The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-09-13
CHAPTER XIV.
ICONTINCED.l |


[coNT1NUED.
My hope was that Hen.Ko-Hi would
make the mistake of sending small
force, which he would not do if the
alarm. bells were heard all over Tai
mooch.
I sent word to Bado-Ror to gather
about six hundred of his bravest men,
and wait with them in the forest
about Bromporrah until the forces of
Hen-Ko-Hi had passed them on the
way to Galneor, then to follow them
down and attack their rear while we
were engaging in their front.
The men at Galneor were set to
build fort. In this the women rem
dered valuable assistance. They were
eager enough to help.
I sent a messenger into the cave
for my uniform and sword. For rea-
sons of my own did not wish to meet
Miss Arnold then.
It was late in the afternoon when
we heard the hurried tramp of horses
hoofs.
The fort was built on that side Of
Galneor nearest Bromporrah. In it I
placed all the women at hand, and a
force of soldiers under Oso-Bark. To
the right of the fort I stretched line
of ambush through the woods. The
force thus detailed was under the
command of Garu-Saak. To the left
I stretched O similar line. and took
command myself. We thus formed q
funnel, the apex of which was the
fort, and into the mouth of which led
the Street of the Invaders.
The sound of hoofs was most well
come. Ny men were becoming impa-
tient for the fight to begin. The shouts
of the cavalry could now be heard. It
was Tartar cavalry. This fact was
surprising. The presence of these
lawless horsemen so far away from
their usual haunts was unexpected.
It made me urge my men more fierce
ly, although it was not necessary.
But the reputation OF the Tartar as
fighter is pretty we'll established, and
I knew we had hot work before US.
There were two battalions, prob
ably four hundred all told. On they
came, galloping furiously, utterly ig-
norant of the trap that was waiting
for them.
When the head of the column en-
tered the funnel formed by my forces,
I gave the order to fire.
A thousand rifles blazed forth o
simultaneous fash, one quick, sharp
fash, and all was still again.
The startled Tartars checked their
horses. Numbers of them fell from
their plurging stee1s and lay groan-
ing and dying on the ground.
Hoarse cries came from their Off
GERS. Their commander was man
who knew not the sensation of fear.
He sat his horse like statue, urging
his men to rally. Gradually they
overcame their stupor and got to-
gether.
, Once more I gave the order to fire,
and once more the rifles poured their
deadly hail upon the cavalry. Horses
and men went down together. For
moment it seemed as if they could not
rally again. The sudden, mysterious
attack was too much for them. They
were in an open road, while we were
80 hidden that they could not tell our
numbers or our location.
But I heard the clatter of fresh
hoofs. Another battalion was rid
ing up.
A cry of warning came from the be-
wildered cavalrymen, who he'd al
ready tasted two charges of lead, and
aud the decimated ranks fell back on
the reinforcements.
A short consultation between the
commanding officers followed, and the
two commands separated. One
seemed about to hold their present
position, and were replacing their
sabres with carbines. The other por-
tion made O detour to the right, and
started for Galneor past our rear.
Giving my commands quickly, I led
my men as fast as they could go
through the trees that surrounded US.
The cavalry we're slowly working
their way, and we soon confronted
them and opened fire. This time they
rose to the occasion. As one man
they leaped from their horses and
charged US with their carbines. At
the same moment I heard firing from
the other side, and knew that Garu-
Saak had reopened on the other bat
talions.
Ny men fought desperately, but the
Tartars were more than match for
them. We were gradually driven
back, and I began to despair of win
ming the battle. had calculated on
the forces from Bromporrah attacking
the enemy in the rear, but it looked
as if it would be too late. Defeat
stared US in the face, and defeat
meant death.
Suddenly the air was rent by great
war-cry. Hundreds of rifles barked
their venomous voices in the rear of
the Tartars. The Ka!ek battle-cry
was hurled through the forest with
the shouts Of victory.
Bado-Ror had come up.
From this point it was simply
question of how long the Tartars
would continue to fight before they
fed or became wiped out. Hand in
hand tie men OF Galneor and the men
of Bromporrah fought the enemies Of
their country.
And before the terrific onslaught of
victorious revenge even Tartsrs could
not stand.
Finally the remnant of the once