The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-01
1r sorHrE HAMMOND.
A RED DEVIL.
eioo Prise stery.)

V
 U&ere had been a hot skirmish; but <<@ o4yages had given way at last, and
 4 men had driven them peir nell 19.1ne the river. M Hr1vate Barnes, galloping back by 1ogeif from the chase, felt his horse 4U0denly swerve. and saw in the tali EEQn1 red. naked figure. wriggling out ef Uls path. The cruel light of bat III spranR into his eyes again; his o11re flashed out.
 What are you doing?" shouted a eh4rp voice. Don't you know it's the 4ct of q coward to strike a wounded m4nT' And the young second 1ieuten. mt of his company dashed up behind nm. with angry eyes.
 The trooper put back his sabre some WhAt sullenly. He had seen a good deal of showing mercy to Indians, and 7 heI dldn't believe in 1t.
 Z The wounded savage-a magnificent xoung brave, with deep scar across Ill lower Iip--had writhed over on his 1Ank, his hands clenched in the grass. and his glazed, wide-open eyes star TIT straight upward
 EHes dead. without your help" said tie young officer. looking down at the xigid figure. I'm glad you didn't touch him. It's awful to strike a man n his death agony"
 The trooper grunted Indians ain't men -they're devils, sir,'' he eaid grim 3y. 'But you've got that to learn." EN Y <
 Another year saw the construction of the Northern Pacific being pushed fhrough the very heart of the Sioux kort back for the present by the force uf regulars that was guarding the Wox1. the savagee were swarmtng, watching this invasion of their hunt ing grounds with deadly hatred in their eyes, and plans of fendish retail iation in their hearts. But hourly famiiiarity with the danger was mak- 6ng the white men careless of 1t.
 4n the chanting sunlight of the sum- mer evening i've soldiers, two of them cavalry officers, were retWnii18 to camp after days shooting. Some miles back they had barely escaped stumbling upon the encampment of a war-party, which had forced them to make wide detour; and they had just struck the trail again.
 Suddenly the foremost trooper reined in his horse. Look. Colonet!'' he exclaimed.
 The others glanced up. Over the tor of the hill to their right a dosen mounted Sioux were coming into view
 ssWe're in for 1t now" said the little Colonel. '.TEere's nothing to do but to try to outride them, men," And the five horses swept on along the trail.
 A yell from the savages told that they had taken up the pursuit. A single arrow came whizzing through the afr, followed by a shower oi others; but they all went high; and the men, bending lower in the saddle only patted their horses necks and urged them on.
 Presently the younger officers fore head contracted. My mares giving out. sir" he said quietly; she'll be down before long. Don't stop for second when she drops"
 The colonel strained his eyes through the failing light.
 There's the river" he said with a breath of relief. Hold on for quar- ter of a mile. Kenny. It's our only hope-those rocks"
 And five minutes later the horses had cleared the big stones that guard ed the indicated place of refuge.
 It was we'll selected. A point of lant 1utted out into the river, which pro fected 1t on three sides. In front O fl was a slight swell of ground strewn with half-buried rocks. forminl a natural breastwork.
 The horses were hurried to tn sandy ledge under the river bank an the men flung themselves behind tn rocks. The Indians came on withou sIackening their speed up to the yer, stone: then a volley met them. Tw of them fell: the rest wheeled abou and rode back to the plain. Only on of the troopers had been hit.
 A little distance away the Siou drew together again. and held a pro tracted council of war. which scene to reveal some differences of opinior At length young buck rode out fror the rest and began harangue' cleari
 Sunday. 1.-THE GRAY SHAWL"