The Irish standard., 1900-12-29
CHAPTER VIII.

minutes later, rounding the bluff at
the gallop, eyes flashing over the field
in front of them. the party went rae
ing out over the turf and came in
full view of the scene of the fight.
Five hundred yards further down
stream was Il deep bend in the Lar
annie. Close to the waters edge two
horses lay stretched upon the ground,
stone dead. Out on the open prairie
lay an Indian pony still kicking in his
dying agony, and as the soldiers came
sweeping into view two men rose up
from behind the low bank of the
stream and swung their hats-Hal
Folsom and one of his hands safe,
unwounded, yet with Il look in their
gray faces that told of recent mortal
peril.
''We're all right! Go on after them.
They've run off dozen of my best
horses" said Folsom, land I'm afraid
they cut Off .ake."
no! Jake reached the ranch all
right-lcastwisc somebody did," said
Shaughnessy. THAT'S how we got the
news. They got somebody, or else
they were only blutling when they
waved that scalp. How many were
tnere?'
"At least dozen-too many for
you to tackle. Where's The rest Of the
troop?"
"Closc at their heels. The licuten-
ant led them right over the ridge.
Listen!"
Yes, far up in the foothills, faint
and clear, the sounds of the chase
could now be heard. Deans men were
closing on the fleeing warriors, for
every little while the silence of the
range was broken by the crack of
rifle or carhinc. Shamghnessy's fell
lows began to fidget and look eager
~ thithcr. and he read their wish.
1.-TWO of you stay with Mr.. Folsom"
he said, 'and the rest come with me.
There's nothing we can do here, is
there? Sure you're not hit?"
mo, go on! Give 'cm hell and get
back my horses. I'd 90 with you, but
they've killed what horses they
couldn't drive. All safe at the ranch 2"
Shaughncssy nodded as lie spurred
away. well be gettin' the lieuten-
ant a brcvet for this" said he, ''if
we can only close up with those black
guards" And these were the words
Folsom carried back with him. as,
mounting Il willing troopers horse, he
gallopcd homcWard to rcassurc his
wife, thanking God for til. opportune
coming of The little ccrnmand, yet
swearing with cIoseronloressed lips
at the ill-starrcd work of the day.
Thus far he had strvcn to keep from
her all knowlcd%N of the threats of
the OgalaI!ns. although ;,c knew she
must have heard 81 than. Tic had
believed himself secure so far back
from the Platte. He ha,! done every
thing in his power TO placate Red
Cloud and the chiefs-to convince his
former friends that he Lad never en-
ticcd poor l.izrttr, as Eaptstc had
called the child from her home and
people. They held he should never
have left her. though she had ac-
cused him of no wrong. Burning Star,
in his jealous rage. hated him, be-
cause he believed that but for love
of the palefacc Lizctte would have lis
tened to his wooing. and E'olsom's con-
science could not acqut him of having
seen her preference and OF leading her
on. He could not speak of her to his
wife without shame and rcmorsc. lie
had no idea what could have been her
fate, for the poor girl had Disappeared
from the face OF the earth. and now
at last this day had proved to him tho
threats of her lover and her brothers
were not idle. lie had had so narrow
a squeak for bis life. so sharp and sud
den and hard Il fight for it that. now
that the peril was over, his nerve be-
gan to give way, his strong hands tC
tremJlc. Armed with brcechoadcrs
he and his two friends had been able
to stand off the attacking party, kill.
ing two ponies, and Complying, they
felt sure. two saddles; l.ut little by lit,
tic the Indians were working around
their position. and would have crawled
upon them within an hour or two but
for lakc's daring ride for help and
the blessed coming of the bluecoats i,
the nick of time. Folsom sworc he'd
never forget their scrv ces this day
ANU aS ne Cllltl llolllc"u Iu III
could still hear the distant firing dy-
ing away III the mountains to tho
north. Give EN- hell Dcan!" he nut.
tered through his set teeth. "They'r re
showing fight even when you've got EN-
on the run. ! wonicr what that
means"
Not until another day was he tc
know. Late on the evening of the at
tack, while lie was seated with his
wife by Jakc's bedside, half Il dozen
troopers, two Of them wounded anC
all With worn-out horses, came drift
ing back to camp. Twice, said they
had the fleeing: Indians made stant
to cover the slow retreat of one or two
evidently sorely stricken, but so close
ly We're they pressed that at last they
had been forced to abandon one 'o1
their number, who died, sending his
last vcngcful shot through the lieu
tenants hunting shirt, yet only graz
ing the skin. Dean. with most of the
men, pushed on in pursuit, determined
never to desist so long as there wa:
light but those who returned coult
not keep up.
Leaving the dead body of the young
brave where it lay among the rocks
they slowly journcycd back to camp
No further tidings came, and at day
break Folsom, with two ranchmen ant
q trooper, rode out on the trail to rount