The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1912-08-01

oar surroundings clearly-the ash COW
cred roadway. the bushes along its
eoEe. The row Of trees beyond. long
tobacco shed at the left. the half open
gate almost directly in front.
As We whirled recklessly about the
corner. every man ridin. low. every
eye forward. We saw the enemy nt the
edce OF grove. some knpeing. others
STANDING. II was merely glimpse.
and then they fired-an instant too
quick perhaps-the irregular cracking
showing Inck Of discipline. the cloud
OF smoke hiding them again from u.s.
j felt my horse leap as IL touched:
two or three in our front rank went
down. but there was no halting. My
mount caught his stride. and I drove
In the spur. Yelling the charge. hear
Ing the thunder Of hoofs behind min
Eied with an e1ultant cheer from the
men
We drove through the rising smoke
Nike thunderbolt and were on them.
our revolvers splitting viciously to
night and left. our horses pa wing at
the fleeing figures and at the clubhed
muskets with which they sought to
6ght US back. We went through them
a. If they had been paper: some ran
for the fields. scrambling over a
fence. but the main body. still
punched together. firing a. rapidly as
they could reload. Dodd cursing in
the midst Of them. made for the shell
ter Of the grape arbor. The nerceness
OF our rush carried us through the
grove out on 10 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 a heller.
skelter race the bang Of musketry
punctuated by the sharp revolver no
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 an
advance on horseback or to dismount
and endeavor on foot to dlslodge the
enemy. Suddenly O'Brien swept bis
hand to the east. and l perceived a
party Of horsemen emerging from the
woods. breaking into a sharp trot the
instant they attained the open ground.
The movement was plain enough
Theilen had arrived. already under
stood the situation and was pushing
his force forward to strike US in tho
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
horses"
Every man knew. realized fully. the
peril threatening U.S. Dodds gang had
not yet perceived the advance of re-
endorsements and were holding their
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 barked from the grape
arbor. Some fellow lying hidden In
corner of the fence let drive, sending
the corporal headlong. Then we were
on the hard packed road. the
men riding recklessly. bent low over
their pommels. urging their horses to
the utmost.
must have been fifty feet to the rear
and. trusting to my horse. half turned
about in the saddle SO as to watch
our pursuers. never knew what hap
pened. whether the animal stumbled
or fell from a wound, but everything
blotted out in an instant as l came
down to earth. My last men,
ory was of seeing Theilen's 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 groped about.
telling me this, for everything was
speckled before my eyes. thought OF
Judge Dunn and of the chair in which
he sat when last saw him. l felt
dull ache extending through both body
and head. and slowly the disfguring
mist cleared from before my eyes. and