New York Dispatch

SAVED BY FIRE
An Incident of Army Life.
By Blue Jacket

It was soon after the close of the war, and taking advantage of a leave of absence, I bade adieu for the time being to salt water and turned my face toward the far West. I had an old schoolmate, a friend and playmate of my youthful days, who had joined the school at West Point the same time I entered the revenue cutter service. He had gained the commission of first lieutenant in the U. S. Cavalry, and was stationed in the Valley of the Missouri ridge, near the Yellowstone district. He had often pressed me to pay him a visit and see something of life on the great plains of the West. It was for that purpose that I had left the sea coast, and, with many pleasant boyish recollections thronging through my brain, I looked forward to a speedy meeting with my old friend.

It was a bright sunny day in October when I reached the station where the Stars and Stripes floated over a pile of Uncle Sam's buildings, situated on a commanding eminence with a fine view of the surrounding prairie.

A tall, bearded, sunburnt fellow strode rapidly forward, a smile of welcome illuminating his fine open features. In the depths of his hazel eyes was an expression that I at once recognized as belonging to Harry Le Craw, and he greeted me with a warm welcome. Introductions followed to his brother officers, and we kept it up until a late hour in Liberty Hall, as they had christened their somewhat rude mess-room.

All were anxious to hear news from the distant East, and for a time I was kept busy answering the numerous inquiries that poured in upon me from all sides. Twenty-four hours elapsed before Harry and myself found an opportunity to quietly steal off by ourselves and talk over the merry days of our youth. Our boyish pranks were rehearsed, our hopes and aspirations discussed, and finally Harry, drawing his chair nearer to mine, lowered his voice as he said:

"Jack, there is one subject that lies nearest to my heart, and I desire to unburden the load that has pressed rather heavily upon it of late. I could not bring myself up to the point to make a confidant of any of ours; not but what they are fine, warm-hearted fellows, but there is something lacking in the bond of sympathy and friendship, and I have kept my secret to myself. In fact, Jack, to make a long story short, I am in love."

Nothing strange, Harry, for a good-looking fellow, standing six feet in his socks, and a soldier to boot.

"Oh, humbug, Jack! I am in dead earnest. I have not made a declaration yet; in fact, the lady looks upon me rather coldly, and I feel wretched over the state of uncertainty in which I find myself placed. The facts of the case are simply as follows: Judge Ingraham, before the war, was a wealthy and influential planter of Louisiana, but adopting the cause of his State, was reduced to a mere pittance, and his wife, unable to bear up under the accumulation of misfortunes that crowded thick and fast upon them, died, leaving two daughters, Nellie and Maria. Maria is the eldest, and has my heart in her keeping, and is a proud, fiery creature of impulse. She has all the high spirit so common to her sisters of the South, and affects to look with scorn upon all of us poor fellows who wear the blue and yellow trimmings of Uncle Sam's cavalry. Nellie, on the contrary, is shy, gentle and retiring.

"Pity you didn't choose her, then. But to make a long story short, Harry, this broken-down planter, ex-judge, etc., is still intensely Secesh. Don't frown, my boy. I meant no offense."

Well, Jack, they are attached to their homes, of course, and having enjoyed all the luxuries that wealth could procure, of course they Exactly, I understand, Harry; there is many a good man in like position. But where are they, and how do they happen to be out here on the plains in this howling wilderness, surrounded by the bloodthirsty savages?

"I'll tell you. Unable to hold his head up among his former acquaintance, the pride of the judge would not allow him to remain among his former friends and acquaintances. A stranger occupied his proud home—"

"He ought to have taken the oath."

"Tush man. I came to you for aid, advice, and sympathy."

"And you shall have it Harry. Here's my hand upon it old fellow, now go ahead."

Well, they have taken a ranch about ten miles distant from the post, and despite my earnest solicitations, have refused to move nearer the protection of our guns. The Indians are every day becoming more troublesome and demonstrative, and I fear some harm will befall them."

"Their pride will cost them dear I fancy; but what do you propose to do?"

"That is the point upon which I desired to solicit your aid. Suppose we ride over to-morrow, we may get a shot or two at a buffalo on our way, and thus combine pleasure and business together. I'll introduce you to the family, and perhaps the charms of the gentle Nellie may enlist your warmest efforts in her behalf."

"I'll do anything for you Harry that is in my power; but there is little danger of my falling in love out here on the prairie."

