Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-11-05
CHAPTER II.

"Hushi Silence there" for dimly
seen through the drifts Colonel Farrar.
with his little party Of attendants, came
riding to the front Of the line. Long,
long afterward they remembered that
clear cut soldierly, high bred face,
with its aquiline nose, keen, kindly,
deep set eyes, the gray white mustache,
snow white now, as was his close crop.
ped hair.
Men," said he in the firm tones
they had known 30 long and we'll,
fully half the band are some miles
away, but Kill Eagle. with over 100
warriors, Is right here In our front; 60.
too, are his women and children; 80,
too. worse luck, are some Of our own
unhappy captivea You all know the
first thing those Indians would do, were
We to attack as usual, would be to muir.
der those poor white women. This snow
storm is in our favor. We can creep
right in upon them before we charge.
The ponies are down In the valley, to
the south. Let the first line dash straight
through the village and stampede the
herd, then rally and return. Let the
second follow at 100 yards and sur.
round the tepees at the eastward end.
What white women are with them are
there. The Indian men, as q rule, will
make dash In the direction Of the po-
MES. Shoot them down wherever you
can, but mark my words now be care.
tul Of the women and children. had
intended summoning Kill Eagle to sur.
render, but we did not begin to know
he had 30 many warriors close at hand
and did not know about the captives.
Bat has seen, and that is enough. There
is no other way to settle it It's the one
chance Of rescuing those poor creatures.
Now, keep together. Watch your officers
commands and signals, and spare the
squaws and papooses. Be ready in two
minutes"
And then every man took long
breath, while the colonel rode through
to say similar words to the second line.
Then, returning, he placed himself Just
in the rear Of the center OF the first
squadron, the second line noiselessly
advancing and closing up on the lead
ers, and then he seemed to think Of an.
other point
ASK Mr.. Or1nsby if he will ride
with me- said he to the adjutant
Now, Leale, forward at walk. Fol.
low Bat It's all level ahead Of you.
You'll sight the village in three or four
minutes.
The tall, stalwart captain touched his
hat, took of his broad brim, shaking
away load of snow, and spurred out
little to the front. There, looking back
to both his right and left, he gave the
signal Forward" and with almost
single impulse the long, dark rank Of
horsemen, open at the center in an in
terval of some half dozen yards, with.
out other sound than the slight rattle Of
accouterments and the muffled rumble
Of 500 hoofs, moved steadily forward.
A moment the colonel sat and watched
them, smiled cordial greeting to Orms-
by. who, pistol in hand, came trotting
over with the adjutant; then, signaling
to the second line, he, too, gave his
horse the rein, and ut steady walk
followed close to the center Of Leale's
command. In his hand at the moment
he held little pocket compass and
smiled as be noted the line Of direction.
almost due southeast at this in
stant," said he. "We ought to bag our
game and be we'll across the Mini Pusa
with them in less than an hour"
Unconsciously the pace was quicken
ing. Foremost Of all, we'll out in front
Of the center, rode the half breed Indian
guide, bending low over his pony's
neck, his black, beady eyes peering
ahead. Well out to the right aud left
were other scouts, eager and alert, like
Bat himself. Then, squarely in the Gen.
ter, on his big, powerful bay, rode
Leale, commander Of the foremost line,
and Ormsby's soldierly heart throbbed
with admiration as he marked, Just be-
fore Leale was hidden from view, his
spirited, confident bearing and noted
how the eyes Of all the line seemed fixed
on their gallant leader. And now some
of the horses began to dance and tug at
the bit and plunge. and others to take
jog trot, for the Indian scouts were at
the lope, and their gesticulations be-
came every moment more vehement,
aud then Bat was seen, though visible
only to the first line, to grab his re.
vofver, and Leale's gauntleted hand al
most instantly sought the holster. and
out came the ready colt, its muEzle
raised in air.
Out, in quick and ready imitation,
leaped 100 more, and instinctively the
jog changed to q lively trot, and the
dull, thudding hoofs upon the snow
muffled 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 as it
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 apd 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