During the first mile of the chase Mr. Hardy had looked round
several times, and had said each time, "We are holding our own,
boys; they are a good hundred yards behind; keep your horses in
hand."
At the end of another mile his face brightened as he looked round.
"All right, boys, they are tailing off fast. Three-quarters of them
have stopped already. There are not above a score of the best
mounted anywhere near us. Another mile and we will give them a
lesson."
The mile was soon traversed, and Mr. Hardy saw that only about
twelve Indians had maintained their distance.
[Illustration: ONSET OF THE INDIANS.]
"Now is the time, boys. When I say halt, draw up and jump off, but
take very steady aim always at the nearest. Don't throw away a
shot. They are only a hundred yards off, and the revolvers will
tell. Don't try to use the second chamber; there is no time for
that. Use your pistols when you have emptied your carbines. Halt!"
Not five seconds elapsed after the word was spoken before Charley's
carbine rang out. Then came the sharp cracks of the carbines and
pistols in close succession. The Indians hesitated at the
tremendous fire which was opened upon them, then halted. The delay
was fatal to them. In little over half a minute the eighteen shots
had been fired.
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