Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-08-14

mo, Charley" Mr.. Hardy said as he
reloaded his rifle; "wait till they are four
hundred yards off, then fire slowly. Count
ten between each shot, and take as steady
an aim as possible. Now! Well done,
two more of the scoundrels down. Steady,
Hubert, you missed that time there,
that's better"
The Indians yelled with rage and aston
ishment as man after man dropped be-
fore the steady and, to them, mysterious
fire which was kept up upon them. Still
they did not abate the rapidity of their
charge.
Done, papa" Charley said, as the two
boys simultaneously fred their last shot,
when the leading Indians were about two
hundred and fifty yards distant.
Change your chambers and mount"
Mr. Hardy said as he again took aim
with his rifle.
The enemy was not more than hun
dred and fifty yards distant when lhey
leaped into their saddles and started at
gallop.
Steady, boys, keep your horses well III
hand. Never mind their balls; they could
no more hit a man at this distance from
the back Of a horse than they could fly.
There is no chance Of their catching us; ;
there won't be many horses faster than
ours, and ours are good deal fresher.
Keep a good lookout for holes"
Both pursuers and pursued were now
going over the ground at a tremendous
pace. The Indians had ceased firing, for
most of those who had guns had discharg-
thpm bnI
mounted, and 1t was impossible to load
at the speed at which they were going.
During the first mile of the chase Mr.
Hardy had looked round several times,
and had said each time: I'VE are holding
our own, boys; they are a good hundred
yards behind; keep your horses in hand"
AT the end Of another mile his face
frightened as he looked round. 'All
right, boys; they are failing off fast.
Three-Quarters of them have stopped al
ready. There are not above a score Of
the best mounted anywhere near us. An
other mile and we will give them les
son"
The mile was soon traversed. and Mr..
Hardy saw that only about twelve In
ddns had maintained their distance.
Now is the time. boys. When ] say
halt, draw up and jump off, but take very
steady aim always at the nearest. Don't
throw away shot. They are only nun
dred yards off, and the revolvers will tell.
Don't try to use the second chamber;
there is no time for that. Use your p;s-
tolls when you have emptied your car
bines. Halt"
Not five seconds elapsed after the word
was spoken before Charley's carbine
rang out. Then came the sharp cracks
Of the carbines and pistols in close sue
cession. The Indians hesitated at the tre-
n,endous fire which was opened upon
them, then halted. The delay was fatal
to them. In little over half minute the
eighteen shots had been fired. Five In
dians lay upon the plain; another, evil
IDENTIFY q chief, had been carried off across
the saddle Of one of his followers, who
had leaped off when he saw him fall;
and two others were evidently wounded
ald had difficulty in keeping their seats.
Now boys, change your chambers and
take shot or two after them," Mr.. Har-
dy said, as he again reloaded his rifle.
The boys, however, found by the time
they were ready that the flying Indians
were beyond any fair chance of hitting;
but their father took a long and steady
alu with his deadly rifle and upon its re-
port horse and man went down. But
the rider was in an insthant upon his feet
again, soon caught one of the ridarless
horses which had galloped off with his
companions, and followed his comrades.
well done, boys" Mr.. Hardy said,
with hearty pat on their shoulders.
You have done gallantly for a first fight,
and l feel proud of you"
Both boys colored with pleasure.
How many have we killed?"
II think seven fell at our first attack,
papa, and six here, counting the one they
carried of, besides wounded"
Thirteen. 1t is enough to make them
heartily wish themselves back. Now let
us give the horses ten minutes rest, and
then we will stir them up again. We
must not lose time; it will be sunset in
another three-quarters of an hour"
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