The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-26


the coloners face as he turned and pointed
to the huts, where now, clinging to one an
other in terror, many poor wives and chill
dren were gathered and the air was filed
with the sobbing of the little ones. Up from
the stockade came two young officers, their
faces set and rigid, their eyes blazing. I'm
Gods name, colonel" cried the foremost,
'let me take my men and clear that ridge
SO that our people can get back. One charge
Will do IL, cir
But solemnly the commander uplifted his
hand. Listen" said he, 1.-THE battle is re-
ceding. They are driving our poor fellows
southwark, away from US. They are massed
between them and US. 1t would only be
playing into their hands, my boy. It's too
late to help. Our duty now is here"
But good God, sir! l can't stay without
raising hand to help. 1 beg-I implorer'
Go back to your post at once, sir. You
may be needed any minute. Look there!
And as he spoke the colonel pointed to the
southeast. Over the scene beyond the divide
to the south hung the bank of pale-blue
smoke Out on the slope lay the CHASTITY re-
mains of the young adjutant and his faithful
comrade who, not ten minutes before, had
galloped forth in obedience to their orders
and met their soldier fate. Out to the south
east the ridge fell gradually away into the
general level of the rolling prairie, and there,
full thousand yards distant, there suddenly
darted into view three horsemen, troopers
evidently. squirting madly for home.
They've cut their way through! Thank
God!'' almost screamed the spectators at the
pdrdpet. But their eXultdtI0n dleQ an In
slant later. Over the ridge in swift pursuit
came dozen painted, feathered braves, their
ponies racing at lightning speed, their ar
rows and bullets whizzing along the line Of
flight. The horse Of the foremost trooper
was staggering, and suddenly went plunging
headlong, sending his rider sprawlng far
out on the turf He was up in second
dire peril nerving him to desperate effort
His comrades veered at his cry for help and
glanced back over their shoulders. One, un-
nerved at sight of the dashing foeman in
pursuit, clapped spurs again, and, bending
low rode madly on. The other gallant fell
low refined about in wide sweeping circle
and turned back to meet his running comrade.
They him bend to lend helping hand,
saw him bend still lower as three of the
Indians leaped from their ponies, and, kneel-
ing loosed their rifles all at once; saw him
topple out of saddle, and his stricken horse,
with tapping rein, trot aimlessly about
moment before he, too, went foundering
in his tracks; saw the other soldier turn to
face his fate by his dying comrades side,
fighting to the last, overwhelmed and borne
down by the rush Of red warriors Strong
on and see the rest-the brutal. pitiless club
bling and stabb.ng the fearful hacking OF
lance and knfe-but others stiE, in the fas-
cination Of horror, gazed helplessly through
the smoke drifting. upward from the blazing
loopholes and once feeble cheer broke forth
as one shot took effect and a yelling Indian
stretched out dead upon the sward. Then for
a brief moment all eyes centered on the sole
survivor who came sweeping down the slope,
straight for the stockade Almost it seemed
as though he might yet escape, despite the
fact that his horse, too, was lurching and
stumbling and his pursuers were gaining
rapidly defiant Of the fire of the little fort.
Reckless of order and discipline, a dozen
soldiers nearest the gate rushed out upon
the open bench, shouting encouragement and
sending long range, chance shots. But with
every stride the fleeing steed grew weaker.
stumbled painfully and slackened speed. and
soon they saw him slowing down, despite the
4Io n Irytfh 1VsNO
ed head and bleeding nostrils giving up the
fight And then, at sound Of the triumphant
yells and jeers Of his pursuers, the poor
wretch in saddle threw one fearful glance be-
hind him, one despairing look toward the
comrades and the refuge still quarter OF
mi.e away and with shaking hand he turned
the brown revolver On his own temple and
pulled trigger and then went tumbling earth
ward corpse There at least one scalp
the Sioux could covet in vain, for, with
shouts of vengeance, the little squad Of in
fantry, deaf to all orders OF the cianor OF
bench, firing furously as they ran, and.
whether from the superstitious awe with
which the Indians view the suicide, or the
dread of c,ose combat with the gallant band
of blue-coats, the mounted warriors turned
and scurried away across the prairie, and
were presently out OF range beyond the ridge
again. Then, and not till they had reached
and lifted and borne the lifeess form Of
the trooper, did the little party condescend
to answer the repeated summons from the
fort Then at last they slowly returned, un-
rebuked for no man had the heart to chide
their daring.
Only once more was there further sight of
the one-sided battle. Half a mile or more
beyond the bare divide there arose against
the southern sky bold, oblong height or
butte studded with powders and stunted
pine and watchers at the fort became aware
as the sun climbed higher, that the smoke
cloud, thinning gradually but perceptbly
was slowly drifting thither. The fire, too,
grew faint and scattering. The war whoops
rang and re-echoed among the rocks. but all