Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-03-12
CHAPTER XI.


 of all!"
 CHAPTER XI.
 The monday sun was staring hotly
 down, an hour later, on 8 stirring
 picture of frontier warfare, with that
 clump of cottonwoods as the central
 feature. We'll for Rays half hun
 dred, that brilliant autumn morning,
 that their leader had had so many a
 year of , Indian campaigning! He
 now seemed to know by instinct
 every scheme of his savage foe and
 to act accordingly. Ever since the
 command had come in sight of the
 Elk Tooth the conviction had been
 growing on Ray that Stabber must have received many accessions and was counting on the speedy coming
 of others. >The signal smokes across the wide valley; the frequent essays to tempt his advance guard to charge and chase; the boldness with which the Indians showed on front and flank; the daring pertinacity with which they chung to the stream bed for the sake of few shots at the foremost troopers, relying, evidently, on the array of their comrades be- yond the ridge to overwhelm any force that gave close pursuit; the fact that other Indians opened on the advance guard and the left flank CTS, and that a dozen, at least, tore away out of the sandy arroyo the moment they saw the line start at the gallop-all these had tended to convince the captain that now, at last, when he was miles from home and succor, the Sioux stood ready in abundant force to give him despers ate battle. es.
 To dart on in chase of the three warriors would simply result in the scattering of his own people and their being individually cut off and strick- en down by circling swarms of their red foes. To gather his men and at- tempt to force the passage of the Elk Tooth ridge meant certain de struction of the whole command. The Sioux would be only too glad to scurry away from their front and let them through, and then in big circle whirl all about him, pouring in a concentric fire that would De sure to hit some, at least, exposed as they would be on the open prairie, while their return shots, radiating wildly at the swift-darting warriors, would be almost as sure to miss. He would soon be weighted down with wounded, refusing to leave them to be butchered; unable, therefore, to move in any direction, and so com pelled to keep up shelterless, hope less fight until, one by one, he and his gallant fellows fell, pierced by Indian lead, and sacrificed to the scalping knife as were Custer's 300 a decade before.
 No, Ray knew too much of from tier strategy to be so caught. There stood the little grove of dingy green, a prairie fortress, if one knew how to use it. There in the sand of the stream bed, by digging, were they sure to find water for the wounded, if wounded there had to be. There by the aid of few hastily thrown intrenchments he could have a little plains fort and be ready to repel even an attack in force. Horses could be herded in the depths of the sandy shadows. Men could be distributed in big circle through the trees and along the bank; and, with abundant rations in their haversacks and water to be had for the digging, they could hold out like heroes until relief should come from the south.
 Obviously, therefore, the cotton wood grove was the place, and thither at laundering charge Field led the foremost line, while Ray waved on the second, all hands cheer ing with glee at sight of the Sioux iarting wildly away up the north ward slope. Ten men in line, far ex- tended, were sent right forward half way across the flats, ordered to drive the Indians from the bottom and cripple as many as possible; but, if menaced by superior numbers, to fall back at the gallop, keeping well away from the front of the grove, SO that the fire of its garrison might not be masked" The ten had dart d after the scurrying warriors, full half way to the beginning of the dope, and then, just as Ray had pre- iicted, down came a cloud of bril- iant foemen. seeking to swallow the title ten alive. Instantly their ser yeant leader whirled them about and, the way, led them in wide :ircle, horses well in hand. back to he dry wash, then down into its andy depths. Here esery trooper Iprsng from saddle, and with the -ein looped on the left arm, and rom the shelter of the straight. stiff 'anks, opened sharp fire on their ,ursuers. just as Clayton's platoon. Iismountins at the grove, sprsng to he nearest cover and joined in the ierce elsmor of carbines- Racing IOwn the slope at top speed as were he Sioux. they could not all at once heck the way of their nimble mounts. and the srdor of the chase Isd carried them far down to the lsts before the fierce erackle began hen it was thrilling to watch them, eerinz. circEing. sweeping to right r left. ever at furious esIlop. throw ns their 1.-the. painted bodies behind heir chargers neckz. eIinsing with l ne leg and arm. barely showing % nuch ss sn eyeIid- yet yelPing and ! ereechinx Ike % nsuy coyotes, not