The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1913-04-25


and dying ponies, three motionles,
Dodles huddled on the grass, a few
ulsmounted stragglers racing on foo
LOT the river bank, and a squad of rid
ers circling beyond the trail, Hamlir
swept the mingled sweat and blood
out OF his eyes, smiled grimly. and
glanced back into the coach. instinct
lvely slipping fresh cartridges into his
hot rifle.
That's one time those fellows ran
INTO hornets nest" he commented
quietly, all trace of excitement van
lshed. Better load up. boys. for were
not through yet-they'li only be more
careful next tiue. Anybody hurt?"
"Somethin' creased my back" re
Piled Moy!an, complainingly. and try.
ing vainly to put hand on the spot.
Felt like a streak O. fire" The Ser
seant 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 soundAoid army muskets likely. 1t
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 ilto
the others face. acre! dey vii fight
| deterrent lie mex time Re Ameri-
caine muskeet. eet carry so far-ess
eet not so?"
Hamlin patted His brown barrel af-
fectionately as if it were an old
friend, and smiled across into the
questioning eyes of the girl.
"I'm willing to back this weapon
against the best of them for distance, +"
he replied easily. and it's accurate be-
sides. How about it, 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 cayalryman, amt yer?"
"Sergeant-forgot wasn't pre- perly
introduced" and he bent his head
slightly. glancing again toward the
girl. "Hsmlin is the rest of it,"
Brick Hamlin?"
s-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 ouch, since l was a kid.
You've heard of me then, Moylau? So
has our little friend. Gonzales. here"
The soberfaced sitter merely nod
ded, evidently in no mood for pleas
antry.
"Oh, we're all right" he said finally.
I've heard 'em say you was fighter
down round Santa Fe. an | know it
myself now. But what the hell are we
goin' to do. This yere stagecoach
amt much of fort to keep off
bunch O. redskins cnce 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?"
Hamlin's face bee anne 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 rifle-shot, were like
shadows against the glimmering water
beyond.
They'll try US again just before
dark" he affirmed slowly. but more
cautiously. If that attack fails. then
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 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 a noise. | don't see
why, with decent luck, we can't hold
out as we are untg 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 If 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"
well, then" commented the Ser.
geant, his eyes cleaning. we've sim
ply got to fight it out alone, l 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-its Roman Nose"
THE big buck bumped up on the
roam"
That's the one, and he is bad
actor; saw him once over at Fort
Kearney two years ago. Had coun-
Gil there Say!" in surprise, amt
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.
~ reckon maybe 1t is, Moylan," he
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.