The Raymer enterprise., 1921-08-04
CHAPTER XVI.
The Rock Platform.

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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 fred blindly straight into their
faces, aware that another revolver
cracked close beside his ear, yet with
no opportunity to glance about. BE
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; q tomahawk
grazed his wrist, and the quick slash
Of knife ripped open Q leg Of his
trousers, Z red stain discoloring the
opening. he had glimpse Of fierce, in-
furated 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 be saw, no desire len
but to XIII. before be 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 hght until they got him
she would keep one shot; she had
pledged that.
And the devils made II, creeping far
out over the gulf, and drawing them.
selves up beyond reach Of his arm.
One fell. going down with 4 howl Of
terror: 4 second was struck BY .
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 b., se the fel-
low could attain his knees, and grasped
q discarded rife which dangled over
the stone coping. With one bound he
was at the edge swinging this weapon
as a woodsman might an az, 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 q say.
age was left for him to strike at. She
touched him. and he whirled, thinking
II another enemy.
Don't, Tom, don't" she begged.
"Merciful heaven, you are all blood
Look out there are those soldiersT'
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 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 gallop, the squirting 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 ride!"
"They are soldiers?"
~Yes, yes! 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, s,s,ut still
held himself up. peering over the cop.
ing. She knelt beside him, half sup.
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 W to them the
ringing cheer Of Whit voices, and the
dull bang Of the carbines.
How they made that ascent II ID
doubtful II 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, lighting a
they advanced. fring at every skulk
Ing figure In their front, skirting preci
pices, leaping across chasms, cllngini
desperately to every rock or shrub
their carbines splitting viciously, easel
only to get at hands grips with ths
foe. High above, Shelby and Olgi
caught glimpses Of toiling figures, o.
leaping Jets Of fame, Of fierce strug
giles hand to hand. Of Indians seeking
to escape. Sharp-voiced rifles an
swered the carbines, and q dead sol
der hung dangling over the edge o.
q rock; another nursed a bleeding
arm " the shelter Of cedar. Bu