Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-08-01

III Two lines. the men widening their
distances so ns to give room for saber
play The gray dawn already revealed
our surroundings clearly ash GOV.
cred roadway, the bushes along its
edge. the row of trees beyond. a long
tobacco shed at the left. the half open
gate almost directly in front.
AS we whirled recklessly about the
corner. every man riding low. every.
eye forward. we saw the enemy at the
edge Of a grove. some kneeling. others
standing. II was merely n glimpse.
and then they tired-an instant too
Quick perhaps-the Irregular cracking
showing lack OF discipline. the cloud
OF smoke hiding them again from u.s.
felt my horse ieap as If touched;
two or three in our front rank went
down. but there was no hating. My
mount caught his stride. and ! drove
In the spur. yelling the charge. hear.
ing the thunder of hoofs behind min.
gled with an exultant cheer from the
| men.
We drove through the rising smoke
like thunderbolt and were on them.
our revolvers splitting viciously to
right and left. our horses paving Mt
the fleeing figures and at the clubbed
muskets with which they sought to
| fight us back. We went through them
as II they had been paper: some ran
| for the fields. scrambling over q
fence. but the main body. still
punched together. firing us rapidly as
they could reload. Dodd cursing in
the midst of them. made for the shell
ter of the grape arbor. The ferceness
| of our rush carried us through the
grove out on Ito the turf Of the open
lawn. the men struggling with their
horses In an effect to reform. Out
| from the front door sprang the four
troopers left within. running eagerly
| for the riderless animals. while the
| two guards from the negro cabin
came squirting madly around the cor
ner OF the house. anxious to Join
their comrades. Half formed. the men
| squirting their frenzied horses into
some semblance of line. we swept
| down upon the fleeing guerrillas, seek
ing to overtake them before they
could attain shelter. 1t was helter-
SHELTER race. the bang OF musketry
punctuated by the sharp revolver re-
ports and the shouts and yells Of the
combatants. We reached the rear
runners. riding them down remorse-
lessly. but our horses swerved at the
arbor entrance. two plunging forward.
| throwing their riders, the others de-
bouching sharply to the left. the troop
ers saving at the reins In vain effort
at control
1t was fully daylight now, every
surrounding object clear to the eye.
and my little squad circled about, In
stinctively forming themselves for
another charge swept them with
my eyes. debating whether to try IN
advance on horseback or to dismount
| and endeavor on foot to dislodge the
enemy. Suddenly O'Brien swept his
hand to the east. and perceived a
party of horsemen emerging from the
woods. breaking into q sharp trot the
instant they attained the open ground.
The movement was plain enough
Theilen mad arrived. already under
stood the situation and was pushing
his force forward to strike us in the
rear.
Close up. men! BY fours into line!
Ride for the gate and the road beyond.
| Corporal. take the lead, and will
cover the rear. Don't spare your
1 horses
| Every man knew. realized fully. the
peril threatening US. Dodd's gang had
not yet perceived the advance Of re-
fire. expecting us to charge. Instead,
we wheeled to the right and rode
straight at the open gate. Behind us,
but not yet within shooting distance.
we could already hear the pounding
| of the hoofs of Theilen's column as
they spurred forward in pursuit A
few muskets parked from the grape
arbor. Some fellow lying hidden in q
corner OF the fence let drive, sending
the corporal headlong. Then we were
outside on the hard packed road, the
men riding recklessly. bent low over
their pommels. urging their horses to
| the utmost.
| Imust have been fifty feet to the rear
and. trusting to my horse. half turned
| about in the saddle SO as to watch
our pursuers. l never knew what hap
pened. whether the animal stumbled
or fell from wound. but everything
blotted out In an instant us l came
crashing down to earth. My last mem
Org was of seeing Theilens horsemen
crowding through the gate, hundred
yards away, yelling and shaking their
guns.
was in an invalid's chair when
came back to consciousness. lying as
! though upon bed. yet fully dressed.
/ Some way as my hands CROPPED about,
telling me this. for everything was
speckied before my eyes, thought of
Judge Dunn and of the chair in which
he sat when last saw him. l felt a
dull ache extending through both body
and head. and slowly the disfguring