The Pulaskian., 1921-04-21
CHAPTER XVI.
The Rock Platform.

HS ENOCN FtdIlCTHs
 Shelby had no time to think, or to even comprehend clearly what con- fronted him. There was a second in which he rammed a handful of cart ridges into his empty gun; and then they were on him, a dozen Indians swarming up the face of the rock. and clutching for a hold on the parapet. He fired blindly straight into their faces, aware that another revolver cracked close beside his ear. yet with no opportunity to glance about He saw assailants topple backward. clutching fingers release their hold. rifles flung high in air, and roll down l the slope. Savage wells blended into cries of death agony. He felt the clip l of ball in his shoulder and staggered l back from the blow; a tomahawk grazed his wrist, and the quick slash of knife ripped open leg of his trousers, a red stain discoloring the opening. He had glimpse of fierce, in- fupiated faces. of waving scalplocks, of naked chests and arms Fingers clutched at him, and he kicked him.
  self free. Both guns empty, he bat tered away with the butts, smashing at every face he saw, no desire left 1 but to kill, before he also was dragged down. He knew nothing of Olga. where she was what she was doing he only realized that he must stand there, and fight until they got him she would keep one shot; she had pledged that
 And the devils made it, creeping far out over the gulf, and drawing them selves up beyond reach of his arm l One fell, going down with a howl of terror; a second was struck by a speeding bullet dead ere he went whrling back into the afr-but the third made if, creeping up onto the narrow platform, with others snrging behind, knives gripped in their teeth. 1 Shelby hurled his empty pistol into the face of the nearest before the fel- low could attain his knees. and grasped q discarded rifle which dangled over the stone coping. With one bound he was at the edge swinging this weapon as woodsman might an ax, driving the iron stock against every head that l appeared. He staggered back, breath less, half blinded by a wound over llis eye, aware only that the front of the rock was swept clear, that not saw age was left for him to strike at She touched him, and he whirled, thinking it another enemy.
 Don't, Tom, don't" she begged. "Merciful heaven, you are all blood Look out there! are those soldiers?"
 He held up the flap of skin, and stared where she pointed. Across the white snow covering the valley below, riding istirrup to stirrup in wild charge, two lines of cavalry were sweeping straight toward the foot of the bluff. He knew what they were at a glance; their lines steady even at a gs;llop, the spurring officer in front, the glitter of carbines. the silence, left no doubt. No Indians rode like that. He watched them. grasping her tightly to him now, scarcely able to speak. Once only, he gave utterance.
 "Afy God! See those fellows ride!"
 "They are soldiers?'
 "Yes, yesl Good Lord lassie, but that looks like old Hays leading em. It's the Sixth, the Sixth-a squadron of the Sixth!''
 He staggered to his knees, but still held himself up, peerng over the cop ing. She knelt beside him, half sup nortinc him against her shoulder. The charging horsemen swept in out of sight below, but they could hear them crash through the underbrush, and snlasb their way across the stream. Then there echoed up to them the ringing cheer of white voices. and the dull bang of the carbines
 How they made that ascent 1t is doubtful if d trooper knows but they did. creeping from rock to rock, drag glng themselves along gullies, hauling | their bodies up by sheer strength of arm. springing, from point tc point inch by inch, foot by foot, fighting as thev advanced. firing at every skuik- inc tir1re in their front, skirting preci- nices. leaping acrfss chasms, clinging desperately to every rock or shrub, their .carbines spitting vieiously, eager only to get at hands grips with the foe. High above. Shelby and Olga caught gllmpses of toiling figures, of leuninr lets of flame. of fierce strug- :rles hand to hand. of Indians seeking 10 escape. Sharp-yoiced rifles an l suered the carbines. and a dead sol dier hung dangling over the edge ol il u,ck: another nursed bleeding arm lp the shelter of cedar. bu'