The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-12-02

stronger with every moment, as the
sunwarmed strata over the wide, bill
lowing surface sought higher levels,
and the denser, cooler current from
the west came rushing down. And
now all sounds of the debate were
whisked away toward the breaks of
the old South Cheyenne and it was no
longer possible for old Sioux cam
paigners to catch a word of the dis.
cussion. The leaves of the cotton
woods whistled in the rising gale, and
every time pony crossed the stream
bed and clambered the steep banks
out to the west, little clouds of dun
colored dust came sailing toward the
grove, scattered and spent, however,
far from the lair of the defense.
But, while the discussion seemed
endless among the Indians on the
northward side, never for moment
was the vigilance of the circle re-
Taxed. South, east and west the
slopes and lowlands were dotted with
| restless horsemen, and from young
Clayton came the word that through
his glass he could make out three or
four warriors far away toward the
Moccasin ridge. chats good" said
Ray. ut means that they, too, are
looking for column coming out from
Frayne. But where on earth did all
these rascals come from? There
must be 400 now in sight"
Well might he ask and marvel!
stabber's little village had never
more than so warriors. Lame VOLTS
band was counted at less than $40
fighting men, and these, so said the
| agents of the omniscient bureau,
were all the Ogallalas away from the
shelter of the reservation when the
trouble started. No more should be
allowed to go, was the confident
promise, yet a fortnight nearly had
elapsed since the frontier fun be-
gan. News of battle sweeps with
marvellous speed through Indian
haunted lands, and here were war
riors by the score, come to strength
en- the hands of kindred in the field,
and, more were coming. The mirror
signals plainly told them that. Yet it
was well nigh one o'clock and not an
other hostile move was made. Fox
then was being held by stronger
hands. 1t meant that Lame Wolf
had listened to reason-and Stabber,
and would permit no fresh attack un-
til his numbers should be so in
creased. that resistance would prac-
tically be vain. 1t meant even more
that the Indian leader in. Chief COM
mand felt sure no force was yet
within helping distance of the cor
raled troopers. He could, therefore,
take his time.
But this was a theory Ray would
not whisper to his men. lie knew
Webb. He knew Webb would soon
read the signs from the nortl. and be
coming to his relief, and hay was
right. Even as he reasoned there
came message from across the
grove. Lieutenant Clayton said the
Indians he had seen away to the
south were racing back. "Thank
God!" was the murmured answer no
man heard. "Now lads, be ready."
was the ringing word that reused the
little troop, like bugle call ste arms"
And even as eager faces lifted over
the low parapets to sean the distant
foe, fresh signals came flashing down
from the northward ridga. fresh
bands of warriors came daAting to
join the martial throng about the
still wrangling chieftains, and then,
all of sudden, with mighty yelling
and shrill commotion, thai savage
council burst asunder, and, riding at
speed, a dozen braves went flashing
away to the westward side, while with
fierce brandishing of arms and shields
and much curveting and prancing of
excited ponies, the wild battle lines
were formed again. The Sioux were
coming for the second trial.
Meet them as before! Make ev-
cry shot tell" were the orders passed
from man to man and heard and
noted amidst the whistling IF the
wind and the sounds of scurry and
commotion at the front. Then, 81
lent and crouching low, the soldiers
showed the brown barrels of their
carbines forth again and waited.
And then the grim silence of the little
fortress was broken, as, with start
ling, sudden force there went up
shot from the westward side:
MY God, boys, they're setting fire
to the prairie!"
Ray sprang to his feet and gazed.
Away out to the west and southwest,
whence came the strong breeze blow
ing from the SweeJwater hills, half
dozen dark, agile forms, bending
low, were scudding afoot over the
sward. and everywhere they moved
there sprang up in their tracks little