But little more was said on the subject, and at an early hour the next day we leaped into the saddles, and started forth on our mission.

As we issued through the outer gate of the stockade we met an old grizzled scout entering, whose complexion resembled that of a sole leather trunk.

"Gwine out for a hunt, captain, I reckon. You had better be keerful. Keep the old pole that yer hist the rag on thar, well in sight, for thar is a right smart of injun sign about."

"You must report it to the commanding officer, Jake, without delay. Have they taken the war path, think yer?"

"Yer right, they have, and the devils mean business, as we shall all find out."

"Much obliged for the information Jake, and rest assured we shall keep our eyes open."

With a wave of our hands we bade the old fellow adieu, and looking well to our rifles, revolvers, and keen-edged bowie knives, we galloped straight out over the grand rolling prairie.

We were soon at least a dozen miles from the post, and the aspect of the country had undergone a wonderful change. It was a level prairie with a rich growth of grass, but a mass of hillocks, with here and there a large patch of verdure. Some distance in advance was a vast alkali plain, over which a herd of buffalo were roaming.

All thoughts of Indians were driven from our minds, and filled with enthusiasm; we spurred our horses into a furious gallop, and dashed upon the animals with the speed of a thunderbolt. The buffaloes were soon in full retreat with Harry, and myself on either flank hurrying up their movements with an occasional shot.

But a wild, excited, shout from my companion caused me to check my panting steed, and glance in the direction where I had last seen him. One look was sufficient to comprehend the situation.

Harry was spurring his horse into a mad gallop, closely followed by a small band of Indians, who yelled in fiendish glee at the prospect of securing the scalp of one of Uncle Sam's braves.

"Gallop for your life, Jack, make for the growth of wood and underbrush that you see in the distance. 'Tis our only chance," and the last words of the warning were borne faintly to my ears by the sharp, crispy morning air.

It was full time that I had an eye to windward, for a gang was skirmishing along the ridge of a hill arrayed in full war-paint rig.

They had the advantage of fresh ponies, while mine was suffering slightly from the hard gallop I had already subjected him to; but it was now or die, and with a grim feeling of desperation I headed the brute for the belt of timber, while the war-whoop, mingled with a volley of rifle balls, resounded in my ears.

My horse seemed fully alive to the peril that threatened me, and with flying bounds sped lightly over the dusty plain. Their yells rang with startling distinctness my ears and turning in my saddle I gave them the contents of my breech-loader. One tawny brave was ushered rather unceremoniously upon the happy hunting grounds, and the fall of their companion caused the remainder to sheer off for the time being.

I made good use of the respite, spurring my noble horse to fresh efforts, not forgetting to insert a fresh charge in my rifle.

Soon the yells of my revengeful foe were again borne to my ears, and a quick glance over my shoulder assured me of the fact that they were cutting me off from the timber. I looked around for Harry, but he had long since disappeared, with half a dozen red skins following hard in his wake, and I could not hope for aid from him. Poor fellow, perhaps he was in need of succor himself; but I had little time for reflection, my own scalp feeling decidedly uncomfortable.

Fortunately for me the belt of wood inclined toward the course I was pursuing, and the tall, waving trees loomed up on the horizon not over half a mile distant. Dashing the spurs into my horse's sides I sought to quicken his pace, but the poor foaming, panting brute was doing his utmost for me. The Indians were closing rapidly upon me with every bound of their tough, shaggy ponies the gap was lessened, and to make matters worse the party that had given chase to Harry suddenly came in sight on my extreme left.

My case looked desperate in the extreme. I was on the point of dismounting and fighting it out, when my horse passed the head of a deep gully that are common in alkali districts.

A ray of hope agitated my breast as I urged the poor beast up the rough bed of the ravine.

The Indians would be obliged to make a detour in order to follow me. On either side the walls of the cliff rose forty feet above my head, and already I could see the welcome sight of the trees a few yards ahead.

With a savage shout the Indians rounded the head of the gully. The dull thud of their ponies' hoofs thundered along the ravine, while their war-whoop, angry and excited, rang in my ears, mingled with the sharp hiss of bullets, as they let fly a volley. But I laughed to scorn their impotent rage and frantic efforts to kill me. In another instant I was in the midst of the underbrush, and flinging myself off the exhausted horse, sought the safety and shelter afforded by a huge tree. I heard a step behind me, and Harry, pale and flurried, flung himself down beside me.

