The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-10-27
CHAPTER III.

seen through the drifts Colonel Farrnr.
with his little party Of attendants, cainn.
riding to b front nf the E-o. Long,
long afterward they remembered that
clear out, soldierly, high bred face,
with it's aquiline nose, keen, kindly.
deep set eyes, the gray white mustache,
sno white now, as was his close crop.
ped hair.
Men" said he in the firm tones
they had known 80 long and we'll.
fully half the band are some miles
away, but Kill Eagle, with over 100
warriors, ia right here in our front; SO,
too, are his women and children; 30,
too, worse luck, are some of our own
unhappy captiyes. You all know tho
first thing those Indians would do, we're
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 tho valley, to
the south. Let the first line dash straight
through the village and stampede the
herd. then rally and return. Let tho
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 q dash in tho direction Of the DO
MES. Shoot them down wherever you
cam, but mark my words now, DO care
full OF the women and children. 1 had
intended summoning Kill Eagle to sur
render, but we did not begin to know
he had 80 many warriors close at hand
and did not know about tho captives.
Bat has seen, and that is enough. There
is no other way to settle it. It's the ono
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 a long
breath, while tho colonel rodo through
to say similar words to tho second line.
Then, returning, he placed himself just
in the rear Of the center of tho first
squadron, the second line noiselessly
advancing and closing up on tho lead
ers, and then he seemed to think of an-
other point.
"Ask Mr.. Ormsby if he will ride
with me-" said no to tho 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 off his "broad brim, " shaking
away q load Of snow, and spurred out a
little to the front. There, looking back
to both his right and left, he gave the
signal "Forwardl' and with almost u
single impulse the long, lark rank of
horsemen, open at tho center in an in
faryD1 0J como half n 1Nva> xr,,.l, .....I.
out other sound than the slight rattle of
accoutcrments and Che muf1led rumble
OF 900 hoofs, moved steadily forward.
A homer the colonel sat and watched
them. smiled acordial greeting to Orms-
over with the adjutant; then, signaling
to the second line, he, too, gave his
horse the rein, and ut q steady walk
followed close to the center Of Leale's
command. In his hand at tho moment
he held a little pocket compass and
smiled as ne noted the limo Of direction.
Almost duo southeast at this in
stunt,' said he. eve ought to bag our
game and be we'll across tho Mini Pusa
with them in less than an hour"
Unconsciously the pace was quicken
ing. Foremost Of all, we'll out in front
or the center, rode the half breed Indian
guide, bending low over his pony's
neck, his black, boady eyes peering
ahead. Well ont to tho right and left
were other scouts, eager and alert, like
Bat himself. Then, squarely in the cen
ten, on his big, powerful bay, rode
Leale, commander Of the foremost line,
and Ormsby's soldier,y heart throbhcd
with admiration as he marked, Just be-
fore GALA VOC hiIlar f.ox. 49,. -
spirited, confident bearing and noted
now n eyes OF all the line seemed fixed
on their gallant leader. And now some
OF the horses began to dance and tug at
the Die and plunge, and others to take q
jog trot, for the Indian scouts were at
the lope, and their gosticulations be-
came every moment more vehement,
and then Bat was seon, though visible
only to the first line, to grab his re-
volver, and Leale's gauntletcd hand al
most instantly sought tho holster. and
out came tho ready. colt, its muzzlo
raised In air.
Out, in quick and ready imitation,
leaped 100 more, and instinctively the
jog changed to n lively trot, and the
dull, thudding hoofs upon the snow
mufled earth rose louder and more in
s%istent, 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 %colopel's firm hand
r. ferEt ~r9Soderick dancing impatiently at
the slower gait, anm Their, just az it
saerned as though the line would DO
sSveIlowed up in snow and disappear
from view, quick and sudden two muf.
aed shots were heard from somewhere
inst in front, the frat syllable perhaps
~ some stentorian shout Of warning.
and then one magnificent burst of ch,era
and n rush Of charging men and q crab
and "A orac(le and sputter Of shots, al1
thon de,<e rallyinR cries and piercing
soreay@ or women and of terrified little
onr< and, like some huge human wave,
20 first lin Of the Twelfth rode on ard
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.
II line. Seeking shelter from the
anowstorm, 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
ut The first sound OF danger every war.
rtor had seized his rife N rushed for
she open air. Some few, throwing them.