The Red Cloud chief., 1921-03-17
CHAPTER XVI.
The Rock Platform.


even comprehend clearly what con-
frOnted him. There was n second In
which he rammed n handful Of cart
ridges into his empty gun; and then
they were on him, dozen Indians
swarmng 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 ball In his shoulder and staggered
back from the blow; tomahawk
grazed his wrist, and the quick slash
Of knife ripped open leg Of his
trousers, red stain dlscoloring the
opening. He had glimpse Of fierce. In
furlated faces Of waving scalplocks.
Of naked chests and arms. Fingers
clutched Mt 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
but 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 a
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 grlpped in their teeth.
Shelby hurled his empty pistol into
the face Of the nearest before the fell
low could attain his knees. and grasped
discarded rifle which dangled over
the stone coping. With one bound he
was at the edge swinging this weapon
as 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
| touched him. and he whirled, thinking
II another enemy.
"Dort, 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 stlrrup to stirrup In wild
charge, two lines of cavalry were
sweeping straight toward the foot Of
the bluff. lie knew what they were
Mt a glance; their lines steady even at
n gallop, the squirting officer In front
the glitter OF carbines, the silence, left
no doubt. No Indians rode like that
He watched them grnsping her tightly
TO him now, scarcely able to speak.
Once only. he gave uttcrance.
"My God See those fellows ride"
"Thcy are soldlers"
Eyes, yes! Good Lord, laSsie, but
that looks like old Hays leading 'em
Its the Sixth, the SiXth--a squadron
O.: the Slxthw
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 then
crash through the underbrush nnt
splash their way across the stream
Then there echoed up to them thu
ringing cheer of white voices, and tn,
dull bang Of the carblnes.
How they made that ascent II Il
doubtful If Il trooper knows; but the.
did, creeping from rock to rock drag
ging themselves along gullies, hauling
their bodies up by sheer strength o
arm, sprlnging from point to point
inch by inch, foot by foot, fighting a
they advanced, firing at every skulk
ing figure In their front, skirting precl
pices, leaping across chasms, clingin
desperately to every rock or shrut
their carbines splitting viclously, cage
only to get mt hands grips with tn
foe. High above, Shelby and dig
caught glimpses of toillng figures, Q
leaping Jets of flame, of fierce sirius
giles hand to hand, Of Indians seekin
to escape. Sharp-voIced rifles nj
, swered the carbines, and dead so
der hung dangling over the edge G
! rock; another nursed n bleedin
. arm in the shelter Of cedar. Br