The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-01-05

line this slope with your mon, send at
least dozen down into the ravine and
stand OFF Big Road and his fellows
while we corral that whole village and
start 1t for homo. They can't tell how
rev you are IN number, and Fenton will
be close at their heels. Between You
they ought to be forced to the north
side while I'm driving the village out
to tho south. You understand, do Won
not? It's fight in tho dark, and they're
afraid of 1t. anyhow. You've got a
splendid troop. lad, and they won't fail
you. Don't be ashamed to ask your old
sergeants for advice. You understand
fully2"
81 do" said Will stoutly. though his
young heart was hammering In his
breast. we'll do our best, sir. Form
fours, sergeant, and link-lively, he
added, then grasped the captains hand
one instant before the latter turned
away. Silently, quickly the mon linked
! horses, and, leaving No 4 Of each
set In saddle, came running up to
the front, unslinging carbines on the
way. Farwell and his fellows went trot.
ting off among the olumps Of pine as
the last man fell In on tho left. Then,
quickly dividing OFF dozen troopers
from that flank, Will placed the first
sergeant In charge and babe him find
the way down tho steep incline to the
bottom Of the gorge, which there was
not moro than $50 feet below, giving
him instructions to be ready to sweep it
with their fire when the warriors came,
az come they speedily must. Next, fac
ing eastward, he deploycd his men,
causing them to stand or kncel in the
shelter Of the little trees, but to keep
vigilant lookout. Another little squad
was strung out down tho face Of the
bluff to keep connection with the men
descending to the depths Of the canyon,
and these preparations were barely COM
pleted when, riding at rapid gait, two
horscmen came dashing up tho eastward
slope. The painting Of the ponies could
DO heard before anything could be seen,
but tho instant the vague shapes appear
ed two sudden shots rang out Oh the
night, and then q dozen-a sputtering
Volley-hashed from tho line.
Down went ono pony, struggling and
rolling in the snow. Away sped the
other back into tho blacknoss of the
night. Then dark object seemed to
disengago itself from the struggling
pony and 60 crouching and limping
away. Two or three excited young SOL
diers banged their carbines without the
faintest aim. Thon It seemed as though
the hillsides woke to wild revel Of
battle, for, behind them, far up the can
yon, there rose wall Of terror from the
fleeing squaws and shouts Of tho few old
braves left to guard them, resounding
warwhoops Of younger Indians some
where, anywhere, everywhere, down the
slopes to the east. Then bright col
umn OF fame shot high IN mir over
among tho rocks to the north Of tho gate,
and afar out over the eastward prairie
Big Road and his braves camo dashing,
driving, laundering to the rescue.
"Thcy'll not try the gulch, sorr,"
shouted Rorke in his ear. "Only few
will push in here. Most Of 'cm will
como this way and get around us to our
right"
"Open out, menl Push out soutlrward
there rs fast as you canr' shouted Will,
as no ran bounding through tho snow
toward tho right of his III, isiblo line.
"Watch for them! They'll como with
And Rorke, whose business it was to
remain with his comrades in battle"
where first ho was posted, near the brow
Of tho steep, went running after his
young commander rs hard as no could
60, with no man to stop him.
In tho excitement and darkness, in
the thrill Of the moment. somc of the
men seemed disposed to huddlo together
rather than to increase their intervals
for plainly now could bo heard q dull
thunder Of hoofs-the roar Of the com
ing storm. Then, too, shadowy specters
of horsemen could DO dimly seen dart
Ing into partial view and out again, like
the flash that greeted them. But far up
tho gorge, behind Farrars line, tho
sound Of battle grew 1iercer and louder
Then, down from the depths of tho can
yon, there came sudden olamor of shot
and cheer and challenge and yclls of
rage and defiance, and then all Oh
sudden out from among tho stuntcd
trees, with painting, struggling, bound.
ing ponies, with lashing, bending, yell
Ing braves, there burst upon them tho
main body Of the Indians, threeScorc
warriors at least, and despite the ring
of shots on and through and over they
rushed the slim aud extended skirmish
line, and Will Farrar, springing from
the shelter Of littlo cedar, was struck
full in the breast by q muscular shoul-
der and knocked backward into tho
snow. He struggled to his feet, cropping
for his revolver, just in time to meet the
dash Of half dozen racing braves all
yelling like fiends. Something crashed
upon his skull and struck million
sparks or stars, and everything whirled
out Of sight and sound and sense as the
young officer went down, face foremost,
into the drifts.
TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK