Evening star., 1936-03-08
THIS WEEK
Thunder on the Plains

spotted, tnelr copper DOdlcS SHINING,
their great head-dresses of tall, colored
feathers streaming in fantastic beauty,
rode in a vast circle around the wagon
train. This was their usual beginning,
the fierce playing with their intended
victims as cat plays with 4 mouse
Hold your fire." warned Captain
Sillard, until you can see their
ponies eyes. And pick your man"
Under her daughters wagon lay
Ellen Pendergast, her face as grim as
any mans. Cautions gun was in her
hands, its ancient muzzle pointed out
above the precious trunk that held the
lost girls hnery, the red dress with the
pretty yellow sprigs, her best hoops
folded round. the nightgowns with
the knitted lace at neck and wrist
band. Ellen Pendergast was a good
woman. well grounded in faith. but
she meant to sell her daughter as
dearly as she could. Her one boy
crouched beside her, white as milk.
but his fathers son. John Pendergast
was brave man.
"Wah -hah !Wah-hah !Wah-h-o-o-ow
the Apache war-cry sounded in the
dawn. The long roll of their running
horses shook the ground.
The great whirlpool of the racing
savages grew trifle smaller with the
completion of every circle The yelling
rose steadily in volume. Outnum-
bering the defenders of the wagon
train by three to one, these painted
terrors counted out the wagons.
horses, oxen to be shared among them
and were fiercely joyous. They swung
under their ponies necks and made
derisive gestures.
And then thin flights of arrows
began to whistle in the stiffness, to
stick in the wagons canvas tops, the
wood of their sides. They were winged
death. their shafts gay with bright
feathers. One. finding narrow open
ing between the wagons, struck an OK
behind the ear and the weary animal
knelt meekly down and died.
"Cap'n! Cap'n!" yelled Gram'paw
Harkness, dancing in fury. Git me
another gun! Two on 'em! This here
blunderbuss o mine is goin' to be so
hot direk'ly it's goin' t hamper me.
That was Gerry, my best oxr'
Gravely Captain Sillard brought
the ancient man a second gun and
saw him wriggle back to position
under his sons wagon. 1t was Gram
paw Harkness who fired the first shot
in the battle that followed and which
brought down the gayest warrior of
the horde, chief by every sign, And
then the guns began to speak from the
barricade, wild and steady fusillade
that took its toll from the racing
circle, only to find the gaps constantly
filled, the pouring mass unchanged.
The Reverend Asa laid aside his
precious Book and got himself gun.
He prayed as he fired. but he fired
steadily.
A boy came running to ask him to
come to the far side of the train where
William Jacks was dying, The
preacher drew a swinging bead, killed
an Indian, picked up his Book and
went with the lad.
Ellen Pendergast accounted for five
before she had to cool her gun. Her
husband came once to see how she was
faring and laid quiet hand on her
shoulder. Good work, my girl" he
told her, using the strongest endear-
ment of their lives. You're good as
airy man."
II had a girl-child once" said Ellen
Pendergast, and that was all.
Here and there among the wagon
people, things began to happen, awful
things that took old Doctor Bardon
running here and there. kept the
Reverend Asa from his vantage point
There were few dead outside; for those
wonderful riders on the painted ponies
swung down and got them as they fell