Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1913-05-29

| SACilement. NOW you and l mus
decide what to do next-we' are al
alone"
Alone! Has Mr.. Moylan been hi
also?"
Yes" he answered, feeling It wal
better to tell her frankly. He wal
shot, and is beyond our help. Blu
come" and he reached over and tool
her hand, you must not give up now.
she offered no resistance, but sa
motionless, her face turned away
Yet she knew she trembled from heaC
TO foot, the reaction mastering her.
red tongue Of flame seemed to slit the
outside blackness; there was single
sharp report, echoing back from the
DUN, but no sound OF the striking bull
let. Just an instant he caught 9
glimpse of her face. as she drew back
startled.
oh, they are coming again! What
shall we do?"
No" he insisted, still retaining her
hand, confident in his Judgment
Those fellows will not attempt to
rush US again tonight. You must
keep cool. for we shall need all our
wits to get away. An Indian never
risks a night assault. unless ii is a
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 It gets daylight. and
they can see :he shape we're in, then
they'll come yelling"
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; If an
Indian ever hits anything with a gun
It's going to be by pure accident" He
stared out OF the window. They're
liable to bang away occasionally, and
suppose 1t is up to us to make some
response just to tell them we're
awake and ready. But they amt fir.
ing expecting to do damags-only to
attract attention while they haul off
their dead. There's a red snake yon-
der now creeping along In the grass
seel"
No" Historically, at is Just black
to me-" ~
You haven't got the plainsman's
eyes Yet Watch, now; I'm going to
stir the fellow up"
He leaned forward, the stock of the
Henry held to his shoulder. and she
clutched the window-casing. An in
slant the muzzle OF the rife wavered
slightly, then steadied into position.
Have to guess the distance" he
muttsred in explanation. and pulled
the trigger.
There was a light flash, sharp
ringing report, yell in the distance,
followed by the sound of scrambling.
Hamlin laughed. as he lowered his
gun.
Made him hump, anyway" he com.
mented cheerfully. Now what comes
next?"
81 do not know" she answered
as though the question had been asked
her, do your"
Somehow she was not as fright
ened as she had been. The calm
steady GOODNESS Of the man was hav
ing its natural effect. was helping tc
control her own nerves. She felt his
strength. his confidence. and was be
ginning to lean upon him-he seemed
to know exactly what he was about.
We'll, no, honestly don't; moi
yet" he returned. hesitating slightly
There Is no use denying we are in Q
mighty bad hole. II Moylan hadnr
got shot we might have held out til
help arrived; I've got about twenty
cartridges left; but you and / alon,
never could do 1t. I've got to think 4
out, I reckon: this has been a blint
tight SO far; nothing to It but blaz
ing away as fast rs could pull trig
ger, Now, maybe. can use my brains
q bit"
She could not see him, but some in
stinct led her to put out her hand an,
touch the rough sleeve OF his shirt. I
made her sure OF his presence, hi
protection. The man felt the move
ment, and understood its meaning
his heart throbbing strangely.
| You are going to trust met"
"of-of course; how could 20,
doubt that?"
WELL" still half questioning. 'yo'
see I'm only an enlisted man, an
sometimes officers ladies think w
are mostly pretty poor stun. Just foo,
for powder"
She frightened her grip on hi
sleeve. drawing a quick breath Of sur
prise.
"Oh. but am not like that; trul,
am not. I-saw your face this after
noon. and-and liked you then.
will do whatever you say"
Thank YOU" he said simply. 1T
know that makes everything so mucl
easier for me. We shall have to worl
together from now on. You keep sharI
watch at the window there, while
think bit-there's ordinarily 9
chance somewhere, you know, II one
Is only bright enough to uncover it.
How still the night was. and dark;
although the sky was cloudless. the
stars shone clearly away up in the
black vault Not even the howl Of a
distant coyote broke the silence. To
the left. seemingly full half-mile dis
tant, was the red flicker of a fire,
barely visible behind q projection OF
bank. But in front not even the keen
eyes Of the Sergeant could distinguish
any sign Of movement Apparently
the Indians had abandoned their at
tempt to recover the bodies Of their
dead
CHAPTER VII.