Evening star., 1924-01-06

the bluff under cover. This, in case
they should not be able to extermi-
nate the Indians with shell fire. So
disastrous had been the outcome of
the first two attacks on the bluff that
orders were issued from headQuarters
forbidding the mounties to make any
further raids. Enough lives had been
lost; it was realized that field op-
erations must now be adopted.
X X r n
A S the stiffness Of night settled over
the tragic field on Friday eve
ming. Almighty Voice shouted over to
the troops in Cree: I'VE have had a
good fight today. I have fought hard
and I am hungry. You have plenty
of food: send me some. and tomorrow
we will hnish the fight"
Early the next morning a crow flew
over the bush. Tang went AL
mighty Voices gun. and the crow
dashed headlong into the bush. One
of the Mounties remarked. Isn't it
funny; that fellow never wastes a
bullet. Something falls every time he
shoots"
Almighty Voices old mother had
stood on top of the rise just back Of
the bluff all day shouting encourage
ment to her son. She recounted the
bold exploits Of his father and of
his grandfather. Chief One Arrow.
and she urged him to die the brave he
had shown himself to be. He an
swered her affectionately from time
to time, informing her how he was
faring.
After the two attacks on Friday, he
said. he and his boy cousin had dug a
hole, got into 1t and covered 1t over
with brush. Two mounted police lay
dead ten feet from this pit, he said.
He had taken their guns and ammu-
milton and thrown away his old muz-
zleloader. (This latter crude weapon
up to this time had accounted for all
his victims, however.)
"I am eating the bark of the trees;
I am almost starving. I have dug as
far as my arm will reach, but can get
no water. But do not fear; shall
hold out"
Excitement had become intense in
the surrounding countryside. as all
day Saturday fresh troops were arriv-
ing on the field from Regina, Prince
Albert and Duck Lake. The whole
citizenry OF northern Saskatchewan
seemed to have fiocked there over
night.
DR.. Stewart. who still practices at
Duck Lake, and who owns the last
gun used by Almighty Voice. was one
nf ho ha win o
body Of the gallant Corp. Hockin
from the edge of the bluff. Constable
O'Kelly. ''the fighting Irishman.
with his field glasses discovered the
body of the corporal, and he believed
that he had seen it move. He called
for a volunteer to make a dash with
him down the hill and across the low
, land to the bluff to attempt a rescue.
Jumping into a blackboard. the doctor
and the constable went down the hill
as fast as their horse would run.
o'Kelly piled the limp form in the
back of the rig while DR.. Stewart
sprang out and held the horse. They
whirled around and beat a galloping
retreat through shower of bullets,
one of which removed a spur from
one of the constable's boots.
DR.. Stewart attributes O'Kelly's
escape to the fact that he kept dane
ing from position to position both on
the ground and in the blackboard.
And he ascribes his own escape to the
fact that Almighty Voice knew him
very we'll and desisted from taking
a shot at him as he stood holding the
horse.
HE could have made quick work OF
me II he had wanted to- said the
doctor, but he knew that I was there
as a medical attendant"
X X y
DY Saturday evening the field guns
- a nine-pounder and a seven
FOUNDER, were well in place, and at 9
o'clock the first shells were sent thun-
dering into the bluff.
The second shot got the range, and
the rest went plump into the spot
! where the fugitives were known to
be ensconced.
When the barrage had ceased AL
mighty Voice shouted, you have
done well, but you will have to do
better"
Darkness settled quickly over the
landscape. and silence as sickening
as the whining, laundering shells OF
a few minutes before bored itself into
the very soul Of the volunteers
Men heard each other breathing
one OF them related to me. Creeping
II behind the thoughts Of their own
dead comrades came tho half-sad