Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-09-03
CHAPTER XIII.

the failure OF their second attempt
would be putting it far too mildly.
The fierce charge from the northward
side, made under cover of the blind
ing smoke sent drifting by the gale
across the level flats, had been pushed
so close that two red braves and
half dozen ponies had met their
death within 60 PAGES of the rifle pits.
There lay the bodies now, and the
Indians dare not attempt to reach
them. The dread, wind-driven flame
of the prairie fire, planned by the
Sioux to burn out the defense, to
serve, as their ally, had been turned
to their grave detriment. Ray and
his devo,ed men had stopped the
sweep of so much of the confagration
as threatened their little stronghold
but, ranging unhampered elsewhere
the seething wall rolled on toward the
east, spreading gradually toward its
fanks, and so, not only consuming
vast acres of bunch grass, but check
ing the attack that should have been
made from the entire southern half
of the Indian circle. Later, leaping
the sandy stream bed a little to the
west of the cottonwoods, it spread in
wild career over a huge tract along
the left bank, and now, reuniting with
the southern wing some distance
down the valley, was roaring away
to the bluffs of the Mini Pusa, leaving
death and desolation in its track.
Miles to the east the war parties from
the reservation, riding to join Lame
Wolf, sighted the black curtain of
smoke, swift sailing over the prairie,
and changed their course accordingly.
Not so many miles away to the south
Webb's slrmishers, driving before
them three or four Sioux scouts
from the northward slope of the
Moccasin Ridge, set spurs to their
horses and took the gallop, the main
body following on. .
With then eyelids blistered bT
heat and smoke, Rays silent, deter
mined little band could see moth
ing of the coming force, yet knew
relief was nigh; for, close at hand,
both east and west, large bodies of
the enemy could be seen swift riding
away to the north.
They had hoped, as Fox had planned
and promised, to burn out and over
whelm the little troop at the grove
before the column from Frayne
could possibly reach the spot. They
had even anticipated the probable
effort of the command to check the
flames, and had told off some so
braves to open concentric fire on any
party that should rush into the open
with that object in view. They had
thought to send in such a storm of
lead, even from long range, that it
should daunt and drive back those
who had dared the attempt. They
had stormed indeed, but could
neither daunt nor drive back Rays
men had braved death itself in the
desperate essay, and, even in dying
had won the day.
But their losses had been cruel
Three killed outright; three dying
and eight more or less severely
wounded had reduced their fighting
strength to nearly 30. The guards
of the sorrels, herded in the stream
bed, had all they could do to CON
many of them hit, several of them
felled, by the plunging fire from the
far hillsides. Even though driven
back, the Sioux never meant to give
up the battle. On every side, leav-
ing their ponies at safe distance, by
dozens the warriors crawled forward
snallelike to the edge of the burned
and blacllened surface, and from
there poured in rapid and most
harassing fire, compelling the de-
fense to lie fiat OF burrow further,
and wounding many horses. The half
hour that followed the repulse of
their grand assault had been sOrely
trying to the troop. for the wounded
needed aid, more men were hit, and
there was no chance whatever to hit
back. Moving from point to point,
Ray carried cheer and courage on
every side, yet was so constantly eX-
posed as to cause his men fresh anx-
iety. Even as he was bending over
Field bullet had nipped the right
shoulderstrap, and later another had
torn through the crown of his cam
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 vapor
with the same old cheer and conf
dence. 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 a 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 a chance to empty Il few
more saddles" Creeping and crouch
| ing through the timbe., the chosen
lncn obeycd, ana We're assigned to