The Trail — Christopher Charles

Rose was going to answer him when she saw the Indian boy on his pony twenty feet in front of them. He had quietly ridden around the rise and entered their camp. He sat on his pony looking at Rose.
Startled at first, Rose could not say anything. Recovering, she waved her arm for him to leave.
He did not understand and looked at her puzzling.
Then Mr. Brady saw him yelling “Injuns!” Reaching for his rifle, he brought it to bear on the boy.
Rose threw herself on Mr. Brady yelling, “No!”
The gun went off missing its intended target. The Indian boy kicked his pony hard and disappeared back over the rise. The sound of the large gun discharging startled the horses. They jumped to their feet tearing the canvas in the process.
Captain Bollinger and the troopers came out of their wagon. Most of them had not found their pants, but they all had their sabers. Mr. Brady had knocked Rose to the ground hard and was in the process of reloading his buffalo gun. The trooper, thinking Rose was a victim, ran past her. Captain Bollinger picked up his rifle and followed them.
Mr. Brady finally had his gun reloaded and ran up the hill. Reaching the top of the hill, he found the troopers lined up with their sabers out. Behind them, Captain Bollinger was lining up on the boy with his rifle.
“You'll never reach him with that,” Mr. Brady said and dropped to his stomach.
“Maybe you're right, Mr. Brady,” Captain Bollinger said and lowered his rifle.
Mr. Brady laid his buffalo gun on the rise and sighted down on the boy. He was about to pull the trigger when he heard the hooves of a pony coming up the rise. He whirled around in time to partially stand when a foot caught him in the chest and sent him rolling down the rise.
Everyone was caught by surprise. The troopers did not react until Rose was riding out across the plain in front of them. Mr. Brady struggled to his feet and managed to reach the ridge again. He was angry and lowered his buffalo gun.