AT DEVIL'S RUN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 67, 21 March 1898, Page 6

AT DEVIL'S RUN.

A Story by Charles B. Lewis,

PART I,

ON this June morning there is peace in the land. The Indian agent at Fort Bliss reservation is congratulating himself on the meek and humble demeanour of the 3,000 subjects under his care, and to-day his monthly report, will announce that the war fever which seized upon some of the bucks a week or so ago has entirely vanished. Even 'Bald-Faced Charley,' a sub-chief, and the worst of the lot, has settled himself down to be 'a good boy.' At 6 o'clock in the morning- Sergeant Yates i-ode out of Fort Bliss with seven troopers to repair the bridge at Devil's Run, fifteen miles to the west. Devil's Run cuts across the military road as it comes up from the Union Pacific railroad. It is a mountain torrent rushing through the rocky gorge, twenty feet wide, and the spot is wild and lonely. At 9.30 o'clock, after guard-mount, and before the men are ordered out for forenoon drill, Lieutenant Day and Miss Phelps canter out of the Fort for a ride across the country to the west. The.officer is one of the three or four unmarried men at the post; Miss Phelps is Major Haliday's niece, here on a three mouths' visit from the East. It is a beautiful morning, and so full of the balm of peace that the sick men in the hospital feel the effects of it like a tonic. At 11 o'clock the soldier telegraph operator at the post, who is smoking his pipe and looking out of the window at a troop drill, catches a sharp and sudden call, and live minutes later he hurries to the oflice of the adjutant with a telegram from the Indian agent, which reads: 'Bald-Faced Charley and fifty fighting bucks jumped the reservation last night and headed for Little Valley.' So, while congratulating himself on the humble attitude of his charges v war party had slipped off under cover of darkness and had doubtless found their first victim before he was, out of bed. So Sergeant Yates and his seven men had departed for the exact spot where tlie Indians would seek to cross the military road to fall upon the half dozen settlers in Little Valley. And so, riding forth across the plains toward the green-covered foothills, Lieutenant Day and Miss Phelps were liable to ride "into an ambush within ten miles of the Fort. The signs which signified peace were base deception. Ten minutes after that despatch was received Fort Bliss was in a state of turmoil. Under cover of darkness the renegade Indians made straight for Little Valley, thirty miles from the agency, and about the same distance from the Fort. They had six hours before the daylight, and meant to fall upon the settlers in the early morning. After midnight a fog came on which reduced progress and finally checked it altogether. It thus happened that daylight found the war part still to the north of the military road, and they did not propose to cross it until night came again. The bulk of them went into camp for the day, but scouts were sent out in every direction to pick up information. Two of these scouts, from their position on the crest of a ridge, saw the two riders as they came loping over the plains. A signal brought two more scouts to their assistance. Then the four, mounted on their fleet ponies, made a hasty run of a mile and entered a dry ravine and waited. Ten minutes after their arrival the riders passed thorn, headed almost direct for the Indian camp, and with the four warriors in their roar. Tlie pair were cut off and as good us captured. For a mile or more they rode on in ignorance of the situation. Then, as they drew rein on the crest of a ridge to breathe their horses, the officer looked back aud noted the four Indians following. There were plenty of redskins riding about every day in the week, but even the way these 'subjects' sat their ponies was proof to him that they were renegades and meant, mischief. He was armed with a revolver alone. To the right were the foothills, to the left the military road. This road was five miles away. If they could reach it they might run upon 'the daily mail coach or some freighters, or by extending the gallop reach Devil's Run and the working party. 'Yon see those Indians, Miss Phelps?' quietly asked the officer, as he pointed to the redskins advancing at a walk. 'Yes.' ■ 'They doubtless belong to a war party which has broken loose from the reservation. The military road is off this way. We must ride for it. Get a firm seat in your saddle and give your horse the rein and stop for nothing. I shall follow close behind, but never mind me. If you are alone when you rea,ch the road turn to the left and keep on until you reach the run.' 'Do you mean it?' she said as the colour died out of her face and her lip trembled. . 'Every word of it, my dear friend. Be a brave girl and do as I tell yon. Our horses are still fresh, and please God, we may keep our distance. Ready now. We shall have a good half mile the start.' 'But you—you—' 'Never mind me,' he sternly commanded. T shall follow after, but you must pay no attention. Remember— turn to the left when you strike the road Give your horse his head and trust him to find the way. Now you urc off * 'Xi! Vi! Vi! came the yells of the Indians as the two riders started off, and then the race had begun. For the first mile it was an even race. Then the Indians began to gain inch by inch, and as they did so the officer be-o-an' to drop back. The girl was riding with a firm seat and her horse was picking his own route. The Indians continued their yelling, but as they crept nearer and nearer the reports ot their rifles were added. As a bullet sang over her head Miss Phelps looked back with white, scared face, but the officer smiled at her and motioned her to pay no attention. There came a second, a third and a fourth. Then the lieutenant felt a sudden pain in his right shoulder —a sensation as if a hot iron had touched the flesh, and he changed the reins to his left hand and muttered to himself: 'That's a bullet through the shoulder, but they can't do as well again.' It was wild shooting on the part of the pursuers, but they were counting on luck. Although they had gained somewhat in the race, the long-legged cavalry horses had the advantages in i

