Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-10-23

theft ground, fiercely barking and
bounding about, despite the whistles
and calls from the besieged, who
sought to save them to the last, but not
once as yet had the ranch replied with
shot. Down in the cellar women
chung together or clasped their wall
ing children and listened fearfully to
the clamor. In Halls room the fevered
sufferer awolle 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 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 l 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 200
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.
tits 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 chung
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
tury 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-giyen, seemed to fash 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 well.
"Are my brothers crazed? Look! /
am no enemy. 1t is your friend! 1t
is old joint" And even in the rage
of their charge, many Indians at
sight of him veered to right and left;
many refined up short within ten
PAGES of the unarmed man; two
sprang from their ponies and threw
themselves between him and their
brethren, shouting to be heard And
then in the midst of furious discus
sion. some Indians crying out for the
blood of all at the ranch in revenge
for Chaska, some demanding instant
surrender of every woman there in
expiration for Lizette, some urging that
old John be given respectful hearing,
but held prisoner, there came lashing
into their midst young brave, cry
ing aloud and pointing down the now
well-ligbted valley where, darting
about mile away, few Indians were
evidently striving to head off the COM
ing of some hostile force. Leaving
two or three of their number trying
to restore consciousness to the strick-
en- chief, and dozen. Folsom's advo-
Gates among them, to hold possession
of the rancn, away scurried most of
the warriors at top speed to the aid
of their outlying scouts.
Meantime, under cover of the fierce
argument, Jake and Lannion had
managed to crawl back within the
building. Folsom himself, in such
calm as he could command, stood 81
lent while his captors wrangled. The
warriors who pleaded for him were
Standing Elk, subchief of note,
whose long attachment to Folsom was
based on kindnesses shown him when
young man, the other was Young
Shows the Road, son of q chief who
had guided more than one party of
whites through the lands of the Sioux
before the bitterness of war arose be-
tween the races. They had loved Fol-
som for years and would not desert
him now in the face Of popular clam
or. Yet even their influence would
have failed but for the sound that
told of hotter conflict still among the
foothills along the opposite side of
the valley. With straining ears, Fol
som listened, hope and fear alternat-
ing in his breast. The mingling yells
and volleying told that the issue was
in doubt. Man after man of his cap
tors galloped away until not half a
dozen We're left. Now, Jake and Lam
Mon could have shot them down and
borne him within, but to what good?
Escape from the ranch itself was I'M
possible! Such action would only in
fansifxy fho JrIsn,