Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1895-01-17
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK. ]
CHAPTER XI.

,,oment longer the two soldiers,
NV lieutenant and veteran sergeant,
wy o;nad crouched at the ridge, peer
i'-' arar and in low eager tones max
ny tbeir plans. The actions of the In
i lsrs clearly indicated that they were,
- .ba ruide remarked, laying" for
ns marty coming back along the
sYai, There could not be more than
sanr or five in the party, or the Indians
Md not attack at the moment, but
usit until they had more OF their kind
~ hack them. There could not be less
.son two or three, or the warriors
Nd have been down on the poor
Ills before this, six to one. The one
s,sad now was that they might shoot
l-om the rocks before their friends
I'D interfere. All this was hurriedly
sscnssed. then up spoke Thornton:
.Ve,ll charge at once. We can drive
sam off. get Schultz and Schramm out,
and then all retire together into the
awe Mount! Tumble up there, you
mem Drop carbines and draw pistols.
Keen watch, sergeant. Wait till we're
ready"
And now the intense excitement OF
me moment seems to communicate it.
sar even to the tired horses. Eagerly
thew begin to toss their heads and paw
The earth and sniff and snort. Smell
Me Sioux, do you?" mutters one poor
,rooper, as he braces tighter the cinch
a, his saddle. There is, indeed,
,.nounting in hot haste" yet without
noia or confusion of any kind. Perry's
vornr heart is beating like a forge,
and for the life Of him he can't prevent
a trembling Of the knees as he swings
into the saddle and looks to the cham
her Of his revolver. It's his first fight,
vet 50 constantly has he studied and
pondered over all the experiences Of
bis comrades that he feels certain his
plan Is the right one-to burst from
their covert, stampede the dozen In
dams close at hand, then slip away
with the victims that were to be be-
fore the more distant warriors can
reach the spot Once back within the
natural fortress Of the cove they can
bid defiance to five times their number.
Meanwhile the men, some a little
white and tremulous, others, veterans
st the business, cool and imperturba-
be- have mounted, slipped the muzzles
ci their carbines into the ready SOCK
els, and, like their young leader, are
testing their pistols LETTERS raises his
hand in signal. They're getting ready, |
sir Two Of them are sighting now"
Then we haven't a second to lose,"
SAYS Thornton. "Just follow me now.
full dash; but don't yell till | DO. Keep |
quiet till we get right on 'em. Then
gather in our fellows and get back here
as quick as you can. Forward now.
shan't give any commands"
Up the slope they ride IN column OF
twos There's no space to form front
into line" Perry's heart and Perry's
horse alike are bounding. Ten seconds
and they are over the crest and in full
view OF their foemen four hundred
yards away, between them only the
open rolling surface of elastic turf.
Quick as each man reaches the summit
he plunges ahead, "opens out" and
rides up on line with the leaders,
Thornton, still eurbing his excited
horse, riding at plunging lope and
glaneing back to see his followers out
Of the ravine. Then LETTERS comes
tearing up to join him. Then comes a
loud, resonant, Indian warning.
shouted from somewhere down the sum
ny slope, and then there's no time to
uink. Every man at the instant claps
spurs to his horses TANKS and sets up
!eA and then down they go in sweep
ing charge, straight at the painted,
leathered bipeds leaping for their
ponies along the opposite rise. Distant
!adians let drive long-range shots,
u hopes of downing horse and
breaking the impetus of the cavalry
ussA. There are three or four of these