The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-02-04
FORT FRAYNE.
From third page.

FORT FRAYNE.
From third page.
own and that Fenton had already sent
q force to race the Indians to their ref
uge.
At o'clock the darkness was intense.
There was no moon to light their way,
and their only guide was the deep trail
in the snowy surface left by the retreat
ing Indians The darkness was no deep
er than the gloom in every heart, for
Fenton was gone, wronged and calum-
mated man, and they. his loyal soldiers,
obedient to higher duty still, were
forced to push on and finish his work
without him. For an hour only at snail's
pace had they followed the trail. Bat
and his associates had had many mar
row escape. Lieutenant Martin, COM
manding the advance, had had his horse
shot under him. Sergeant Roe had
bullet through his coat, and Corporal
Werrick, riding eagerly in the lead, got
another through the shoulder Luckily
it was not very cold, but all the same
most Of the men were becoming slug
gish and sleepy, and that was just about
the time Wayne might be expected to
wake up. And wake up he did.
81 have had no orders on no account
to attack, = said he, and haven't time
to read all the rot they wired to Fen
ton. Watch for tho next shots ahead
there" he cried to the foremost troop
ers. "and sock it to them!'
Then it was beautiful to see how
even the horses seemed to rouse from
their stupor and apathy, and something
almost like cheer burst from the lips
of the younger men. Old hands took a
swig of water from their canteens and
bite at the comforting plug. Out from
the sockets came the brown carbines,
and a fresh platoon was ordered up to
relieve the advance, and Lieutenant
Randolph took Martins place at the
front. Every little while through the
darkness ahead had come flash and
report from the invisible foe, and, as
these had been suffered unavenged, it
was soon observed that the lurking
warriors grew holder and that with
every shot the distance seemed to de-
crease. For half an hour past they had
been coming in from easy pistol range,
and Randolph took the cue. Bidding
his men open out and ride several yards
| apart, yet aligned as much as was pos
sible, he ordered carbines dropped and
revolvers drawn and then, trotting along
the rear of the dozen, gave his quick
caution to man after man. watch for
the flash and let drive at it. Even if we
| don't hit, we'll keep them at respectful
distance" he said, and the words were
| hardly out of his mouth when ruddy
! light leaped over the snow, shot Went
tipping past his head, and then, follow
ed by roar of approval from the main
column, the revolvers of the advance
cracked and sputtered their answer.
The landscape was lit up for an instant,
dark forms went pounding and scurry-
ing away from the front, and moment
later there uprose a cheer over at the
right, and Randolph galloped to the
spot. An Indian pony lay kicking,
struggling, stifening in the snow, shot
through the body, and the rider had had
to run for it.
That's. right, Randolph" said the
major. squirting to his side. ''Now, keep
'em off, but don't push too hard Re-
member, we've got to give Farwell
time
'How far ahead is that COMPOUNDED
canyon, Bat?' asked the adjutant at
the moment.
"Not more than two miles now.
| hunted buffalo all over here when I was
boy was the answer. "Big Roads
| people all there by this time, I'm
afraid. -
''Then you think that they got there
first-that they've got the bluffs?''
g 'Fraid SO. Big Road no fool. He
wouldn't let his village drive into a
gulch and not guard the bluffs. If the
captain got there first. they'd have
found it out by this time and signaled
! for help. The reason I believe they
think they're all safe is that so many
| Indians hang around us out here
And just then came grunt of disgust
from La Bonte. The colonel at his side
said "H-l!" and an excitable trooper
! called out, "Look there! What's that?"
| for over at the northwest, all on sud-
den, brilliant column of fame had
burst through the blackness of the night
and sent a broad glare streaming over
the snow clad surface of the rolling
prairie.
They're on to us, by the eternalp
cried the adjutant, who loved the Jack
| sonian form of expletive. "Listen!"
But no one listened more than an instant.
Even through the muff1ing coyerlet of
snow the rumble and rush of a hun
dred pony hoofs, like low, distant thun-
der, told of the instant flight Of Big
Roads braves in answer to the signal
Wayne was ablaze in a second.
''Close up on the head Of column, -
he shouted to the troop leaders. ''Come
on, now, men. for all you're worth.
There ism second to spare. =
And as the amazed and wearied