Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-12-14

required. All being prepared Mr.. Hardy
took the signal rocket, and placing it at
a much higher angle than that intended
for the others, struck a match and ap-
pied 1t TO the touch paper. In a moment
afterWard there was a loud roar, and the
rocket scared up, with its train of bril-
liant sparks behind it, and burst almost
over the Indian camp. Five or six balls
of an intense white light broke from it.
and gradually fell toward the ground,
lighting up the whole surrounding plain.
A yell of establishment and fear broke
from the Indians, and in a moment an
other rocket rushed out.
Mr.. Hardy watched its fiery way with
anxiety, and saw with delight that its di-
rection was true. Describing a slight
curve, it rushed full at the black mass,
struck something, turned abruptly, and
then exploded with a loud report, follow
ed instantly by cracking noise, like
struggling fusillade Of musketry. It had
scarcely ceased before the third followed
it, greeted, like it's predecessors, with a
yell from the Indians. It's success was
equal to that of its predecessors and Mr..
Hardy was delikhted by the sound of a
dull, heavy noise, like distant thunder,
and knew that the success was complete,
and that he had stampeded the cattle.
He now ran to his horse, which was
trembling in every limb and struggling
wildly to escape, soothed it by patting it,
loOsed its bonds, sprang into the saddle,
and went off at full gallop in the direc-
ton by which he had come. He had not
ridden very far before he heard in the
still night air, the repeated sound of fire.
arms, and knew that the boys were upon
the trail of the cattle. Mr.. Hardy had
little fear Of the Indians pursuing them;
he felt sure that the slaughter of the
day by the new and mysterious firearms,
together with the effect of the rockets,
would have too much terrified and cowed
them for them to think of anything but
flight.
''Hurrah! papa" the boys said as Ire
rode up to them. ''They have gone by at
a tremendous rush-sheep and cattle and
all. We started the moment we saw
your first rocket, and got up just as they
rushed past, and we joined in behind and
fired, and yelled till we We're hoarse.
l don't think they will stop again to-
night"
Did you see or hear anything of the
Indians, bOys?"
'''NOthing, papa. When the first rocket
burst we saw several dark figures leap
up from the grass-Where they had been,
no doubt, scouting-and run toward the
camp; but that was all. What are we
to do now?'
ride on straight for home. We need
not trouble about the animals; they won't
stop till they are back. We must go
easily, for our horses have done very
long days work already. They have been
between fifty and sixty miles. [ think
that we had better ride on for another
hour. By that time the moon will be up,
and we shall be able to see for miles
across the plain. Then we will halt till
daybreak-it will only be three hours
and the horses will be able to carry us
in at a canter afterWard."
And so it was done. In an hour the
moon was fairly up, and, choosing a rise
whence a clear view could be obtained,
the horses were allowed to feed, and
Mr.. Hardy and Hubert lay down to sleep,
Charley taking the post of sentry with
orders to wake the others at daybreak.
The day was just dawning when he
aroused them. ''NVake up, papa. There
are some figures coming over the plain"
Mr.. Hardy and Hubert were on their
feet in an instant ''Where, Charley"
From the north papa. They must
have passed us in their pursuit of the
cattle, and are now returning-empty
handed, anyhow; for there are only sew
en- or eight of them, and they are driving
nothing before them"
By this time all three were in the sad
die again.
"Shall we attack them, papa"
"No, boys; we have given them quite a
severe lesson enough. At the same time,
we will move a little across so that we
can get a good sight of them as they pass,
and make sure that they have go: nothing
with them"
Il don't think they are Indians at all"
Hubert said, as the figures rapidly ap-
preached. "Halloo!'
"Haloo! hurrah." came back to them
and in another five minutes they were
shaking hands heartily with their three
friends from Canterbury, the Jamiesons,
and two or three other neighboring set
tiers.
They told them that FarQuhar, as soon
as Lopez brought news of the attack,
had sent mounted men off to all the 9th
err settlements, begging them to meet
that night at Mount Pleasant. By nine
o'clock they had assembled, and, after
consultation, had agreed that the Indians
would be satisfied with their present
booty, and that therefore no guard would
be necessary at their own estancias. y
good feed and four hours rest had been
given to their horses and when the moon
rose they had started. Two hours after
leaving they had seen a dark mass ap-
preaching and had prepared for an en-
counter; but it had turned out to be the
animals, who were going toward home
at a steady pace. There seemed, they
said, to be a good many horses among
them, and when an inspection was made
of returned animals it was found that
nearly all of the Indians horses had been
carried along by the cattle and sheep in
| the stampede.
4 council was held, and it was agreed
+I,oro was M obaDpa VIII tpypr n the