The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1900-04-27


the Indian marksmen firing downward
from the bluff.
Untouched, Hi leaped over the cor.
raj wall AMI crouched, painting, be-
hind it. 1hs irregular spaces between
the rough stonework and the log top
made good loopholes; and his position,
straight out from the bridge, was such
that he could not only command it's
opposite winding approach, but rake
the whole length Of the narrow struc-
ture with hisrihe.
For more than q mile above and be-
low, the river narrowed 10 q gorge, and
its PERCEPTIONS banks, Tapped high by
rushing, icy water, made fording i'm
practicable. Doubtless the Indians
could find ford some distance below,
but as, in view OF Rods mission, time
would be an object to them, Hi judged
they would try the bridge. He flied
the magazine of his rifle and tried it's
action, glancing meanwhile at the
wagons. The freight-mules, startled
at the firing, were punched behind the
topping covers and stood, heads high,
long ears pricked forward, blowing as
they eyed the opposite side OF the
river.
Hi looked in that direction also. On
the road where il curved round the
bluff, he saw six Utes riding into view
in seemingly disorderly bunch. But
certain wild order governed their
gallop.
As they neared the top Of the grade,
Hi heard n startling yip, and orderly
enough, the bunch lessened, az the In
dians, one after another, equally timed
and spaced, with rifles hourished,
dashed down the narrow approach to
this bridge.
Iii took no flying side shots at these
willy riders, but knelt with rifle pointed,
and eyes strained on the bridge.
Framed in its skeleton archway, the
crest Of the foremost horse appeared,
an 4 his hoofs, slung ont in his stride,
bent with thunderlap on the hollow
flooring.
Another stride, another quick-roll-
ing clap-and then the roar Of the
rifle. Struck in the forehead, and the
horse plunged downward and forward,
and then fell sidewise across the
bridge within the limit CT the first
span.
Through the smoke OF his Winches-
ter, Hi saw the Ute, dropping his
rifle, crawl away on all fours, and then
his figure was shut from sight as the
flooring again thundered under smit-
ing hoofs and the second borse raced
up and reared over the first still strug-
Cling one.
The second horse, hit in the neck,
as he rose, by HIS second shot
swerved, toppled over the low guard
rail-, and sank with his rider in
sounding splash below the bridge.
Down and back, with exultant snap,
went the lever, ana again the rifle was
ready But the rest Of the Indians dared
not ride upon the bridge; swerving
TO one side, they sped up the bluff, the
nimble horses leaping like mountain
goats along the slope, and the first In
dim, darting from the bridge, making
leap for leap along with the horses.
Iii did not fire again, and soon, re-
gaining the bluff, the Indians were
out Of sight.
Hi turned TO the river. The Ute
who had tumbed from the bridge had
parted from his drowning horse, and
was now partly floating, partly swim
ming with the current. His blanket
was thrown of, and now and then as
he made a stroke, Hi could see the
end of his short bow projecting over
his shoulder. But as the Ute had lost
his rifle, Hi suffered HIM to go on
with the current out OF sight.
Everything was silent now. As
moment after moment passed in still
ness and inaction, Hi began to grow
restless. Doubtless a fidgety side
wise movement saved his life. With
no sound TO his unsuspecting ears,
steel-tipped arrow, aimed for his back,
tore through the big muscles of his
left arm. The pain was paralyzing,
but Hi sprang TO his feet and brought
up his rifle with whirl.
The Ute in the river, landing below,
had crawled along the bank, watched
by the waiting band on the bluff, but
unseen by Hi, until he reached the
opposite side of the corral. Rising
over the low wall to throw his strength
on the bow. he had been so sure of
striking His broad back in the centre
at that short distance that he stood
still in incredulous confusion, his hand
flying back for fresh arrow as Hi
raised the rifle. But with instant
Nf hn
backward behind the wall.
Disregardiug alike the yell and the
Intellectual shots from the bluff, Hi
rushed after him. Leaping on the
corral wall, he saw the Ute plunged
into the river. And there Hi, with
pointed rifle, kept him diving until,
well-nigh drowned, he was swept out
of sight.
Seated in the angle of the corral
wall. Hi leaned back, faint from pain
and loss of blood, and waited, his
eyes fixed alternately on the bluff aud
the river-bank below.
The hot sun beat full in the rocky
angle. aud he began to turn an eager
eye on the water. Still he watched
while the short slow shadow of the
corral wall crept on and past his rest.
less feet
Suffering from intolerable thirst, he
arose at last. No sign came from the
bluG, and he walked boldly out aud
down to the water, where he drank
and bathed his arm.
The Utes were gone. From the top
of the bluff. they had seen in the dis.
/ Al. r ...,