The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1901-04-27
CUAPTER XIV.


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 exhaustion 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
clamor Time and again during the
night, suspicious and excited, they
dashed out again and again, and once
one Of them, venturing further than
his fellows, broke suddenly into loud
cries of mingled pain and rage, and
when at last he came whining piteous-
~ back TO the ranch il was found that
he was bleeding from cash along the
flank, where an Indian arrow had
scared him. Only by fits and starts did
any man sleep. Hour after hour Fol-
SONS little garrison was on the alert.
The women had all been moved 10 the
deep, dry cellar, Mrs. Hal moaning over
her baby, utterly unneryed, Jessie
silent, but white and tremulous; the
herdsman's wife, an Amazon, demand
ed the right TO have gun and fight by
her husbands side; Lizette, the Indian
girl, faint and starved, asked nothing
but TO be allowed TO crouch at the door
OF the room where 1Ialbert lay, fevered
and unconscious, and Pappoose, scorn-
10 10 l. 4, -.
bedside to her fathers log harricade al
the east porch. In dread anxiety the
hours dragged by, and al last Lannion
reached forth his hand and pulled the
shirtsleeve of his comrade Jake, half
DOING at his side in an instant the
latter was kneeling at his post. What
is IT'D" he queried, and Lannion, point
ing TO the first faint, pallid CLEAN In
the eastern sky, whispered: Time to
be up, man. It's coming"
For half an hour, except for the rush
ing of the Laramie a silence almost un-
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 oyerspread the pal
Tor Of the dawn, far out over the valley
the yelp Of coyote began again and
oil men strained their ears and listened,
while strong hands grabbed the growl-
ing dogs and pinned them TO earth, for,
beginning at the east, the cry was
ranch seemed beleaguered by the
guunt, half-famished wolves of the up
land prairies. Look 20 your sights,
now, menl Down into the cellar, Pap
poosel" exclaimed Folsom, kindling
with fierce excitement. 1--WE been the
friend Of all that tribe for 80 years
but when they break faith with me
and mine that ends IL Look 10 your
sights and make every shot count" he
cautioned, as lie made the rounds OF
the little shelters thrown up during
the past two days. ave can stand OIL
hundred Of EN- if you only keep your
grit"
Pcrched as il was on little rise. the
ranch stood forth conspicuous over the
valley. At the foot OF the slope TO the
south lay the corral and some OF the
buildings, about 100 yards away, where
the shallow Laramie curled and Tapped
beneath their walls, and now the dogs
seemed TO concentrate their attention
on that side. Folsom, rifle in hand,
was kneeling on the porch, listening
intently. Two of the hands were with
him. Jake and Lannion, experienced
and reliable, had been given indepcnd-
ent posts on the other front, and Just
rs objects could be dimly recognized
along the flats, there burst upon the
ears OF the little garrison sudden
chorus OF eXultant yells. A tongue OF
flame leaped upward from beyond the
huts lately occupied by the ranchmen.
The half-used haystacks caught and
held one moment the fiery messenger,
and then in broad glare that REDEEMED
the flood OF the Laramie for miles and
lighted up the ranch like n sunburst
gave forth huge column OF blaze and
smoke that could be seen far over the
Black Hills of Wyoming, and all the
valley seemed TO spring to instant life.
On every side arose the stirring war
cry Of the Sioux. the swift beat OF
pony hoofs, the ring OF rife, and brave
John Folsom's heart sank within him
as he realized that here was no mere
marauding PARTY. bat powerfui nand
organized for deliberate Vengeance
The bullets came whistling through
the morning AR. biting hcrccly into
tha Gnlt mrs sooftertn.r tho rhfnaf.y