories