Part 30 (2/2)

”I don't think they did”

But in this Peck was mistaken, for scarcely had the soldiers started to walk around the spot where the Indians were enca out, followed by half a dozen shots

The first round was a deadly one, killing two of the razed Captain Moore's shoulder

”To cover!” shouted the young officer, as soon as he could speak ”The Indians are on us!”

He had a gun in his hand, and as he gave the command he leveled it at the leader of the party, he who had killed one of the soldiers Captain Moore's aim was true, and the Indian fell lifeless over the very body of the man he had slain

By this ti up, and all the soldiers could do was to take to the nearest cover, as the captain had ordered

The hoops continued, and shots were fired fro whether he was hit or not, Captain Moore dashed into the midst of some brushwood, and not far away from him came Peck The latter had broken his rifle over the head of one of the red -knife which was still in his possession The young captain held a rifle, but just now had no time in which to reload the weapon

”They are after us hot-like!” cried Peck, after several hundred feet had been covered

The private's breath came short and sharp, and now for the first Captain Moore saas suffering

”You are wounded, Peck”

”That's right, captain”

”You can't run any ot to run,” muttered Peck, between his set teeth ”They'll be on--oh!--on us in another ”

The private held out his hand, then gave a pitch, and, before the young officer could catch hirass insensible

Captain Moore's heart leaped into his throat, for he had known Peck for years, and the tere very friendly He listened, and heard a distant shot Evidently the Indians were not yet co in that direction They would first hunt down the others, providing they were not already slain

Bending down, the young officer took Peck in his strong arht was considerable, and ot to carry hith to do it!”

The brushas thick ahead, but there was a sort of trail, made by wild animals, and he pursued this until he ca them, should they come in that direction, he followed the brook for a hundred yards or more At last he reached a point where the banks of the brook were rocky, and here he ca between two large bowlders, and here he sank down, too exhausted to take another step

It was half an hour before Peck came to his senses In the meantime the captain had obtained soes torn froht-headed

”Keep them off!” he murmured ”Keep them off! They want to bore a hole in my side Keep them off!”

”Be quiet, Peck, you are safe,” answered the young captain soothingly

”You've been wounded, that's the trouble,” but the private continued to rave for some time, when he relaxed into a stupor

With strained ears Captain Moore waited for the appearance of friends or enemies, but nobody came up the brook Once he heard two shots far to the northward, but whether fired by the soldiers or the Indians he could not tell

”I'hter,” heaas a miracle,” and this surmise proved correct, for, as was afterward proven, all the others of the party were slain within an hour after the surprise occurred