The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1899-04-05

shooting. They'll crawl mp to VI
through the cover-that Is, il it's 1ore
than just bush or two," for you see,
Sally hadn't been born on the plains
without learning good deal about
Indian-fghting.
"Well, that's o fact" Walter cried
out. "But- Hellol what's that?' and
Sally stood up and clutched hold Of
him, and they both stared while the
old horses raced onward.
"It's water-it's no mirage" said
Walter.
"Yes, it's real water" said Sally.
'There's q hollow there and the
thunder-s filed it.
''Must be pretty shallow" said
Walter, an idea jumping into his
head.
He didn't ask Sally's opinion this
time, but, man fashion, he took his
chances.
''Sit down and hold on tight, Sally, "
was all he said.
With that he turned out of the road,
whipped the horses into their best
gallop and drove straight for the water,
which was q shallow pond about three
hundred yards wide and four or five
times as long.
Maybe it was the sight of the water
that encouraged the ranch-horses;
anyway, they kept the pace SO well
that the Indians were Rtill more than
half o mile behind when the horses
splashed into the pond and were
brought to a walk. Walter drove
them straight forward until water be-
gan coming into the wagon-box.
Then he turned the wagon broadside
to the Indians.
Sally and the boy were now about
a third of the way across the pond,
and they had entered it about midway
between its ends. This suited Wal
ter's plan exactly; he set the brake
hard so that his horses couldn't move
the wagon against his will, hung his
cartridge-belt about his neck, jumped
into the water. helped Sally down be-
side him, pulled her little trunk over
SO that it concealed and protected
her, and then took his rifle and stood
ready.
If you will think, you will see that
he had pretty good fortification.
The wagon-box was between him and
the Indians; the enemy couldlneith
ride fast nor run on foot fast out to
where the boy and girl stood more
than waist-deep; they were half under
water, and their heads aud chests were
well defended by the yagon-box and
the trunk; there were only five In-
dians and these could not get near
enough to shoot without Offering far
better mark themselves.
The plain afforded no cover for the
redskins-nothing but some scattered
bunches Of grass and soapweed here
and there. Sally understood the sit
uation at glance.
''Well. you've got an Indian-fght-
er's head on you, Walter" she said,
approvingly.
81 guess we've got them where we
want them," said Walter, for q boy
that could knock over coyote five
times in seven coulin't expect to miss
Indians.
81 think so," says Sally. 'They
can't get within shooting distance at
either end of this pond; they can't
come in where we did without your
hitting them, and il they wade across
out of range and try to take us at the
back, all we've got to do is to cross
to the other side of the wagon, and
then they're in more danger than they
were before"
81 think it's all right" said Walter.
On came the Indians, almost up to
the edge of the pool. Walter was in
tending to disable the foremost one
ths moment his pony's hoofs splashed,
when the whole five suddenly sweryed
to the right. Then, as If with one
motion. every Indian vanished behind
the body of his pony, apparently
leaving nothing for Walter to shoot at
except the soles Of five left feet. But
the boy was not unnerved by this
maneuvre. He fred, and down went
the foremost pony.
The instant the rider was on his
feet Walter covered him with his
Winchester; but Walter was not
anxious to shoot any Indians, for he
knew that he could defend Sally with
out doing so, as he now saw something
moving on the plain--something Of
which the Indians were not one bit
aware.
'Look toward the west" said Wal
ter to Sally.
81 see," said Sally, and her eyes
frightened. Guess what / was
afraid OF, Waiter. 1 was afraid the
Indians would just wait and watch US
till we would have to leave this cold
water. Now they'll have no time to
wait until we're frozen out"
Meantime the second Indian had
come up, taken the unhorsed man be-
hind him, and galloped out of range
with the others. Walter let them go un-
harmed. For the aspect Of affairs had
changed good deal more, too, than
the Indians knew.
The redskins held q brief consulta-
ton at safe distance; then one rode
off toward one end of the pool, and an
other toward the other end, while the
remaining three began crawling from
bunch to bunch of grass toward the
wagon. This did not look so danger
GUS to the besieged as the Indians