Fair play., 1921-03-19
CHAPTER XVI.
The Rock Platform.

| The Rock Platform.
Shelby had no time to think, or TO
even comprehend clearly what con
| frOnted him. There was Il second I'm
which he rammed handful of cart
| ridges into his empty gun; and then
they were on him. 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 n ball in his shoulder and staggered
| back from the blow: tomahawk
grazed his wrist, and the quick slash
of q knife ripped open leg OF his
trousers red stain discooring 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
hut 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 II, creeping far
out over the gulf. and drawing them
selves up beyond reach of his arm.
| One fell, going down with howl OF
| terror; second was struck by
speeding bullet. dead ere he went
whlrling back into the air-but the
third made II, 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
II discarded rife which dangled over
the stone coping. With one bound he
was at the edge swinging this weapon
as a woOdsman might an ak. 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 a saw
age was left for him to strike at. She
| touched him, and he whlrled, thinking
1t another enemy.
Don't, Tom, don't" she begged.
"MercIful heaven, you are all blood
Look out there! are those soldlers?
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 blum. He knew what they were
at glance; their lines steady even at
a gallop, the squirting officer in front.
the glitter of carblnes, 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 I"
"They are soldiersT
"Yes, yes Good Lord, lassIe. but
that looks like old Hays leading EN-
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 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 up to them the
ringing cheer of white voices, and the
dull bang OF the carblnes.
How they made that ascent II is
doubtful If trooper knows; but they
did. creeping from rock to rock drag.
ging themselves along gullies, hauling
their bodies up by sheer strength OF
arm. springlng 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, clinginp
desperately to every rock or shrub
their carbines splitting ylciously, 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
giles hand to hand, OF Indians seeking
to escape. Sharp-vOiced rifles an
swered the carbines, and dead sol
der hung dangling over the edge OF
a rock; another nursed bleeding
arm In the shelter of q cedar. Blu,