The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-05-13
\ SERGEANI'S SACRIFICE
fOrlglnaL1

! want you to take four men and bring them in."
 "Tn get them in. sir"
 Sergeant Kimban saluted and left the room. The major controlled him. self till tho man was gone, then paced the floor in agony.
 klmball was one of those men occa- sionally to be found in the ranks of the army who are understood to be gentlemen. but about whom nothing is known prior to their enlistment He had shown himself careless of danger; hence the majors selection of him for the task.
 That afternoon the sergeant and his four men rode into Stoughtons ranch. and Klmball told Mrs. Swayne that her husband desired her to return to the fort. though his object in sending for her was concealed. A wagon and horses were taken from the barn and tho family placed in 1t, and. attended by the escort. the Journey was begun. One soldier rode ahead. one on each side the wagon and one directly be- hind. A mile in the rear rode Sergeant Klmball.
 Half of the Journey had been ac- cOmpllshed when the sergeant, stand ing at the summit of pass between two hills and looking backward, saw Indians emerging from a wood and making for the road. There were more than a hundred of them, and he could sec by their gaudy trapplngs that they were on the warpath. He watched them tlll they struck the road, and when they turned in his direction he knew that they would soon over. take the wagon. The color died out of his face, but a desperate resolve set tied there instead. Casting about for loose timber, he made a pretense for a barricade across the road. Then, ly- Ing on his stomach. with his Winches- ter pointed across log, he waited the coming of the Indians.
 This man who wns about to die that others might live was in a strange con. dltion of mind. He remembered one who, born of the same mother, had fallen under temptation, one whose punishment he had taken upon himself. He recalled having been dropped by his friends. the contemptuous, averted look of the girl he loved. These were ln his thoughts confused with sounds of the tramp of ponies. the guttural mutterlngs of Indians coming up the road and the crcak of the wagon lum- boring toward the fort borne back on the wind.
 They'll hear the firing" he said to himself. "and move on at full speed. Better give the signal now and save time"
 Selecting one of the Indians. he fired, emptying a saddle. The savages halt cd. ceased their jargon and looked up the road whence the shot had come. Klmball fired three more shots in rap Id succession, dropping a man each time. Then the Indians took to cover.
 Again the wind brought back the sound Of the creaking wagon, this time uolsier and accompanied by the gallop Of horses. Kimball knew that every moment he could delay the in- evltable advance of the Indians over his body would add to the chances for the lives of the women and children.
 The Indians below were quiet The sergeant was familiar with their tao ties and knew they were stealing upon him and around him. Presently there was a shot from his left. A bullet sang by his ears; then all was still again. But what a stiffness! Insects were hummlng; birds were on the wing. occasionally pouring forth har- monlous notes then a far, faint creak- Ing of the wagon. now doubtless near ing the fort As sure as the sun shone mildly on that autumn afternoon, as sure as the leaves rustled in the breeze, death was creeping up on the man who was waiting for it
 Kimbal knew the Indians were pug zled. They could not get into position where they could sec behind hls little | fertilization, for he was screened by trees on both Hanks. He saw an In- dian creeping out on the limb of tree close to his right His rife cracked, and the man pitched headlong to the ground.
 Meanwhile there was another sound coming from the rear. the gallop of horses. Kimball knew that be had saved his charge and that In time sue cor would come, but he also knew that when it arrived all would be over with him. Since hills lay between the In- dlans and the coming horsemen the former did not hear for time, and the soldiers were enabled to come within a short distance before they were dis covered. Then the redskins, knowing that relief was at hand, poured fire from a hundred rifles into Klmbalfs little fortress and, mounting their horses, galloped away.
 Major Swayne followed by bis men, coming like the wind, spurcd his horse to the crest of the hill where the ser geant had made his defense. There lay Klmball, still alive. but bleeding from many wounds. The major dlsmounted and bent over him to thank him for the lives of his wife and children, but words would not come. The sergeant saw tears streaming from his com mander's eyes and knew what he would say.
 "Major," be whispered, "when you are again transferred to the east lind