Argosy, Volume XXIII — Index Page, 1897 — page 23: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A CAMPAIGN OF STRATEGY. | 593 up his hands, turned a perfect back somersault over the rump of his horse, landing flat on his back, while his gun flew a dozen feet from him. The pony scarcely stirred, but throwing up his head, stared at the house and whinnied. Hardly was the shot fired when Mrs. Bozeman let fly at the group further off. She could not secure a good aim, but she knew from the outcry that she had struck something. | ‘Keep it up!’’ she called to her sister, setting the example herself, and straightway the two began pumping bullets at the hostiles with a vigor that two cowboys could not have surpassed. The Apaches galloped back out of range, and came together again for consultation. Their change of base showed that in addition to the dead leader, two ponies had been killed, and there could be no doubt that several of the bucks had been hit hard, though still able to keep upon their steeds. The spirits of the defenders were raised to a high pitch by the opening success. They hoped that the Apaches, after such a sharp repulse, would haul off in pursuit of those victims who made less resistance ; but they were not the ones to retire meekly, when revenge appealed to them. From a con- siderable distance, they began discharging their guns at the house, and their good marksmanship was proven by the whistling of many of the missiles through the windows, some of them dangerously close to the sisters that were making their valiant defense. | But as the minutes passed, and the party still hovered. in the neighbor- hood, the hearts of the two brave defenders sank with. despair. Suppose the Apaches should make a dash for the dwelling? They could batter down the door, or force their way through the windows, and overwhelm the two in. 2 - twinkling. Why was it that they did not use the advantage that was in their hands? ‘They could approach the house from either end without coming within range of the Winchesters, and nothing was easier than to set fire to the timber, already as dry as a powder horn. ‘The recourse to this ex- pedient was so plain that it could not be believed that they would let it slip. Should the assailants discover that the place was defended by ee two women, such a rush was sure to follow on the instant. The sisters, there- fore, took care not to show themselves, except to the least degree possible when risking a shot. ‘This was only a simple precaution against being hit by some of the bullets that were continually hurtling about them. A startling shock came to Mrs. Bozeman, when amid the popping of guns, a sharp sting in her shoulder apprised her that she had been wounded. Hearing her cry, her sister ran to her side and made a hasty examination. Fortunately the injury was trifling, hardly any: blood showing, but it did much to dampen their ardor, and made them more cautious than ever against exposing themselves to the ever present danger. Miss Warren returned to her place on the other side of the room, but was alarmed at her failure to see any of the Apaches. They had vanished as suddenly as if the earth had opened and swallowed them. She called to her sister. ‘How many are in sight on your side?”’ (B) ‘ ai) (COMME NOVO KS,(EC)