CHAPTER IX.
THE ATTACK.
Startled suddenly from his sleep, it was indeed a dreadful sight, andone calculated to shake the nerves of many an old soldier, that greetedPike's eyes as he peered over the rocky parapet in front of him. Oneglance was sufficient. Looking down behind the wall, he seized Jim bythe throat, shaking him vigorously and at the same time placing hisother hand over his mouth so that he might make no outcry. "Wake up,Jim! Wake up! and see what your faithlessness has brought upon us! Lookdown the hill here! Look through that loophole and see what you'vedone!"
Terrified, with his eyes starting from their sockets, Jim obeyed, andhis black face showed in an instant the full realization of the scenebefore him.
"Now, is your rifle all ready?" whispered Pike. "Don't rouse those poorlittle people in there until we have to. They must stay way back in thecave. Now, observe strictly what I tell you: I want you to aim at thetaller of those two Indians who are the leaders. Do not fire until Igive the word; but be sure you hit. Recollect now, you've got to firedown hill, and the bullets fly high. Aim below his waistband, thenyou'll probably strike him either through the heart or the upper chest.Now, go to your loophole and stay there. Are you ready, Jim?"
"I'm ready, boss. Just wait one minute until I get my rifle throughhere."
Kneeling beside his own loophole, Pike once more looked down the hill.Not over a hundred yards away--crouching along, following step by stepthe trail that he and Jim had made--pointing with their long bonyfingers at every mark on the ground or upon the trees--two lean,keen-eyed, sinewy Apaches were slowly and silently moving up themountain side in a direction that would take them diagonally across thefront of the hill. Behind them, among the trees and bowlders, and spreadout to the right and left, came others,--all wary, watchful, silent,--asnoiseless and as stealthy in their movements as any panther couldpossibly be. Pike could see that they were armed mostly with rifles. Heknew that very few of them had breech-loaders at that time; but stillthat there were some among them which they had obtained by murdering androbbing helpless settlers, or mail messengers.
With abundant ammunition close at hand, with the advantage of positionand the fact that he meant to have the first fire, Pike calculated thatthe moral effect would be such that he could drive them back, and thatthey would not resume the attack until after a consultation amongthemselves. The two who were so far in front of the others were steadilyapproaching the little barricade, only the top of which could readily beseen from below and was hardly distinguishable from the general mass ofrocks and bowlders by which it was surrounded.
He knew it could not be long, however, before the quick eyes of theApaches detected it, and that they would know at once what it meant."However," thought Pike, "before they see it those two villains in frontwill be near enough for us to have a sure shot, and then, I don't carehow soon they know we're here. Now, Jim," he whispered, "watch yourman!--recollect--you aim at that tall fellow on your own side,--I'lltake the little, skinny cuss--the one who is just turning towards usnow. They are not more than seventy-five yards away. Aim low!"--Therewas a moment of breathless silence. "Are you ready, Jim?" whisperedPike.
"Yes, all ready, corporal."
"All right!--One minute now--get you a good aim!--Draw your bead onhim!--Wedge your rifle in the rock, if necessary! Got it?"
"I think so, corporal."
"All right then! _Fire!_"
Bang! bang! rang out almost simultaneously the reports of two rifles.The smoke floated upward. Pike and Jim had the good sense not to attemptto lift their heads or peer over the barriers, but to content themselveswith looking through the loopholes. One look revealed the scene. "Thelittle, skinny cuss," as Pike had called him, clasping his hands to hisbreast, had fallen head foremost among the rocks up which he wasclimbing. But the tall Indian, giving a spring like that of a cat, hadleaped behind a bowlder full ten feet away from him, and the nextinstant,--bang! went his rifle, and a bullet whizzed overhead andstruck, flattening itself upon the rocks.
"Oh, you've missed him, Jim," said Pike, reproachfully. "Now, look outfor the others!"
The rest of the Apaches, hearing the shots, with the quickness ofthought, had sprung for shelter behind the neighboring trees or rocks.Not one of their number, by this time, failed to know just where theseshots had come from; and in a minute more, from all over the hillsidebelow, thick and fast, the reports of the rifles were ringing on themorning air and the bullets came singing about the stone parapet, someof them chipping off little fragments from the top of the parapetitself, but most of them striking the great mass of rocks overhead anddoing no harm whatever, except to spatter little fragments of lead uponthe parapet and its gallant defenders.
