came the old and the new of the
regiment he had known for years and swore by to the end--Nolan, its
oldest sergeant when discharged; Graham, its youngest subaltern when so
recently commissioned. But, old and new, they were one in purpose and
in spirit. The trained muscles, the lithe young limbs of the new bore
him bounding down the slope in half the time it took the elder. Shiner
lay facing the coming throng, grim hate in his eyes and revolver in
hand. In the fury of yells that arose he never heard the shout of
encouragement from above. Geordie was bending over him, had seized him
by the arm, was slinging him on his broad young back before ever Shiner
saw the face of his rescuer, and Geordie, with his helpless burden, was
stumbling up the height again before Nolan could join and aid him.
By that time the peering guardians of the office had caught sight of
the cause of the pandemonium of howls and curses from below, and the
onward rush was stayed by the sound of shots from the hill and bullets
whistling overhead. Yet only for a moment. Bullets sent downhill almost
always fly high, and finding this to be so the mob took courage and
came on again, those who had guns or revolvers shooting frantically up
the slope, splintering rocks and spattering dirt as they bit at the
heels of the rescuers. It was a desperate, do or die, neck or nothing,
bit of daring and devotion--Nolan's third and Geordie's first
experience in just such a feat. But the blood of the Graemes was up,
and the younger soldier was not to be outdone by the old. The guards at
the office burst into a cheer as the two came staggering up to the
level, with poor Shiner groaning between them, and then quick work and
hot was needed, for the mob came fierce on their trail.
"There's more Winchesters there in the gun-rack," shouted Cawker, as
Shiner was laid on a bunk in a back room. "They'll be all round us here
in a minute."
"Aim low and pick out the leaders, d'ye hear?" panted Nolan. "Don't let
'em get within reach of the buildings, whatever you do. They'll burn
'em over our heads. Let me have your loop-hole, _you_!" he ordered a
young fellow, whose lips were blue with excitement and dread. "Go sit
by Shiner and give him water till I spoil a few of these voters." And
the presence of the veteran, the confident ring of his voice, seemed to
lend instant courage to the defence.
And courage, cool courage and grit, were needed, for the situation was
difficult, if n
|