The Princeton union., 1900-11-08
THE rRIsOEToN UNION THu RsDsla, NOV El BIER g 1900

sights and make every shot coun /! Y. Y he
/ eau toned, as he made. the rounds OF
I the little shelters thrown up during
the past two days. We can stand off o
/ hundred hun of EN- II you only keep your
grit. t.''s.. q
. Again the clamor as Of coyotes
ceased. It was only the Indian signal
"R'eeady! and every ranchman knew
that with the rising sun, if not before,
the swoop would come Again as the
light broadened the dogs were loosed
AM and presently were challenging all four
points Of the compass. The unseen foe
was on every hand ,@.s
4 Perched as it was on a little rise. the
ranch stood forth conspicuous over the
valley At the foot of the slope to the
south lay the corral and some of the
buildings, about 100 yards away, where
the shallow Laramie curled and lapped
beneath, their walls, and now the dogs
seemed to concentrate their attention
on that side. Folsom, rifle in hand,
was kneeling on the porch, listening
intently. Two Of the hands were with
him. Jake and Lannion, experienced
and reliable, had been given independ-
ent posts on the other front, and lust
as objects could be dimly recognized
along the fats, there burst upon the
ears of the little garrison Il sudden
chorus Of exultant yells. A tongue of
flame leaped upward from beyond the
huts lately occupied by the ranchmen
The half-used haystac5s caught and
held one moment the fiery messenger,
and then in broad glare that redeemed
the flood Of the Laramie for miles and
lighted up the ranch like sunburst
gave forth huge column of blaze and
smoke that could be seen far over the
Black Hills of Wyoming, and all the
valley seemed to spring to instant life.
On every side arose the stirring war
cry Of the Sioux, the swift beat of
pony hoofs, the ring of rifle, and brave
John Folsom's heart sank within. him
as he realized that here was no mere
marauding party, but POWERFUL band
organized for deliberate vengeance.
The Laramie plains were alive with
dartng, yelling, painted horsemen,
circling about the ranch, hemming it
in. cutting it Off from the world
The bullets came whistling through
the morning air, biting fercely into
the solid logs, scattering the chinking,
smashing pane after pane. Some Of the
dogs came bowling and whining back
for shelter, though the mastiffs held
their ground, fercely barking and
bounding about, despite the whistles
and calls from the besiegcd, who
sought to save them to the last, but not
once as yet had the ranch replied with
a shot. Down in the cellar women
clung together or clasped their wall
ing children and listened fearfully to
the clamor. In Halls room the fevered
sufferer awoke from his stupor, and,
demanding his rifle, struggled to rise
from the bed, and there John Folsom
found Pappoose, pale and determined,
bending over her weakened brother
and holding him down almost as she
could have overpowered a child. Lift
ing his son in his strong arms, he bore
him to the cellar and laid him upon a
couch Of buffalo robes. watch him
here, my child,' he said, as he clasped
her in his arms one moment. But on
no account let anyone show above
ground now. There are more of them
than I thought, yet there is hope for
us. Somebody is vexing them down the
Laramie
Bounding up the steps, the veteran
was almost back at his post upon the
porch when there came sound that
seemed to give the lie to his last
words and that froze the hope that
had risen in his breast-the sudden
rumble and thunder of at least zoo
hoofs, the charging yell of an Indian
band, the sputter and bang Of rifles
close at hand, and then rush of feet
as. with faces agonized with fear,
three of the men came darting within.
Its all up! There's a million In
dians!" they cried. Two of the de-
moralized fellows plunged into the
passage that led to the cellar. One
burst into childish wailing and clung
to Folsom's knees.
LET go, you coward" yelled the
old man in fury, as he kicked himself
loose, and then went bounding out
upon the porch. God, what sight!
Sweeping up the gentle slope, bran
dishing rifles and lances and war
clubs, racing for their hapless prey,
came so Ogallallas, Burning Star
among the leaders, Bullets could not
stop them now. The two men who
had stood to their posts knelt grim
and desperate, and LANNON'S last
shot took effect. Within so yards Of
the walls Burning Stars rushing pony
went down on his nose, and in the
fury of his pace, turned sudden and
complete somersault, crushing his red
rider under him, and stretching him
senseless on the turf. An inspiration,
almost God-given, seemed to flash upon
the old trader at the instant Bare
headed, in his shirt sleeves, throwing
upward and forward his empty hands,
he sprang out as though to meet and
rebuke his assailants. 'Hold!" he
cried, in the tongue he knew so we'll.
Are my brothers crazed? Look! I
am no enemy It is your friend! 1t