Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-12-26

for an. instant his dry lips failed him.
utterly. his blood seemed to stop. Good
God! Had she beenakilled also?l How.
in Heavens name, did she ever get
there? Then, suddenly she lifted her.
head slightly, brushing back her hair
with one arm; the faint starlight
cleaned on steel barrel. The Ser
geant expelled his breath swiftly, wet
ting his dry lips. -
Are you hurt?" he questioned
anxiously. Lord but you gave me
scare!" 81 9G1
She seemed to hear his voice, yet
scarcely to understand, like one
aroused suddenly from Sleep.
What! you spoke-then-then-
there are others? IL am not here
all alone?"
mot if you count me-" he said,
trace of recklessness in the answer.
II haven't even a scratch so far as I
know. Did they touch you?"
mo; that is, l am not quite sure;
tit was all SO horrible I cannot re-
member. Who are you? Are you the
the soldier?"
'Yes-Im Hamlin. Would you mind
telling me how you ever got over
there?"
She Strengthened up, seemed to no
tice the heavy revolver in her fingers,
and let it fall to the floor.
"Oh, it is like a dream-an awful
dream. l couldn't help myself When
the Mexican rolled Off on to the floor,
| knew he was dead, and-and there
was his revolver held right out to me
in his hand. Before realized / had
it, and was up here-I-I killed one
he-he fell in the wheel; II can
never forget that"
Don't try" broke in Hamlin earn
estly. You're all right" he added,
admiration in his voice. "And so it
was you there with the small gun. 1
heard it bark. but never knew Con-
zales was hit. When did it happen?"
"When-when they fred first. It
it was all smoke out there when got
to the window; they-they looked like
like Wild beasts, and it didn't seem
The man laughed lightly.
you did the right thing, that's ALL"
he consoled, anxious to control her
excitement. Now you and l must
decide what to do next-we are all
alone"
Alone! Has Mr.. Moylan been hit
also?"
eyes," he answered, feeling it was
better to tell her frankly. HE was
shot, and is beyond our help. But
come" and he reached over and took
her hand, "you must not give up now"
She offered no resistance, but sat
motionless, her face turned away.
Yet she knew she trembled from head
to foot, the reaction mastering her. A
red tongue of fame seemed to slit the
outside blackness; there was single
sharp report, echoing back from the
bluff, but no sound of the striking bull
let. Just an instant he caught a
glimpse of her face. as she drew back.
startled.
ooh, they are coming again! What
shall we do?"
NO, ne Insisted, still retaining her
hand, confident in his Judgment.
Those fellows will not attempt to
rush us again tonight. You must
keep cool, for I'VE shall need all our
wits to get away. An Indian never
risks night assault, unless it is
surprise. He wants to see what he is
up against. Those bucks have got all
they want of this outfit; they have
no. reason to suppose any Of us were
hit. They are as much afraid as we
are, but when 1t gets daylight, and
they can see the shape we're in, then
they'll come yelling" Re 81
But they can lie out there in the
dark and shoot" she protested. THAT
shot was aimed at us. wasn't it?""
Il reckon 1t was, but it never got
here. Don't let that worry you: IL an
Indian ever hits anything with gun
it's going to be by pure accident" He
stared out of the window They're
liable to bang away occasionally, and
l suppose 1t is up to us to make some
response just to tell them we're
awake and ready. But they amt FIR.