The Southern herald., 1913-02-28
CHAPTER v.
The Defense Of the stage.

T.
rAo-o rrore times when Hamlins S |
mental processes seemed SLOW allnoos
uIupgish but this was never true IN
Moments of emergency and peril
kben he became swift, impetuous'
seemingly borne forward by some IN
~riring instinct. It was for such eA'
neriences as this that ne remalheu ~
che servica-his whole nature responu
sng almost joyously to the ougie-Can
~ action of imminent danger, HIS
unrves steadying into rock. ne's
.no-o tho characteristics which hau
won him his chevrons IN the UNI
warded service Of the frontier anu,
svhen scarcely more than boy na1
nut captains bars on the gray coi
5ar of his Confederate uniform.
Now. as he struggled to his knees @
pripping the iron foot-rall WIN On ".
hand single glance gave him a ais
tirct imnression of their desperate 81
nation With that knowledge, ther
EIinevise flashed over his mlnd ID
only possible means OF defense in
indians, numbering at least thlrty' na la
,;ddan recklessly out from under u
,nrotection of the river bank, sprea
ing TO right and left, as thelr ponie
hoofs struck the turf, and we're no
,charging down upon the alsaoi
coach. yelling madly and brandlsnl
their guns. The very reckless aOs
tdon of their advance expressed
convention they had Of the situation
,tbev had witnessed the flight OF
two fugitives, the runaway OF
vheeIers. and believed the remain
messengers would be helpless Vlctil
Tbev came on, savage and connd'
not anticipating a fight, but mas
cre-shriekiug prisoners, and glu
revenge.
with one swing of his body, Han
was upon the ground, and had jer
oron the inside door of the CO..
forcing it back against the dirt Oh
h,IrH which lowered in protec
above. His eyes were quick 70
ceive the peculiar advantage OF
tion. that their assailants woul'
comnelled to advance from only
direction. The three within were
~ struggling to their feet dazeo
wildered, failing as yet to compre
frIlv those distant yells, when
sprang into their midst utter1nt
,su,ft orders, and unceremoni
Jerking the men into position 10
Jense.
Here. quick now! Don't
timel It's matter of seconds,
Voul They're coming-a hord
them. Here. Moylan, take this
barrel and knock a hole throug
hack there big enough to sight G
Hit 1t hard, damn you, it's CT
life or death! What have you got
zaIesq revolver? Into that
dow there, and blaze away; you
the reputation of a gun-man; no
see you prove it. Get back in Il
ner miss, so l can slip past
down below the fire line!
"But-but | will not!" and she
Min her face white, but her eye
ing 81 can shoot! See!" an
flashed a pearl-handled revolvt
,antly The Sergeant thrust
tremendously aside and
across to the opposite window
ming his Henry rifle.
DO as / say" he growled'
lis our fight. Get down! Nov
terriers, let them have it,"
There was a wild skurry
mounted figures almost at th'
wheels. hair streaming feathe
ing. lean, red erms thrown up,
vocal with shrill outcries-tl
dull bark Of Henry, the boo
winchester, the sharp spitth
Colt. The smoke rolled OF
cloud, pungent, concealing'
fingers pressing the triggers
and again. They could see
horses, men gripping their
manes to keep erect, staring
ened eyes, animals flung back
launches, rearing madly in
The fierce yell of exultation
into a savage scream, bullets
into the thin sides of the