Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1901-04-15
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he groan of despair that rose from
Fleigh's lips.
Look after the prisoners, corporal.
geant Carey, you and the first six
be with incl" cried Loring. A gaIIop
less than a minute brought them al
Ft abreast of the ridge. Black and
owing a cloud of smoke was rising,
ped from beneath by angry tongues
ted flame. sit isn't the house, thank
~ cried the sergeant. cts the hay
tks. But look at the Indiansi'
Lookl Well they might All about
corrals they were darting. All ON a
den there blazed from the ridge line
bss the stream the fire of a dozen
es. All around them the spiteful bull
bit the turf. One horse madly rear
hnd plunged, his rider cursing heart
Wildly the nor excitable troopers
hrned an aimless shot from saddle,
lie others gazed eagerly to the officer
orders. 1t was his first meeting with
Sioux. 1t had been his hope to gain
{ threatened ranch by dawn and join
garrison, but where was that hope
III?
Down along the banks of the Laramie,
hing their bounding ponies, brandish-
their weapons and yelling like mad,
bnd of Sioux, full 40 strong, came
rging at them, splashing through the
flows and scattering out across their
bit in the we'll known battle tactics.
an instant was there to be lostl
Jump for those rocks, men!' rang
fing's order. "Cut loose your prison
corporaIi They must fight for their
bs!"
But, oh, what chance had so few
inst SO many? Springing from sad
turning loose their startled, snort
horses that go tearing away down
valley, the old hands have jumped
the rocks and, kneeling and taking
berate aim, open fire on the foremost
he foe. A gaudy warrior goes down
he flood, and a yell goes up to heav-
Another good shot Stays a feather
ked pony and sends his rider sprawl
and wisely the others yeer away to
bt and left and scurry to more dis
: range, but up the slopes to the
tn still others dart.
from three sides now the Indian bull
HIM are kissing in. In less than four
butes of sharp, singing fight gallant
geant Carey is stretched on the turf
b a shattered elbow, Corporal Burke
two troopers are shot dead, and
ing, with white, set face and a
rching seam along the left cheek,
kes a dropped carbine and thrusts it
b Burleigh's shaking hands.
Up with you, mani" he cries. cts
II scalp you're fighting for. Here,
9 a drink of this" And his filled
teen is glued to Burleigh's ashen
long pull, a gasp, and hardly know
what he does the reoreant officer
els at the nearmost rock, aims at a
nted savage leaping to the aid of a
len brother, and the chance shot, for
marvel, finds its mark, and with q
vi the warrior drops upon the bank.
Well done, Burleigh!' shouts Lor-
Fire againl"
Hope or whisky or lingering spark of
nhood has fired the majors eye and
we'd his hand.
With something like a sob one of
dsall's captured crew rolls owe to
ere the young commander is coolly
ding and firing, and, despite their
Wy loss, the stout defense has had
effect and the yelling braves are
ping at wider range.
I'm done for, lieutenant" he
ans. "For Gods sake lie flat behind
!" And be feebly points to the slope
ind their left rear, where half a
en- Sioux, dismounted, are skipping
he shelter of the rocks.
Another minute and their bullets are
sing at the backs of the besieged.
pther minute and Burleigh topples
r on the sward, the lifeblood pour
@ from his side, and Loring sees that
his fighting force is gone, even as
rything begins to swim before his
S, and the hand that strives to sweep
by the blur before his sight leaves
pallid face smeared with blood.
here is a sound of coming thunder
his ears, the blare of distant trumpet,
warning yell of wary Indians, the
sing cheer of charging horses, and
earth seems turning round and roll
up to meet him as he droops, faint
at his post, the battle won.
Well and gallantly done, was the
versal verdict of the frontier on
tier Loring's maiden fight. Brave,
and resolute in face of desperate
il he had proved, and many a sym
hizing soldier lowered about the
pital tent where day after day he
in the delirium of fever that fol-
ed his wounds. Yet will it be be-
ed that when at last convalegcence
g and the doctors were compelled to
9 the blockade, the news was broken
Tim that so soon as he should be de-
ed strong enough there was still an
err ordeal ahead. The gallant general
had served so well had indeed been
cred elsewhere, as was prophesied
Omaha. "a new king came who
w not IOSpOh - The senior colonel