"Here they come," he gasped. "They are Sioux scoundrels. Give them the contents of your rifle, and rid the world of the dirty, treacherous rascals."

Simultaneously our rifles cracked on the evening air, and two braves tumbled headlong to the ground. The riderless ponies galloped furiously down the gully, and the Indians, with yells of rage, beat a hasty retreat beyond range of our rifles.

"There they go, the cowardly rascals, to desolate the country, rob and murder defenceless women and children, and then at the end of the year will make their appearance to draw their supplies from the agents. Curse the whole race, I say; they are only fit for powder and ball." They gave us a hard rub, Jack, but I had no fears of the result. We will make back tracks as soon as our horses are refreshed, and I shall insist upon the Ingraham family retiring within the shelter of the stockade. These miserable rascals are becoming bolder, and there is no knowing where they may stop."

I could see that Harry felt ill at ease, and indeed he had good cause for apprehension. The band of marauding Indians were but a short distance from the isolated and defenceless buildings of Judge Ingraham, while the beautiful daughters of the ex-planter would prove a rich prize to grace some greasy chief's wigwam.

It was close upon sunset when our horses cool and refreshed from their late brush, were again placed in readiness to resume our journey. With ears on the alert, and eyes strained to detect the slightest movement about us, we sallied forth from the friendly shelter, and making a wide, circuitous detour, avoided the vicinity of the gang of braves where we supposed they were lurking.

Harry knew every inch of the country, over which he had ridden many times. At a long swinging gallop, we soon debouched upon the broad, level prairie, leaving the hills and alkali plain behind us.

"We shall soon be in sight of Ingraham's house," remarked my companion, as I ranged up alongside of him. "and they must be warned of the danger that is afoot. Ha! yonder rises the moon, but what a strange tint surrounds it."

"Tint, 'tis fire," I replied. "See the flames shoot up, gaining headway every moment."

"Oh, my God!" groaned Harry, as he tightened the bridle rein of his horse. "My worst fears are realized. 'Tis the judge's house that has been fired by those painted devils. Forward, Jack, to the rescue. Stand by me this night, and may God bless you. We shall soon have aid from the fort; the flames will attract attention, which proves that our foe are young and inexperienced in the art of war."

"Lead the way, Harry, and you'll find a sailor can fight ashore as well as afloat."

Slinging our carbines and loosening the long, heavy pistols in the holsters, we dashed forward at full speed, Harry's long hair floating about his shoulders like a woman's.

"Faster, faster," he groaned, as the blood-red flames shot higher and higher up toward the bright starry heavens. Poor fellow, he suffered all but death during that short and furious gallop, and my heart bled for him. His agony amounted almost to a frenzy.

Soon the sharp, shrill yell of triumph, the ominous war-whoop and the report of fire-arms echoed above the thunder of our horses hoofs.

We plied the spurs vigorously, plowing great furrows in the poor brutes sides. With tremendous bounds they fly over the ground, and following close upon Harry we cleared a high picket fence, when for the first time the dusky forms of the red devils became visible in the lurid light of a burning outbuilding.

Revolvers in hand we burst upon the startled gang. While Harry, in a loud, ringing voice, shouted "Trot. Gallop. Charge!" as if a full company of his men rode at his heels.

The Indians broke and fled in every direction, thinking they were surrounded and outnumbered. The quick eye of Harry had discerned the flutter of a white dress in the surrounding obscurity, and with a bound he reached the retreating figure.

It was the stalwart form of a young brave in the full pride of his war paint and feathers, and in his arms was clasped the figure of a female.

"Maria, by the living God!" shouted Harry; as he leaped from his horse and closed with his foe.

There was but little time to lose; the Indians had discovered the ruse we had adopted, and with loud yells were returning to the scene.

Drawing my revolver I summarily closed the contest in Harry's favor, who snatching Maria from the Indian's arms, rushed toward the house, while I closed up the rear.

We gained the door barely in time to escape a rattling volley of rifle balls, which sent the splinters flying in all directions. The long oaken bar was shot into its place, and for the first time I had an opportunity to look about me.

The flames glared with a fierce glow through the cracks and chinks of the house, revealing the prostrate body of an old gentleman, his face ghastly with the pallor of death, the result of a blow from a tomahawk.

