The Ozark spectator., 1917-02-14

west angle, Cook and Baen here! Tell Colonel Decker to send Wilson's com pany to the northwest angle, Colonel Bartholomew to send Scott's company with Wilson's!''
 The night was slowly giving place to the gray dawn. A faint light stole gradually through the dripping branches. David could see how vel low the faces of the wounded looked in the pale break of day. Baen, he knew, was wounded mortally, Barthol- omew hurt.
 camp, Robb's Mounted Rifles, 76 men, went by him with rush, the gallop- ing hoofs thudding on the wet turf. Here and there the smoldering embers of the camptires blazed up again. Da- vid went on with the sickening 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- assuringly; he had just seen the cap- tain cheering on his men, 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 if 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. Suddenly the voice ceased altogether as bell tore its way through his heart.
 With the flies shrill 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 filters were very busy; not only here but back at the northwest angle, where the first attack had been made. At the opposite angle Jo Daviess was still ehafing with i'm patience. From behind a log, sev- enty yards away, a dozen Indian sharpshooters were pouring wicked fire into the mass of tethered horses of the three squadrons of dragoons- Parke's, Funk's and Beggs' companies. Twice Daviess had sent to Harrison for permission to charge and dislodge them. The stripling 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 praised" 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.
 deep breath and began to run across the wet and slippery grass that lay between the camp and the ambuscad- 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 a 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 him. Three men from Parke's com pany ran out and joined him as he strove to lift the body; with des- perate heave they raised up the dying man and staggered back toward the line of riflemen.
 The men of Parke's and Beggs' dra- goons began to cheer as the four men laid their unconscious burden down in safety, and the exultant yells spread like 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 rifiemen ran the shouts of victory.
 The sky had scarcely frightened. The trees still dripped with rain Thav