Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-11-24

didn't know where he was.
At last he reached higher bluff
than any before, and from it he could
see a succession of lower bluffs, and
then again high one behind. He sat
on his horse for some time and then
rode toward the other big bluff, and
so high it was he could not see it's
summit even from the hollows, with
the other bluffs between. He rode
along, slowly now. for his horse was
not so fresh, and was in one of the
hollows, when suddenly far in front of
him there came to his ears a strange
sound-the long, ringing notes of O
cavalry bugle. Ned stood in his stir
rups to stare about, plunged all at
once into high state of excitement.
But his horse; never had that patient
and docile animal behaved in so ex-
traordinary way before. 1t pricked
up its ears and threw its head back,
and plunged. Again, across the plains,
sounded the blood burning bugle, and
all at once over the further bluff, came
running men and the sun shone on the
weapons in their hands. The bugle
sounded yet again, and one of the men
waved sword, and SO clear was his
voice when he spoke the words that
Ned distinctly heard them:
Commence firing!"
Then there was a noisy cracking of
many carbines, and the men running
forward, stopped every now and then to
kneel and fire again. But Ned knew
la I, l.. l.
hold onto his horse, who, with one
prolonged neigh, had taken the bit in
his teeth, and was charging, apparent
ly, with the most joyous feelings to-
ward the enticing bugle. Up one bluff
md Into the hollow, and up another
tha unwilling boy was carried directly
toward those dangerous puffs of white
smoke, the turkeys Topping by his
side, and at the top of the next bluff
he nearly fell off his horse from sheer
fright. Coming to meet him, helter
| skelter, save who save can, came q
band of Indians in full retreat, with
bullets popping around them right and
left. They were as startled as was
| Ned. His white face doubtless led
them to believe that a party of white
men were cutting them off, Without
shot they turned and fed right and
left; utterly scattered-save one, o
huge man with large war bonnet.
He was apparently mad with rage and
came swooping down on Ned. The
instinct of self-preservation, rather
than reason, made the lad raise his
| shotgun to his shoulder and fire, al
though no bullet, but mere buckshot
were in his cartridges. Dimly the boy
saw something had happened and
heard the Indian scream with pain,
and again heard the commanding Of
ficer's voice hurriedly shout: "Cease
firing"
His horse swept on, through the lines
of amazed soldiers, and at last, with
every manifestation of delight, ranged
quietly up behind the men, by the side
of the horses, left riderless in charge
of few soldiers, whose comrades had
dismounted to fight on foot.
Ned rolled off his apparently insane
horse, and sat, with dizzy head, see.
ing nothing clearly, until tall man
with a saber stood in front of him and
looked sternly at the boy.
"Who on earth are you?" he said
''The idea of charging right into the
teeth Of our fire.
"Please, SIR" said Ned, very much
frightened at the look of the big saber
81 didn't mean to. Badly ran away
with me-"
| The officer broke into smile, and
lifted the boy to his feet, and sheathed
his saber.
| ''It's lucky you were not killed, he
said. Tell me how it all came about.
Do you know you knocked an Indian
of his pony, that one of my men is
bringing prisoner"
ooh! please, SIR" cried Ned, turn
ing white. 'Is he killed? Oh! really
1 didn't mean to-.
"The beggar's sound enough" said
bright young officer coming up.
"He'll probably be blind though. He
got that shot full in the face"
The two officers turned to Ned then
and questioned him, and with boyish
innocence he told them all-about
their hardships, his fathers sickness,
his mothers WEAKNESS and worry,
and little Loo's desire for Thanks.
giving turkey. AS he concluded q
smiling sergeant led up Ned's horse.
"Its our old Baldy, sir" he said.
1--WE had him when the troop was in
Wyoming and he was condemned and
sold. He ran, of course, when he
heard the bugle, and ranged alongside
like the veteran he is.
The men crowded round the old
troop horse with many jokes and
caresses, but Ned looked at him in
dismay.
"My turkeys!" he cried.
They were gone, thrown off in that
wild charge, and Ned broke down and
burst into tears, thinking of poor, dis
appointed Loo. But the captain sent
two horsemen over the way the boy
had come, and they brought then
back safely. So that was all right ant