Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1903-09-17
la1psi1e '' PAGE


paign hat. In all the years of their
frontier fighting they had never
known a hotter fire; but Rays voice
rang out through the drifting vapo1
with the same old cheer and conf.
denoe. ':They can't charge again till
the ground cools off, he cried
by that time they'll have their
hands full. See how they're scudding
away at the southwark even now
Just keep covered and you're all
right" And, barring growl or two
from favored old hands who sought
to make the captain take his own
medicine and himself keep covered
the answer was full of cheer.
""send six of your men over to the
south front, sergeant" were Rays or,
ders to Winsor, as he hurried over to
join Clayton again. "They may try
one final charge from that side, and
give us chance to empty few
more saddles" Creeping and crouch,
ing through the timber, the chosen
men obeyed, and were assigned to
stations under Clayton's eye. The
precaution was wise, indeed, for, just
| as the captain foresaw, a rally in
force began far out over the south
ward slopes, the Indians gathering in
great numbers about some chieftain
midway between the coming force
and the still beleagured defenders Of
the grove. Then, brandishing lance
and shield and rife, as before, they
began spreading out across the prai-
RE, heading now for the cottonwoods,
while others still faced and fired on
the far blue skirmish line The fierce
wind, sweeping across the direction
hoof or war chant, but there was no
mistaking the signs, no doubt Of the
intent. when, in little moment more,
the earth began to tremble beneath
the dancing pony feet, telling, almost
with the swiftness of sight, that the
grand advance had begun. But other
eyes were watching, too. Other sol
diers, keen campaigners as these at
the Elk, were there afeld, and almost
at the moment the wild barbaric
hoard burst yelling into their eager
gallop, and before the dust cloud hid
the distant slopes beyond, the exult-
ant shout went up from the captains
lips, as he threw down his glass and
grabbed his carbine, Its all right,
men! The majors at their heels.
New let 'em have it,"
Now, with heavier losses than had
befallen Wayne in '76, Rays command
beheld with almost tranquil hearts
the coming of the fierce array in final
charge. Behind them, not two miles,
to be sure, rode in swift, well-ordered
pursuit, the long line of comrade
troopers. But there had been inter-
vening years of campaign experiences
that dulled to a degree the earlier
enthusiasms of , the soldier, and
taught at least the assumption of pro-
fessional composure that was the Sc
cret wonder of the sucking trooper,
and that became his chief ambition
to acquire. It is one thing to charge
home at hard-fghting command when
friends and comrades back the effort
and cheer the charging line. It is an
other chargers are coming at ones
heels. Magnificent as spectacle,
therefore, this closing dash of Lame
VOLTS warriors was but a meek re-
hinder of their earlier attack. Long
before they came within 400 yards of
the leafy stronghold-the moment, in
deed, the brown Springfelds began
their spiteful bark-to right and left
the warriors veered, far out on either
flank. Screeching and yelling as was
their savage way, they tore madly by,
hattened out against their ponies
necks, and, those who could use their
arms at all, pumping wild shots that
wh1stled harmless over the heads of
the defenders and bit the blackened
prairie many rod beyond. Only jeers
rewarded the stirring spectacle-jeers
and few low-aimed, sputtering vol
leys that brought other luckless
ponies to their knees and sprawled a
few red riders. But in less than five
minutes from the warning cry that
hailed their coming, Lame Wolf and
his hosts were lining Elk Tooth ridge
and watching with burning hate and
vengeful eyes the swift ,steady advance
of Webb's long blue fighting line, and
the utter unconcern of the defense
Even before the relieving squadron
was within carbine range certain of
Rays men had scrambled out upon
the northward bank and, pushing for
ward upon the prairie, were possess
ing themselves of the arms and orna-
ments of the two dead warriors whom
the Sioux had striven in vain to reach
and bear within their lines. Ray and
Clayton at the moment were strolling
placidly forth upon the southwark
''fench" to receive and welcome the
little knot of comrades sent galloping
in advance to greet them. There was
perhaps just a suspicion of exaggerat-
ed nonchalance about their gait and
bearing-a regimental weakness, pos
sibly-and no other officer save Lieut..
Field happened to be within earshot
when Winsor's voice on the other
front was heard in hoarse commands:
Come back there, you fellows!
Back, or you're goners!''