The Ordway new era., 1917-04-27

to the gray dawn. A faint light stole
gradually through the dripping
branches. David could see how yell
low the faces of the wounded looked
I'm the pale break of day. Baen, ne
knew, was wounded mortally, Barthoi-
omew hurt.
As he neared the center OF the
camp, Robb's Mounted Rifles, 76 men,
went by him with n rush, the gnIIop-
ing hoofs thuddng on the wet turt.
Here and there the smuldering cmDers
of the camphres blazed up again. Da-
vid went on with the sickcnlng work
of the hospital corps.
He was carrying wounded man to
the shelter of the wagons when little
Jimmy Spencer, Captain Spencers
fourteen-year-old son, ran from the
tents and clutched him by the sleeve,
begging to be told If his father was
unhurt. David answered the boy re-
assurlngly; he had just seen the cap
tain cheering on his meu, bloody
handkerchief tied about his head.
When they went back to the right,
Jimmy ran at David's side, refusing to
stay behind.
"Father!" he cried. and the soldier
turned at the hail. He was about to
warn the boy to go back when bullet
struck him In the hip and passed
through both thighs; he tottered and
fell.
go back to the tent, son." he said.
smiling. "Your mother will need you
IL I don't go home"
He drew the boy down and kissed
him. For long minute he rested till
his faintness passed; and then he be-
gan calling to his men to fight on.
ms ball tore its way through his
heart.
With the flies shrll music in their
ears, the Yellow Jackets held their
ground, though MacMahan. who took
Spencer's place, fell dead. and Berry,
his second lieutenant, fell also; held
1t for two hours in the face of the
frenzied attack of the Indians.
The men with the lltters we're very
busy; not only here but back at the
northwest angle, where the first attack
had been made. At the opposite angle
10 Daviess was still chatting with i'm
| patience. From behind log. sew
enty yards away, dozen Indian
sharpshooterS were pouring n wicked
fire into the mass of tethercd horses
Of the three squadrons of dragoons-
Parke's, Funk's and Bcggs' companies.
Twice Daviess had sent to Harrison
for permission to charge and dislodge
them. The STRIPPING Croghan carried
his third request. Presently Croghan
came back on the run. He was wild
with delight.
Tell Major Daviess," Harrison had
said, that he has heard my opinion
twice; he may now use his own dis
cretion."
"God be praisedw calculated Da-
viess. Hastily he called for twenty
volunteers. Quickly they threw them.
selves in the saddle. David saw them
dash across the little space between
the line and the log where the Indians
were hidden and saw the spurts of
red flame run along the top of the log
For every flash Of fire trooper reeled
In his saddle: at the front rode Da.
viess. the idol of the backwoodsmen
AS the red warriors began to break
and scatter from behind the log the
last of their rifles rang out together
and the Kentuckian rose in his stir.
rups. clutched at his breast, and
pitched headlOng.
As he saw Daviess fall, David drew
deep breath and began to run across
the wet and slippery grass that lay
between the camp and the ambuscnd
Ing woods beyond. The bullets ripped
Viciously through the dripping weeds
and tore into the frozen ground at
his feet. He heard shouts of warn.
Ing, like voices in n dream, behind
him; but he paid no heed and reached
the kentuckian's side unhurt. He
placed his hand under Daviess' shoul.
ders and the dead weight sickened
LIN. Three men from Parke's com.
pShy ran out and Joined him as he
stSove to lift the body; with a des.
perate heave they raised up the dying
man and staggered back toward the
line of riflemen.
Inc men of Parke's and Beggs' dra.
soohs began to cheer as the four men
laid their unconscious burden down in
safety, and the exultant yells spread
Ike fire from end to end of the little
plateau; for Daviess had been struck
at the very moment when the attack
OF the savages had ceased, and from
group to group Of powder-grimed and
bloodstained riflemen ran the shouts
OF victory.
Ihe sky had scarcely lightened. The
trees still dripped with rain. They
had been fighting less than four hours
and the bafiled Prophet, his incanta
tions futile, his power shattered, was
nylng through the woods. A hundred
or his braves lay upon the solder
held; the rest had faded away like the
mist that drifted through the forest