In another corner lay the form of a woman, but I could not ascertain whether she was alive or dead. The rascals were dancing wildly about outside, and the door resounded from repeated blows of sharp, keen hatchets.

"Come Harry, my lad, bear a hand and repel boarders, or we shall all lose the number of our mess. They are breaking the door in."

"We must abandon the lower portion of the house, and defend the second story. 'Tis our only chance. I'll bear Maria to a safe position, then lend you a hand to barricade the stairs. Would to God poor little Nellie was here safe. The Judge, God rest him, has gone to a better land."

Darting forward, I caught up the prostrate female in my arms. One glance sufficed even in that hour of danger to convince me that she was beautiful as an angel and unharmed. She had evidently swooned from terror, and in the confusion of the melee had escaped notice.

Without a doubt it was Maria's sister, and pressing her close to my bosom I rushed after Harry, who had already ascended the narrow stairs leading to the upper portion of the house.

Depositing our burdens, who were both unconscious, in as safe a position as possible, we proceeded to pile up all the furniture we could find, and soon made the staircase impassable.

With a crash the stout door flew off its hinges, and a crowd of Indians yelling like so many fiends rushed in, impatient at having been so long baulked of their prey. For a moment they were at fault, a hesitation that cost them dear.

Our revolvers were brought into play, causing four of the half naked rascals to bite the dust in as many seconds. The remainder actuated by an uncontrollable fury, charged recklessly upon the pile of furniture, which barred their way, cutting and hacking with savage determination at the unexpected obstacles in their path.

Our revolvers were emptied of their charges, there was no time to reload, my left arm hung helplessly by my side, while Harry reeled back with a moan of pain as a ball buried itself in his shoulder. Our firearms were useless, and could offer but a slight resistance, while my poor friend lay half fainting in my arms.

Suddenly a dozen bundles of lighted straw were hurled in our faces, the smoke and flames of which drove us back, and the sharp crackle of the flames every moment increased. The red devils had us at their mercy, and we were doomed to perish after all the efforts we had made.

I glanced from out of a narrow window that overlooked the yard; the flames revealed our blood-thirsty enemies in full force, drawn up around the house waiting for their victims to rush forth only to meet death at their hands. In spite of myself, I could not repress a groan, my heart sank within me, and I gave up all for lost.

Harry weak from the loss of blood, was scarcely conscious of what was going on, while every moment I expected to see the foe rush in upon us.

The shrill, clear notes of a bugle rang out above the discordant war-whoop, rising and falling, as it sounded the charge. For a moment my heart almost ceased to beat, then followed a rush like the subdued roar of thunder, a fierce shout mingled with the clash of steel, and the quick, sharp report of firearms. The dense, suffocating smoke rolled through the room, I gasped for breath, my head grew dizzy, and I remembered no more.

When I again returned to consciousness, I found myself in a neatly furnished room, snugly ensconced in a regimental bedstead, with a pair of blue eyes and a wealth of golden hair, bending anxiously over me.

"Nellie," I murmured, for by some subtle influence I knew it to be her.

"Hush!" she whispered. "The surgeon has forbidden you to excite yourself, and, as your nurse, must enforce his orders."

Days rolled on, and during my convalescence I found an opportunity to declare my gratitude to the fair being who had attended me with rare devotion. From her lips I learned that Harry was doing well under the care and delicate attention of her sister.

The troops had rescued us in the very nick of time, we barely escaping a fearful death from the fiery debris of the burning ranch.

Through the advice of the post surgeon, Harry applied for an extended leave of absence, which was granted and made immediate preparations to start for the East. Before we started, however, there was a quiet ceremony performed in the little chapel, where my friend was made the happiest of men.

Nellie and I stood up with them, and although the bride's beauty was somewhat dimmed by weeping, the effects of the terrible losses she had lately sustained, and the terrible scenes through which we had been compelled to pass, still she won compliments from all sides, as her pale cheeks flushed slightly as she glanced with loving eyes...

We journeyed on together. Nellie and myself were necessarily thrown much into each other's society, for, as everybody knows, newly-married couples are the poorest of company.

Before I had again reached the seaboard, the golden-haired lass whose acquaintance I had so strangely formed had blushingly consented to unite her fortunes with mine, and to this day I bless the resolution that first prompted me to visit my friend Harry in his far-off station in the Yellowstone district.