Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1902-01-31
CHAPTER Ix.-tcontinued.l

W. ~ WISH OSSOAo
they had hitherto seen; but in the dark
ness these would be Of no avail against
q sudden rush.
But IL the Indians did not run way,
neither did they. as before, attack their
assailants. Their horses had been plac-
ed in the middle Of the cattle, with q few
quiet. The rest Of the Indians were not
to be seen. but Mr.. Hardy guessed that
they were lying down in the long grass,
or were concealed among the animals.
"The rascals have got a clever chief
among them, boys. Except those half
dozen heads we see over the horses backs
there is nothing to see of them. They
know that if we go close they can pick
us off with their guns and bows and ar
rows, without giving us a single fair shot
at them. Don't so any nearer, boys; no
doubt there are many OF their best shots
hidden in the grass"
"We could scatter the cattle with a
rocket, papa"
Eyes, we could, Hubert, but we should
gain nothing by it; they have got men by
their horses, and would soon get the herd
together again. No; we will keep that for
the night. Halloo! to the right, boys, for
your lives"
Not a moment too soon did Mr.. Hardy
perceive the danger. The chief Of the In
dians, expecting another attack, had or
dered twenty of his best mounted men to
separate themselves from the main body.
and to hide themselves in q dip of the
ground near the place where the first at
tack had taken place. They were to al
low the whites to pass, and were b to
follow quietly upon them.
Complete success had attended the ma
neuver, and it was fortunate that the
party had no firearms, these having been
distributed among the main body with
the cattle, for they We're within forty
yards of Mr.. Hardy before they We're
seen. 1t was, in fact, a repetition of the
maneuver which had proved so successful
In their attack upon the cattle.
They were not Immediately in the rear
Of Mr.. Hardy, but rather to the left. AS
Mr.. Hardy and his sons turned to fly, IL
number of Indians sprang upon their feet
from among the grass and discharged a
volley of guns and arrows at them. For
~tunately the distance was considerable.
One of their arrows, however, struck MIR.
Hardy's horse in the shoulder, while an
1 other stuck in the riders arm. Another
went through the calf of Hubert's leg
and stuck in the flap Of the saddle.
There was no time for word or COM
plant. They buried their spurs in their
horses sides, and the gallant animals,
feeling that the occasion was urgent.
seemed almost to fly. In u mile they
were able to break into a steady gallop.
Mr.. Hardy had already pulled the arrow
from his arm, and Hubert now extracted
his. AS he stopped to do so his father,
who had not noticed that he was wound-
ed, saw what he was doing.
Hurt much, old man|
mot much" Hubert said; but it did
hurt a good deal, nevertheless.
1t was perfectly dark before they reach
again loosened, a little Indian corn, moist
encd with water. given to the horses, and
another slight meal taken by themselves.
The boys. by Mr.. Hardy's orders, though
sorely against their own wishes, thcn lay
down to get a couple of hours sleep;
while Mr.. Hardy went back about a hun
dred yards along the trail that they had
made on coming, and then turned aside
and sat down at a distance Of a few
yards to watch. in case n Indians
should have followed up their trail.
Here he sat for over two hours, and
then returned to the boys. Charley he
found fast asleep. The pain of Hubert's
wound had kept him awake. Mr.. Har-
dy poured some water over the bandage,
and then, waking Charley, gave them in
structions as to the part they We're to
play.
Both of them felt rather uncomfortable
when they heard that they We're to be
separated from their father. They raised
no objections, however, and promised to
obey his instructions to the letter. They
then mounted their horses and began to
retrace their steps, keeping a hundred
yards or so to the west of the track Ly
which they had come.
They rode in single file. and they had
taken the p%recaution of fastening a piece
Of tape round their horses nostrils and
mouth to prevent their snorting should
they approach any of their own species.
The night was dark, but the stars shune
out clear and bright. At starting Mr..
Hardy had opened his watch. and had
felt by the hands that it was ten o'clock.
After some time he felt again. 1t was
just an hour from the time of their
starting.
snow, boys, we are somewhere close
to the place Of your fight"
In another minute the boys lost sight
of their father and turned their horses,
proceeded in the direction he had ordered.
Mr.. Hardy had ridden on for two miles.
SO that he was now to the southwest of
the enemy; then, turning west. he kept
along for another mile, when he judged
that he was a mile in their direct rear.
He advanced with the greatest caution,
every faculty absorbed in the sense of
listening. He was soon rewarded by
the sound Of the baaing of the sheep, and
d~ismounting and leading his horse, he
gradually approached the spot. At last,
on ascending a slight rise he fancied
that he could make out a black mass at
q distance OF a quarter of a mile.
BE now left his horse, taking the pre-
caution Of tying all four legs. He next
set to work to cut some turf, with which
he formed a narrow sloping bank, with
q hollow for the rocket to rest in-calcu.
lated the exact distance and the angle
required. All being prepared Mr.. Hardy
took the signal rocket, and placing it at
q much higher angle than that intended
for the others, struck q match and APP
piled 1t to the touch paper. IN a moment
afterward there was a loud r6ar, and the
rocket scared up, with its train of bril-
liant sparks behind 1t, and burst almost
ord the Indian camp. Five or six balls
a In intense white Light b4oke from it,
Aend gradually fell toward the ground,
the whole surro pding plain
~astonishmeut q fear broke