The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-11-05

would be thrown out To give warning OF
coming troops the main body OF savages
were clustered close about the Deieaguef-
ed trair lie had never before been
brought Into contact with mounted IN
dians. but had had long talks with COM
rades well schooled IN border warfare
and felt sure OF his ground. From wnat
he could gather he believed that seVerai
old Indian fighters from the westward
stations must be on that train ana fea-
soned that they would make their de-
fensive stand where the cars could DC
sheltered and they themselves. the de-
sides OF The cut. fe was reasonably
certain that they could there hold out
for his coming.
round the long curve at the foot OF the
blufr and gee before them four miles
ahead up the distant slope Of the divide
m black lena SHADOW % Of 9 'sn tRs snow % fence o and
realize that all that stretch OF winding
grade must be overcome before they can
heart throbs like the massive engine
straining at It's burden. "Hit her up
again. JIMMY shouts the conductor. his
hands forming a speaking tube. The
fireman is thrusting coal by the snovelfm
into the seething furnace. Inlty smoke
Jets from the stack and streams taliward
capt" yells the conductor. with a back
ward ward and upward glance .ndt,n Lansd1n
long before this" is the answer Again
the speed Increases despite reverse
curves that hug the bank like the con
yolutlons Of a snake Jim l. gathering
toward the stream. the black Gemon IN
the lead. skins the shining concave or
the rails under low line OF heights 70
the left watched every inch of their
length by the wary eyes OF crouching
sharpshooters In the tender. Then the
steel roadway curves inboard again and
bluff; and still Jim's hand never winces ss,s
az the throttle. and under almost full
pressure the huge drivers tear at the
speed. spinning like fre wheels, while IN
the swaying car behind men cling IN
seat arms. or are hurled from side 10
sae IN ine eg fnT % OF easv sns na erade as the
line leaves the narrow river and begins
the climb OF the distant crest. and like
black meteGr the big HqFn' sR2snnr
trestle over a shallow ravine and SPINS
away in headlong dash, a dense volume
OF lnky. smoke and binding dust whirling
and billowing I'm Its wake. Now the snow
fence 10 the north shuts out the land
scape on the right flank. Now through
low waves OF prairie the pilot tears away.
Now into the dark mouth OF half mile
OF snow sheds darts the engine. and the
earth an instant later has swallowed up
the train.
Easy would 1t have been for savage
skill to strip few rails from the ties and
hurl the human load to death. but not
Brule dreamed OF such a thing as store
soldiers" coming to dare them. with the
regulars 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 stern
ward overcomes the impetus OF the initial
dash slows down to less than half speed,
but still painting furiously the engine
struggles on. One mile more. and the
crest is gained and then a new leap. One
minute 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 Eric catches sight OF SWIFT.
streaming feather skimming the crest 10
the south and shooting out Of sight In the
fash OF second. war bonnet Gaping
the painted head OF a savage scout! The
Brules had got the alarm Back 10 the
cab" shouts the conductor. But Lang
don motions, Stay
The grounds break away In little
swale or hollow 10 the right front. where
far concave bend OF the river. and over
this rift there bursts upon their strainlnS
gaze n sight never TO he forgotten. Away
10 the front there rises billowy butte
perhaps two miles distant about one hal II
probably OF its southwark slope just yisi,
BILE and that slope is thickly sprinkled
x
conmotion. 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 cur
tain In front must lurk the Brule scouts.
Look flash, a puff at the very crest.
not 400 yards away now, so determined
has been the Baldwins onward rush.
Look Another And now there Is not
= second TO lose. The Sioux have seen
and opned fire. shrek goes up from
the brazen throat. The airbrakes grip
the wheels The long train slows so sud
denly that men are hurled forward IN ev-
cry car.
Lie low. you in cab and tender" ,yells
Iangdon as the conductor. ducking.
scrambes TO the shelter Of the cab. Flash
after flash pun after pun, the ridge line
blazes spat comes a bullet on INC IRON IRON
the pilot TO the sloping ground and sprints
back along the side of the train Just com ,si !.
ng to stands!ii This ra,s WAY waving his his
cap on high his eyes flashing. his voice
thrilling through the rare. exhilarating
stmosphssre "sPreqpd Snt 4psn o1, Nou
! can. We've got To have that ridge be-
| fore they can line on It. Come on! Come
on
II is only a rush Of few hundred feet
now The eastward scouts Of the hos
| tiles are but handful. The braves are
closing i'm on every side about the weary
| defenders on the farther slope. me giut
OF old Stabber. their fiery chief. The nan,
| tic signals OF his scouts have been ignored
| i'm the fury OF their assault. in the faith
| that all resistance will be over i'm an
| other moment. and then. at the head oi
his wild warriors. he can dash IN upon
| them in furious charge. and the train
with it's helpless women. Its beaten, pc
| seechinK men, its screaming children max,
ing sweet music for his savage cars, VIII
| be the prey and spoil of the Brule In
the din and crash OF battle he never
| heeds the backward rush ~ the few war
| riors at the crest He thinks them Join
| ing I'm the charge til White Wolf. his son
| topples headlong from his pony: gaspinH
| warning with his last breath till. ycllins
| with mingled fury and dismay dozer
| braves bear down upon him az mad gal
| lop and sweep him away TO the safety oi
| the west for there. striding down tht
| prairie slope. speading out 20 right an6
4 left comes the long. blue line ~ mated
| soldicry backed up by scores ot hghtlne
| men all with-scra ckling rides. Here ano
| there in little groups his warriors Il q wild
| In I'm reply. but the defense too has again
4 taken heart and. with exultant cheers. Is
| pouring I'm hot fusillade. dozen pom
| les are snrnwled IN death agony upon th'
| nward Half dozen Raudv braves ar
| stricken. some even unto death. Ther'
l f.r H,tt 10 1aHI