Gunnison news-champion., 1913-01-31
c~Apr6a "
Tn. osssa.s 81 en-. ss-ss.

osa-++tA7ts attA ms ~ae never sFAe ID
usoweais u emergency saa vsra
Then h. became sNift. impstaoas.
seeaIiaziy sorne forNsra b. ssnie IA
spiriua iastiuot A. Was for saoh ca
porieHcos ~ tbs that he remained "a
ths sarvioa-hls u.hoio nafure resgoaa.
sEE alusosi iusoasiy 10 The huzie-caH
OF actloa. u inaminent danger. h1s
uereeH staHdyiug INTO rook. These
were The oharaatoristics which had
Won him bis ohevrons "a the unre-
vardad service Of the froasisr. and.
vhen scarcely more than a boy. had
puf a captains bars on the eray COZ
lar OF his Couiederate uniform.
NoN. a. b. struggled 10 his knees.
GriupinE the iroH ioot-ram With one
hand a sinrie Eianee gave him a dis
tiucf impression of thair d sparate sit-
ratiqn- Nh that EnuWladse. -hare
lkeHisc Dashed over his mind the
on possible mcaus 81 aafause The
inc ius. nuIlneriue af least thirty. had
riddan rgcsHssiy oui from ur .ar the
prolHceI1n ui Che river bank. spread.
tne to rieht and left. as their ponies
hoofs st1ucs the turf aud we're nov
charslnE down uuon the disabled
coach. Eei4iug madly aud braHdishiHg
Their guns. The very reckless aban-
don af thCfr sevanoe expressed the
aouception they had Of the situation-
they had ui.uesssd the fight OF the
Two lu.iVs. The runaway Of the
NheeierH. end believed the remaining
paaaonears would be- helpless victims.
Thcy came on. savage and confident,
moi anticiu1ting q hght, but a massa-
cre-shriakiue prisoners, and a glut of
revenge.
with one swing OF his body. Hamlin
was upon The ground. and had jerked
npen the inside door OF the coach.
forcing Il back against the dirt OF the
biuh which lowered in protection
sbove. His eyes were quick 10 Der.
eeiVe the peculiar advantage of posi-.
tion; that their assailants would be
compelled 70 advance from only one
direction The three within were bare
iy struggling to their feet. dazed. be-
wildered, falling as yet to comprehend
fully those distant yells. when he
sprang into their midst. uttering his
swift orders. and unceremoniousIy
lerking the men pto position for de-
tense.
Here, quick nowl Don't waste
time! It's matter of seeond4 l tell
you! They're comlng-a horde of
them. Here. Moylan, take this rife
Barrel and knock a hole through the
Sack there big enough to sight out of.
Tit 1t hard, damn you. it's . case of
afe or death! What have you got, Con
salesY revolver? Into that win
aow there. and blaze away; you've got
the reputation OF q gun-man; now let's
see You prove it. Get back in the cor
Ger, miss, so | can slip past-no, lie
eown below the fire line!"
"But-but will mott" ana she faced
Vim, her face white, but her eyes shin
ing. Il can shoot! See!" and she
Washed pearl-handled revolver def
ently The Sergeant thrust her un-
seremoniously aside and PLUNGED
scross to the opposite window, grip
Vang his Henry rife.
DO as l say" he growled. This
. our fight. Get down! Now. you
terriers, let them have iti"
There was wild skurryine of
mounted figures almost at the coach
wheels, hair streaming, feathers wav.
ing, lean, red arms thrown up. the air
vocal with shrill outcries-then the
dull bark of Henry, the boom of a
winchester, the sharp splitting of a
Joit The smoke rolled out in
cloud. pungent, concealing, nervous
nngers pressing the triggers again
ana again. They could see reeling
horses, men gripping their ponies
names TO keep erect, staring, fright
shed eyes, animals flung back on their
uauhches, rearing madly in the air.
Inc herce yen of exultation changed
INTO savage scream, bullets crashed
into the thin sides of the coach. IL
rocked with the contact of half.
naked body flung forward by a plune-
ing morse; the Mexican swore wildly
IN Spanish, and then-the smoke blew
aside and they saw the field: the dead
and dying ponies, three motionless
bodies huddled on the grass. a few
dismounted stragglers racing on foot
tor the river bank, and squad of rid
ers eircliug beyond the trail Hamlin
swept the mingled sweat and blood
put OF ms eyes, smiled grimly. and
glanced back into the coach. instinct
Nely slipping fresh cartridges into his
hot rife.
That's one time those fellows ran
INTO hornets nest,' he commented
quietly. all trace of excitement van-
ished- Better load up. boys, for we're
not through yet-they1l only be more
careful next time. Anybody hurt?-
somethin' creased my back re-
piied Moylan, complainingly, and try
ing vainly to put a hand on the SPOT.
Felt like a streak o. fire" The Ser.
geant reached across. lingering the
torn shirt cautiously.
Scared the flesh, pardner. but no
blood worth Mentioning. They've rot
come heavy artillery out there from
Ne sound-oid army muskets likely. n