The Holbrook news., 1921-08-05
black smoke, as the Indian rifles made
CHAPTER XVI.
The Rock Platform.

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 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
 the slope. Savage yells blended into
 cries of death agony He felt the clip
 of a ball in his shoulder and staggered
 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- furiated 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 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 get him she would keep one shot; she had pledged that.
 And the devils made 1t, creeping far out over the gulf, and drawing them selves up beyond reach of his arm. | One fell, going down with a howl of terror; second was struck by 1 speeding bullet. dead ere he went whirling back into the air-but the third made it, creeping up onto the narrow platform. with others surging behind. knives gripped in their teeth. Shelby hurled his empty pistol into the face of the nearest before the fel- low could attain his knees, and grasped discarded rifle which dangled over the stone coping. With one bound he was at the edge swinging this weapon as a woOdsman might an ax, driving the iron stock against every head that appeared. He staggered back, breath less, half blinded by wound over his eye, aware only that the front of the rock was swept clear, that not say age was left for him to strike at. She touched him, and he whirled, thinking 1t another enemy.
 Don't, Tom, don'tI'' 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 stirrup to stirrup in a wild charge, two lines of cavalry were sweeping straight toward the foot of the bluff He knew what they were at glance; their lines steady even at a gallop, 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.
 My God See those fellows rideI"
 "They are soldiers?"
 "Yes, yesl Good Lord, lassie, but that looks like old Hays leading 'em. Its the Sixth, the Sixth-a squadron of the Sixth!'
 He staggered to his knees. but still held himself up, peering over the cop ing. She knelt beside him, half SUD- porting him against her shoulder. The charging horsemen swept in out of sight below, but they could hear them crash through the underbrush, and splash 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 a trooper knows; but they did, creeping from rock to rock, drag ging themselves along gullies, hauling their bodies up by sheer strength of arm, springing from point to point inch by inch, foot by foot, fighting as they advanced, firing at every skulk- ing figure in their front, skirting preci- pices, leaping across chasms, clinging desperately to every rock or shrub, their carbines splitting yiciOusly, eager only to get at hands grips with the foe. High above, Shelby and Olga caught glimpses of tOiling figures, of leaping jets of flame, of fierce strug- gles hand to hand, of Indians seeking to escape. Sharp-vOiced rifles an swered the carbines, and a dead sol dier hung dangling over the edge of a rock; another nursed a bleeding arm in the shelter of a cedar. But | the unhurt came on. Some among them had stumbled onto the trail. for | soon a squad appeared just below. They stopped and turned over the | body of Laud, so as to see the mans | face; then tramped forward, paying | no heed to the dead Indians Shelby | recognized the major among them, and | arose to his feet with difficulty, SUD- porting himself with one arm about | Olga's shoulder. The major was pant ing from the exertion of the climb. | never glancing up until brought to a halt by the rock, its foot filtered with the dead bodies of savages.
 Good God look here," he exclaim- ed excitedly. "Those devils were pay ing the price," he choked and coughed. 'WhewI that sort of thing winds me. Must be getting old, sergeant, yet. by love! I passed the test two weeks ago." He cast his eyes upward, and | saw the two standing inst ahova him