Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1901-03-13
CHAPTER XNTV.


Never unless sure of its ground and
the weakness of the adversary does the
modern Indian band attack at night
Folsom and his people well knew that.
Yet not five minutes after the Indian
girl, faint with exhaust and dread
was carried within doors. the big
mastiff challenged again. The dogs
charged furiously out to the northeast
and would not be recalled. For nearly
half an hour they kept up their angry
elamoT. Time and again during the
night, suspicious and excited, they
daShed out again and again, and once
one or them. venturing further than
his follows. broke suddenly into loud
cries OF mingled pain and rage. and
when at last he came whining piteous-
~ back to the ranch it was found that
ne was bleeding from "a cash along the
flank, where an Indian arrow haG
scared him. Only by fits and starts did
any man sleep. Hour after hour Fol
SONS little garrison was on the alert
The women bad all been moved 20 the
deep, dry cellar. Mrs. Hal lnoa ming over
her baby, utterly unuerved, Jessie
silent, but white and trcmulous: the
herdsman's wife. an Amazon. demand
ed the right TO have d gun and fight by
her husbands side; LiZette. the Indian
girl. faint and starved. asked nothing
but TO be allowed TO crouch "A the door
OF the room where lIalbert lay, fevered
snd unconscious. and Pappoose, scorn-
ing danger. lifted from her brothers
bedside to her fathers log -barricade az
The east porch. In dread anxiety the
hours dragged by, and at last Lannion
reached forth his hand and pulled the
shirtsleeve OF his comcade Jake, half
doing at his side. In an instant the
latter was kneeling II his post What
is it?" he queried, and Lannion. point
ing to the first faint, pallid CLEAN III
the eastern sky, whispered: Thine to
ne up. man. Its coming"
For half an hour. except for the rush
ing of the Lara mic. a silence almost uo-
earthly had brooded over the prairie,
and even the dogs seemed lulled to
sleep. But now, as the cold light crept
slowly over the distant range. and a
soft flush began TO overspread the pal
Tor OF the dawn, far out over the valley
The yelp OF "A coyote began again and
while stroug hands grabbed the growl-
ing dogs and pinned them TO earth, for.
beginning at the east. the cry was
taken up on every side. FoIso1n's
ranch seemed belcsguered by the
Saunt. ha!f-fau.ishcd wolves OF tho up-
land prairic5. Look 10 Your sights.
now, men! Down into the cellar. Pap
poose!" exclaimed Folsom. kindlinc
with fierce excitement. i've been the
friend OF all that tribe for 80 years.
but when they break faith with ne
ana mine THAT ends it. Look 10 your
sizhts aud make every shot count" he
cautioned. as he made the rounds OF
Che little -hc'ters thrown up during
the past two days. 1--WE can stand Off a
hundred OF 'cm if you only Keep your
grit"
Perchcd as ia was on a little rise. the
ranch stood forth conspicuous over tho
valley. ~ the foot Of the slope 10 the
south lay the corral aud some Of the
building about 100 yard away. where
the shallow Laramie curicd aud lappcd
beneath their walls. and now The dogs
seemed 70 concentrate their attention
oo that side. Folsom rife iu hand.
was krcs'ing Ou tine porch. listening
iItently Two p' the hand were with
him. JAKE aud Lanriou experienced
and reliable. had been given iudcpcnd-
ert posts on the other front. and lust
g. object could he diIuiy recognized
along the hats. there bursi upon the
rars OF thc little garrison sudden
chorus oi cNultant ycls a tongue of