"Watch for them! Keep your eyes peeled, Jim! Every time you see a heador an arm or a body coming from behind a rock or tree, let drive at it!It will give the idea that there are more of us up here than we reallyhave, and we've got all the ammunition we can possibly use. Don't beafraid! I'll tell you when to save your cartridges. There's one now!Watch him!" Bang! went Pike's rifle. It was a good shot; for they couldsee that the bullet barked the tree just where the Apache was standing;but apparently it did no harm to the Indian himself; for the answeringshot of his rifle was prompt, and the bullet whizzed dangerously near.
"That fellow's a cool hand!" said Pike. "Watch him, Jim, you're a littlefurther that way. He'll be out again in a minute. What's the reason yourman hasn't fired?--the man behind the rock that I told you to kill?"
"Because I'm certain that I hit him," said Jim, "and I reckon by thistime he isn't doing any more shooting."
"Watch carefully, anyhow," was the reply. "They'll soon try, when theyfind there are very few of us, to crawl up the hill upon us. Then's thetime you've got to note every movement! See! there comes one fellowbehind that rock now. He's crawling on all fours. Thinks we can't seehim. Now just hold on until he comes around that little ledge!--I'lltake him! I've got him! Now!"
And again Pike's rifle rang out, and to his intense delight the Indiansprang to his feet--staggered an instant--and then fell all in a heap,huddled up around the roots of the tree which he was just striving toreach. Some one down among the Indians gave a yell of dismay. Evidentlythe one who was shot was a man of some prominence among them--possibly achief.
EVIDENTLY THE ONE WHO WAS SHOT WAS A MAN OF SOMEPROMINENCE AMONG THEM--POSSIBLY A CHIEF.]
"They'll try and haul his body out of the way, Jim. Watch for at leastone or two of them coming up there! He may be only wounded, and they'lltry to get him into safety. If they do--fire at the first man you see!"
Another minute, and then both the rifles blazed again. Two daring youngIndians had made a rush forward, and had attempted to seize theirwounded comrade; but the shots of the rifles whistling close about theirears, caused them to desist, to throw themselves on their faces, andthen to roll or crawl away behind the adjacent rocks. Evidently theydidn't care to expose themselves to the chance of further loss. TwoIndians lying dead, and one over behind a rock possibly wounded, wasenough to discourage even an Apache.
"They'll show again in a minute, though, Jim. Keep watch! They won't goaway and leave those two bodies there if they can possibly helpthemselves. Some of them will stay. Of course, they'll have aconsultation and then see if they can't get at us from the flank or fromthe rear. They can't; but they don't know it. That'll be their nextgame."
And so for the next five or ten minutes the siege was carried on, Jimand the old corporal watching the hillside, but meantime there wasconsternation back in the cave. Poor old Kate mingled moaning withprayers and tears; little Nellie, frightened, of course, as any childwould be, lay sobbing with her head buried in Kate's lap. But Ned, bravelittle man that he was, had grasped his rifle, the Ballard, of which somuch has already been said, and, crouching eagerly forward, before Pikeknew it, the boy was close beside him at the stone wall, and had placedhis hand upon his arm.
"Corporal, let me come in here beside you, there's room for another. Do
let me have one shot at them? Papa would if he were here, and I knowit!"
This was altogether too much for Kate to bear. She dare not comeforward, but from the dark recess in which she and Nellie were hidden,her cries and prayers broke forth again:
"For the love of all the saints, corporal, don't let that boy stay outthere! Bring him back here to me! His father would kill me if anythinghappened to him! Oh, listen to me, Pike! Send the boy back again! Makehim come!"
But so far from paying any attention to Kate's admonition, Pike turnedwith kindling eyes and patted the little fellow on the shoulder: "You'reyour father's own boy? Ned, and you shall stay here with me for thepresent at least, and if there should be a chance of a shot--one I cangive you without exposing you--I'm going to let you have it. Kneel lowdown there, and don't lift your head above the parapet whatever you do!Stay just where you are."
With that the old trooper, whose rifle was still projecting through theloophole, again turned his attention to the Indians lurking among therocks and bowlders down the hill. The two bodies still lay there--Jim'srifle covering them and threatening any Indians who might attempt todrag them away.
Every now and then, a black head would appear from behind some tree, butthe instant it did so the darkey's rifle would ring out, the bulletwould go whistling close beside it, the head would pop suddenly back,and Jim as promptly would re-load his rifle.