climbing the ridges and were still in j good wind. They were certain to reach the military road first, barring accident. Bullet after bullet went flying after the fugitive's, and'when the road was only a mile away the officer suddenly fifted in -his saddle again. A bullet had struck him in the left hip. The Indians knew that he was hit again and yelled in triumph. The girl looked back and the officer closed up the distance and shouted to her through his clenched teeth: 'We are close upon the road now. Be sure and turn to the left.' Down the slope of a ridge as steep as a house roof thundered the riders into the higliAvav, and after them came the redskins. A turn to the left, and then riding side by side the officer and the girl used the spurs for the first time and began to draw quickly away. The race Avas lost to the pursuers, and in their rage they fired their Winchesters as fast as they could pull the triggers. Ping! Ping! Ping! sang the bullets. One of them grazed the lady's hat, another passed through her ridingskirt, a third struck the officer in the calf of the right leg. 'Are you hit?' he asked as he turned to her. 'No. Are a-ou?' 'Only grazed, I think. It can't be over tAvo miles to the ruu, and the Indians Avill soon give up the chase. Hello! What's this?' Half an hour previously one of the sergeant's party at Devil's Run had climbed a high" hill to examine some j growing timber which might be used for the bridge. Looking away to the east he had seen the officer and the lady as they galloped for their lives. and he had no sooner given the alarm than the sergeant ordered every man to saddle up. It took ten minutes to get started, but they rode fast and were in time. As they met the fugitives they dreAV aside and let them pass, and then fell upon the four Indians aud wiped three of them off I the face of the earth. The fourth I abandoned his pony and escaped up a ravine. When the sergeant rode back 'in search of his officer and the lady he found them in his camp at Devil's Bun. The lieutenant was lying on the ground and Miss Phelps Avas near by crying and Avringing her hands and calling for help. 'What's up, •mum?' called the sergeant, as be rode up and dismounted. 'He is dead. Don't you see he is dead?' she wailed in reply. 'Looks like it. Shot in the leg, hip and shoulder. Ye gods, but what pluck to hang on as he did! No, he isn't dead. Here, Wilkins, get some water, and you, Green, help me to cut his clothes'off and dress these hurts. Grant yon lead the lady away a bit and tafk to her till she calms down, the rest of you keep your eyesopenfor Indians. A band has jumped the reservation and will try to cross here, and Aye may have the whole croAvd down on us at any moment. The 'lady from the cast,' as the soldiers called her, had never seen a hostile Indian in her life, and such a crisis as she had passed through would have Aveakened the nerves of almost any man. She pulled herself together in a few minutes, however, and as she reached the side of the wounded officer to offer assistance he opened his eyes and looked about him and asked: 'What is it, sergeant—what has happened?' 'You got. a run from the Indians, sir, and you are Avounded in three places. I'm patching you up, lieutenant, and in live minutes I'll send a man to the fort for the ambulance. •And Miss Phelps?" 'Unhurt, and here to answer for herself, sir.' 'Thank God for that!' A few minutes later, Avhile the bluff, but good-hearted sergeant and the half-crying girl were 'patching up' the wounded officer for his ride to the fort a trooper was sent off to the fort Avith a. message. He bad bad not been gone ten minutes when the report of Titles was heard, and in another ten he was back and reporting. Sergeant, the reptiles are in ambush along the road beside that big dead pine. 1 caught sight of at least five or six of them as they fired, and my horse is bit and I've a bullet in my leg.' 'We are cut off, sir,' reported the sergeant in turn to the lieutenant. But the officer had fainted from the loss of blood and the pain of his wounds.

