Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-08-20

ed after the scurrying warriors, full
half way to the beginning of the
slope, and then, just as Ray had pre-
dicted down came a cloud of bril-
liant foemen, seeking to swallow the
little ten alive. Instantly their SER
geant leader whirled them about and,
pointing tho way, led them in wide
circle, horses well in hand, back to
the dry wash, then down into its
sandy depths. Here every trooper
sprang from saddle, and with the
rein looped on the left arm, and
from the shelter of the straight, stiff
banks, opened sharp fire on their
pursuers, just as Clayton's platoon,
| dismounting at the grove, sprang to
the nearest cover and joined in the
| fierce clamor of carbines. Racing
down the slope at top speed as were
| the Sioux, they could not all at once
| check the way of their nimble
mounts, and the ardor Of the chase
| had carried them far down to the
| flats before the fierce crackle began.
| Then it was thrilling to watch them,
| veering, circling, sweeping to right
or left, ever at furious gallop, throw
| ing their 1.-THE, painted bodies behind
| their chargers necks, clinging with
| one leg and arm, barely showing so
much as an eyelid, yet yelping and
screeching like 50 many coyotes, not
| one of their number coming within
400 yards of the slender fighting line
in the stream bed; some of them, in
| deed, diSdaining to stOop, riding de-
| family along the front, firing wildly
as they rode, yet surely and gradu-
ally guiding their ponies back to the
| higher ground, back out of harms
| way; and, in five minutes from the
time they had flashed into view, com
| ing charging over the mile away
ridge, not a red warrior was left on
the low ground-only three or four
| luckless ponies, kicking in their last
| struggles or stiiTcning on the turf,
while their riders, wounded or un-
hurt, had been picked up and spirited
| away with the marvellous skill only
known to these warriors of the
| plains.
Then Ray and his men had time to
breathe and shout laughing comment
and congratulation. Not one, as yet,
was hit or hurt. They were secure
for the time in a strong position, and
had signaIly whipped off the first as
| sault of the Sioux.
Loudly, eXcitedIy, angriIy these
| latter were now comforting again far
up the slope to the north. At least
| 100 in one cOncourse, they were hay-
| ing hot discussion over the untoward
result of the dash. Others, obedient
! to orders from the chief were circling
| far out to east and west and cross
! ing the valley above and below the
| position Of the defense. Others, still,
were galloping back to the ridge,
where, against the sky line, strong
| bodies of warriors could be plainly
seen, moving cXcitedly to and fro.
/ Two little groups slowly making
| their way to the crest gave no little
comfort to the boys in blue. Some,
at least, of the charging force had
been made to feel the bite of the
cavalry weapon and were being
| borne to the rear.
ready from far up the stream bed
two or three Indians were hazard
| ing Iong-range shots at the grove,
and Ray ordered all horses into a
! bend of the wash" where the side
lines were whipped from the blanket
straps and the excited sorrels Sc
| curely hoppled. Then, here, there
and in score of places along the
| bank and again at the edge of the
| cottonwoods, men had been assigned
| their stations and biddcn to find
| cover for themselves without delay.
| Many burrowcd in the soft and yield
! ing soil, throwing the earth forward
! i'm front of them. Others utilized
! fallen trees or branches. Some two
or three piled~saddles and blanket
rolls into Il low barricade, and all,
while crouching about their work,
watched the feathered warriors as
! they steadily completed their big cir
! Gle far out on the prairie. Bullets
! came whistling now fast and fire.
! quently, nipping off leaves and twigs
! and causing many a fellow to duck
! instinctivcly and to look about him,
ashamed Of his dodge yet sure of the
! fact that time had been in the days
of the most hardened veteran of the
| troop when he, too, knew what it
was to shrink from the whistle of
| hostile lead. 1t would be but a mo-
ment or two, they all understood,
before the foe would decide on the
next move; then every man would
be needed
Meantime. having stationed Field
on the north front, with orders to
note every movement of the Sioux,
and having assigned Clayton to the
minor duty Of watching the south
front and the hauks, Ray was moving
cheerily among his men, speeding
| from cover TO cover, suggesting
here, helping there, alert, even joy
GUS in manner. I'VE couldn't have
"A better roost lads" he said. I'VE
can stand OIL double their number
easy We can hold out week if
need be, but you bet the major will