Licking Valley courier., 1921-06-02

had got IN here ahead to5f 'ds, do your
he asked anxiously.
mo, senor," earnestly grasping his
arm. "Eet is not that. know; they
fight up the canyon. Listen, eet is over
there the sound. They try to capture
SenOr Shelby; If we 60 quick we save
them; we wait, maybe all be dead.
Now we get all in the rocks, so none
get away"
II see." He looked at her keenly:
then stepped back to where the men
were clustered. captain. scatter
these lads out about that house there's
move quickly, and see that no one gets
away. Stiles, run back and have the
squadron move. forward. Bring up
your horses"
The men dashed forward In half
circle, the major, with Pancha at his
shoulder advancing close behind them,
his objective the open door. No soon.
er had they broken cover when the
alarm sounded; a muffled voice yelled
excitedly; rife or two cracked;
soldier running rapidly, plunged for.
ward on his face, and lay still. Then
white and red surged crowdlne
through the door, surprised, trapped
crazy to escape. Only one among
them dared the venture In face of
those leyeled carbines. A tall, gaunt
white renegade, with red whiskers
and one arm In sling, his uninjured
hand gripping a revolver, leaped from
the front step in reckless endeavor
to get out of sight around the corner
Of the cabin. The major flung up, his
arm and fired. the fellow whirling
about In his stride and stumbling as he
fell! He got upon one knee again, and
the ".45" spat twice viclously before
a trooper sent bullet crashing into
his brain. Hays felt the zipp Of lead
past his face, but stood erect, unhurt.
Behind him Pancha uttered a startled
sob and sank slowly onto the snow.
He sprang back and caught her, hold.
ing her head up on his knee, his eyes
staring down into her white, upturned
face. She breathed once-that was
all; never spoke, never moved, except
for the slight tremor Of her slender
form In his arms. The major laid her
softly down, his own face drawn and
white with sudden passion. and strobe
across to where the slain outlaw lay
in a huddled heap. An instant he
looked down at the brutal face, obllv.
lous to all else.-
"D-n your he muttered In use
less rage. Il wish I'd killed your
Then he turned suddenly, the spirit
Of the soldier in the ascendancy.
""Deploy your men, Captain Giles"
he commanded, his voice hard and
stern. "Swlng them into line. Leave
q squad here under O sergeant. Live.
", boys; that is one Of our old lads
lighting those devils over yonder.
Now we're going to strike in, and d-n
me, If care If you never take a pris-
oner Good give me my horse. All
readyP Bugler, sound the charged"
They swept forward on a, walk.
then trot, spreading out onto long,
double line, as they swung into the
more open valley, riding knee to knee,
The men, bending forward In their stir
rups, with left hand grasping the
reins, the right gripping the short car.
bines. A hundred yards and they were
at the gallop, blue torrent, at the
heels Of their leader; tearing through
weeds and underbrush, spurring reck.
iessly into and over the. creek, dashing
up the other bank to the very foot Of
the bluff beyond. It was then the ma.
jor saw the uselessness of It. He
whirled with upllfted saber.
Flight on foot. Horse-holders to the
rear. Come on, ladsl" he shouted, his
voice pealing above even the thud Of
hoofs. "Get up there some way, you
terriers, and give those red devils
hip
They came forward at a run, yelling
MS they came, and leaped In among the
rocks, their carblnes beginning to spit
as they clambered upward. Overhead
we're skurrying figures, and spurts Of
black smoke, as the Indian rifles made
answer.