The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-04-30

the soldier.
what is it, Can you guess what
they mean to dol"
NO. but they seem to be forming
there to the right; bend down here;
see. back among those trees. Ay! and
your red-coat is among the devils, I've
caught glimpse of him twice"
grasped the situation in glance.
Brady moved to the next loophole,
and knelt down. Opposite me ! could
distinguish an Indian or two, skulking
In the tree shadows, well out OF range
sentries, no doubt, stationed to guard
against any possibility of our escape.
Yes. and there we're others also along
the fringe OF forest to the left, al
though only occasionally did half
naked form fit into view. They we're
forming for assault, for a swift rush
forward, trusting that the suddenness
of their attack would put them across
that open space without great danger.
They had tried stealth and failed; now
they would try recklessness. The very
choice was evidence of white leader
ship. An Indian leader would be pa
tient and wait for darkness to creep
up unseen, or plan to starve us into
surrender. Only a white man, eager
and dominant, would thus risk lives In
open assault.
pressed back the wooden shutter,
kneeling to look out. For an instant,
blinded by the bright light, i saw moth
ing, then. back in the edge OF the tim
Der. | could dimly distinguish the
groups OF savages, stripped for night
ing. their naked bodies cleaning.
knew little then of Indian warfare, yet
II occurred to me that the representa-
tiyes OF each tribe were gathered TO-
gether, and | watched the war-bonnets
moving from group to group. as final
orders were passed among them. Only
once did l catch a glimpse OF the red
Jacket, as it's wearer stood at the foot
of a huge tree, suddenly outlined by
ray of sun finding opening through the
leaves above. As / caught view OF
him, he fung up one red arm, rife
grasped In his hand. and. as II 1t was
q signal, voice after voice whooped In
savage yell, the noise blending into
one fierce scream. horrible and menac-
ing. Above even this mad volume OF
sound there was q shout OF command,
emphasized by the discharge OF q
dozen guns. Then out Of the smoke,
springing forth into the open, j saw
the devils come. II was as II hell had
broken open and belched them forth.
Leaping into the air. shrieking. ges-
ticulating. weapons uplifted, red skins
glinting in the sun, black hair stream
ing on the wind. they sprang forward.
racing straight across the open.
"Shawnees!" roared Brady. Give
II to 'em!" and he pulled trigger.
Describe what followed no man
could. II was pandemonium, uproar,
action, no two seconds the same.
fired twice. three times. leaping back
to grasp a gun from the bench. and
cropping my way through smoke. My
eyes smarted, Precipitation streamed
down my face, ! heard the bark OF
rifles, voices calling within, wild echo
ing yells without. Over the barrel OF
my rife | could distinguish the naked
forms OF savages leaping amid the
smoke wreaths, stumbling. clutching
at the air with empty hands. Then all
at once they disappeared, vanished as
II by magic. Smoke chung TO the
ground, yet amid its swirls l could
perceive no movement; the fierce yell
ing ceased. What this sudden cessa-
ton meant could not guess. but my
hand reached instinctively for powder
and ball. Then another yell, louder.
more deadly with ferocity, smote my
ears; bullets chugged into the logs.
some one near me gave utterance to q
roar of pain, and blows crashed
against the barred door. ] thrust my
rife forwards tomahawk struck the
protruding barrel as ! pulled trigger,
and / was flung backward to the floor.
blood streaming from my shoulder. !
could hardly breathe In the thick
smoke; could see nothing, yet out Of
the babel Of noise l was conscious Of
Brady's voice yelling an order:
The doorl Barricade the doorl"
I staggered to my feet and dragged
the bench forward: some one gripped
the table along with me, and together
we hurled II on top. our bodies holding
II there. had dropped my rife. but
some one thrust another into my hand.
Blood streamed down into my eyes
from a cut on my forehead. binding
me 30 ! saw nothing, yet my fingers
touched hand. Even then ! felt the
thrill OF that contact.
you, Renel Go back For Gods
sake. go back" l sobbed breathlessly.
Just an instant she grasped me,
chung to me. her head pressing against
my sleeve.
yes, monsieur"
Then she was gone; ! reached out |
for her, but she was no longer there. |
crashed into the wood OF |
the door; there was a sound OF spin. |
tering. Brady ripped out an oath. q
wild yell OF triumph echoed without. |
fTh RON "A naarhu loo hole sa.na