It was beginning to grow monotonous. The Indians--probably because theyknew they were only wasting their scanty ammunition--had ceased firing,and were evidently calling to one another and signaling from behind therocks and trees where they had taken refuge. So long as they remaineddown there in front Pike had no possible concern. His only fear, as hasbeen said, was that they should make a combined rush. If they were tohave sense enough to do that, and ignore the probability of losing threeor four of their number in the attempt, it would be all over with thelittle party in the cave.
But the corporal had served too long among the Apaches to greatly dreadany such move. They were already shaken by the severity of theirreception and of their losses. He knew that they could not be aware thatonly two men and a little boy constituted the whole force of thedefenders, for they would have come with a rush long before.
Their plan now would doubtless be to leave a few of their number infront to keep the besieged in check while the greater part of the bandsurrounded the big ledge and sought a means of getting at the littlegarrison from flank or rear.
What he hoped for was a chance of dealing them one more blow before theycould crawl back out of range and presently the opportunity came. Two orthree of the band who were farthest to the rear had managed to slip backsome distance down the hill and occasional glimpses could now be caughtof them as they stealthily made their way out towards the western slope.It was not long before their dirty white breech-clouts could bedistinguished as they slowly and cautiously came creeping up hill.
"By George! Jim," muttered the old man with the ejaculation that withhim supplied the place of trooper profanity--"I believe you're rightabout your Indian. You probably wounded him and he's lying behind thatrock now, and those fellows are coming up to help him. Don't fire!They're too far away for a down-hill shot. Wait till I tell you. Now,Ned, my boy, run back and comfort Nellie a minute. I don't want you herewhere a glancing shot might hit you. The moment we get them started onthe run, I'll call you."
Ned looked far from satisfied with the proposition, but the corporal wasthe commanding officer, and there was nothing to do but obey. He wentreluctantly. "Mind, corporal, you've promised I should have a shot," hesaid, and Pike nodded assent, although he could not turn from hisloophole. Another minute and the Henry rifle barked its loud challengedown the slope, and the old trooper's keen, set features relaxed in agrin.
"Now they've got two to lug," he muttered to Jim. "Lord! See that beggarroll over those rocks!"
Again there came yells and shots from down the hill but both wereharmless. Cowed, apparently, by the sharp shooting of the defenders, theApaches who had sought to rescue their wounded mate continued in hidingbehind the rocks where they had taken shelter. The others, farther tothe east, were slipping back as fast as they could, but studiouslykeeping out of sight of those death-dealing loopholes. Presently it wasapparent to the corporal that a number of them had got together far downthe hill and were holding excited controversy, probably as to the bestmeans of getting possession of their dead friends and then, their livingenemies. Pike looked at his watch. It was half after seven and they hadbeen fighting an hour.
And now came a lull. Once in a long while some one of the besiegerswould let drive a bullet at the loopholes, but Apache shooting was neverof the best and though the lead spattered dangerously near, "the miss,"quoth Pike, "is as good as any number of miles." On the other hand,whenever or wherever an Indian head, leg or arm appeared, it wasinstantly saluted by one, sometimes two, quick shots, and there could beno doubt whatever that the palefaces, as the Tontos supposed them all tobe, were fully on the alert.
"Now, Jim, it won't be long before they will be showing around on allsides. Pile on a few more stones above that loophole that looks to thewest. The next thing you know there'll be a head and a gun poked outfrom behind that shoulder of rock beyond you. I'll watch my side andkeep a look on down the hill, too."
And now the hours seemed to drag with leaden weight. All was silencearound them, yet Pike knew that this made their danger only the moreimminent. He could nowhere see a sign of their late assailants exceptthe stiffening bodies down the hill, but he had not a doubt that whilesome watched the front, most of them, making wide detours, were nowlurking on every side, and looking for a possible opening. Every now andthen he had to give a quick glance over his shoulder to see that Jim wasalert and watchful. It would not do to have him fall asleep now. Andthen once in a while he listened, God only knows how wistfully, for thesound of cavalry coming across the westward plain. It surely was timefor Sieber and the troops to be coming if the former had carried out hisintentions. Pike could see nothing of the road towards Jarvis Pass andonly a glimpse here and there of the plateau itself. The foliage in thelarger trees was too thick. He longed to clamber to his watch-tower butfelt well assured that one step outside the parapet would make him atarget for the Indian rifles. First as an experiment he put his hat on astick and cautiously raised it above their barricade. Two bulletsinstantly "zipped" over his head and dropped flat as pancakes from therock overhead. The experiment was conclusive.
