Gunnison news-champion., 1913-01-31

amt much of a fort to keep of
bunch o. redskins ence they git their
mad up. Them musket bullets go
through like the sides was paper. an ]
reckon we amt got no oversupply o.
ammunition know | amt fer this
Winchester. How long do yer reckon
we kin hold out?"
Hamlins face became grave his
eyes also turning toward the river.
The sun was already sinking low in
the west, and the Indians, gathered in
shadows against the glimmering water
beyond
They'll try us again just befess
dark." he affirmed slowly, but m0ve
cautiously. II that attack fails. thea
they'll endeavor to creep In. and take
us by surprise. It's going to be .
clear night, and there is small chance
for even an Indian to hide in that buff
falo-grass with the stars shining. They
have got to come up from below. for
no buck could climb down this bluR
without making a noise. I don't see
why, with decent luck, we can't hold
out as we are until help gets here;
those fellows who rode away will re-
port at Canon Bluff and send q rider
on to Dodge for help. There ought to
be soldiers out here by noon tomOr-
row. What troops are at Dodge now?"
"Only single company-infantry,"
replied Moylan gloomily. "All the rest
are out scouting long the Solomon.
Damned if l believe they'll send us a
man. Those two towards will likely
report us all dead-otherwise they
wouldn't have any excuse for runnin'
away-and the commander will satisfy
himself by sendin' a courier to the fel-
lers in the field"
We'll, then" commented the Ser
geant, his eyes cleaning, we've sim
ply got to fight it out alone, reckon,
and hang on to our last shots. What
do you make of those reds?"
The three men stared for some time
at the distant group over their rifles.
in silence.
"They amt all Arapahoes, that's GER
tain," said Moylan at last. "Some of
EN- are Cheyennes. I've seen that
chief before-it's Roman Nose"
"The big buck bumped up on the
roam"
That's the one. and he is a bad
actor; saw him once over at Fort
Kearney two years ago. Had a coun-
ell there. Sayi" in surprise, "ain't
that an ogalla Sioux war bonnet bob
bin there to the right. Sergeant?"
Hamlin studied the distant feath-
cred head-dress indicated, shading his
eyes with one hand.
Il reckon maybe it is. Moylan," he
acknowledged at last gravely. Those
fellows have evidently got together:
we're going to have the biggest scrap
this summer the old army has had yet.
Looks as though it was going to begin
right here-and now. See there, The
dance is on, boys; there they come;
they will try it on foot this time"
He tested his rife, resting one knee
on the seat; Moylsn pushed the bar
rel OF his Winchester out through the
ragged hole in the back of the coach.
and the little Mexican lay nat. hin
eyes on the level with the window-cas-
Ing The girl alone remained motion
less. crouched on the noor. her white
face uplifted-
The entire field stretching to the
river was clear to the view, the short.
dry buffalo-grass Offering no conceal
ment To the right Of the coach, some
nfty feet away, was the only depres-
sion, a shallow gully leading down
from the blaff. but this slight advan-
tage was unavailable. The sun had al
ready dropped from view, and the
gathering twilight distorted the as-
ures, making them almost grotesoue
n their savaeep- Yet they could be
clearly distinguisAeA stealing silent.