CHILDREN'S COLUMN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11953, 30 April 1902, Page 3

CHILDREN'S COLUMN.

A FIGHT TO THE FINISH. "Open! Open!- Let mo in." "Who goes there? Friend or foe!'? "Friend!" ,- "Name?";: '~ ",

" Lieutenant Kirk, of Her Majesty's Die Hards." ";' . -''-■•' .

The gat* of the fort was slowly and cautiously opened, and a man appeared, his rifle cocked and ready in his hand. A blast of icy wind drove a," shower of sleet in his face, and catching the lieutenant by the wrist he swung him inside the stockade and shut the door again, bolting it in three places.

" Thank heaven I" said Lewis Kirk. " Safe at last!". - " ■ ~ .' •

"Come into 'the fort," returned the man, and together they entered the rough wooden building, loophooled everywhere, that acted as a sort of blockhouse, among many others, on the Red River, where the full tide of the Kiel rebellion was flowing like, a torrent, and growing day by day. " I'm in command here," said the defender. " Tin a Canadian volunteer called Raby— Captain Raby. We're all of us volunteers. You're a regular, I can see. How did yon get here alone?" t \

/'I was sent here with a message. I had a guide, but we were attacked by Indians, and he was killed. But he gave me directions enough to bring me to you, and here I am." e '

'Bravo! Off with your coat! Ah, it's good to see a red jacket again. I was bom in':England, and I vised to love to see the soldiers. What age are you? I've got a boy about your build." , " Nineteen," said the lieutenant; " this is my first campaign.'' '"Ah, well, I hope it won't be your last. Jack!" " ;

"Hullo!" shouted a voice, arid in ran young Raby. " Here's a friend for you," cried the captain. "Lieutenant, what sort of Indians were those who attacked you? I thought that Riel only had half-breeds at his beck and call." v .- >' " They were mounted— mounted, too," returned Lewis. " Some had guns, some bows and arrows."

" Bows and arrows I They were Crees. Poundmuker and Big Bear must be on the warpath. This is serious."-' "Yes, that's what Colonel Strauoenzie said. He knows my father, and our War Office gave me leave" to come out to Canada and see life in this campaign. The colonel sent- me here to tell you to hold this blockhouse at all costs. * They .'we sure to attack it belong long, and if it fell the Blackfeet and other Indians might think Riel was going to win and throw all their weight into the scales. If they go on the warpath, too, we shall have hard work to beat them !"

Captain Baby's dark face went darker still.

"I've got 40 men here," he said-, "but we're ill provisioned, its 1 understood relief would reach us within three days." '•' It won't now/' returned Kirk. "The troops have had to make a detour to smash Dumont before they sweep this way. Have yon any guns?" :.«*'' " Not one. Only our rifle*. If we had a 12-ponnder field gun we might do wonder*! As it is, we must do our . bot. Jack, tell the men to muster in the long room. I'll speak to them, and explain to them that' they're expected to show their mettle. "'.-I. shouldn't-be surprised if we were attacked this, very night." ■» t v And so they were ;"' 11. About three hours past midnight, while Kirk, wrapped in a blanket, slept heavily before the great log fire, Jack Raby came ami shook him by the arm. - * , "You wanted to ssee life," he laughed. "Now is your chance." ' " What's the matter?" muttered Lewis.'.'..

"Ms come! That's what's the matter. He's here with all his half-breeds, and the Crees into the bargain. Dumont. his lientenant, is holding your colonel in check, and we've got to show Riel that we can stop his game. Are you ready? Here's your rifle. Come along." ~.- , : ~ '. ~ The fort was very silent, but the dark Sgtives of the defenders were seen stealing one by one from warmth of their quarters into "the snow to their places, behind the outer stockades. >,

"Every man to his loophole.!',' said Captain Rally, in a searching whisper.; " And when 1 give the word blaze away." "Is Captain Raby in command of this foil?" cried a ringing voice from out of the darkness. ' , "He is," was the answer. .[, " Then I give him five minutes to surrender." • ' ■ v There wag no reply from Raby, who smiled grimly and cocked his rifle; while the lieutenant and Jack, one on either side of him, awaited the issue with drumming and excited hearts.

" The five minutes are up !" sang out Riel. "We are a thousand strong—you are less than fifty. Again I ask you whether you will surrender:" Once more the silence i

"In upon the.m!" snarled Riel. "Don't waste powder and shot. One volley, and then let the Drees loose. They'll hook them out with their scalping knives." A loud rattle of rifles, followed by a shower of arrows, told the defenders that the fight had begun, and in reply they blazed away. The sleet had ceased, but the night was dark and moonless, while all the fires in the fort had been, put out, so that the flashing of the rifles and revolvers came very weird and swift, like lightning, through the dense blackness that enveloped the combatants, and now and then dark savage faces —some of them hideously painted—would be revealed.

Indians on foot were there, Indians on horses; and presently, with a great rush, a. crowd of besiegers ran. against the stockade door, breaking; it open, and streamed right into the space around the fort. Instantly there was a. terrific hand-to-hand struggle. Knives were gleaming, butt-ends of rifles rose and fell, and above the roars of the defenders and the yells of the, halfbreeds rose the dreadful war-whoop of the Oees, as they leapt to and fro, brandishing their scalpers. Kirk had dropped his rifle and taken to his sword, which he swung about him furiously, cutting down three assailants in. succession,- and winning a shout of praise from Captain Raby; while Jack blazed coolly away with his revolver until his father ordered all to retire to the fort and hold it to the last. ' | N Fighting back to back, thirty of the defenders reached the welcome cover, slipped in, and slammed the iron door in the faces of their foes. For an instant they were safe, and could breathe again. , : (To be- continued.)