Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-04-05

| "uiiipES beulluS uoM IL NpOu us' uey
had picked our trail and run us down.
"Mount! Now, straight across the
valleyl Fall IN to the rear of the am
bulance."
The voice OF the old sergeant WAS
hard and firm as he spoke. The cur
tains OF the ambulance were up, and
glanced at the colonel's wife. She
had seen and heard. Her cheeks had
paled, but she was removing repeat
ing rifle from its hooks as we fell in
behind the vehicle. 1t was clear
five mile dash. The prairie was as
level as floor, aud the mules needed
no urging after hearing the yells OF
the Indians. The soldier driver
wound the lines about his hands,
braced his feet and away we went.
We had start of half mile. No
man looked back. The pace was not
a hot one. and there was cover five
miles away. The Indians gained on
us, but only inch by inch. The mules
took up such gait that our horses
had to lie right down to it to keep up.
Not word was spoken as we rode, but
every ear listened to locate those
coming up behind us. If they came
too near we must halt and open fire
while the ambulance pushed on. We
had almost reached cover before three
or four rifle bullets came singing over
our heads. Three minutes later we
were among the trees and rocks and
the race WAS ended. AS the ambulance
halted and we flung ourselves off our
horses l looked back and saw n band
of at least seventy Indians almost
within rifle shot of us. The road
struck the hills at a gulch, and they
dared not follow us into that. They
gave vent to their disappointment by
shouts and yells and waste of am.
murition, and for few minutes they
had no plan in view.
| "Well, we beat them in fair race, !"
said the colonel's wife, as she descend.
ed from the ambulance with the ride
in her hands. Sergeant Gregg. what
are you going to do now9'
"Take cover, ma'am," he replied, as
he gave her the military salute.
"Yes, of course" she said, rs she
: looked about. "Did you ever see a
pair of mules run faster? ! might have
got shot but for you men behind.
There must be nearly hundred In
dians out there, but [ guess we arc
safe enough now"
| She ratified on IN that fashion while
we were taking the mules from the
ambulance and unsaddling our horses,
and 1t was great weight oil our minds
! to realize that she would not be n
burden on our hands. 1t was idle to
think of pursuing our journey i'll the
darkness which would soon close down,
and before more morning there would
| be plenty of Indians on the trail beyond
We must take cover and hope to stand
them OFF until help arrived, or they
grew discouraged at the siege. AS we
were consulting about location aud
defense tue coloners wife came back
to us from the mouth of the gulch and
said:
"Hhere's the place, over to the left,
men. There's spring ON that hill,
with good growth to shelter all, and
you can see plenty OF powders lying
about"
The sergeant had selected the same
spot, and in the course OF quarter oI
an hour we were occupying it, We
got the horses and mules up there, but
the vehicle was left behind. 1t was Il
cone-shaped hill amid half dozer
such, but it commanded the others
Il was covered with pines and cedars
| af xut nd q,
splendid spring right in the crest. 1
the Indians had been fierce in theil
pursuit or crafty in their plans, WI
could not have reached it. 1t was thu
outbreak of war again with them, ant
they were overcautious. They drew
back into the valley to consult, thu!
giving us a fair show, and we wert
snug enough when night fell. and the,
made a dash for us, which we easily
repulsed. Darkness found us occupy
ing a circle about forty feet across
with stones and powders and trees fol
shelter, and though the situation wa!
an anxious one and full of danger, al
were in good spirits. We made Il fir,
between two rock and cooked our sup
pers, and by the use of blankets we pu
up tent for the colonel's wife, thougl
against her protests. After the on,
single effort of the Indians, which wa
doubtless more of reconnaissance,
than an attack, we were lett In reace
though all through the night we heart
sounds to prove they We're taking VI
positions on all sides OF us and making
raoly for the morrow
None Of us except the woman slep
an hour all night long. We used lever
to loosen powders and roll them int
the circle, and with our knives we Gu
off limbs and cut down small trees t.
} further strengthen our fort. We go
} the horses into sort of gully below
US and made the position as safe a
possible, and when daylight came ther
was nothing more to be done. We ha,
} about 600 rounds Of ammunition, foo
for three days and water was at hand
Daybreak found us ready for an at
} tack. The colonePs wife took hel
! place, rifle in hand, between two men
r and for half nh hour wa eyoanteJ