Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1907-11-21

90
directly toward those dangerous pam
q white smoke. the turkeys hopping
BY his sides. and at the top Of The
next blum he nearly fell on his horso
from sheer fright. Coming to meet
him, heller SHELTER. save who save can,
came band of Indians in fun retreat,
With bullets popping among them
right and left. They were as startled
y was Ned. His white face doubtless
led them to believe that q party Of
white men were cutting them %.
Without shot they turned and ned
right and left; utterly scattered save
one, q huge man with huge war bon
net. He was apparently mad with
rage and came swooping down on Ned.
The instinct of self-preservation. rath-
ct than reason, made the lad raise his
shotgun to his shoulder and fire, al.
though no bullet, but mere buckshot
was in his cartridges. Dimly the boy
saw something had happened and
heard the Indian scream with pain,
and again heard the commanding Of
lcer's voice shout: Cease firing!"
The Old Cavalry Horse.
His horse swept on, through the
lines If amazed soldiers, and at last,
With every manifestation Of delight,
ranged quietly up behind the men, BY
the side of the horses. left riderless IN
charge of few soldiers, whose CONF
rades had dismounted to fight ON foot.
Ned rolled on his apparently insane
hbrse, and sat, with dizzy head. seeing
nothing clearly, until tall man with
lsabre stood in front Of him and
Looked stenly at the boy.
f.Who-on earth are your" he said.
The idea of charging right into the
teeth OF our fire."
"Please, SIR" said Ned, very much
frightened at the look or the big
s3bre, Il didn't mean to. Badly ran
away with me-"
THE officer broke into smile, and
lifted the boy to his feet, and sheathed
hts sabre.
|"It's lucky you were not killed. he
said. Tell me how It all came about.
Db you know you knocked an Indian
Of his pony that one Of my men are
Bringing prisoner"
IaOh! Please. SIR" cried Ned, turn
Ing white. "Is he killed? Oh! really
didn't mean to-"
That's all right my boy. He was
you've ended our mission for M. A
few Wild young braves jumped the re-
serve, and we were chasing them
back. Now, he's out Of the way, the
others will scatter home and BE-
quiet. So you see you've earned all
the honors Of the campaign"
4The beggar's sound enough" said
bright young officer coming up.
Hell probably be blind. though. He
got that Wild shot full In the face"
The two officers turned to Ned then
ana questioned him, and with boyish
innocence he told them allabout
their hardships, his fathers sickness.
his mothers WEAKNESS and worry,
and little Loo's desire for q Thanks
giving turkey. AZ he concluded .
smiling sergeant led up Ned's horse.
"It's our old Badly, SIR" he said.
I'VE had him when the troop was In
Wyoming. and he was condemned and
sold. Here's the u. G. brand on him
yet. He ran, of course, when he heard
the hugle, and ranged alongside like
the veteran he is"
The men crowded round the old
xx,{&1S 4o1xna AL
caresses, but Ned looked at him in dis
may.
MY turkeys!" he cried
They were gone, thrown on In that
wild charge, and Ned broke down and
burst into tears, thinking Of poor dis
appointed Loo. But the captain sent
two horsemen over the way the boy
had come. and they brought them
back safely. So that was all right and
much more, for the young oficer. who
was doctor, had some quinine In his
saddlebags, ard showed Ned the way
home In triumph. and there he doc
tored the boys father and made him
comfortable. 20 that they got home 70
Texas safely.
The dinner that night was very
fashionable. II the time they ate Il
counts for anything. for It was >
o'clock before the turkey was cooked.
But" said Loo, cuddling gratefully
against Ned, 1T wouldn't It couldn't,
have been Thanksgiving day with only
fapjacks. Could it, now?'
Poor Loo.