Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-03-13

<, mettlesome ponies capering and danc' ing in their eagerness. Chanting in
 chorus some shrill, weird song, the
 line was now slowly, steadily ad-
 vancing, still too far away to warrant
 the wasting of a shot, yet unmistak-
 ably seeking to close as much as pos
 sible before bursting in with the l, final charge.
 And still the red leader sat at 1 gaze, oblivious for the moment of
 everything around him, ignoring the
 coming of orders possibly from Lame
 Wolf himself. Suddenly the silver armlets once more gleamed on high. Then, clapping the palm of his right hand to his mouth, Red Fox gave voice to ringing war whoop, fierce, saw age and exultant, and, almost at the | instant, like the boom and rumble 1 that follows some vivid lightning flash, the prairie woke and trembled to the thunder of near thousand hoofs. From every point of the com pass-from every side, yelling like fiends of some orthodox hell, down they came-the wild warriors of the frontier in furious rush upon the si- lent and almost peaceful covert of this little band of brothers in the dusty garb of blue. One, two, three hundred yards they came, centering On the leafy clump of cottonwoods, riding at tearing gallop, erect, de- liant, daring at the start, and giving full voice to their wild war cry. Then bending forward, crouching low, then fattening out like hunted squirrel, for as the foremost in the dash came laundering on within good carbine range, all on sudden the watch dogs of the little plains fort began to bark. Tiny jets of flame and smoke shot from the level of the prairie, from over dingy mounds of sand, from be- hind the trunks of stunted trees, from low parapet of log or leather. Then the entire grove seemed yelling itself in drifting film of blue, the whole charging circle to crown itself with a dun cloud of dust that swept eastward over the prairie, driven by the stiff, unhampered breeze. The welkin rang with savage yell, with answering cheer, with the sputter and crackle of rife and revolver, the loud below of Springfield, and then, still yelping, the feathered riders veered and circled, ever at magnificent speed, each man for himself, apparently, yet all guided and controlled by some un- seen, yet acknowledged, power; and, in five minutes, save, where some hap less pony lay quivering and kicking on the turf, the low ground close at hand was swept clean of horse or man. The wild attack had been made in vain. The Sioux were scampering back, convinced, but not discomfted Some few of their number. borne away stunned and bleeding, by com rade hand from underneath their stricken chargers-some three or four, perhaps, who had dared too much-were closing their eyes on the last fight of their savage lives.
 To Ray and to many of his men it was all an old story. Stabber would never have counseled or permitted attack on seasoned troopers, fighting behind even improvised shelter. Something, perhaps, had occurred to blind his younger rival to the peril of such assault, and now, as three or four little parties were seen slowly drifting away toward the ridge, bur- dened by some helpless form, other couriers came laundering down at Red Fox, and wild excitement pre- vailed among the Elk Teeth. More signals were flashing. More Indians came popping into view, their feathered bonnets streaming in the rising wind, and about the prairie wave, where the savage general had established field headquarters, fu- Iious conference was going on. Stab- Der had again interposed, and with grim but hopeful eyes, Ray and his fellows watched and noted. Every lull in the fight was so much gain for them
 Twelve fifty-two," said the dark eyed commander, swinging his watch into the pocket of his hunting shirt, and sliding backward into the stream bed. 'All serene so far. Watch things on this front. Field, while make the rounds and see how we came out"
 "All serene so far" it was! Not a man hurt. Two of the sorrels had been hit by flying bullets and much amazed and stung thereat, but neither was crippled. Bidding their guards to dig for water that might soon be needed. Ray once more made his way to the northward side and rejoined Field and winsor.
 In an almost cloudless sky of steely blue the sun had just passed the me ridian and was streaming hotly down on the stirring picture. Northward ihe ridge line and. .the long, gradual slope seemed alive with swarms of Indian warriors. many of them dart ing about in wild commotion. About the little eminence where Stabber and the Fox had again locked horns in violent altercation. as many as hum dred braves had gathered. About the middle knob. from whose summit mirror flashes shot from time to time. was still another cOncourse, hs- tening. apparently, to the admoni- tions of leader but recently arrived, 2 ehieftain mounted on an American horse. almost black, and Ray studied ihe pair long and curiousIy through his glasses. Lame Wolf, probably" said he. but the distance was too great to enable him to be certain. What puzzled him more than any shf1,er rxaz &la anna re0f dfrisi0r1 of