Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1913-05-22

4
and dying ponies, three motionless
bodies huddled on the grass. few
dismounted stragglers racing on foot
for the river bank, and squad Of rid
ers circling beyond the trail. Hamlin
swept the mingled sweat and blood
out OF his eyes. smiled grimly, and
glanced back into the coach, instinct.
lively 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-theyll only be more
careful next time. Anybody hurt?"
"Somethin' creased my back" re-
piled Moylan, complainingly, and try
Ing vainIy 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 got
some heavy artillery out there from
the sound-oid army muskets likely. II
is our repeating rifles that will win
out-those red devils don't understand
them yet"
Senior, you tink we win out DEM"
and Gonzales peered up blinking into
the others face "~acrel dey vii fight
deterrent de mex time Re Ameri-
caine muskeet, eet carry so far-ess
eet not so?"
Hamlin patted his brown barrel af-
fectionately as IL it were an old
friend, and smiled across into the
questioning eyes of the girl.
sim willing to back this weapon
against the best of them for distance"
he replied easily, land it's accurate be-
sides. How about 1t, Moylan?"
I'D about as soon be in front as be-
hind one of them cannon" answered
the sutler soberly. Il toted one four
years. But say, pardner. what's yer
name? Yer cavalryman, amt yer"
"Sergeaut--forgot wasn't properly
introduced" and he bent his head
slightly, glancing again toward the
girl "HamIln is the rest of it,"
Brick Hamlin?" e.
Sometimes-delicate reference to
my hair, MISS" and he took off his
hat his gray eyes laughing. Born
that way, but doesn't seem to inter-
fere with me inuch, since was kid.
You've heard Of me then, Moylan? SO
has our little friend. Gonzales, here"
The sober-faced sutler merely nod
ded, evidently in no mood for pleas
antry.
"Oh, ye're all right" he said finally.
down round Santa Fe, an know 1t
myself now. But what the hell are we
goin' to do. This yere stagecoach
amt much of a fort to keep of a
bunch o. redskins once they git their
mad up. Them musket bullets 60
through like the sides was paper, an |
reckon we amt got no oyersupply o.
ammunition know / amt fer this
Winchester. How long do yer reckon
we kin hold out?"
Hamlin's face became grave, his
eyes also turning toward the river.
The sun was already sinking low in
the west, and the Indians, gathered In
council out Of rifie-shot, were like
shadows against the -glimmering water
beyond.
They'll try us again just before
dark" he affirmed slowly. but more
cautiously. II that attack fails. then
they'll endeavor to creep In. and take
US by surprise. It's going to be a
clear night, and there is small chance
for even an Indian to hide in that buf.
falo-grass with the stars shining. They
have got to come up from below, for
no buck could climb down this bluff
without making noise. ! 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 rider
on to Dodge for help. There ought to
be soldiers out here by noon tomor-
row. What troops are at Dodge now?"
only a single company-infantry."
replied Moylan gloomily. "All the rest
are out scouting long the Solomon.
Damned IL believe they'll send US
man. Those two towards win likely
report us all dead-otherwise they
wouldn't have any excuse for runnin'
away-and the commander will satisfy
himself by sendin' courier to the Eel.
lers in the field"
well, then" commented the Ser.
geant, his eyes cleaning, we've sim
ply got to fight 1t 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
'em are Cheyennes. I've seen that
chief before-it's Roman Nose"
THE big buck bumped up on the
roan?"
That's the one, and he is a bad
actor; saw him once over at Fort
Kearney two years ago. Had 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 II 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 1t was going to begin
right here-and now. See there! The
dance is on. boys; there they come;
they will try II on foot this time"
He tested his rife resting one knee
on the seat; Moylan pushed the bar
rel OF his Winchester out through the
ragged hole in the back OF the coach,
and the little Mexican lay fiat. his
eyes on the level with the window-cas-
ing. The girl alone remained motion