At last the straining ears of the watchers were attracted by strangesounds. Low calls in savage tongue from down the hill were answered onboth sides and from above. The Indians had evidently thoroughly"reconnoitred" the position, and had found that there was actually noplace around the rock from which they could see and open fire on thebesieged. The sun was now high overhead. Odd sounds as of draggingobjects began to be heard from the top of the rock, and this was kept upfor fully an hour. Neither Pike nor Jim could imagine what it meant, butneither dared for an instant to leave his post.
It must have been eleven o'clock and after, when, all of a sudden, ablack shadow rushed through the air, and Pike started almost to his feetas a huge log fell from above and bounded from the jagged rocks in frontof them. Then came another, tumbling one upon the other, wedging andjostling, and speedily rising in a huge pile several feet high. More andmore they came; then smaller ones; then loose dry branches and roots inquantities. And then, as the great heap grew and grew, an awful thoughtoccurred to the old trooper. At first it seemed as though the Indiansmeant to try and form a "curtain," sheltered by which they could crawlupon their foes; but when the brushwood came, a fiercer, far moredreadful purpose was revealed. "My God!" he groaned, "they mean to roastus out."
ALL OF A SUDDEN A BLACK SHADOW RUSHED THROUGH THE AIR.]
CHAPTER X.
LITTLE NED'S SHOT.
From the babel of voices that reached old Pike's ears every now andthen, and the bustle and noise going on overhead, he judged that theremus
t be twenty or thirty Indians busily engaged in the work of heapingup firewood in front of the cave. The mountain side, as he well knew,was thickly strewn with dry branches, dead limbs, uprooted trees and allmanner of combustible material, and the very warriors who, when aroundtheir own "rancheria," would have disdained doing a stroke of work ofany kind, were now laboring like so many beavers to add to the greatpile that was already almost on a level with the breastwork and not morethan eight feet away. Some of the logs first thrown had rolled off andscattered down the slope, but enough had remained to make a surefoundation, and once this was accomplished the rest was easy work.
Poor Jim looked around imploringly at his superior.
"Ain't dey some way to stop that, corporal?" he asked.
"Don't you worry, Jim," was the prompt reply. "It will take them an hourmore at least to get it big enough and then 'twill do no great harm. Wecan knock down our barricade so that they can't use it and fall backinto the cave where it's dark and cool and where the smoke and flamecan't reach us. Keep your eyes on your corner, man!" But though he spokereassuringly, the old soldier felt a world of anxiety. Under cover ofthat huge heap of brushwood, growing bigger every minute, it would soonbe possible for the Indians from below to crawl unseen close upon them,and set fire to the mass.
Even now he felt certain that there were several of the more daring ofthe Apaches lurking just around the corners which he and Jim were sofaithfully guarding. The negro seemed so utterly abashed at his havingbeen overcome by sleep during the hour before the dawn, and possibly sorefreshed by that deep slumber, that now he was vigilance itself.
Within the cave old Kate had seen, of course, the falling of the logsand brushwood, and though she could not comprehend their object itserved to keep in mind that their savage foes were all around her andher little charges, and to add to her alternate prayer and wailing.Unable to leave his post, Pike could only call sternly to her from timeto time to cry shame upon her for frightening Nellie so, and to remindher that they had shot five Indians without getting a scratchthemselves. "We can stand 'em off for hours yet, you old fool," he said,"and the boys from Verde are sure to get here to-day." And whether itwas "old" or the "fool" in Pike's contemptuous remark, that stirred herresentment, it certainly resulted that Kate subsided into suffering andindignant protest. Then Ned's brave, boyish voice was heard.
"Corporal! Can't I come to you now? I'm no good here and I'm sick of therow Kate keeps up. You said you'd let me come back."
