The Press., 1900-11-08

out WAcn night comes aSkcu Oue
of the men, though without tremor
in his tones
"Get quietly ready" was the reply.
Meanwhile there was an argument
between the captain and the colonePs
daughter. He sought to assure her
that nothing had been seen and that
there was not the slightest danger; but,
to his annoyance, she persisted in be-
lieving that there must be good
grounds for the corporars report. This
annoyance made him delay matters,
and nearly half an hour had passed
and 1t was very much against the
grain when he shouted for the soldier
to approach and sneeringly asked:
swell, corporal, isn't it about time
your Indians showed up?
1--WE shall hear from them in ten
minutes" was the reply.
"And they will have rabbits ears on
their heads. You have sticks in your
eyes,"
"If we mounted now and rode fast,
we would find the way open," said the
corporal, with downcast eyes.
Back, you impudent vagabond!'
Numbered the captain, with outstretch-
ed arm. 'I'n break you for this the
minute we get backy' ...
The corporal turned his gaze on the
| girl for few fleeting seconds. There
were anger, entreaty, love and humilia-
| ton in his eyes, while he was pale to
the lips. For a second he seemed about
to speak; then his head and shoulders
dropped in helpless way, and he sa-
luted his officer and retired.
"Oh, Captain Cline, what makes you
so harsh with him?' cried the girl as
the soldier turned away. eff danger
did not menace us, Robert wouldn't
"And so you two have met before p
he asked as she checked herself.
She had risen to her feet, and there
were tears in her eyes. She might
have replied, but at that minute three
rifle shots followed each other in quick
succession, and the officer, who was
just rising, received a bullet In his
shoulder and sank down again.
Bang, bang, bangv' went the car
bines of the troopers, and the corporal
came running up the hill to seize and
drag his officer under shelter and to
say to the girl:
| you must crouch down here and re.
main quiet. They can't get at you till
they have killed the last one of u.s."
"And is it Indians?" asked Captain
| Cline as he tried to sit up.
| Fully so of 'em, sir, and our escape
is cut off. What are the orders?''
IF you'd been keeping a lookout
this could not have happenedw growl
ed the captain between his teeth. "I'I
have you court martialed If we ever
get back. Get back to your postv
There was cover for the skulking
Indians to within stones throw of the
powders, and it wasn't ten minutes
before two of the troopers were killed
After the first shock of pain the cap.
| tain made his way down to the men
but there were no orders to give. Ev.
cry horse had been killed as he stood
| by that time, and a third trooper had
been MORALLY wounded. The dullest
soldier could have told that there was
| no escape. In his rage and pain the
captain cursed loud and deep, and
| there were curses on his lips as he halt
rose to shift his position, and bullet
reached his heart. Crouching behind q
bowlder and peering out now and then
with staring eyes, and again covering
her face with her hands and rocking
her body to and fro, the colonePs
daughter gasped and sobbed and wait
ed. By and by she missed the reports
Of the carbines, and the sound Of foot
steps echoed in her ears
"Come" said the corporal as he lifted
her up.
"Oh, Robert, and have you beaten
them off" she exclaimed.
mo; my men are all dead, and the
Indians will rush us in a minute"
"And we-we''-
He put his arm around her waist and
assisted her to the rock on which were
the remains of her breakfast. The
steaming, heaving, mysterious lake
was 80 feet beneath them.
"Better this than that" he said as
he pointed from the lake to a score OF
Indians advancing.
ayes, better this" she murmured as
she took fast hold Of him and put UP
her face to be kissed, and the savages
stopped in their advance and shrieked
and screamed their disappointment.
By and by they advanced and looked
down into the lake. but it had no story
to tell.