Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-11-07

Of the horses began to dance and tug at
the bit and plunge, and others to take a
jog trot, for the Indian scouts were at
the lope, and their gesticulations be-
came every moment more vehement,
and then Bat was seen, though visible
only to the first line, to grab his re-
volver, and Leale's gauntleted hand al.
most instantly sought the holster. and
out came the ready colt its muzzle
raised in air.
Out, in quick and ready imitation,
leaped 100 more, and instinctively the
jog changed to lively trot, and the
dull, thudding hoofs upon the snow
muf1ed earth rose louder and more in
sistent, and Ormsby, riding at the colo
nel's left, gripped tighter his revolver
and set his teeth, yet felt his heart was
hammering loud, and then DINNER and
DINNER grew the first line as It led
away, and still the colonel's firm hand
kept Roderick dancing impatiently at
the slower gait, and then, just a. 1t
seemed as though the line would be
swallowed up in snow and disappear
from view, quick and sudden two muf-'
fed shots were heard from somewhere
Just in front, the first syllable perhaps
Of some stentorian shout Of warning,
and then one magnificent burst Of cheers
and rush Of charging men and crash
and crackle and sputter Of shots, and
then fierce rallying cries and piercing
screams of women and Of terrified little
ones, and, like some huge human wave,
the first line Of the Twelfth rode On and
over and through the startled camp and
bore like a whirlwind, yelling. down
upon the pony herds beyond
And now comes the turn Of the Sec
ond line. Seeking shelter from the
mowstorm, warriors, women and chill
dren were for the most part within the
tepees as the line crashed in. Some few
were with the miserable captives, but
at the first sound Of danger every war
rior had seized his rife and rushed for
the open air. Some few, throwing them
selves upon their faces, fired wild shots
at the foremost troopers as they came
bounding through, but as a rule only
few opposed their passage, so sudden
was the shock.
Then came the realization that the
herds were being driven, and that not
an instant must be lost in mounting
such ponies as were still tethered about
the villages, and darting away In q
wide circle-away from the troops-yet
concentrating again beyond them and
regaining the lead And 80, where the
first line met an apparently sleeping vii
lage, the second comes cheering, charg-
ing, firing, laundering through swarm
ing mob Of yelling braves and scream
ing squaws.
Farrar, foremost in the charge, with
the civilian guardsman close at his side.
shouts warning to the women, even as
he empties his pistol at the bowling
men. Close at his back come Amory
and his sorrel troop cheering like mad,
battering over Indians too slow to jump
aside and driving their kissing lead at
every warrior in their path. And still
the colonel shouts, ''This way" and
Ormsby, Amory and the adjutant ride
at his heels, and the sorrels especially
follow his lead, and, dashing through a
labyrinth Of lodges, they rein up cheer
ing about two grimy tepees, at which
Bat is excitedly pointing and the ranch
men both are shouting the names OF
loved relatives and listening eagerly for
answer, and thrilling voices within are
crying, "Herel Here" and stalwart
men, swinging from saddle, are rush.
ing in, pistol in hand, and tearing aside
the fimsy barriers that hide the rescued
captives from the eyes Of their deliver.
ers, and the other troop. REINFORCED
again by strong squads from Leale's
rallied line, are dashing to and fro
through the village, firing at the 1ndi-
ans who are scurrying away. Just as
Amory and the adjutant charge at lit
tie knot Of scowling redskins, whose RI
fes are blazing at them not dozen
yards distance, just as the good old
colonel, afoot now. is clasping the hand
of some poor woman whose last hope
was gone but moment before and
even while listening to her frantic bless
ings finds time to shout again to his
half maddened men: Don't hurt the
women, lads. Look out for the chill
drenp' a haglike, blanketed fury Of a
Brule squaw springs from behind the
shelter of a pile of robes, levels her re-
volver, and, pulling trigger at the in
slant, leaps screaming down into the
creek bottom, leaving Farrar sinking
slowly into the snow.
An hour later, with strong skirmlsh
lines out on every side Of the captured
village, with score Of Indian warriors
sent to their last account and the others
scattered over the face of the earth, the
little battalion Of the Twelfth is Won
dering if, after all, the fight were worth
winning, for here in their midst, his
head on Leale's arm, his fading sight
fixed on the tear dimmed eyes OF his
faithful comrade, here lies their beloved
old colonel, his last messages murmured
in that listening ear: "Leale-old friend
find find that poor girl-my-my
son robbed and ruined and deserted
and be the friend to her-you've been
to me-and mine. God bless'-
And this-While the regiment, obey