"Wait a few minutes, Ned. I want to be sure they are not sneaking aroundthese corners," was the reply, followed almost instantly by the bang ofPike's carbine. Kate gave a suppressed shriek and the corporal a shoutof exultation. Encouraged by the sound of his voice to suppose that theguard on the east side of the barrier was neglecting his watch, a daringyoung Apache crawled on all fours around the foot of the rock to take anobservation. The black head came in view even as Pike was speaking andthe fierce eyes peered cautiously at the breastwork, but the corporalnever moved a muscle, and the savage, believing himself unseen, crawledstill further into view, until half his naked body was in sight from thenarrow slit through which the old trooper was gazing. The brown muzzleof the cavalry carbine covered the creeping "brave," and the nextinstant the loud report went echoing over the gorge and the Indian, withone convulsive spring, fell back upon the ground writhing in the agoniesof death. In striving to drag the body of his comrade back behind therock another Tonto ventured to show head and shoulder, and came withinan ace of sharing his fate, for Pike's next shot whistled within an inchof the flattened nose, and Apache number two dodged back with wonderfulquickness, and did not again appear.
This would tend to keep them from sneaking around that particularcorner, thought Pike, and he only wished that Jim could have similarluck on his side, but the Indians had grown wary. Time and again theveteran glanced down the hill to see if there was any sign of theircrawling upon him from below, but that threatening pile of brushwood nowhid most of the slope from his weary, anxious eyes. The crisis could notbe long in coming.
"O God!" he prayed, "save these little children. Bring us aid."
Poor old Pike! Even as the whispered words fell from his lips a low,crackling sound caught his ear. Louder it grew, and, looking suddenly tothe left, he saw a thin curl of smoke rising through the branches andgaining every instant in volume. Louder, louder snapped the blazingtwigs. Denser, heavier grew the smoke. Then tiny darts of flame cameshooting upward through the top of the pile and then yells of triumphand exultation rang from the rock above and the hillside below. A minuteor two more, and while the Indians continued to pour fresh fuel fromabove, the great heap was a mass of roaring flame and the heat becameintolerable. A puff of wind drove a huge volume of smoke and flamedirectly into Jim's nook in the fortification, and with a shout that hecould hold on no longer the negro dropped back into the cave, rubbinghis blinded eyes.
"DOWN WITH THESE STONES, NOW!"]
"Come back, Jim! Quick!" shouted Pike. "Down with these stones, now!Kick them over!--but watch for Indians on your side. Down with 'em!" andsuiting action to the word the old soldier rolled rock after rock downtowards the blazing pyre, until his side of the parapet was almostdemolished. Half blinded by smoke and the scorching heat, he lost sightfor a moment of the shoulder of the ledge on the east side. Two secondsmore and it might have been all over with him, for now, relying on thefierce heat to drive the defenders back, a young Apache had steppedcautiously into view, caught sight of the tall old soldier pushing andkicking at the rocks, and, quick as a cat, up leaped the rifle to hisshoulder. But quicker than any cat--quick as its own flash--theresounded the sudden crack of a target rifle, the Indian's gun flew up andwas discharged in mid-air, while the owner, clapping his hand to hisface, reeled back out of sight. The bullet of the little Ballard hadtaken him just under the eye, and as Pike turned in amazement at thedouble report, saw the Apache fall, and then turned to his left--thereknelt little Ned, his blue eyes blazing, his boyish form quivering withexcitement and triumph. Pike seized him in his arms and fairly kissedthe glowing face. "God bless you, my boy! but you are a little soldierif there ever was one!" was his cry. "Now all three of us must watch thefront. Keep as far forward as you can, Jim. We've got to hold thosehounds back--until the boys come!"
THE BULLET OF THE LITTLE BALLARD HAD TAKEN HIM JUST UNDERTHE EYE.]
Until the boys come! Heavens! When would that be? Here was the daynearly half spent and no sign of relief for the little party battling sobravely for their lives at Sunset Pass. Where--where can the father be?Where is Al Sieber? Where the old comrades from Verde?
Let us see if we cannot find them, and then, with them, hasten to therescue.
Far over near Jarvis Pass poor Captain Gwynne had been lying on theblankets the men eagerly spread for him, while the surgeon with CaptainTurner's troops listened eagerly to the details of the night's work, andat the same time ministered to his exhausted patient. Turner, the otherofficers, and their favorite scout held brief and hurried consultation.It was decided to push at once for Sunset Pass; to leave Captain Gwynnehere with most of his nearly worn-out escort; to mount the six Hualpaitrailers they had with them on the six freshest horses, so as to getthem to the scene of the tragedy as soon as possible, and then to startthem afoot to follow the Apaches. In ten minutes Captain Turner, withLieutenant Wilkins and forty troopers, was trotting off eastwardfollowing the lead of Sieber with his swarthy allies. Ten minutes moreand Captain Gwynne had sufficiently revived to be made fully aware ofwhat was going on, and was on his feet again in an instant. The surgeonvainly strove to detain him, but was almost rudely repulsed.
