The Meeker herald., 1911-09-23

Meanwhile the Indians had changed
their tactics. They were concentrat-
ing on their center preparatory to
charging the wagon. 1t was plain to
the whites that they were lost. In
quick dash Of the Indians some Of
them might be killed or disabled. but
there would be plenty left to tona-
hawk their enemies. The fathers
voice trembled as be said:
.Let US die hard"
But ut that moment 4 surprise oc-
G. . 4 to both whites and redsklns.
The former heard 4 crack behind
them, and the latter saw q pu6 Of
smoke on the crest. One Of the In
dams fell dead. Fuckers instead Of
fring again from the sumo spot scram-
bled to a point few yards to bis
right and from there sent another bull
let. without waiting to see what dam
are be had done he moved and fired
again.
The Indians paused In their advance
Fuckers had produced already the i'm
preston that there were at least sew
eral persons on the crest, and since he
kept up q Ore from different points
was impossible for the savages to tell
how many there were In this re-en-
forcement.
Equally interested In Fuckers were
the party directly beneath him. They
were casting quick glances over their
shoulders. hoping to SEQ a party OF
armed whites come over the crest to
their assistance. But when Fuckers
called to them to keep up their hre.
that he was alone. there was disap-
pointment. But there was hope. The
father, seeing the advantage Of Ruck-
ers' strategy. encouraged his family. at
the same time admonishing them not
to fire except at an especial redskin.
But by this time the Indians lad be-
taken themselves behind slight rise
in the ground. where they remained
out Of sight. They had evidently
withdrawn for consultation or with a
view to getting the strength of their
new enemy. Fuckers and the whites
below also ceased to fire since they
could do no damage. Fuckers called
to their commander. suggesting that 1t
might be well to direct one Of the
party to crawl through the cactus to
the crest; TINT by firing from different
points Mt the same time the two above
might further make It appear that
there were not more than one person
there.
1t appeared to the father that who
ever succeeded in separating himself
from the party might have better
chance for his life. and. desiring to
give this advantage to his daughter.
he directed her to do as Fuckers had
suggested. The redskins detected her
and sent a shot at her which raised the
dust only foot from her. but she sue
ceeded In her attempt
When Fuckers saw an attractive girl
who had come to eight with him for
her life and the lives Of all concerned
new resolve came to him that they
! should win. There was an eager light
in the girls eye a. she asked what she
should do. RuckerB. who since she
had been fired at in Joining him had
lost confidence in his ruse. told her to
lie fiat beside him and walt for orders.
The Indians appeared again. scatter
ing at arst In order to distract the
whites, then suddenly making on con-
verging lines for the wagon. Fuckers
called to those behind 1t to aim at the
savages nearest the center. told the
girl beside him to fire at those on the
Indians right. while he would cover
the left and any such individuals as
he thought 1t an advantage to put out
Of the fight.
This dividing up the enemy between
them proved to be very effective. The
savages had not covered half the dis
lance between their starting point and
| the wagon when a dozen Of their war
riors had been dropped. They hesitat-
ed, broke and scurried for cover.
There was shout. and dozen cow
boys came galloping toward the
wagon.
girl beside him; she turned and looked
at him. There are moments when our
emotions sweep away conventionality.
These two had met for the first time
bali an hour before. Death had then
stared them In the face. Now all were
safe. Yielding to an impulse that
seized upon both at once. they threw
their arms about each others neck.
and the man covered the girls face
with kisses.
Fuckers had not been on the crest
nm hour. but he had been there long
enough to save the lives of the family.
When his nrst shot cracked the saw
ages were about to make charge that
would have been successful. He had
stood them on just long enough for
the cowboys to come in and make the
safety Of their intended victims GER
tain.
Night was coming on, and the cow
boys threw up an earthwork In a circle
about the wagon and the stock. and
pickets were put out for the night. but
morning dawned without an attack.
and not redskin was to be seen.
| Then under a sufacient guard the fam.