The Washington times., 1902-01-05
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party. it appeared. for there were tepees.
and women and children.
The troop was halted moment for for
nation: then deploved on the bottom.
it moved forward at a double quick The
camp was taken by surprise. With cheers
and yclis the line swept on.
Presently there was a sharp volley from
the carbines; then an answering voiley.
The line wavered, closed up, and passed
on. Another volley met with desultOry
fire only and the charge was made at the
gaiiop. In q moment the outskirts OF
the camp were reached. and the engage
ment began hand to hand. The sharp
swapping of revolvers, the occasional
clashing of sabers. the same wild yell
ing filled the air as the line fought its
way in among the tepees.
All at once there was a cracking OF
rifles from the underbrush on the flank.
Horses fell with their riders and there
was a moment OF -copfusion. The line
was doubled upon itself TO meet the new
attack. In the dust and smoke it seemed
to have lost formation and to be slowly
falling back.
The scouts were fighting in advance OF
the troopers, and they were first to re-
coil: disputing inch by inch. one moment
they would give way, the next rally with
renewed yelling. They were but hand
full, and the raking fire from the UNDER
brush was dropping then one after an
other. At last the few remaining we're
forced back with rush.
But one did not for the moment yield.
True to his name he had fought like
devil. In the first impact of the attack
he had rushed forward and entered the
Jldian village; for a while he had been
lost in the clouds Of dust. but who
companions fell back he was 60.
distance behind them, also <r+eatinr h,,t
with his face to ps. of hostile In
dians' iYur or n'e' Com he held in check
WIN WIN Under his left arm he
carried Erie a efy bundle.
~, . r-Jnelt he was seen thus to
stah 1T bay. But a rifle rang out in
,rec moment. He jumped suddenly into
! the air, his ungainly body Sll angular.
| and then dropped doubled UP il the deep
dust. -
Young Robinson. flushed, firm Tipped.
sweating in little rivulets. stood in the
van of the troopers swinging his glinting
saber to right and to left. He, too. had
been unhorsed, but be hardly noticed it,
The commandant had fallen and he was
trying 70 rally the broken line. His ex-
ample inspired courage and confidence.
and soon he had gathered about him all
that were left. Seizing a riderless horse
he mounted, and again commanded .
charge.
forward. A few rods away. and dire.~
in their path. Devil Jim lay on biz s,da
holding an Indian pappoose y ,aia5 % ~
skins. With what breath Iaf. h,n,
he yelled. More bal b,hv,s and
tried to attrac. yrIng Robinson's atten-
eion WIN trshP C gestures. But no one
seemed 70 Sc" him and the line galloped
on.
or a while the charge seemed hope
, less; but so fierce and stubborn was it
that hostile band twice as large would
have found it difficult to withstand. 1t
brought decentralization, disintegration.
and panic; and in few minutes the In
dians were in retreat.
But half the troop returned to Sho-
shone the others found a resting place
in the bottom. 1t was generally conceded
that young Robinson was the hero of the
fight. and that it was due to him alone
that any of them were left to return
The little party detailed toward dusk
to look after the fallen, and to perform
for them the last rites. could never after
ward agree amcng themselves as to how
the paDpoose came to be lying beside
Devil Jim Nor could they guess. hard as
they tried, where he had got the little
yellow curl they found in leather pouch
hanging to a piece OF string about his
neck.