[CROSSING THE XUACAXÉLLA.]
BY CAPTAIN CHARLES A. CURTIS, U. S. A.
IV.
he boys were frightened. Their hearts rose in their throats, and it was difficult to restrain an impulse to turn and run; but a soldierly instinct brought them to a "ready," with eyes fixed upon the probable enemy.
"Quick, Henry! Shoot!" exclaimed Frank, reserving his own fire.
The younger sergeant raised his double-barrelled shot-gun to his shoulder and pulled both triggers. Down went the sixteen Indians as if the bird-shot had been fatal to all. The plain became in an instant as objectless as it was a moment before.
"Load, Henry, and backward march!" said Frank, ready to fire whenever a head showed itself above the grass, and at the same time moving as fast as possible toward the camp-fire.
"How! how! how!" was chorussed from the direction of the Indians, and several naked brown arms were stretched upward, holding rifles horizontally in the air.