Eastern Colorado times., 1912-08-30

w nouIO uOxbSB oOOIu 8uQ I00 muir
muir OF approaching voices.
We could see them quite clearly, as
they topped the crest. tho moonlight
revealing men and horses 90 distinct
~ could even guess at their uniform.
Those In advance rode slowly. four
abreast, down into the black shadows.
lolling In their saddles. voices MUIR
muring. seemingly unconscious Of any
danger. It was easy to comprehend
their state Of mind. Delavan had been
left alone for week. permitted to
sweep the countrywide unmolested.
He and his command had naturally
grown careless. never suspecting their
every move had been watched BY
keen.eyed scouts. Now. guarded by
Grants troop. they believed them
selves sunicientiy strong for any
emergency; that no force the scat
tered enemy could gather would ven.
ture upon attack. BY daylight they
would be within sight Of the Phila-
delphia outposts. and serenely conn.
dent in their numbers. the night
march had therefore become q mere
routine. heard Farrell chuckle grim.
ly to himself as he observed the care
less approach Of those advance I'D
ers.
They were the Queens Rangers.
the white facings of their coats con-
spicuous, their guns swung at the
shoulder In reckless confidence A
slim young lieutenant appeared to be
in command.
Ten wagons passed without move
mont or sound from the men lying
concealed almost within arms reach
of the unconscious guards. Farrell
never stirred, and l scarcely ventured-
to breathe. Then there came squad
ron Of Rangers. an officer riding alone
In front. the black shadow Of another
section OF the wagon train looming
over the ridge behind them. The
horsemen passed US. the officer turn
ing in his saddle with an order to
close up their ranks. l recognized
Grants voice. and then, sharp as a
blow. rang out Farrell's whistle at
my very ear.
There was leap Of flame from
both sides the road. lighting up that
cash In the clay bank as though 1t
was an inferno. the red and yellow
glow cleaving the night asunder. with
ear-splitting roar. l was on my feet,
my rifle splitting. yet hardly conscious
OF any act. stunned by the suddenness
OF the reports. confused by those
black figures leaping forward through
the weird glare. I saw and heard. and
yet 1t was all a confused medley. in
which bore active part while scarce
ly realizing its significance. 1t was
fierce hand.tohand melee so swiftly
fought as to be >over with almost in
a minute, and yet SO desperate the
narrow roadway was strewn with 3D.
les. Frightened horses whiried and
ran; wagons were overturned; hem
med in against the high walls, Ger
mans and British made one mad effort
to extricate themselves; the advance
guard came squirting back pushing
blindly into the ruck, the boyish voice
OF their young lieutenant sounding
above the uproar But our men were
! between the two, compact body.
each borderman fighting independent
ly. but knowing the game. heard no
word Of command. no shout. of direc-
ton from either Farrell or Duval, yet
we ripped them asunder with sweep
ing rifle butts. and. almost before 1
could catch second breath, the few
who remained on their feet were help
iessly trapped. Farrell saw 1t was all
over. and his whistle sounded again,
stilling the uproar. Up to that mo-
ment he was beside me; with the
echoing Of the shrill blast he had dis
appeared
1t was Duval who emerged from the
wreck OF the train, demanding surren-
der
Who commands here?" he shouted.
Speak up quick"
There was hesitancy, and then out
Of the black mass huddled against the
bank I recognized Grants voice.
1 suppose do; has any one seen
Captain Delavan"
HE fell at the first fire, SIR" an
| swered some one huskily.
Grant stepped forth into the moon.
light. bareheaded, his sword in hand.
Then l am the senior officer" he
announced, his voice shaking slightly.
Who are your"
Camden minute me1. Do you sur
render?"
He took long breath, glancing
about at the dark shadows. Some one
held lighted torch. the red flame
casting sudden gleam over the sur
rounding faces. 1t was clear that