Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1899-04-20
oil Of a tremble. BE just stood mp in
the bouncing, rafting wagon and stared
round the skyline.

round the skyline.
+ He had some hope that he might see
other riders, and if be did he would
head for them; though that wasn't the
principal thing in his mind. But
there was not living, figure clear
against the blue or dim against the
plain-nothing but the bare, burnt
prairie and the gray streak of road
It's all right, Sally, cried the boy,
not looking down at her, for he feared
she would go into Mysteries, as he had
once seen al Eastern girl do. Its
all right, Sally; vel! beat them yet. !"
At that my girl laughed.
Il guess" she said, you're not
such a tender foot as they call you"
She told me that he stared down at
her in surprise for moment, and then
changed his tune and took her right
into his confidence.
''I'm looking for q good place. to
fight, he said. eve can't get away
from them by running. But we must
keep on until I've see some cover within
reach"
Cover" said Sally. "We'll be
better off in the open if it comes TO
shooting. They'll crawl up to- you
through the cover that is, if it S more
than just bash or two, for you see,
Sally hadn't been born on the plains
without learning good deal about
Indian-t fighting.
"Well, that's fact" Walter cried
out. "But- Hello, what's that?" aud
Sally stood up and cIutched hold OF
him, and they both stared while the
old horses raced onward.
cts water-it's 10 mirage" said
Walter.
eyes, it's real water" said Sally.
"Iheres a hollow there and the
thunder storms filed it.
"Must be pretty shallow" said
Walter, al 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 a 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 we'll
that the Indians were still more than
hol Ia ,ob l.
splashed into the pond and were
brousht to nt torwt Wat Aif Walt&ssa &ssater pse
gan coming il4.v thA wagon7box.
Then he turned the wagon broadside
to the Indians.
Sally and the boy were now about
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 fortitication.
| The wagon-box was between him and
| the Indians; the enemy could d.neither
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 and chests were
well defended by the wason-bo1 and
the trunk; there were only five In
dians and these could not get near
enough to shoot without offering fal
better mark themselves.
The plain afforded no cover for the
edskins--nothing but some scattered
punches of grass and soapweed here
and there. Sally understood the sit
uation al glance.
well, you've got an Indianhght
ers head on you. Walter" she said
approvingly.
Il guess we We got them where W.
want them. said Walter, for bo,
that could knock over a coyote fy,
times in seven couldn't expect to mis-:
Indians
Il think So says Sally. The.
can get within shooting distance a
either enl CT this pond; they can
come in where we did without you
hitting them, and if they wade acros
out Of range and try to take us at tn
back. all we've got TO do Is to eros
, to the other side of the wagon, an
, then they're il more danger than the.
were before
Il think its all right, said Walter
On came the Indians, almost up t
t tie edge of the pool Waiter was IL
: tending 10 disable the foremost on
. the moment his pony hoofs splashed I'd
} when the whole five suddenly swerve
to the right. Then, as if with on
. motion, every Indian vanished benin
/ Hhe body Of his pony, apparent
= leaving nothing toc Walter to shoot &
: except the soies Of five left feet. Bu
I the boy was not unnerved by tni
i saeueuvre lie fired. aud down wei
b the foremost pony.
s Tie instant the rider was on b,
L feet Walter covered him with b