"Do you suppose I can rest one conscious minute until I know what hasbecome of my babies?" he said. And climbing painfully into the saddle heclapped spurs to his horse and galloped after Turner's troop.
Finding it useless to argue, the doctor, with his orderly, mounted, too,and followed the procession. It was an hour before they came up withTurner's rearmost files and f
ound burly Lieutenant Wilkins giving themen orders to keep well closed in case they had to increase the gait.The scouts and Sieber, far to the front, were galloping.
"What is it?" asked the doctor.
"Smoke," panted Wilkins. "The Hualpais saw it up the mountain south ofthe Pass."
Gwynne's haggard face was dreadful to see. The jar of the rough gallophad started afresh the bleeding in his head and the doctor begged him towait and let him dress it again, but the only answer was a look offierce determination, and renewed spurring of his wretched horse. He wassoon abreast the head of the column, but even then kept on. Turnerhailed him and urged him to stay with them, but entreaty was useless. "Iam going after Sieber," was the answer. "Did you see the smoke?"
"No, Gwynne; but Sieber and the Hualpais are sure a big column went upand that it means the Apaches can't be far away. We're bound to getthem. Don't wear yourself out, old fellow; stay with us!" but Gwynnepressed on. Far out to the front he could see that one of the Indianscouts had halted and was making signs. It took five minutes hard ridingto reach him.
"What did you see? What has happened?" he gasped.
"Heap fire!" answered the Hualpai. "See?" But Gwynne's worn eyes couldonly make out the great mass of the mountain with its dark covering ofstunted trees. He saw, however, that the scout was eagerly watching hiscomrades now so long a distance ahead. Presently the Indian shouted inexcitement:
"Fight! Fight! Heap shoot, there!" and then at last the father's almostbreaking heart regained a gleam of hope; a new light flashed in hiseyes, new strength seemed to leap through his veins. Even his poor horseseemed to know that a supreme effort was needed and gamely answered thespur. Waving his hat above his head and shouting back to Turner "Comeon!" the captain dashed away in pursuit of Sieber. Turner's men couldhear no sound, but they saw the excitement in the signal; saw the suddenrush of Gwynne's steed, and nothing more was needed. "Gallop," rang thetrumpet, and with carbines advanced and every eye on the dark gorge,still three miles before them, the riders of the beautiful "chestnutsorrel" troop swept across the plains.
Meantime the savage fight was going on and the defense was sorelypressed. Covered by the smoke caused by fresh armfuls of green woodhurled upon the fiery furnace in front of the cave, the vengeful Apacheshad crawled to within a few yards of where the little breastwork hadstood. Obedient to Pike's stern orders Kate had crept to the remotestcorner of the recess and lay there flat upon the rock, holding Nellie inher arms. The corporal had bound a handkerchief about his left arm, forsome of the besiegers, finding bullets of no avail, were firing Tontoarrows so that they fell into the mouth of the cave, and one of thesehad torn a deep gash midway between the elbow and the shoulder. Anotherhad struck him on the thigh. Jim, too, had a bloody scratch. It stungand hurt and made him grit his teeth with rage and pain. Little Ned,sorely against his will, was screened by his father's saddle and someblankets, but he clung to his Ballard and the hope of at least one moreshot.
And still, though sorely pressing the besieged, the Indians kept closeunder cover. The lessons of the morning had taught them that the palefaces could shoot fast and straight. They had lost heavily and couldafford no more risks. But every moment their circle seemed closer to themouth of the cave, and though direct assault could not now be madebecause of their great bonfire, the dread that weighed on Pike was thatthey should suddenly rush in from east and west. "In that event," saidhe to Jim, "we must sell our lives as dearly as possible. I'll have twoat least before they can reach me."
Hardly had he spoken when bang came a shot from beyond the fire; abullet zipped past his head and flattened on the rock well back in thecave. Where could that have come from? was the question. A little whiffof blue smoke sailing away on the wind from the fork of a tall oak notfifty feet in front told the story. Hidden from view of the besieged bythe drifting smoke from the fire a young warrior had clambered until hereached the crotch and there had drawn up the rifle and belt tied by hiscomrades to a "lariat." Straddling a convenient branch and lashinghimself to the trunk he was now in such a position that he could peeraround the tree and aim right into the mouth of the rocky recess, andonly one leg was exposed to the fire of the defense.
