The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1903-02-13

that sheds ana stacks only had been
fired and that the house itself was still
| intact. Bit az the soldiers used their
naked eyes and the officers their glass
| rs 10 locate the redskins the sounds of
| rifle shots came floating up to them.
followed by III" notes 0f IL huglc. Blu
| @lSr Billy WAS sounding Boots and
! saddles. as IL call for aid
Company L had brought along Il SUI
pcrnumerary hugler. The captain nod
dCd 10 him. He diSmOuntcd. climbed
The big b"wlder which was a landmark
and from It's crest. sent the stirring
notes back across the valley To tell the
bclcagucred ones that rescue was at
hand. Then as he touched the saddle
again the troop went laundering down
the eastern slope TO fail upon the Indi-
ans red handed. 1t reached the valley.
ii had formed platoon front, the car
Dimes had been unslung, when up rose
POO warriors 10 bar its further prog
ress and its retreat and drive it to
cover on the right. Ten saddles had
been cmptied before cover was reached
The Indians had set trap. and the
troopers had "Illoped into il. For half
IN hour tn" hoStiles pressed the attack
so vigorously that it seemed as If the
troop must he wiped out. but the cool
and steady fire Of the soldiers finally
cleared the foe away, AMI rifle and
carhine ceased their racket for Il time
.AS silence fell came the notes of Bill
lyS buglc To tell his comrades that he
WAS still alive and knew of their near
presence. Again he WIS answered. hu.
Ill" iH"u shook their heads and cursed
and muttcred. 1t WAS plain Ia them
that the hoy and the Whartons were
h&Srt in the ranchhOusn by twenty to |
one and Just rs plain that they were
helpless to aid them. The Indians had |
simply fallen back tn cover instead of |
rCtrCating. The troop was surrounded |
and shut in. and /" attempt tn break !
out Of the circle meant massacre
Now began fierce attack on the |
ramrhh0usr that lasted for half IN !
hour. When the firing had died away.
Billy's hu3lr calls hOatcd across the |
level To tell his comrades that the fort |
still held out. and they We're answered |
with wild cheers. Twice again before
the sun went down the Indians made
fierce attacks on fhc inIrcnched troop
Crs. to he driven back. and twice and |
thrice they renewed the attacks on the
house. Again after the attack ut Is
Oclnck iilly's huglr calls were heard.
hut thrCc-qrIrtcrs of an hour later the
troopers Sprang up and exclaimed TO
each other:
These are not Eilly'S notes. Some
one else is sounding the CALI
Ills Wharton'S daughter.' wills !
pered the old first sergeant.
Our Billy has taught her In blow
the hu.lc Comrades. our boy lies dead
or wounded"
Thirty minutes later. as the red rim
uf the summer sun was sinking out of
sight. there came Il last call from the
1t WAS from the lips Of
the girl again. Just then silence fen
upon the valley. or the low and quavcr-
in: notes might not have reached the
cars of the troopers Tn" girl was
blowing the call of Lights Out"'
cod, Cod sol,brd the men as they |
listened and realized what the notes
meant
she is the last To die 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.
IRIS closed In on the battered. half |
burned ranchh0uSr and sat with barred |
heads while their officers Went inside.
Not cartridge left and all dead.
said the captain as he came out. with |
Ills hat in his hand. 1T was the girl |
Siln lived longest, and ii WAS she who
blew Lights OUT when all hope was
gone. God rest them"