Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-12-07
CHAPTER TX.

perceptible increase of warmth in the
bodies Of the sheep. Il do not think that
they can have been dead much more than
a quarter Of an hour. Keep sharp
lookout ahead, boys; we may see them
at the top of the next rise"
Not a word was spoken for the next
few minutes. Two or three slight swells
were crossed without any signs of the
enemy; and then, upon breasting rather
higher rise than usual, they saw a mass
of moving beings in the distance.
"Halt!' Mr.. Hardy shouted, and the
boys instantly drew rein. Jump off,
boys. Only our heads have shown against
the sky. They can hardly have noticed
them. There, hold my horse; loosen the
saddle girths of yours, too, and let them
breathe freely. Take the brides out of
their mouths. 1t seemed to me, by the
glimpse 1 got of our enemies, that they
were just stopping. l am going on to
make sure Of it."
So saying, Mr.. Hardy again went for
ward a short distance, going on his hands
and knees as he came to the crest of the
rise, in order that his head might not
show above the long grass. When he
reached it he saw at once that his first
impression had been correct. At dis
lance of a little over mile a mass of
animals were collected, and round them
were scattered a number of horses, while
figures of men We're moving among them.
sit is as l thought, boys" he said,
when he rejoined his sons. They have
stopped for a while. The animals must
all be completely done up; they cannot
have come less than thirty miles, and will
require three or four hours rest, at the
least. One hour will do for our horses.
Rinse their mouths out with little water
and Leu them Craze if they are disposed;
in half an hour we will give them each
double handful Of Indian corn"
Having attended to their horses, which
they hobbled to prevent their straying,
Mr.. Hardy and the boys sat down and
made a slight meal. Then Mr.. Hardy
again reconnotered There was no
change; most of the animals were lying
down, and there was little sign of move
ment Two or three Indians, however,
were standing motionless and rigid by
their horses sides, evidently acting as
sentries The boys thought that hour
the longest that they had ever passed.
At last, however, their father looked at
his watch. Nov, boys, it is five minutes
to the hour. Examine your carbines and
revolvers, see that everything is in order,
and that there is no hitch. Tighten the
saddle girths and examine the buckles.
See that your ammunition and spare car
bine chambers are ready at hand"
''Hurrah" the boys both shouted as
they started at canter up the rise AS
they caught sight of the Indians every
thing was quiet as before; but in another
moment they saw the men on watch
| throw themselves on to their horses
backs, figures leaped up from the grass
and ran toward their horses, and in little
over minute the whole were in motion.
Surely they are not going to run away
from three menu Charley said in a dis
gusted tone.
'1rhey won't run far, Charley" Mr..
Hardy said quietly. by the time that
we are half way to them they will see
that we can have no one with us, and
| they will ceme on quickly enough. Halt,
! boys-steady, dismount; take up your po-
sitions quietly. Don't fire till | give you
the word l shall try my rifle first"
| The well-trained horses, accustomed to
their masters firing from their backs
stood as steady as if carved in stone,
their heads turned inquiringly toward the
| yelling throng of horsemen who We're ap-
| preaching Mr.. Hardy and the boys had
both dismounted, so that the horses were
between them and the Indians, the sad
| dies serving as rests for their firearms.
give hundred yards, Charley?" his
! father asked quietly.
"a little over, papa; nearly six, should
say"
! Mr.. Hardy waited another ten seconds
| and then his rifle cracked: and yell OF
| astonishment and rage broke from the
| Indians, as one of their chiefs, conspicu-
Gus from an old dragon helmet, taken
probably In some skirmish with the sol
| diers, fell from his horse.
"Hurrahr' Charley cried "Shall we
| fire now. papaT
mo, Charley" Mr.. Hardy said as he
| reloaded his rifle; wait till they are four
hundred yards off, then fire slowly. Count
ten between each shot, and take as steady
| an aim as possible. Now! Well done,
| two more of the scoundrels down. Steady,
| Hubert, you missed that time; there,
! that's better"
The Indians yelled with rage and aston
| ishment as man after man dropped be-
| fore the steady and, to them, mysterious
| FIRE which was kept up upon them. Still
| they did not abate the rapidity Of their
| charge.
'Done, papa" Charley said, as the two
boys simultaneously fired their last shot
when the leading Indians were about tw
hundred and fifty yards distant.
Change your chambers and mount,
Mr.. Hardy said as he again took aim
with his rifle.
The enemy was not more than hun
dred and fifty yards distant when they
| leaned into their saddles and started at
| gallop.
STEADY, boys, keep your horses well IN
hand. Never mind their balls; they could
no more hit man 1T this distance from
| the back of a horse than they could lily.
! There is no chance of their catching us;
there wont be many horses faster iEan