Cavalier County farmers press. (Langdon, N.D.) 1920-1921, 1921-03-03

Il am Sure he must be dying,
Tom," she said breathlessly. "He
scarcely breathes any more. Isn't there
any way I can help?"
"Only by doing what l asked; get
his gun. This is bound to be some
fight. I don't know how many are out
there; the bird who shot at me is be-
hind that rock yonder; he's Indian all
right; you can glimpse his scalplock
just owe the edge. If he would only
shove his nut up about half an inch
more I'd show him that a AS amt
such a bad weapon, when you know
how to S it"
He advanced, his revolver barrel
across the top, and lay motionless,
sighting along the smooth steel.
"Now, boy, you do that again. Can't
make out exactly where 1 have gone,
can you? Well, you are going to find
out in about a minute" His grip
frightened. "Ah! there you are!"
His finger pressed the. trigger, send
ing forth a squirt Of flame. A brawny
red arm was flung up, the hand grip
ping at the rock for support; then a
rifle went crashing down into the
chasm and the next instant an Indian
whirled head downward, the body
striking a narrow ledge and bouncing
off into space. Three shots answered
the crack Of the revolver, so swiftly as
the solid rock wall. one, crushed out Of
all shape, dropping directly in front
of Olga, crouching in the entrance.
Shelby laughed. but with eyes stern
and watchful.
Three more located he said pleas
antly. "Seem to have us pretty well
trapped. I'd like to know how they
got up here without using the trail. I
thought you were goin' after that ex-
ira gum"
81 am, Tom, but l can't stay in
there. I want to be out here with
you"
''Why amt in a mite O. danger,
little girl. These reds can't shoot
through this rock. All l got to do is
lie here quiet an take 'em on the
jump"
"But suppose they rush in on you?"
: 'It don't hardly look reasonable.
Still, O. course, they might try. it, If
they got a white leader. Indians never
would themselves; it's liable to cost
too heavy"
THAT is why l am coming back
she insisted. 81 told you | could
shoot
"All right" he grinned cheerfully,
come along, then; only you keep down
out of the way, and let me do the
sniping. There! now you lost me a
shot! Did you see that buck dodge
between those two rocks? He'll try
that trick again presently"
Olga came back, creeping out eau
tiously and finding a place slightly
behind where he lay. She held to
one weapon laying the other on the
rocks. together with a belt filled with
cartridges.
Shelby barely swept his eyes toward
her, his whole attention concentrated
on what was occurring below. Some
thing was taking place down there,
but exactly what could not immediate
ly be determined. He had perceived
men moving beyond range lodging
along from rock to rock, mere glimpses
of dark figures, yet plainly enough
Indians. Once he was almost sure he
distinguished a white man. through a
rift in a gully. but the feeting view
gained was not convincing. Never
theless he had no doubt but what
there were white men present. The
method of attack was too bold, and
determined, for savages alone; it was
no the Sioux idea of war. Besides
the one man who would have a real
object in this assault would be Laud.
Beyond all question it was he who
was behind the effort, urged on by
personal hatred. as well as a desire
TO gain possession of Olga. Shelby
wondered what the fellow might know.
Could he. be aware of the escape of
Macklin? and that Pancha had ridden
forth in search for help? If he did
that might account for his desperate
eagerness to overcome what resistance
L tHcS SUuiu OllCT sUclUFS SIG TGtuTucu.s
Yet probably not. for if he did know
the coward In him would cause him to
seek flight before he could be cornered
in this place. Ii was far more likely
that he believed himself opposed mere
~ by Shelby and the girl, armed with
a revolver or two, and having a lin
tied supply of ammunition. He saw
little peril in the adventure, and fig
ured that a quick, sharp rush, his war
riors leaping from covert to covert,
would win an easy victory. He would
keep up a steady rifle fire from be-
hind the rocks, forcing the defenders
70 keep under cover, and then sudden
" send a charging party to end the
affair.
Shelby smiled grlmly at the mental
picture, never turning his head as he
spoke 10 the silent girl beside him,
"How's Macklinw
"Dead. think, Tom. lie didn't