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

t of the young American came to his aid. He rose to his feet, seized his rifle, and ran out to join Phillips a

just as the men were about to shut the heavy door of the stable, t

Wait till Buford

great astonishment, as the boy appeared in the door-

ole, quick as I can, to

is gone I feel responsible for you, and your father would n

s a daring, it was a gallant, thought,-the idea of riding back all alone thro

burning them out. Of course the ranch could not stand a long siege against Indian ingenuity, but six hours, or eight at the utmost, would be suffic

orrow before the advance of the Fifth would reach t

He felt that nothing but a light rider and a fast horse could carry the news in time. He knew that he was the lightest rider in the valley; that Bu

heast, make a long détour, and so reach Lodge Pole unseen. If he could get there in two hours and a half, the cavalr

ust go instantly, before the Indians could

nds. Death by the cruelest of tortures awaited him if captured, and it w

ed through his mind in less than five seconds, and his resolution was instantly made. He was a soldier's son, was Ralph, and sayin

know how to dodge them just as well as any man here, an

oy had chirruped to his pawing horse and away they darted round the corner

ould have let him go. I ought to have gone mys

ht. The Indians are all up the valley and we'll hear 'em presently at Farron's. He's keeping off so as to get round east of the bluffs, and then he'll strike across c

d again at the rear of the station. All this had taken place in the space of three m

lmed and killed him. There was a short struggle and the rapidly concentrating fire of rifles and re

God grant they're all safe inside up there at Farron's," said one of the party;

What's

again. They've sighted R

t 'em! See! The flashes are getting farther south all the time! They've headed him off from Farron's, whoever it is, and he's making fo

way southward, and gradually approached the road. One of the ranchmen begged Phillips to let him have a horse and go out in the direction of the

's men trying to get through to us or else riding off southward to find the cavalry. Perhaps it was Sergeant Wells. Whoever it was, they've had a two- or three

at a night,-and all my fault! I ought to h

could you have said if you'd had the chance? The cavalry can't move on mere rumors or ideas that any chance

sibly some one else; but if Farron can only hold out against these fellows until daylight I think he

arron's light had been extinguished soon after it had replied to the signal from below, but his roofs and walls were dim

roofs the faint sound of rapid firing. Paled by the moonlight into tiny, ruddy flashes, the flame of each report

g the flashes that told of the distant struggle, and listening to the sounds of combat, there rose upon the air, over to the northward and apparently just at the base of the line of bluffs, the yelps and

t is, boys?" q

swered one of the men,-

d could get out now. Ralph ain't out a moment too soon. God speed him! If Farron don't owe his life and little Jessie'

mile up the trail, stripped, scalped, gashed, and mutilated! Still warm, yet stone dead! And that all alone, with little Jessie in his arms, Sergeant Wells

dians, and then hopefully at the distant light at the station. He holds little Jessie in firm but gentle clasp, and speaks in fond encouragement every moment or two. She is bundled li

us down at Russell that he had the pluckiest little daughter in all Wyoming. It

hangs over her forehead. Then his keen eye again sweeps over

'll skulk behind the smallest kind of a ridge, and not show a feather until one runs right in among them. There

d nearly to the trail, and dips into the general level of the prairie within short pistol-shot of the path along which he is riding. He is yet

scrape for this poor little mite," he thinks, and then, soldier-like, sets himself to considering w

couldn't do unless some of 'em were far back along behind the ridge. Hullo! A shadow on

to the sergeant's practised ear the assurance that the advancing horseman was not an Indian. After the s

hought. "I'll take Jessie on to the station, and then go back to Farr

the stranger was bringing,-of safety, he hoped. Jessie, at any rate, should not be frightened unless dan

s coming up the trail from Phillips's,

s and shots and the accompaniment of thundering hoofs. Out from the sheltering ridge by dozens, gleamin

w them about his neck; but he held her tight. He grasped the reins more firmly, gave one quick glance to his left and rear, and, to his dismay, discovered that he

sed troop horse to the right about, and sent him lea

neck, and, holding the terror-stricken child to his

p was taken on the trail behind him, though at that very instant he saw that warriors, dashing from that teeming ridge, had h

harmlessly into space. His wary eye could see that the Indians on his right front were making a wide circle, so as to meet

not entertain the thought. No, tho

nding ponies, with their yelping, screeching riders, were fast closing upon him, when suddenly through the di

dozen foemen, the sergeant was sure, before he could see the man, that

d then, "Rein up, Farron! Halt where you

his words, for in another moment his "Henry" was barking its challenge at

big circles. Then Farron stretched out his arms,-no time for word of any kind,-and

And the sergeant in turn reined his horse, fronted the foe, and o

riders, checked now, and circling far out on the prairie, until once more he could look a

ah with delight when, as the Indians came within range of the ranch, its inmates opened fire on them, and a

orne them both so bravely, suddenly wavered and tottered under him. He knew too well that the gallant

tant, unharmed, and ma

hausted, but safe. He listened with amazement to the outward sounds

rth is that

d deserted!" was Farron's breathless answer. "I ho