The Yale expositor., 1907-10-18
CHAPTER |.
Hampton, of Placer.


II was not an uncommon tragedy OF
the west. If slightest chronicle OF II
survive. it must be discovered among
the musty and nearly forgotten rec
ords of the Eighteenth regiment of in
fantry.
Yet the tale is worth telling now,
when such days are past and gone.
There were 16 of them when, like so
many hunted rabbits, they were first
securely trapped among the frowninS
rocks. and forced relentlessly back
ward from off the narrow trail until
the precipitous canyon walls finally
halted their disorganized flight, and
from sheer necessity compelled rally
in hopeless battle SiXteen,-ten in
fantrymen from old Fort Bethune, un-
der command of sgd. Wyman a gray
headed sergeant of 80 years continu-
GUS service in the regulars, two cow
punchers from the "XL' ranch,
stranger who had joined them unin-
vited at the ford over the Bear Water,
together with old ellis, the post
trader. and his silent chit of a girl.
Sixteen-but that was three days be-
fore, and in the meanwhile not few
Of those speeding Sioux bullets had |
found softer billet than the limestone !
rocks. Six of the soldiers, four al |
ready dead, two dying, lay out
stretched in CHASTITY silence where they |
fell.
Then the taciturn ellis gave sud- |
den utterance to a sobbing cry, and a
burst of red spurted across his white
beard as he reeled backward, knock
ing the girl PROSTATE when he fell.
Eight remained, one helpless, one
mere lass of 10. 1t was the morning
of the third day.
The beginning of the affair had burst
upon them so suddenly that no two in
that stricken company would have
told the same tale None among them
had anticipated trouble.
In all the fancied security of I'M
questioned peace these chance trav-
elers had slowly toiled along the steep
trail leading toward the foothills.
ellis and the girl, as well as the two
Cattleherders, were on horseback; the
remainder soberly trudged forward on
foot, with guns slung to their Shout
ders. Wyman was somewhat in ad-
vance. walking beside the stranger
the latter man of uncertain age,
smoothly shaver, quietly dressed in
garments bespeaking an eastern tailor,
bit grizZled Of hair along the tenn
Ules. and possessing a pair of cool,
gray eyes. He had introduced himself
bv the name of Hampton, but had vol
unteered no further information, nor
was it customary in that country to
question impertinently.
Hampton, through the medium OF
easy conversation, early discovered in
the sergeant an intelligent mind, pos
sessing some knowledge of literature.
They had been discussing books with
rare enthusiasm, and the former had
drawn from the cOncealment OF an
inner pocket a diminutive copy of The
Merchant of Venice" from which he
was reading aloud a disputed passage
when the faint trail they followed sud
denly dipped into the yawning mouth
Of black canyon. 1t was narrow
gloomy, contracted gorge, mere gasf
between those towering hills shadow
ing it's depths on either hand. swift
mountain stream, noisy and clear az
crystal. dashed from rock to rock close
beside the more northern wall, while
the ill-defined pathway, strewn will
powders and guarded. by underbrush
chung to the opposite side, where Low
scrub trees partially obscured tn
view.
All was silent as death when the,
IaI no aHUanPal
a short hundred PAGES when those al
parently bare rocks in front fiame
red the narrow defile echoed to viii
screeches and became instantly crowC
cd with weird, leaping figures. 1t wa
like a plunge from heaven into hel
blaine and Endicott sank at the frs
fire. while Wyman's stricken arr
dripped blood. Indeed, under tha
sudden shock, he fell, and was barel
rescugl ~ the prompt action OF tn
man beside him. Dropping the opene
hook. and firing madly to left an
right with a revolver which appeare
10 spring into his hand as by magi
the latter coolly dragged the faintir
soldier across the more exposed spac
until the two found partial securi
among a mass of loosened rocks lite
ing the base of the precipice ii
others who survived that first score
ing discharge also raced toward tn
same shelter. impelled thereto by &
unerring instinct of border fightir
and flinging themselves fiat behi
protecting powders, began respondi
20 the hot fire rained upon them.
Scattered and hurried as these III
volleys were. they proved sufficient
check the bowling demons in the OPP
II has never been Indian nature
face unprotected the aim of the VIII
men. and those dark figures, wh
only a moment before thronged
narrow gorge, leaping crafty In
riot OF apparent victory, sudde
melted from sight, Sinking down !
Ieafy coverts beside the stream or l
holes among the rocks, like SO ms