Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-10-19
"rIlCKEY DONOVAN" :.

A Regular in c Troop.
JY W. T. rnrLTER.


rapidly across the mesa that formed
the divide and was about to take the
trail in descent when 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. s'Indians" was Mickey's first
thought. AS he watched it the cloud
grew larger and larger until he was
able to distinguish the outlines of the
ponies and riders.
The young trooper knew that it
would be impossible for him to cross
the prairic 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, loosened 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 and 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 government
ambulance. There was no mistaking
it. The four mules were on "dead
rum, and the driver was lashing them
to their utmost speed.
Mickey OWNED that the general and
his daughter were occupants OF the ve-
hicle, and his first thought was, "What
can I 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,
and in the same instant q thought came
to him by which he might save both
father and daughter. 1t was a des-
perate resolve, which might cost his
life, as he knew, but no thought OF
self-preservat;on entered his mind.
He led his horse into the shick brush
alongside the trail, took the extra am
munition from the saddle pocket and
rapidly descended Sto a point about so
feet above the roadway which com
Ii &: s,
at the same time sheltered him from
attack, except from above.
The canon is so narrow at it's OPEN
ing that not more than one vehicle at
a time can enter; on the north side the
wall rises sheer to the summit OF the
but the southern face is
broken up into rough lodges that form
excellent hiding places as we'll as for
barriers.
To get at him the Indians would
have either to force 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
breastwork 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 and secure the ald
of the general and the driver, but he
the thought, for to stop the
ambulance would be to endanger 'the
young lady"
AS the team dashed into the canon
noted that the mules were
with alightness which showed
them to be comparatively fresh and
good for Mt least 20 miles. He caught
a glimpse of the general with car
tine 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
which, they knew, could
not keep up the bgeakneck 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 psrty were not SOL
diers, for otherwise there would have
been charge. He reasoned that the
party must be 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 :. w of any one
on the rocks, he hurried them swiftly
toward the opening, intending to
make dash into tlfe canon and trust
ing to the swiftness of the movement
to disconcert the marksman above. He
planned to send the main body on in
pursuit of the ambulance, while suf-
fcient 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 it's highest tension. He thrilled
with satisfaction ut 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.
When they had reached the point of
vantage sought, Black Eagles signal
was given, and they dashed into the
opening. Crack! crack! crack! went
Mickey's carbine. '9Then MS rapidly as
he could fire he discharged the six
shots from his revolver. Hes noted
confused tumble of ponies and Indians
in the centre of the roadway, but others
jumped over them, and he saw them
streaming away far up the. canon.
Again the carbine cracked. Six,
seven, eight are down; nine, no, he
had missed that fellow. Strange"
he thought, "that I cannot hit that rea