The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-07-06
len reply.

ana paling alternately, and as he stood
there twirling the cap he had doffed
in silent recognition she protested:
But, captain, if there are Indians,
there is danger. If this-this soldier
saw Indians
Didn't you hear me?' shouted tile
captain at the lingering corporal.
The corporal Saluted turned on his
heel and returned to his men. The
gulf between officer and man did nok
permit him to explain in the face of
that blunt command, but when he had
reached the troopers he quietly said:
"Men, l have been up to the captain
to report that there is a band of at
least 30 Indians skulking down this
way from Red Bird pass. They have
seen Us and are after us. The captain
doesn't believe me, and you will get
ready for fight. They'll be here
within half an hour, Softly now. Just
overhaul your carbiuts and cartridges
/ and make no display to frighten the
girl. The reds have got to flank the
basin on this side, and they will have
to strike us first. We've got good ccy-
err, Tud we can stand 'cm off for the
day"
"But when night comes?" asked one
of the men. though without a tremor
in his tones.
"Get quietly ready" was the reply.
Meanwhile there was an argument
between the captain and the coloners
daughter He sought to assure her
that nothing had been seen and that
there was not the slightest danger; but,
to his annoyance, she persisted in be-
/ lieving that there must be good
grounds for the corporal's report. This
annoyance made him delay matters,
and nearly half an hour had passed
and it was very much against the
grain when he shouted for the soldier
to approach and sneerugly asked:
We'll corporal, isn't it about time
your Indians showed up?"
I'VE shall hear from them in ten
minutes" was the reply
And they will have rabbits ears on
their heads. You have sticks in your
eyes"
IF we mounted now and rode fast.
we would find the way OPEN" said the
corporal with downcast eyes.
Back. you impudeut vagabondr
thundercd the captain, with outstretch-
ed arm. "I'll break you for this the
minute we get back.
The corporal turned his gaze on the
girl for few feeting seconds. There
were anger, cntreaty, love and humilia-
tion in his eyes, while he was pale to
the lips. For n second he seemed about
to speak; then his head and shoulders
dropped in a helpless way. and he sa-
luted his officer and retired
"Oh. Captain Cline. what makes YOU
so harsh with him." cried the girl as
the soldier turned away If danger
did not menace us, Robert wouldn'f'-
And so you two have met before"
he asked as she checked herself
She had risen to her feet, and there
were tears in her eyes. She might
have replied, but at that minute three
rifle shots followed each other in quick
succession, and the officer, who was
just rising, received n bullet in his
shoulder and sank down again.
Bang, bang, bangr went the car
bines of the troopers, and the corporal
came running up the hill to seize and
drag his officer under shelter and to
say to the girl:
"You must crouch down here and re-
main quiet They can't get at YOU till
they have killed the last one of u.s."
And Is 1t Indians?" asked Captain
Cline as he tried TO sit up.
Fully 80 of 'em, sir, and our escape
Is cut off. What are the orders?"
IF you'd been keeping a lookout.
this could not have happenedw growl-
ed the captain between his teeth. 'Pu
have you court martialed If we ever
get back. Get back to your post"
There was cover for the skulking
Indians to within a stones throw of the
powders, and it wasn't ten minutes
before two of the troopers were killed.
After the first shock of pain the can
tain made his way down to the men.
but there were no orders 40 give. Ey-
A'NiSN hih btSI hlIleu as lie SIOOu
by that time, and third trooper had
been mortally wounded The dullest
soldier could have told that there was
no escape. In his rage and pain the
captain cursed loud and deep. and
there were curses on his lips as he half
rose to shift his position. and a bullet
reached his heart. Crouching behind a
bowlder and peerlng out now and then
with staring eyes, and again covering
her face with her hands and rocking
her body to and fro, the coloneps
daughter gasped and sobbed and wait
ed. BY and by she missed the reports
of the carbines, and the sound of foot I,
steps echoed in her ears.
Come" said the corporal as he lifted
her up.
"Oh, Robert, and have you beaten
them OFF," she exclaimed
mo; my men are all dead and the
Indians will rush us in a minute"
"And we-we''-
He put his arm around her waist and |
assisted her to the rock ON which were |
the remains of her breakfast. The |
steaming. heaving, mysterious lake
was 30 feet beneath them.
Better this than that" he said as
ne pointed from the lake to a score of
Indians advancing.