Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1898-09-02
"nICKEY DONOVAN" "

A Regular in C Troop.

ulating himself upon this, he pushed
rapidly across the mesa that formed
the divide and was about to take the
trail in descent whel his attention
was attracted by dark, cloud-shaped
object that had suddenly risen upon
the verge Of the southern horizon.
There was no need to ask what it
was. Indians" was Mickey'a first
thought. As he watched it the cloud
grew larger and larger until he was
able to distinguish the outlines Of the
ponies aud riders.
The young trooper knew that it
would be impossible for him to cross
the prairie without being discovered,
but he did not falter. He had no idea
of giving up. He opened the flap of
his saddle pocket that contained the
extra ammunition, loosenel his revol-
yer in its holster and was about to
urge his horse down the trail when he
saw another cloud of dust rising di-
rectly east Of him aud in the direction
he must travel.
Mickey began to think that all the
Indians in Wyoming were out. Sud
denly his heart almost stood still, for
out of the dust emerged a government
ambulance. There was no mistaking
it. The four mules were ON ''dead
ran, aud the driver was lashing them
to their utmost speed.
Mickey OWNED that the general and
his daughter were occupants Of the ye-
hiele, and his first thought was, ''What
can | do to save the young lady?" for
he could see the Indians were in full
cry and endeavoring to reach the
canon ahead of the ambulance.
He noted with JOY that it would be
impossible for them to intercept it.
aud in the same instant thought came
to him by which he might save both
father and daughter. Ii was des-
perate resolve, which might cost his
life, as he knew, but no thought of
self-preseryation entered his mind.
He led his horse into the thick brush
alongside the trail, took the extra am
munition from the saddle pocket and
rapidly descended to a point about so
feet above the roadway which COM
manded the entrance to the canon and
at the same time sheltered him from
attack, except from above.
The canon is so narrow at its open
ing that not more than one vehicle at
a time can eater; on the north side the
wall rises sheer to the summit OF the
mountain, but the southern face is
broken up into rough ledges that form
excellent hiding places as well as for
midable barriers.
To get at him the Indians would
have either TO force a passage and
climb the steep side OF the cliff or
mount by trail TO the summit and
then cautiously descend from rock to
rock Settling himself behind his
breastwora and scattering cartridges
around within easy reach of his hand,
he waited for the ambulance to pass.
For one instant he was tempted to
hail it as it passed aud secure the aid
of the general and the driver, but he
dismissed the thought, for to stop the
ambulance would be to endanger "the
young lady,"
As the team dashed into the canon
Mickey noted that the mules were
running with lightness which showed
them to be comparatively fresh and
good for at least 20 miles. He caught
a glimpse OF the general with car
bine firmly grasped in his hand, and
ON the back seat he saw white, fright
ened face, the image of which never
after left him.
When the Indians advanced to
within so yards of the opening, utter
ing fiendish yells Of triumph in the
expectation of speedily overtaking the
ambulance, which, they knew, could
not keep up the breakneck pace
through the tortuous windings of the
canon, they were surprised and
stopped by the reports of three shots
which rang out from the ledge of
rocks on the face of the cliff.
Three Indians hung limp upon
their ponies as the whole band rode
back out Of gunshot.
Black Eagle, who commanded the
Indians, was sharp enough TO know
that the attacking party were not sol
diers, for otherwise there would have
been charge. He reasoned that the
party must be a very small one to be
intrenched in such manner. Send
ing forward dozen warriors to draw
the fire of the besieged, he closely
watched the face of the cliff and made
out that but one man was firing.
Moving his band south until they
disappeared from the view of any one
on the rocks, he hurried them swiftly
toward the opening, intending to
make dash into the canon aud trust
ing to the swiftness of the movement
to diseoncert the marksman above. He
planned to send the main body on in
pursuit OF the ambulance, while a suf
ficient number remained to dislodge
the man who was preventing them
from following their prey.
Mickey waited for the appearance
of the Indians with every nerve strung
to its highest tension. He thrilled
with satisfaction at each moments de-
lay, for he knew that the troops fol-
lowing him would make good time
and probably meet the ambulance be-
fore the Indians could overtake it.
Whom they had reached the point of
vantage sought, Black Eagles signal
was given, and they dashed into the
opening. Crack crackl crackl weut
Mickey's carbine. Then as rapidly as
he could fire he discharged the six
shots from his revolver He noted
confused iumble Of ponies and Indians
in the centre Of the roadway, but others
jumped over them, and he saw them
streaming away far mp the canon.
Again the carbine cracked. Six,
seven, eight are down; nine, no, he
had missed that fellow. Strange"
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