PART 11. Tt was lucky for the honour of the old —th cavalry that Sergeant Yates had been sent out in command of that bridge-repairing party. It Avas lucky for the wounded lieutenant, for 'the lady from the Fast,' and for all concerned except the Indians. The sergeant AA'as a veteran Indian fighter aud a. man of nerve. The little troop had come out Avith only their blankets and cooking utensils, expecting to pass only a night at the Run, and had camped down close to their work. The position Avas an exposed one, and the first move Avas to seek a better one. Such a place was at baud among the boulders on the hillside overlooking the bridge. Two troopers were sent up the, road a quarter of a mile to act as videttes, two more down the road to see if the Indians had reached it on that, side, and as the lieutenant recovered consciousness again the sergeant saluted and said: 'We are going to move up among the rocks, sir. There, come the men from below, and it's sure Aye have the redskins on both sides of us. No fear about our standing 'em off, however, Now, boys, easy with him.' The horses were unsaddled and driven down into the bed of the Run to take care of themselves. All the canteens, coffee pots and kettles were filled Avith fresh Avater and carried up to the new camp, and Avithout fuss or excitement the entire party and all their belongings were soon posted on the hill. With their axes the men lopped off branches to make a bed for the wounded officei-, and loose rocks were piled between, the boulders to make the position impregnable. When the sergeant reported to his officer what he had done the latter replied: 'Very well. You have done just the right thing. lam better now, and I'll try to help you out with advice. If the Indians attack, see that Miss Phelps is Avell sheltered. If the reds are above and below Aye can't expect help. How are the men?' 'All right, sir. Davis is wounded, but not disabled, and there'll be eight of us to hold the place. We can hold it for,a week. If the lady will look after you Ave'll take care of the murdering- redskins.' The officer felt his position keenly, but it could not be helped. Such Avas the pain of the wound in the hip that he was compelled to lie at full length. Had he been able to sit up with his back to a rock his pistol arm was useless. After her rally the girl had taken hold in a way to prove that she had plenty of pluck, and she now announced her readiness to take charge of the helpless man. Do you look for