But that was one leg too much. "Blaze away at him, Jim," was the order."We'll fire alternately." And Jim's bullet knocked a chip of bark intospace, but did no further harm. "It's my turn now. Watch your side."
But before Pike could take aim there came a shot from the fork of thetree that well nigh robbed the little garrison of its brave leader. Thecorporal was just creeping forward to where he could rest his rifle on alittle rock, and the Indian's bullet struck fairly in the shoulder, toreits way down along the muscles of the back, glanced upward from theshoulder blade, and, flattening on the rock overhead, fell almost beforeNed's eyes. The shock knocked the old soldier flat on his face, andthere came a yell of savage triumph from the tree, answered by yellsfrom below and above. Ned, terror stricken, sprang to the old soldier'sside, just as he was struggling to rise.
"Back! boy, back! They'll all be on us now. My God! Here they come! Now,Jim, fight for all you're worth."
Bang! bang! went the two rifles. Bang! bang! bang! came the shots fromboth sides and from the front, while the dusky forms could be seencreeping up the rocks east and west of the fire, yelling like fiends.Crack! went Ned's little Ballard again, and Pike seized the boy andfairly thrust him into the depths of the cave. A lithe, naked formleaped into sight just at the entrance and then went crashing down intothe blazing embers below. Another Indian gone. Bang! bang! bang! Heaviercame the uproar of the shots below. Bang! bang! "Good God!" groanedPike. "Has the whole Apache nation come to reinforce them? Yell, youhounds--aye--yell! There are only two of us!" Shots came ringing thickand fast. Yells resounded along the mountain side, but they seemed moreof warning than of hatred and defiance. Bang! bang! bang! the riflesrattled up the rocky slopes, but where could the bullets go? Not one hadstruck in the cave for fully ten seconds, yet the rattle and roar ofmusketry seemed redoubled. What can it mean? Pike creeps still furtherforward to get a shot at the first Indian that shows himself, but painand weakness are dimming the sight of his keen, brave eyes; perhapstelling on his hearing. Listen, man! Listen! Those are not Indian yellsnow resounding down the rocks. Listen, Pike, old friend, old soldier,old hero! Too late--too late! Just as a ringing trumpet call, "Ceasefiring," comes thrilling up the steep, and little Ned once more leapsforward to aid him, the veteran falls upon his face and all is darkness.
Another moment, and now the very hillside seems to burst into shouts andcheers,--joy, triumph, infinite relief. Victory shines on face afterface as the bronzed troopers come crowding to the mouth of the cave.Tenderly they raise Pike from the ground and bear him out into thesunshine. Respectfully they make way for Captain Turner as he springsinto their midst and clasps little Nellie in his arms; and poor oldKate, laughing, weeping and showering blessings on "the boys," isfrantically shaking hands with man after man. So, too, is Black Jim. Andthen, half carried, half led, by two stalwart soldiers, Captain Gwynneis borne, trembling like an aspen, into their midst, and, kneeling onthe rocky floor, clasps his little ones to his breast, and the strongman sobs aloud his thanks to God for their wonderful preservation.
* * * * *
"Papa--papa, I shot an Indian!" How many a time little Ned has to shoutit, in his eager young voice, before the father can realize what isbeing said.
"It's the truth he's telling, sir," said a big sergeant. "There's wan of'em lies at the corner there with a hole no bigger than a _pay_ underthe right eye," and the captain knows not what to say. The surgeon'sstimulants have restored Pike to consciousness, and Gwynne kneels againto take the old soldier's hands in his. Dry eyes are few. Hearts are alltoo full for many words. After infinite peril and suffering, after mostgallant defense, after a night of terror and a day of fiercest battle,the little party was rescued, one and all, to life and love and such awelcome when at last they were brought back to Verde, wh
ere Pike wasnursed back to strength and health, where Nellie was caressed as aheroine, and where little Ned was petted and well nigh spoiled as "theboy that shot an Indian"--and if he did brag about it occasionally, whenhe came east to school, who can blame him? But when they came they didnot this time try the route of Sunset Pass.
THE END.
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