Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-12-18

that sheds and stacks only had been
fired and that the house itself was still
intact. But as the soldiers used their
naked eyes and the officers their glass
es to locate the redskins the sounds OF
rifle shots came floating up to them,
followed by the notes of bugle. Blu
gler Billy was sounding Boots and
saddlesv' as a call for aid
Company B had brought along SUI
pernumerary bugler. The captain nod
ded to him. He dismounted, climbed
the big bowlder which was landmark
and from it's crest sent the stirring
notes back across the valley to tell the
bcleaguered ones that rescue was at
hand. Then as he touched the saddle
again the troop went laundering down
the eastern slope to fall upon the lndl-
ans red handed. 1t reached the valley,
it had formed platoon 'front.' the car
bines had been unslung, when up rose
200 warriors to bar it's further prog
ress and it's retreat and drive 1t to
cover on the right. Ten saddles had
been emptied before cover was reached.
The Indians had set trap, and the
troopers had galloped into it. For half
an hour the hostiles pressed the attack
so vigorously that it seemed as If the
troop must be wiped out, but the cool
and steady fire of the soldiers finally
cleared the foe away, and rifle and
carbine ceased their racket for time.
AS silence fell came the notes of Bill
lys bugle to tell his comrades that he
was still alive and knew of their near
presence. Again he was answered, but
the men shook their heads and cursed
and muttered 1t was plain to them
that the boy and the Whartons were
beset in the ranchhouse by twenty to
one and just as plain that they were
helpless to aid them. The Indians had
simply fallen back to cover instead of
retrea ting. The troop was surrounded
and shut in, and to attempt to break
out of the circle meant a massacre.
Now began a fierce attack on the
ranchhouse that lasted for half an
hour When the firing had died away,
Biily's bugle calls foated across the
level to tell his comrades that the fort
still held out, and they were answered
with wild cheers. Twice again before
the sun went down the Indians made
fierce attacks on the inrenched troop
ers, to be driven back, and twice and
thrice they renewed the attacks on the
house. Again after the attack at .
o'clock Billy's bugle calls were heard
but three-quarters of an hour later the
troopers sprang up and exclaimed to
each other:
Those are not Billy's notes! Some
one else is sounding the call!'
"'Tis Wharton's daughter wh1s-
pered the old first sergeant.
"Our Billy has taught her to blow
the bugle. Comrades, our boy lies dead
or wounded"
Thirty minutes later as the red rim
Of the summer sun was sinking out OF
sight. there same a last call from the
ranchhouse. 1t was from the lips OF
the girl again. Just then silence fell
upon the valley, or the low and quaver-
ing notes might not have reached the
ears of the troopers The girl was
blowing the call of Lights outt'
God! God!' sobbed the men as they
listened and realized what the notes
meant.
''She is the last to diew whispered
the captain as he turned away his
head.
Under cover Of darkness the hostiles
drew off and were thirty miles away
when morning came. Then the troop
ers closed in on the battered, half
burned ranchhouse and sat with barred
heads while their officers went inside.
mot a cartridge left and all dead!'
said the captain as he came out, with
his hat in his hand. ut was the girl
who lived longest, and it was she who
blew Lights outv when all hope was
gone God rest themv'