The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1897-10-22
ChPThIN CLOSE
BY CAPTAIN CHARLES KING.
Copyright. 1894. by J. B. Lippincott Col
XNII.-CoNTINUED.


responsibility of disregarding his IN
Structicns, and was wiser than Lam
bert in the wiles of Indian warfare.
I'D go myself gladly, lieutenant. he
said. but orders are orders, and party
of four or five would be surrounded
ant! cut off and massacred before you
fairly realized that an Indian was near
YOU" Then Lambert had appealed to
the Texans, and the captain had re-
piled as above; and then, just when he
was giving up in despair, a sergeant
and two men, dust-covered and with
horses in lather of foam, rode furI-
ously in from the Waco trail.
is it true?' cried the sergeant, as D,
saw the unusual gathering at camp
I'VE met a Teller halfway over to Bra
zos riding like hell, warning folks the
Indians were to the north, and he said
they had jumped the stage this side of
Cliente. It's true? And you haven't
Gone anything? Mount every sound
man you've got, and give US fresh
horses"
INV orders were TO take care" be
gan his comrade.
damn your orders! I bring later.
The old man didn't believe it, and had
sure thing ahead of him, or he'd have
turned back with the hull outfit. Why.
man, that stage-or what's left of it
amt thirty miles away, an you fellers
sitting here like so many damn women"
And the trooper flung himself from the
saddle at the word, and then caught
sight of Lambert's forage-cap and eager
face.
Get me a horse, TOO, sergeant; HI
20 with you. I'm Lieut.. Lambert,
classmate of your second lieutenant"
You'll go in command, sir. and we're
with you-siX of us, anyhow. I've heard
Corporal Walton speak of you, sir,
often. How many of you fellers III go?"
he demanded eagerly of the knot of
Texans, while the few troopers hustled
about saddling spare horses and levy
ing on the list of invalid mounts, too
sore or too feeble for long chase. but
good enough for a thirty-mile dash
when it was life or death at the end
of it. In an instant the whole atmos-
phere seemed changed-charged with
ozone, electric force, magnetism
something-for the snap and spirit of
the newcomer flashed from man to
man. Lambert, a stranger and without
authority in the premises, could effect
nothing; Sergt. Dolan. war veteran,
4 man they all knew, and clothed with
power as coming direct from that mill
tary demi-god 1.-The captain" had adozen
men armed, equipped. in saddle and
ready for business, in ten minutes SIX
were soldiers, six civilians who half
laughingly ranged their raw-boned
Texas ponies in line with the mounting
troopers and Dolan sung out to Lam
bert, who had raided his classmates
tent for extra boots and riding breech-
es: Were ready, sir"
In the hot May sunshine, at high
noon, they went looping northward over
the lovely prairie, spangled with wild
flowers. the Colorado twistinga and turn
ing like silver serpent in its green bed
tc their left. Five miles out, a wretched,
half-demented creature hailed them
from a clump of willows by little
stream. you're too late. you fellers.
They amt anything left alive from
the Paloma to the Caliente, except Indi-
ans. The country's alive with them.
Good-by to your scalps if you venture
ever that ridge" And he pointed to
the long. low line of bluffs that SPAWNED
the horizon to the northwest. One man
stopped to question, but speedily came
Galloping on in pursuit. Hes scared
out of his wits. He can't prove what he
says was the brief report to Lambert
and the sergeant. now riding side by
side at the head of the little column.
Another hour. and. closer to the river,
they were following the meanderings
Of the stage road. and the ridge doomed
higher ahead. Two more settlers had
been passed; and they were eXaggera-
tive beyond any semblance of proha-
bilty.
We'll know the truth in an hour.
lieutenant. so there's no use wasting
time with those beggars. You can see
the Paloma from yonder bluffs" WAS
Dolan's only comment.
Just at one o'clock the foaming, pant.
ing horses were refined in, and the girths
loosened, while Lambert. guided by the
veteran Indian-fighter. crawled can-
tiously up the height in front of them
Half the men dismounted. were sta
honed with ready rifle or carbine where
they could command every approach.
Who could say whether Indians were
not even then lurking in every ravine"
A young Texan, following the road,
pushed on cautiously to the point. so
AS to scout the trail beyond. With
dropping heads and heaving TANKS the
motley herd were huddled in q little
swale TO the right of the road. their
holders eagerly watching the young
leader and saying few words. Warily
Dolan reached and peered over the crest
They could see him pointing-could
see both he and Lambert shading their |
eyes with their hands and staring away |
into space-could see Dolan suddenly |
clutch the officers sleeve. and, crouch |
ing lower, point as though to some OBJ
jects far out over the slopes beyond. |
Then down they came, eager. elastic. |
with cleaning eyes and glowing faces.
Mount. men, mount! There's fight I
not five miles ahead!" sang out Dolan.
and, swinging into saddle. with Lam
bert only a length in lead, struck spurs
to his horse, the whole squad Gathering
at their heels. Young Texas, peering
around the point, heard them coming.
and threw a long, lean leg over his
scraggy pony. See anything?" he
hailed.