Waterbury Democrat., 1901-06-24


 and cheering them o1t.
 Now into the dark mouth of half a mile of snowsheds darts the engine, and the earth an instant later has swal lowed up the train. Easy would it have been for savage skill to strip a few rails from the ties and hurl the human load to death, but not Brule dreamed of such thing as ''store sol diers'' coming to dare them, with the regulars a full weeks march away. Wide open now, the throttle releases every pound of steam, and all the strength of the mammoth tugs at the tagging load, for the long grade begins at last to tell, and despite all that man and steam and fire can do the dead weight trailing sternward overcomes the impetus of the initial dash, slows down to less than half speed, but still panting furiously the engine struggles on. One mile more, and the crest is gained, and then a new leap. One min- ute more, and from the bowels of the earth the Baldwin bursts forth into glad sunshine, and, peering instantly about him, sweeping the open slopes with eager eyes, Erie catches sight of swift, streaming feather skimming the crest to the south and shooting out of sight in the flash of a second. A war bonnet capping the painted head of savage scout! The Brules had got the alarmi Back to the cabn' shouts the conductor. But Langdon motions, Stay"
 The grounds break away in little swale or hollow to the right front, where the prairie begins it's slope to- ward the far concave bend of the river, and over this rift there bursts upon their straining gaze sight never to be forgotten. Away to the front there rises billowy butte perhaps two miles distant, about one-half probably of it's southward slope just visible, and that slope is thickly .sprinkled with darting, dashing red riders in wild commotion. There are the Sioux in all their savage glory. There, close at hand, must be the beleaguered train. Here, closer at hand, just behind the low curtain in front, must turk the Brule scouts. Look! A flash, a puff at the very crest, not 400 yards away now, so determined has been the Baldwin's onward rush. Look! Another! And now there is not second to lose. The Sioux have seen and opened fire. A shriek goes up from the brazen throat. The airbrakes grip the wheels. The long train slows so suddenly that men are hurled forward in every car.
 "Lie low, you in cab and tenderT yells Langdon as the conductor, duck ing, scrambles to the shelter of the cab. Flash after flash, puff after puff, the ridge line blazes. Spat comes bullet On the iron breast behind him as Lang don leaps from the pilot to the sloping ground and sprints back along the side of the train just coming to standstill. .'This way! This side, Company Cv' he yells, waving his cap on high, his eyes flashing, his voice thrilling through the rare, exhilarating atmos- phere. Spread out! Open out-five yards apart! Forward-fast as you can! We've got to have that ridge be- fore they can line on it. Come on! Come on!'
 It is only rush of a few hundred feet now. The eastward scouts of the hostiles are but handful. The braves are closing in on every side about the weary defenders on the farther slope The glut for blood and rapine has blinded the eyes of old Stabber, their fiery chief. The frantic signals of his scouts have been ignored in the fury l of their assault, in the faith that all re- sistance will be over in another mo, ment, and then, at the head of his wild warriors, he can dash in upon them in furious charge, and the train, with it's helpless women, its beaten, beseeching men, its screaming children making sweet music for his savage ears, will be the prey and spoil of the Brule. In the din and crash of battle he never needs the backward rush of the few warriors at the crest. He thinks them joining in the charge till White Wolf. his son, topples headlong from his pony, gasping warning with his last breath, till, yelling with mingled fury and dismay, dozen braves bear down upon him at mad gallop and sweep him away to the safety of the west, for there, striding down the prairie slope spreading out to right and left, comes the long, blue line of hated soldiery 1 backed up by scores of fighting men all with cracking rifles Here and there
 
 in reply, but the defense, too, has again taken heart and, with exultant cheers, is pouring in a hot fusillade. A dozen ponies are sprawled in death agony upon the sward. Half dozen gaudy braves are stricken, some even unto death. There is nothing for it but to 1 scoop up the dead and dying brethren and then to dash away for council at safe distance. And five minutes later, laughing, weeping, cheering, hand | shaking and embracing, 500 men are mingled in joy and triumph about the bullet riddled train. Women and chil- dren are sobbing in the arms of loved ones, and scores of quivering lips are | pouring praise and blessing on the name of Erie Langdon and eager voices shouting and clamoring for him to show himself and then hushing al- most to silence in awe, dismay and wild anxiety. The last seen of him he was leaping along the railway far in | front of his line. waving and cheering them on. Had he, too, been snatched | fr,