The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-02-06

are on the War-path Killing anu destroy
ing everything and everybody in the
Territory, and the white settlers are go
ing to be exterminated. He wants Us
to arm the volunteers, who, he claims
can fight the Indians more successfully
than the regulars, being ready to strike
the moment Of an attack. By Jove!
that's a pretty demand to make. The
arms at this post are supposed to be fol
the use of the army. The business o.
the army officers and soldiers is pre-
sumed to be that of managing the mill
tary affairs of the Territory. And here
comes along a request-its wonder
it II isn't an order-for US to turn
our fighting tools over to the set
tiers. These civilians have the impu-
dence Of the Devil ~
'If the settlers want to do their own
Indian-fighting they ought to have the
privilege, Pm snre," returned the Col
onel's wife. 81 don't see that the regu-
lars either prevent massacres or punish
the savages. Do you suppose the troops
that are out will catch or punish those
savages? ? Not a bit Of it! About to-
morrow they will come in, having ex-
hausted their animals, with neither a
scalp nor prisoner"
"You're a capital army-woman, Ali
ciaw was the Coloners comment on his
wife's view Of the case. He was Of
Tended by her want of esprit du corps,
and maintained frowning silence for
several minutes. But the whole budget
of news was not yet unfolded, and until
it was, the Colonel could not turn his
back upon the most civilian of wives.
81 have learned, besides, that Terri
torial delegation goes on to Washington
in few weeks to see what they can do
with the general Government. 4 highly
satisfactory state of affairs it will be
when the Indians and settlers get to
shooting each other at sight"
'Quite as satisfactory, / should think,
as where only one side is allowed that
privilege. Come, Mrs. Stewart, why
don't you express an opinion? Are
you so good an army-woman that you
want white folks to be massacred to
sustain the dignity Of the military"
81 should hope that was not the object
Of the opposition TO volunteer move
ments which our officers always seem to
feel" answered the Doctors wife.
"They believe that a certain amount Of
discipline is necessary to prevent armed
men from being simply marauders; and
they think, too, with great justice, that
since their business is fighting, they
ought to be furnished with an army and
sent into the field, not shut up by COM
panies in forts. Is it not so, Colonel ?"
"Now there's n woman who ought to
be generals wife instead of not having
any chance of promotion. Why cannot
you see things in that light, Alicia ? or
course that is the right Of it, and | can
not understand why you never see it,"
"Because 1 happen to see some things
which upset much of that plausible the
ory; because l think that arms aud
ammunition had better be giUen to the
settlers than sold TO the Indians.n
''That depends on the character Of the
Indians and the settlers. Does not the
Government furnish these things to
friendly Indians? Is it desirable to set
a lot of white desperadoes to killing in
offensive savages? These volunteers
never discriminate-the go in for kill
ing every Indian they meet"
Mrs. Kellogg turned her face away, on
which scorn and unbelief were only too
I legibly written. She was done with the
subject. The Colonel might talk to Mrs.
/ Stewart, who was fool enough to- be
humbugged, was what her action said.
And the Colonel availed himself of the
ungracious permission.
'This is not the sort Of life we had
during the war, down on the South Caro-
lima coast. Gay timesyou ladies had, with
horseback riding and plenty Of gallants.
1 hope we have not three years to spend
in this place, for your sakes. Two la
dies in an Arizona fort-Jove! The Ma
jor ought to bring lady out here-thars
what tell him."
"And add another sufferer to the list
No; if he has no wife already, he ought
not to marry until lie is ordered to q
pleasanter post"
"Well, he is a very pleasant fellow, is
the Major, and ! hope he will not be or
dered off while Pm in command. I've
got very agreeable lot of officers. AL
that's needed is that they should bt
married. Such thing as hop, now
isn't possible, is ?"
"a hop" cried Mrs. Stewart, laugh.
ing. "Fancy our dancing with the mer
curry at 105ow
"Why, rve done it at Saratoga. II
would be better, if we only thought so
than loungiug about getting the blues
: The Mexicans dance, you know, a great
deal. 1t would be a good idea, wouldn't
! 1t, to send out party to capture an en-
> igrant train and bring in all the pretty
girls? ? By Jove! it would. Wish had
: told the Major to go on a scout after EN-
grants lhsteau oil Indians" at whicl
coneeit the Colonel laughed humor
Ously.
| "When do you expect him in?'
'Impossible to say. He had orders if n
{ got OH a fresh trail to follow it until h
came up with the Indians, or until h
E found they had escaped to the noun
] tains. hope he will be able to max
few of them bite the dust. The Gov