Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1901-03-07


reached Deans side. 1--WE 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 l believe they can't
come in force before night"
"They knew you, sergeant, and they
knew it is probably our troop" said
he. "There must be only small par
ty near us. Make your trade, but
while you're doing it We'll saddle. l
mean to get out of this and into the
thick of the timber before they can
surround us. Stand 'em off now, while
we 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. 81 knew they had
nothing to trade. Take this sack with
you and fall back. Tell our fellows
to keep me we'll covered till L follow"
The instant the soldier started with the
sack swung over his shoulder, the In
dian, who had been squatted on the
turf, sprang up and began rapid ex-
postulation in fluent Ogallalla. IT'S
no use, young man." interposed Bruce.
"Your chum there has no buffalo
tongues, and he knew it. Here's some
hardtack for you" and he spread one
literally 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
PAGES, still facing his unwelcome Wis
itor, when the Indian gave a shrill,
sudden cry and tossed up his hands.
Not a second too soon Bruce turned
and darted 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" lashing
at their ponies flanks, darted half
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 few yards behind the young
officer and his comrade, halfway down
the reverse slope, two others, afoot,
handled the reins of their own horses
and those of the lieutenant and men
still held at the edge. 1t was an eXcit
ing moment. Bruce had only hun
dred yards to run before he could get
| under cover, and there was no chance
of their hitting him at that range, yet
| a puff of smoke rose from the knoll
and bullet, nearly spent, came tum-
bling and singing up the turf, and the
| dashing warriors, yelling wildly, ap-
plauded the shot. Bruce took matters
| coolly. LeapiDg behind the shelter of
the ledge, he reached for his carbine,
and in moment more, as the pursuing
Indians came lashing within long
| range, four seasoned cavalry carbines,
each with a keen eye at the sight and
a steady finger at the trip, were leveled
on the coming foe. Deans young 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 exultat ation
! and something like savage JOY mingling
with the thrill of excitement.
There's more behind those beggars,
SIR" growled Conroy, veteran at In
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 ducking 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 the 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 Deans. The
scurrying pony threw up 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
foot of his neck, warned the red rider
that he was far too close for safety,
for with halting gait the pony turned
and labored off the field, and presently
was seen to be staggering. "Score one
for our SIDE" laughed the Irishman,
in glee. "Now's your time, sergeant"
But Bruce, reloading, was gazing
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