Starlight Ranch, and Other Stories of Army Life on the Frontier

lly sleeping in the room that had been her mother's. The child was tired after th

hearted fellows in the world, but he had a few infirmities of disposition and one or two little conceits that sometimes marred his better judgment. Having lived in the Chug Valley a year or two before the regiment ca

ght for the Fifth to claim acquaintance with the ways of the Sioux, Farron admitted, but as for these fellows of the -th,-that was another thing. It did not seem to occur to him t

portant one that radically altered the whole situation. When the Fifth was on duty watching the Sioux, it was just

the troops. Nearly every warrior had either a magazine rifle or a breech-loader, and many of them had two revolvers besides. Thus armed, the Sioux were about ten

any years; these soldiers had been near them so many years less; therefore they must necessarily know less about them than he did. He did not take into account that it was the soldi

arron what was feared at Phillips's, the ranchman treated hi

gs have been here as long as I have you'll get to know these Indians better. Even if they did come, Pete

" asked the se

never see 'em here nowadays, but when I first came here to the Chug there wasn't a week they didn't raid us. The

d Pete might have stood off a dozen or so when they hadn't 'Henrys' and 'Winchesters' as they have now, but you couldn't do it to-day, and it's all nonsense for you to talk of it. Of course, so long as you keep inside here you

they've spotted me,

ake a fight for it, all right,-I'd rather do that myself, only we ought to have two or three men to put in the corral,-but he

m bed and send her off four miles a chilly night like this,-all for a scare, too. Th

sie, if you say so, and I'll stay through the night; but I've fixed some signals with them down at the road and y

n half disposed to adopt Wells's plan and let him take Jessie down to the safer station at Phillips's, but she looked so peaceful an

back him up in any project for the common defence, he thought they could protect Jessie and the ranch against any marauders t

es were confined. In the corral were a little stable, a wagon-shed, and a poultry-house. The back windows of the stable were on the side towards the house, and should Indians get possess

to it, unluckily, was an officer of the new regiment, and the ranchman had merely replied, with a self-sati

looked at the stable, but Farron sai

would wake me up, you see, because their heads are right towards me. Now, if they were way across the corral I mightn't h

to take his station to watch the valley and look out for signals. He led the horse to the stream and gave him a

st care was to look over their rifles and see that they were in perfect order and in readiness for use. When at last Farron had completed a leisurely

pe out here with you, and if any signal should come, it'll be time enough then t

Farron remained wakeful a little while, then said he was sleepy and should go in and lie down without undressing. Pete, too, speedily grew drowsy and

r the next thing he knew was that a rude hand w

The signal's fired at

uttering at first, was shining in the eastward window. Outside the door the ranchman found Wells tightening

asked Farron,

d they may be near at hand. I don't like the way Spot's behaving,-see how excited he is. I don't like to leave yo

uld have given warning long ago. And Dick Warner-my brother-in-law, Jessie's uncle-always promised he'd be down to tell me first th

ring, sleepy-eyed, half-wakened little maid in his strong arms. Wells was alr

t carry it and Jessie, too. Hand her up t

him, looking piteously into his face, yet shedding no tears. Something told her there was danger; something

lls is going to carry you. Be good and perfectly quiet. Don't cry, don't make

back the rising sob. She nodded obedience, and then put up her bonny face for her father's kiss. Who c

d her up to Wells, who circled her in his strong right arm,

nd a clasp of the sergeant's bridle hand he bade him go. Another moment, and Wells and little Jess

ly visible in the rays of the moon. The hoof-beats of old Spot soon died away in the distance, and all seemed as still as the grave. Anxious as he wa

were anywhere near us those mules of min

the house-from the stable at the corral-there came, harsh and loud and

ar those mules? That means the Indians are close at hand!" And he spran

e running out from the stable, leading an astonished horse by the snaffle.

sound that appalled them,-the distant thunder of hundreds of bounding hoofs; the shrill, vengeful yells of a swarm of savage Indians; the c

he struck his heels to his horse's ribs and went tearing

sie! What hope