love and romance here? If so I must disappoint you. Miss Phelps was already engaged to a young man in. her home city, and Lieutenant Day had passed into confirmed bachelorhood. Her heart Avas big with gratitude, hoAvever, for his gallantry and courage, and on his part he had that chivalrous reverence and admiration for the sex always to be found in the army officer, but always showing the stronger at the post farthest from civilisation. 'If you had not covered my retreat you would not have received those bullets!' she reproachfully said, as she wet the bandages over his wounds. 'They are mere scratches and won't bother me a month,' he stoutly replied. 'My only regret is that I can't sit up and take a hand in. You must act as my aid as well as nurse. Howare the men posted?' 'On the three sides of the square,' she replied. 'I do not want to call the' sergeant aAvay. Go down to him and ask if there are any signs of the Indians yet. They may cross the road Avithout attacking us.' In five minutes she returned to report: 'The sergeant says the Indians are closing in from the, west and the north, and he expects a rush within ten minutes. He has counted as high as thirty, but believes the party is much larger.' The Indians did not Avait ten minutes. They had left men to hold the road above and below, and they aimed to wipe out the soldiers and then make their dash into Little Valley and out again before any news could reach Fort Bliss. There Avere about thirty in the rush against the two sides of the camp most open to attack, fifteen to a side. At a signal whoop they came tearing up the slope, covered Avith trees, shrubs and boulders, and never did red men display more pluck and determination. The soldiers opened fire as toon as a storm er could be sighted, and with her face as Avhite as the clouds above and her heart in her mouth Miss Phelps reported to the groaning officer: 'The men are down on their knees and firing over the rocks. They do not seem at all excited. There —I see an Indian on the north side —I see two others down there! How they shriek and yell! One has leaped the rocks. There comes another, but the sergeant ' 'And 1 lying here helpless!' shouted tlie officer. 'Is the sergeant down? For God's sake, tell me what is happening!' 'No. The sergeant shot one and brained the other with his clubbed musket! The men are cheering. The Indians have been beaten off!' Three minutes later the sergeant came up to salute and report. 'We drove them back, sir, and I think Aye killed seven or eight, but I've lost two men killed and a third badly Avounded.' 'Well done, sergeant,' replied the officer when he could control his voice. 'I'm sorry for the loss, but perhaps the Indians will stay licked. 'I'm afraid they won't, sir. I never saw such devils. I must get back to the men and look out for another dash, if they come as they did before we'll have a hard job of it.' 'Is he afraid the Indians will overpower him?' asked the girl when-the sergeant was gone. 'Yes, if they rush him again. There are only live men now.' And if Aye are captured?' 'We won't be!' quietly replied the officer. 'Put my revolver here at my left band, and do you sit down here! If the Indians carry the camp I shall shoot you and then put a bullet into my own head!' 'Yes —yes —that Avill be the way!' she said, as she handed him the weapon and sat down at his elbow. 'There they come again! Yes, }-ou will shoot me first!' 'Are the men cool?' asked the officer, as the carbines began to speak. 'Yes —same as before. There comes the Indians! I can see one—two— three—God have mercy on us!' 'Are they inside?' 'Be quiet! What's the sergeant doing?' He's —he's fighting—the men are lighting—oh, God! but how they are fighting!' she shrieked as she hid her face in her hands. 'And now?' asked the Lieutenant, as the beads of perspiration stood out on his forehead and his eyes burned like coals of fire. 'The Indians are down—they have been driven out—the men are cheering for victory!' she gasped, as she leaped up. 'They came again, sir, as I thought they aa-ould,' said the sergeant, as he canie up to report, 'but Aye have beaten them off. Their loss is so heavy that they won't try it again.' 'And about our loss?' asked the officer. 'Sorry to report, sir, that the men are all down but Barnes and me.' 'What! All dead?' 'All dead, sir. The man wounded before was killed in this rush. Barnes has. a. scratch or so and I've got the same, but I think the Avorst is over now. They'll hang about and do some shooting, but they Avon't. rush us again. If they do, Ave'll fall back here and —and—' And die together, he meant, though he did not utter the Avords. The officer understood and smiled grimly; the girl understood, and in her heart she felt more admiration for the weatherbeaten old sergeant, than for any other man living. The Indians did not rush again. They had lost thirteen in killed and five or six wounded, and they did not know bow great a loss they had inflicted on the defenders. Their raid into Little Valley must be given up, and they would sneak back to the reservation and become 'good Indians' again. Before going, hoAvever, they wanted revenge for their dead and Avounded. Scattering about, and two or three of them climbing trees to get a plunging fire, they began a desultory fusillade.and at the end of a quarter of an hour Private Barnes was shot through the head. Miss Phelps was reporting the tragedy to the Lieutenant Avhen Sergeant Yates came up and saluted and announced: 'Barnes is gone, sir; but I'll do the best I can alone. I think the devils . are about to give up the fight, but the lady must lie close or some sharpshooter will pick her off. Please keep down, miss. Any orders, Lieutenant?' 'None, sergeant. The neAVS of this party getting aAvay from the reservation must have been telegraphed the fort, and no doubt troops have been sent out. We ought to be hearing from some of them soon.' 'That's it, sir, and I'll go back to the big boulders and try and pot the red devils in the big tree.' After that the fire of the Indians slackened to an occasional shot, and the Avounded officer read the sign aright. The discomfited redskins were making ready to retire. Scarcely ten minutes had gone by when the

reports of carbines were heard to the east, followed by cheers, and aa the sergeant cheered and Miss Phelps clapped her hands, the Lieutenant exclaimed: 'Thank God for that! It is a detachment from the fort, looking after us and the sergeant's party, and we are saved! Listen to the hoof-beats I of the horses!' 'Hooray! Hooray! It's our boys coming!' shouted the sergeant, as he swung his cap and danced about. There -was just one more report from a rifle, but neither the girl nor the officer gave it any attention. They were looking for the rescuers, and as the troopers came in sight on the road below Miss Phelps climbed over the rocks and called to them. A Captain was in command, and as he scrambled up the hill, followed by a dozen dismounted men, he reached out for the hand of the hysterical girl and shouted: 'Thank God, we have found you alive. Where is the Lieutenant?' She pointed to the helpless man on the bed of boughs, but could not utter a word. 'Eh, old man, did they pot you?' asked the Captain, as he bent over his comrade. 'Yes, got me pretty bad. It was a hot little fight, but I was not in it. The sergeant, God bless him, deserves all the credit. You came just in time. He told me a moment ago that all his men had been wiped out.' 'God forbid! Where is Yates?' 'Down that way.' 'Yes, I see him kneeling beside the big rock. Oh, sergeant!' The sergeant did not move nor answer. The Captain walked down to him and clapped him on the shoulder and said: 'Eh, sergeant. Get up and let's shake hands over this. Day has been telling me how cool and brave ' The kneeling man suddenly toppled over sideways, and then the Captain saw that he had been talking to a dead man. The last bullet fired by an Indian had struck him fair in the forehead. It was what the army folks call 'the wipe-out at Devil's Run.'