Gilpin observer., 1915-11-11
hem Z" asked the chief.

the paleface maiden among the hunt
ers.
Then Swift Wind will make war on
the palefaces," the chief said, "till the
paleface maiden Is left in peace in his
wigwam."
Such was Swift Winds vow. At
once he summoned his warriors about
him and informed them that they
would go at once. this very night, on
the war path.
Meanwhile, in the camp in the clear
ing, all We're sleeping heavily, follow
ing the gorge of buffalo meat-all ex-
cept sentries that guarded the camp.
Toward dawn one of the sentries
cried in alarm:
Wake up. everybody! The Injuns
are coming!"
Up from the bare ground that had
served as bed and out from tents
sprang the hunters, arming to defend
themselves.
Go easy on the ammunition" shout
ed Colonel Gardner. There is scarce
ly ten rounds per man. Make every
shot tell"
Sally, meanwhile, cried in despair:
"Oh Tom, my Tom, this will mean that
our journey will be again delayed.
Heaven help us!"
Brace up, little one," said Tom
This fight won't be like the one at the
wagon train. There we had many
women to look after. Here we have
only ore-and she's as good as a man
IN fight. Here! Take this gun. And
whenever you catch sight of an Injun,
fire at him-not to scare him, but
you know"
Sally shuddered as she realized
what Tom meant He meant that she
must shoot to kill
All this time the hunters were busy
hiding the dead buffaloes in make
shift cache. hoping to return after the
fight to secure the meat.
We're going to make a running
fight of it," shouted Colonel Gardner.
All hands mount. Our scouts report
tnat the redskins are mighty near.
Perhaps We can outrun them Ready
nowhere off"
Everybody had mounted and now, at
the command, the cavalcade put spurs
to horses and away they flew straight
out of the clearing and into the forest
and out then upon the open plain, with
the Indians close behind. It was in
deed running fight. The Indians
kept up an incessant fire-with the
ammunition secured in the attack on
the wagon train, while the whites,
sparing of ammunition, turned and
fired only when some Indian would
gain on his fellows and draw too near.
Thus every shot from the white party
had its effect Every shot fired by the
whites, in short. meant dead Indian;
while the shots of the redskins them
selves went wild.
Ahead was rocky place. Colonel
Gardner, to his everlasting chagrin.
led the way to these rocks, believing
that they formed the entrance to a
canyon in which they might elude
their pursuers. But what was the
coloners dismay when, having led his
party into the apparent entrance to a
canyon. he found himself in a verita-
BILE pocket.
Boys, we're trapped in a pocket,
that's true" he said. THE Indians
are massed outside We can't venture
out without facing certain defeat
Here, then. Wen make our last stand"
And SO began the siege of the white
hunters in the pocket. The Indians,
always loath to storm a citadel-and
the pocket was, in sense, a citadel,
played their usual game of merely
watching patiently near the entrance
to the pocket, they themselves keep
ing under cover behind trees and
boulders and the like. And every time
paleface showed himself, 4 bullet
from the Indian force reduced the
number of the hunters by just that
one.
Thus all day and all the next day
the siege continued On the morning
of the third day, the situation in the
pocket was desperate Their canteens
were empty, their food supply nearly
gone, their ammunition almost ex-
hausted. Swift Wind rode into view
and held up his arms, in sign that he
asked a parley. Tom Mingle was ap-
pointed by Colonel Gardner to 20 out
and meet the chief
Give up the paleface maiden" said
the chief to Tom. as they faced each
other on their horses. "and l will call
of my warriors"
We'll die first" Tom replied, de-
family and bravely, and then retired
to the shelter Of the pocket.
Meantime. Starlight had followed
the war party and now she met a scout
on his way to report to Swift Foot.
What is your news?" asked Star
light.
Another camp Of paleface hunters
on the other side Of the ridge" replied
the scout.
Here was news that Starlight knew
would be Of help to the whites She
tnvaI Tom nd oh