Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1899-05-18
raise hand to harm me. +"

raise hand to harm me-
But Loring's men and horses both
were sorely wearied now, and at sun
down the little command reached a
sheltered nook where grass, wood and
water We're abundant Here restfulIy
yet anxiously they bivouacked until
in the morning, and then once more,
refreshed, but alert and cautious,
watchful of their prisoners and watch
full of the signs ahead, Oh they sped for
Folsom S ranch. The dawn broke beau
tifully clear. The trail led down into tho
romantic valley of the Laramie at the
bend where it begins its rush through
the range. Then, turning westward as
they reached the foot of steep and
commanding height. Loring signaled to
his sergeant, and the troopers spurred
up alongside.
There before them lay the broad and
beautiful valley just lighting up with
the rosy hues of the glad young day.
There to the nortbward, black bearded
with its growth Of pine, the rays of the
rising sun just glinting on the topmost
crags, lowered Eagle butte, plume of
smoke putfs even at the moment begin
ming to soar slowly aloft. There, not a
mile away, straight ahead, was the steep
ridge that hiding Folsom's from view,
stretched down from the northward
foothills to the very bank of the tapping
Laramie. There south of the stream tha
gradual slope of the black range, stud.
n oI how ii H.. a
seemed to have rolled down from the
precipitous cliffs under which they were
now moving, two seasoned old dragons
800 yards out to the front, covering the
cautious advance.
All the broad sweep of rolling land
scape far to the west just lighting up
in the slant of the summer sunshine,
not living thing in sight save their
own little band, yet beyond that ridge
only two miles away lay the ranch,
all seemingly peaceful and secure, yet
over that jagged watchtower to the
north the war signals of the Sioux were
Haunting, and every hand seemed to seek
the small of the gunstock, even two of
the prisoners pleading for ''a show in the
fight" If there was to be one, and, not
five minutes later, it came. Borne on
the still, breathless air there rose throb-
bling from the west the spiteful crack,
crack Of rifles, the distant clamor of
haunting jeer aud yell. Back from the
front came one of the troopers at mad
gallop, his eyes popping almost from
his head.
my God, lieutenant, Folsom ranch
is afire, and the valleys thick with
| Sioux"
Even then, when every carbine seemed
to leap from its socket, men remem ber-
ed the groan Of despair that rose from
Burleigh's lips.
Look after the prisoners, corporal.
Sergeant Carey, you and the first six
come with mep' cried Loring. A gallop
CT less than minute brought them al
mt st abreast Of the ridge. Black and
billowing cloud of smoke was rising,
dashed from beneath by angry tongues
of red flame. sit isn't the house, thank
God!" cried the sergeant. cts the hay
stacks But look at the Indians!'
Look Well they might All about
the corrals they were darting. All on q
sudden there blazed from the ridge line
across the stream the fire of dozen
rifles All around them the spiteful bull
lets bit the turf. One horse madly rear
ed and plunged, his rider cursing heart.
lily. Wildly the more excitable troopers
returned an aimless shot from saddle,
while others gazed eagerly to the Officer
for orders. 1t was his first meeting with
the Sioux. 1t had been his hope to gain
that threatened ranch by dawn and join
its garrison, but where was that hope
now?
Down along the banks of the Laramie,
lashing their bounding ponies, brandish-
ing their weapons and yelling like mad.
a band Of Sioux, full 40 strong, came
charging at them, splashing through the
shadows and scattering out across their
front in the we'll known battle tactics.
Not an instant was there to be lost!
Jump for those rocks, menu rang
Loring's order. "Cut loose your prison.
ers, corporal! They must fight for their
lives!"
But, oh, what chance had so few
against so many? Sprinsing from sad.