The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1921-02-26
bIack s.no.l, as the Indian rifles maze
CHAPTER XVI.
The Rock Platform.

they were on him, dozen humans -,
sy,armfng ND the face of the rock, anu -
clutching for a hold on the parapeL
He fired blindly straight into their "
faces. aware that another revolver
cracked close beside his ear yet WIN
no opportunity 10 glance about. ne
cav assailants tOpple backward
clutching fingers release their hoiu'
rifles flung high in air, and roll aoNu
tbe sIope Savage yellS blended into
cries of death agony. He felt the CLIP
of a hall in his shoulder and staggered
back from the blow; tOmahaWk
grazed his wrist. and the quick SLASH
Of knife ripped open leg OF MS
trousers. red stain discOlOring the
opening. He had glimpse of fierce. IN
furiated faces. Of waving scalplocHs'
of naked chests and arms. Fingers
/ cIutched at him, and he kicked him.
self free. Both guns empty ne bat-
tered away with the butts, smashing
at every face he saw. no desire Iell
but TO kill. before ne also was dragged
down. He knew nothing of Olga.
where she was. what she was dong
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 it. creeping FAR |
ont over the gulf. and drawing theIh-
selves up beyond reach of his arm. |
One fell, going down with howl OF |
: terror. n second was struck by a |
whirIing back into the air-but me
third made it. creeping up onto the
: narrow platform. with others surglnS
5 behind. knives gripped in their teeth
. Shelby HURLED his empty pistol INT"
: tho face of the nearest before the TEL
e ;oyc could attain his knees. and grasped
a discarded rifle which dangled over
a tt,s stone coping. With one bound he
: was at the edge swinging this weapon
n ss woOdsman might an AK, driving
G the iron stock against every head that
I, onneared. He staggered hack, breath
g less. half blinded by wound over MS
# eve. aware only that the front OF the
1t rock was swept clear. that not saw
$, age was left for him TO strike at. she
m it another enemy.
DR. Don't, Tom, don't" she begged
er 'Merciful heaven, you are all blood
is Look out therei are those sOldiersF
lg He held up the flap of skin. and
he stared where she pointed. Across the
nd white snow covering the valley beIoW'
re riding stirrup TO stirrup in VIII
to charge two lines of cavalry were
ad sweeping straight toward the foot OF
rt. the bluff. He knew what they were
ed at a glance; their lines steady even al
w. q gallon. the squirting officer in front
Id tbe glitter of carbines, the silence, lefi
res No doubt. No Indians rode like that
ed He watched them, grasping her tightly
'as IN him now. scarcely able to speak
spt Once only, he gave utterance.
Ter .Iy God See those fellows ride J
Ter They are soldiers"
nd .Yes yes! Good Lord. lassie, bu
,de that looks like old Hays leading EN-
lay Its the Sixth. the Sixth-a squadro
ne of the Sixth !!
liv- He staggered to his knees. but sti
held himself up, peering over the COZ
lse- ing. she knelt beside him, half SUI
norting him against her shoulder Tn
irit charging horsemen swept in out
SIGHT below. but they could hear theI
es," crash through the underbrush' an
and splash their way across the strear
ave Then there echoed up to them II
i've ringing cheer of white voices, and Il
ads dull bang of the carbines
der. How they made that ascent 1t
IN doubtful II trooper knows; but tn
)ris- did. creeping from rock to rock, ORA
All cling themselves along gullies. hauliI
" their bodies up by sheer strength
ak, arm. springing from point TO point
ong. inch by inch, foot by foot, fighting
the they advanced. firing at every skul
nee. ing figure in their front. skirting pre-
stir nices leaning across chasms, clingi
the desperately 10 every rock or shr'
their carbines splitting viciously, eaf
only TO get at hands grips with
foe. High above. Shelby and Oh
N caught glimpses of toiling figures.
leaping Jets of flame, of fierce STR
giles hand to hand, of Indians SEEK
n 10 escape. Sharp-voiced rifles
Nh severed the carbines, and dead
INN der hung dangling over the edge
1sTAA rock; another nursed a bleed
SIM arm In the shelter of cedar
'1t6N the unhurt came on. Some ans
1NAl them had stumbled onto the trail
llM soon a squad appeared just bel
yyTQl, They stopped and turned over
NM body of Laud. So as to see the, ms
NJ face; then tramped forward, pay
~ no heed to the dead Indians. She
4 recognized the major among them,
II arose to his feet with difficulty.
porting himself with one arm at
~ Olga's shoulder The major vas p
| ing from the exertion of the eli
4 never glancing up until brought
n halt by the rock. its foot Uttered
the dead bodies of savages.
Good God look here" he eNcii
ed excitedly. Those devils were
Y ing the price" he .choked and coug
'.Whewl that sort of thing winds
Must be getting old. sergeant, yet
Jove! I passed the test two W
ago." He cast his eyes upward.
saw the two standing just above
"Hullo Shelby we are here in
then. Some good fighting my
Here. a couple of you, give me a
:. -. | nm .,,,-~r ,,aoka IL Anime ["