The Princeton union., 1900-11-01

ltli iutacA Tor you. ana ne spread one
llberatly with sugar and handed it to
the ever-receptive paw, outstretched
to grasp it. A glance over the shoulder
showed that Conroy was nearly at the
edge. Then, quietly, Bruce, too. be-
gan to retire. He had not got ten
PAGES, still facing his unwelcome vis-
itor, when the Indian gave a shrill,
sudden cry and tossed up, his hands.
Not second too soon Bruce turned
and darted for cover. The Indian flung
himself fat on the turf and rolled away
into depression where he could find
partial shelter from bullets from the
ravine, whence he evidently looked for
them, and out from behind the knoll,
brides held high, "quirts" lashing
at their ponies flanks, darted half a
dozen painted savages, tearing down
upon the spot at the top speed of their
agile mounts. Only two men remained
on watch at the moment, Dean and one
trooper. Most of the others, already
in saddle, were filing away up the game
trail that threaded the windings of the
ravine, the two lead horses with them.
while few yards behind the young
officer and his comrade, halfway down
the reverse slope, two others, afoot,
handled the reins of their own horses
and those of the lieutenant and men
still held at the edge. 1t was an excit-
ing moment. Bruce had only hun
dred yards to run before he could get
under cover, and there was no chance
of their hitting him at that range, yet
puff of smoke rose from the knoll
and bullet, nearly spent, came tum-
bling and singing up the turf, and the
dashing warriors, yelling wildly, ap-
plauded the shot. Bruce took matters
coolly. Leaping behind the shelter of
the ledge, he reached for his carbine,
and in moment more, as the pursuing
Indians came lashing within long
range, four seasoned cavalry carbines,
each with keen eye at the sight and
steady finger at the trip, were leveled
on the coming foe. Deans young heart
beat hard, it must be owned, for hith-
erto the Indians had been fighting in
retreat or on the defensive, while now
they came as though confident of sue
cess; but there was soldier exultat ation
and something like savage joy mingling
with the thrill of excitement.
There's more behind those beggars,
sir" growled Conroy, veteran at In
dian work, ''but they'll sheer off when
they get within 800 yards" On they
came, shields and lances dangling,
ponies on the keen jump, feathers and
pennons streaming on the wind. But,
just as Conroy said, no sooner was
Bruce safely under cover and they felt
themselves drawing within dangerous
range than, fan-lile, they opened out
to right and left, and, yelling still like
tiends, veered in wide circle from their
line of attack, and ducking over their
ponies shoulders, clinging with one
leg to the upright part of the cantle,
they seemed to invite the fire of their
white foe-and got it. A daring fellow
in the lead came streaking slantwise
across the front, as though aiming to
pick up the comrade lurking in the
dip of the prairie-like slope, and Con-
rOy's carbine was the first to bark, fol-
lowed almost instantly by Deans. The
scurrying pony threw up his wall-eyed
head and lashed with his fea altered tail,
evidently hit, but not checked, for un-
der the whip he rushed gamely on un-
til another bullet, whistling within a
foot OF his neck, warned the red rider
that he was far too close for safety,
for with halting gait the pony turned
and labored off the field, and presently
was seen to be staggering. 'Score one
for our SIDE" laughed the Irishman,
in glee. 'Now's your time, sergeant
But Bruce, reloading, was gazing
sternly at the distant knoll. The other
warriors, riding right and left, were
now chasing crosswise over the billowy
slopes, keeping up fire of taunt and
chatf and shrill war cries, but never
again venturing within 300 Yards
never wasting a shot.
Il thought so," suddenly cried the
sergeant. They're signaling from the
knoll. They never wouldihave attacked
with so few, unless there were dozens
more within sight. Now's our time,
AACuICAdAI. we Cdl mount and RIDE
like hell to the timber-I beg your par
don, SIR" he broke Off, suddenly. "I
didn't mean to say what the lieutenant
should do"
mo apologies" laughed Dean, his
eyes swapping with the vim of the fight.
"Glad you see the truth of what said.
Come on. Mount quickly, men,"
Two minutes more and the entire
party OF bluecoats were spurring swift
ly northward up the winding gorge,
the pack horses numbering alongside.
Eagerly Dean and Bruce in the lead
looked right and left for game trail
leading up the slope, for well they
knew that the moment their reinforce
ments came the warriors would dash
into the ravine and, finding their an
tagonists fed, would pursue along the
banks. 1t would never do to be caught
in such a trap. A gallop Of quarter
of mile and, off to the right, a branch
ravine opened out to hi CHER ground.
and into this the leaders dove and.
checking speed, rode at the trot until
the ascent grew steep. Five minutes
more and they were we'll I'D toward