Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1924-06-05
cHAPT1M t.-contlnued.

For moment they listened, astound-
ed. Then Dinsdale and the gambler
were i5o0n them, both hands of each
splitting fire. The first flashes of Dins-
dale's heavy guns revealed the posi-
ton of the Indians; then it was over
before the red men had had time to
realize it had commenced.
With the crashing boom Of the big
Colts and the murderous bark Of the
derringers three of the five bucks
dropped on the canyon floor and went
to talk with the ghosts The other
two managed to crawl to one side,
bleeding profusely. Fifty rods up the
canyon Dinsdale checked the mad rush
of his horse.
'Those ahead must have heard our
guns. They'll be laying for u.s." ne
warned.
From behind them rose the ululat-
ing cry of wolf, a signal OF discov-
cry. The cry quavered and abruptly
ceased as a wounded warrior reached
the maximum OF effort.
'That tells the others the whole
story We must be out Of this before
dRylight-and no turning back. HI,
girl how many were there of them r
The girl moaned Historically and
clutched the speakers waist more
tightly. Dinsdale reached back and
pinched her ear. and commanded:
"Stop that noise. How many jumped
you?'
They fired from the sky. They
killed Belman and his wife. They
killed the Stacey brothers. Young
Dawley fred back They dropped
from the sky and used clubs Obi
Oh Oil With clubs! Young Dawley.
A dozen, like pictures Of devils. Out
OF the black sky almost into our fire.
Call it thirteen" said Dinsdale to
his companion.
give or six out Of 1t already. Six
or seven left Not enough for break
fast Load up and get going, Pete"
snarled the gambler.
"A moment I'm loaded. Stop your
noise, girl, or they'll have your scalp"
On swept the horses at gallop.
They plunged recklessly down steep
grade, and their riders were blind
men because of the velvet darkness
Then appeared a slight suggestion Of
light ahead, and this when reached
became an abrupt turn In the canyon
wall
Rounding it, they beheld the source
OF the faint illuminations-a rosy bed
of Goals, with flames licking through
the charred embers of two wagons
The ground was strewn with boxes
and bales, and the horses had been
butchered! But what constituted a
more horrible litter were the mutilated
forms within the zone Of light.
The girl had named four dead men
and one woman. Her rescuers count
ed nine stark figures, which meant the
Belman outfit had been wiped out with
the exception Of one-the girl.
Watch sharpl" yelled San Juan,
galloping into the lead with the reins
in his teeth and his derringers ready.
There was no sign Of the enemy on
the canyon floor, and the riders de-
voted their attention to the walls of
broken rock now family illumined by
the fire. Thirty feet up and on the
right-hand side something moved and
dislodged pebbles.
Instantly Dinsdale threw up a gun
and began firing. With the third bull
let a savage rolled down the uneven
slope and sprawled grotesquely across
a boulder. He wore three feathers Of
the golden, or war, eagle in his long
black hair. The red paint along the
median line Of the hair was conspicu-
GUS.
To count coup Dinsdale bent low to
one side, and the girl screamed for
him not to drag her from the horse.
He snatched away the feathers, only
to drop them as several bullets whis-
tied about his head.
San Juan Joe was firing at the left
band wall. Rifles beloved an answer.
dilling the canyon with crashing echoes.
A dead warrior, his head smashed by
a heavy derringer bullet, hung over
q rock, his hands hanging down as If
he were trying to reach the rifle lust
below him. Then in a few mighty
springs the frightened horses turned
a bend in the road and leaped into
the darkness. Dinsdale felt the girls
arms relaxing. Replacing his belt
guns, he reached around and caught
her just as she began to topple into
the road. He pulled her around in
front of him and placed hand over
her heart. She still lived.
After mile Of reckless travelling
the men drew rein and listened. There
was no sound Of pursuit. Then the
gambler said:
"It's near here. Can you hear it?
Running water on the right. The
spring where the Metz family was
wiped out. Five men and two women. %
The girl gave little shiver and be-
gan to weep.
"She's come to her senses" Dins-
dale announced. "Get some water
and perhaps she'll feel better. Are
you hurt, girl? And what's your
name?"
Il amt hurtI Wish was dead. I'm
Lottie Carl" she moaned "They
dropped down out of the sky and be-
gan shooting. The Stacey boys were