The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1910-01-20
massacre Of the harsh voiced father
aud stepmotl,er. there had been little

so we'll as YOU have. Charlie" she said
though not quite accustomed to it
you have scarcely slept at all since
we've been IN the cave. and you have
kept us laughing most of the time with
your funny taIk.''
done fairly well as rank and Gle
man." he interrupted gayIy. "Ot
course don't think | lack nerve OF
endurance. It's only that need q
leader with drawn sword. Now what
shall we do? ~
He was moving toward the entrance
as he spoke. and with the last word
there came duh thud. followed by a
sharp report. A bullet had tlattened
against the rock near his head. Gertie
caught his arm and drew him back.
Here" she cried. snatching his hat
swiftly and replacing 1t upon the muz-
zle of his rifle. ''They will not suspect
the old trick. as they have just seen
you moving. Now
She pushed the muzzle of his rifle
toward the entrance. so the hat could
he seen from below.
Almost instantly there were two
more thuds and reports. and this time
the bullets passed through the hat and
then tiattencd against the rock.
''That empires their guns" the girl
cried. Il know they have no rifles
from the way they have been firing.
Wait. Let me shoot. I have had more
practice than you.'
She slipped by him to the cave
opening. where she dropped ut full
length in order to use the rifle with
her uninjured arm.
Below she could see three Indians
hurrying toward the cave. Evidently
they had remained behind. hiding in
some crevicc in hope of the besieged
coming forth when the main body
rode away.
Relieving their bullets had pierced
/ the head they thought inside the hat
and thus deprived the cave of one of
its few defenders. they were rushing
forward to complete the work before
following the main body.
Gertie recognized with a sudden feel
ing of cXultation that the middle In
dian was the one she had seen giving
directions all through the siege. owl
IDENTIFY the chief. With him gone the
danger would very likely be over.
There We're a quick fash and re-
port. and then she slipped back into
the cave.
II shot him through the hip" she
explained in answer to their inquiring
looks. I'll don't like to really kill
any one. but lie won't fight again. He
was the chief, so they could not leave
him. They are carrying him to their
ponies now. which they have conceal.
ed somewhere. don't think they will
trouble us any more"
But she was mistaken. Maddenpd
by the loss of one of their number, the
two other Indians, after taking him to
cover. were seen looking up at the cave
and talking TO each other. evidently
celebrating upon 4 new plan of ut,
tack. They We're aware that the par
ty was not strong, but they had no
heart for making an attack upon them.
intrenched as they were in so strong
position. They wished to circurn-
vent them. Presently by their pan,o-
mime the besieged discovered that they
had arrived at conclusion. Then they
were seen gathering wood.
"Great heavens!' exclaimed Charlie.
They're going to try to burn or smoke
us out-'
81 don't think they will succeed"
said Gertie calmly.
"Why:" asked Rob.
"They must get above us and drop
the frebrands down before the mouth
of the cave. There is only one path by
which they can climb. and down there
to the left we can see a dozen feet of
it. They must pass that point to get
above us. and unless we miss them we
can shoot them"
"They may make a quick dash," said
Kate. who was fast losing her equa-
nimity.
Il can do one of them" said Charlie,
"and l know Gertie can do the other"
1t was half an hour before the In
dams had gathered wood sufficient to
make the attempt. Then they disap-
peared. The besieged got ready to
drop them as they passed the open
space where they could be seen. Ger
trude and Charlie each took a rife, lev.
eled 1t on 81 rest with the muzzle point
ed to the space. knowing that they
would have but a few moments in
which TO fire. Presently an Indian,
covering his side with the wood, shot
out into the open. Gertrude's rife
cracked. and he limped back. She had
shot him in the foot.
They waited some time for the other
man, but the next they saw Of him he
was helping his companion away.
''Now what shall we do?" asked
Charlie Elson. some Of the old depres-
sion returning to his voice. 'Our wag-
on is burned. aud all the horses are car
ried OF except the two which got away
and ran across the plain. l think
maybe they will come back to us when