Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-10-09
CHAPTER Xxx.

A day had dawned on the Big Horn
never to be forgotten by those who
watched the conflict from the stockade,
never to be recalled by those who went
forth to fight. Broad daylight had
come and the sun was peeping over the
far horizon as strong arms bore the
unconscious officer within the post,
and the commander eagerly questioned
the men who came with him. Their
story was quickly told. They had fled
before overpowering numbers of the
Sioux the night before, had made their
way through the timber in the dark
ness and come ahead all night, CROP
ing their way from ridge to ridge until
at the peep of day they found thena-
| selves In sight of familiar landmarks,
! and could see the CLEAN of the waters
of the Fork dancing away under the
dawn. And then, as they essayed to
ride on they found the Indians all
around them. Whichever way they
turned the foe appeared, but only in
scattered parties and small numbers.
Not once did more than half dozen
appear in sight, and then, confident
of speedy succor from the fort, they
mad decided to make dash for it, and
so rode boldly out into the open. But
now a score of warriors popped up and
barred the way, while others far out
at, flank or rear kept up long range
fire. One man was shot through the
| body and tainted and had to be borne
along. Then the lieutenant was shot
| in the leg, but no one knew it until
| they saw his boot was running over
with blood, and he was growing ghast-
| ly white, even though he kept encour-
| aging and directing. But when at last
| the cavalry met them and brushed the
Indians away from the front, Capt.
| Drum, who rode at their head, ordered
Mr.. Dean taken right into tho post
while he dashed on to punish the Sioux,
s'and he is giving them hell, too," said
| the excited trooper, ''for there couldn't
have been more than a hundred Indians
| all told"
All, not in sight, perhaps, poor
| lads!-not in sight of horse, foot or
fort; for if there were only a hundred,
how came it that the. fire grew fiercer
still, and that presently every musket
| in the infantry skirmish line, too, was
| blazing on the foe? By this time cav
airy and infantry both had disappeared
over the curtaining ridge, and the
colonel's face grew grave and haggard
| as he listened. Three-fifths of his lit
tie garrison We're out there battling
against unknown numbers. They had
| gone to rescue the detachment and
bring it safely in. That rescue was
accomplished. The precious package
| for which so much had been risked was
| here-but what detained the com,
mand? Why did they not return? Be-
| yond doubt far more Indians We're out
there now than when first the firing
began. "Gallop out, Mr.. Adjutant, and
| tell the major to withdraw his line and
| fall back on the stockade," was the
| order-and with a lump in his throat
| the young officer mounted again and
started. He was q pet in the garrison,
only in his second year of commission.
They saw him gallop through the gate,
saw him ride gallantly straight for the
curtaining ridge beyond which the
smoke was rising heavily now, saw
him breasting the slope, his orderly
following, saw him almost reach it,
and then suddenly the prairie seemed
to jet fire. The foremost horse reared.
| plunged and went rolling over and
over. They saw-plainly saw through
1 their glasses, and shrek of agony
and horror went up from among the
women at the sight-half q dozen paint
ed savages spring out from behind the
ledge, some on pony back, some afoot,
4 and bear down on the stricken form Of
4 the slender young rider now feebly
striving to rise from the turf; saw the
empty hand outstretched, imploring
mercyi saw iahbing lanees and hrans