The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-08-07

gering your life, Mary. You unman
me. am a coward when you are
exposed to danger. am brave in
the thought that l can defend YOU.
His reason and entreaty prevailed
and she was induced to seek til
most sheltered place in the inclosur,
when the Indians made their nexl
charge on the rude earthwork.
"They are coming again, boys!'
cried the brave private. "Now, re.
member that it is better to die s
brave man than a coward. Don't
waste a shot. Our only hope lies il
making a bold, stubborn resistance"
The soldiers, who looked upon
him as their natural leader, silently
nodded assent.
Here they comet" cried Mr.. Bull.
lard, one of the passengers, who
had seized the rifle of a dead sol.
der. Great Godi What a tornado
of hoofs and headsi'
"They raise a Storm" said Mr..
Leads, another traveller.
There's a thousand of Them"
"We're done for, Bullard!"
"Well, let us die game if we are"
"Steady ALL" cried George Stone.
Nov, take careful aim. Don't any
of you waste lead on the big chief
with red feathers"
Every rifle was aimed.
Steady Let them come a little
nearer before you fire."
Up they came until they were
even within long pistol range, and
then George gave the command:
"Firer'
There was a rafting crash of fire.
arms, and the foremost saddles were
emptied. The big chief with red
feathers went down with the others.
The riderless horses plunged back
upon the mounted savages, making
the panic more general.
"Loadl' cried the young soldier.
AS they were all armed with
breechloaders, it was an easy task
to slip cartridges into the guns. Be-
fore the Indians had recovered from
the confusion the volley had thrown
them into, a second volley was
poured into them. Then some of the
passengers having winchesters be-
gan a continual fire.
One by one the soldiers went
down. As if by a miracle Stone was
still unhurt, and gathering the arms
of his fallen comrades about him,
he continued to fire with such ra-
piditythat the Indians little dreamed
there was but one man left.
George, let me help you," en-
treated Mary. 81 lean load the guns"
God help your he murmured.
AT this moment there was a sud-
den and for some time unexplained
stampede on the part of the enemy.
Hastily taking up their wounded
and a part of their dead, they flew
across the plain as rapidly as their
ponies could carry them. The cause
of their flight was the arrival of 200
soldiers under MajorWarner George
was the only man unframed save
the cowardly lieutenant, who was
still under the stagecoaoh, and who
never recovered from his sudden
malady until the major assured him
the enemy were gone.
Miss Mary Sommers went to the
city, where her brother, a wealthy
miner, lived. Tom Sommers was
not only wealthy, but influential,
and he was soon ready to offer
George Stone either a discharge OF
a commission. He chose to be dis
charged, and shortly after married
the lady whom he had so gallantly
defended. He removed to a western
state, from which he was sent to
congress, and subsequently became
an official in the var department.
1t was at the presidents reception
that Lieutenant Marks met Mr.
Stone and his beautiful wife.
II am proud to meet such a dis
tinguished person as Colonel Stone!'
said the lieutenant derisively.
The fair wife quickly interrupted
him with:
mot a colonel, lieutenant-Pri
vate Stone. l am proud to own tina
I am the wife of a private. A pri
vate who is brave in battle is to b.
preferred to a commissioned Office:
who becomes deathly sick at a sign
of danger"
Lieutenant Marks, very much hu
inflated, left the White House.
John r. Musick in Chicago Tribune