The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-06-24
FIRE SHORT STORY

smiled grimly and TESTED at his de-
lirium.
Then came the relapse and again
he lay tossing in the burning grasp
of fever With clatter of hoofs
horse, its TANKS dripping blood
where the teeth of the spurs had biz
ten, stopped, painting, before the
majors quarters. A ranchman fell
from the saddle Quickly he was
carried into the room, and a glance
showed that a bullet had crushed his
left elbow. Brandy was forced be-
tween his lips.
"The Sioux" he gasped. They've
burned Wilson's ranch and murdered
them all. l broke through; they're
making for the hills" and he faint
ed again.
Rolling and muttering on his bed,
Sergeant Terence McGinnis was
brought suddenly upright by the
sharp notes of the bugler's boots"
and Saddles" Then he lay back
dSdills III lllC dllGuudUI was NdJCu-
ing him. A moment later the "as-
semblyy sounded, and a look of cum.
ming came into the sick mans eyes
as the hospital orderly ran out to
see the cause of the trouble.
The troop was three miles away
when the captain, glancing back, saw
Siuht
wind was a figure clad in white. Rap
idly he gained on the troop, and q
murmur from the ranks announced
the arrival of Sergeant Terry McGin-
mis-, hatless, barefooted, robed only
in his underclothes, with his side
arms buckled about his waist
For Gods sake, Terry, go back"
shouted the captain, as McGinnis gal
Hoped to his side and saluted.
The fever was burning the sec-
geants cheeks a livid red, and an un-
natural brightness was in his eyes.
81 must go with the troop, cap
tain" he replied, and his laugh was
broken with the shivering of fever
as he took his old place in the col
umn.
Onward they rode, McGinnis sit
ting his saddle as firmly as of old
BY the middle of the afternoon they
had found their quarry and opened
the fight The Sioux were in greater
numbers than had been expected. and
the troopers dismounted and took
shelter behind the boulders.
The tide of battle was turning, the
reds were beginning to press them,
and a rider was sent back to the fort
for reinforcements. Sergeant Nc
Ginnis fired steadily from his impro.
vised breastworks. Suddenly he
dropped his carbine and, raising his
head, peered long and intently at a
brave who had ridden out from his
fellows and was dashing along a few
hundred yards distant, shouting de.
fiance.
Great Cod" The captains face
blanched, and a murmur of horror
ran along the line behind the rocks
Sergeant McGinnis had sprung to
his horse and was charging straight
for the warrior who had defied the
men of the service. A shrill, un-
earthly howl escaped his lips as he
drew his saber and pressed his bare
heels into the barrel of his mount.
The troop, stung to desperation by
the spectacle, waited not for orders
but rushed for their horses and
swept after him in mad, disorgan-
lied charge.
The onrushing torrent Of horses
and men and steel led by the strange
looking specter in white struck ter
ror to the souls of the Sioux and
they turned to escape but raging
death swept into their midst and en-
quilted them in a cloud of blue.
When it was over, the captain rode
in search of Sergeant McGinnis. He
was lying PROSTATE across the body
of the chief whom he had sought
The skull of the Sioux was cleft 10
the chin by the saber of McGnnls,
but his own hfe's blood was ebbing
from a jagged wound in his breast,
The captain lifted his head to his
knee and held canteen to his lips.
'Tve-found him-captain," he
gasped, Turn him - over - and
, you'll-see."
With his foot the captain turned
over the Sioux. One ear was miss
V ing, and a hideous scar extend .
u along one side of his face,
Il Sergeant McGinnis looked up an,
o smiled through the mists of death.
! "Thank God, sir, my horse didn'
eLl...-l,ln liz IlrnnLl