Waterbury Democrat., 1900-11-07

| would expect of his scouts full in formation. hence the instant move ment on part of one of the two braves to follow.
 Impressively, Bruce turned again and waved him back. Go, get buff falo tongue,n said he, "or no trade. Keep away from our tepees," and he drew with his spurrsd boot-heel jagged line across the turf. 'Your side" said he. indicating the slope to the southeast sf the line. This ours. That's all!" And this time the Indian knew he must come no nearer.
 'I'vs get 'sn taking trade, lieu tenant, reported Bruce. the instant he reached Dsan's side. ''Ws don't need the tongues, but we've got more cof- fee and sugar than we are apt to want, and at least we can keep them interested until dark, when we can slip away. Of course. they've sent word to their main body that we're over here, but I believe they can't como in force before night"
 ''They knew you, sergeant, and they knew it is probably our troop" said be. "Thers must be only small par ty near us. Make your, trade. but while you're doing it we'll saddle. I mean to get out Of this and into the thick of the timber before they can surround us. Stand 'em off now, while wo get ready
 Promises must be kept when made to an Indian, even if they are otherwise sometimes broken. In ten minutes, with coffee, sugar and hardtack in their hands, the sergeant and his comrades were back at the front. One brave was still there, the other had vanished. Five minutes, neither party saying a word. the troopers waited; then Bruce turned to Conroy. 'I knew they had nothing to trade. Take this sack with you and fall back. Tell our fellows to keep me well covered till I follow" The instant the soldier started with the sack swung over his shoulder, the h. dian, who had been squatted on tho turf, sprang up and began rapid eN- postulation in fluent Ogallalla. Its no use, young man." interposed Bruce. Your chum there has no buffalo toEsEra, and he knew 1t. Heres some aardtaci, for you," and he spread one HberaHy 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 paces, 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 dnrted for cover. The Indian flung himself fiat on the turf and rolled away into a 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'' flashing at their ponies Hanks, 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 a few yards behind the young officer and his comrade, halfway down the reverse slope, two others, afoot, handled the reins of their own horsea and those of the lieutenant and men still held at the edge. Ii was an excit-
 
 dred yards to run before he could get under cover, and there was no chance of their hitting him at that range, yet B puff of smoke rose from the knoll and bullet, nearly spent, came tum- bling and singing up the turf, and the flashing 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 a moment more, as the pursuing Indians came flashing 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 youn. 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 eXultation and something like savage joy mingling with the thrill of excitement.
 ''There's more behind those beggars, sir,' growled Conroy. veteran at h. dian work, but they'll sheer off when they get within 300 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-like, they opened out to right and left, and, yelling still like fiends. veered in wide circle from their line of attack, and ducling 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 ths 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 Dean's. The Ecurrying pony threwup his wall-eyed head and lashed with his feathered tail, evidently hit, but not checked, for un- der the whip he rushed gamely on un- til another bullet, whistling within a of htS La l,,i,3