Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-05-02
GALES ar,b Sketfkes.
CAPT. SfAxLEY's BODY-GUARD.
BY HARRY CAsTLEMON.

Stanley, as brave a soldier as ever drew
a sabre, Il have seen some hard times
since have been out here, and so have
we all. A man in our profession can't
pass five years Of his life on the plains
without getting some hard knocks, l tell
you"
We had just finished late supper. and
having drawn our chairs aboui the wide
fireplace. had filed our pipes preparatory
to indulging in a social smoke. There
were dozen Of US in the room, all except
myself, wearing Uncle Sans "honored
blue" | was at that time correspondent
for an Eastern paper, and had been Or
dered to the frontier to ''wrIte up the
campaign which General Crook was about
to undertake against the Cheyennes who
had broken away from their reservation.
Finding that detachment led by Captain
Stanley, the commander Of old Fort FraZ-
Ter, was expected to bear the brunt Of the
work. joined my fortunes with it, ac-
companied it ON perilous scout of four
teen hundred miles, and we had but just
returned to the fort. We had got back,
TOO, Just in time to escape what Western
men call ..bliZzard' And what is that
1t is an old-fashioned New England snow
storm dozen times intensified. The
wind blows as if it would sweep every
thing before it. the cold Is so piercing that
one shivers over the hottest fire. and the
air is filled. not with snow, but with sharp
needles Of ice, which seem to threaten
destruction to every living thing exposed
to its fury. We were all snuglv housed,
our faded horses were munching their
barley in their warm stables the sentries
were standing grim and silent in their
boxes, and those of us who were fortunate
enough to have no duty to call us out into
the storm, spread our hands over the
cheerful wood fire and congratulated our
selves on the safe ending of our tedious
scout.
said there were n dozen of us in the
room but | must not forget to mention
Captain Stanlcy's body guard, four mag
nifcent Scotch deerhounds, which lay
stretched out in front of the fire. They
were large shaggy animals, with immense
bone and muscle. and bore on their bodies
numerous evidences of the battles through
which they had passed. They were terri. |
BILE fighters. and the ease with which they
could overtake and pull down an antelope |
was surprising. They accompanied us
on the scout. and could not imagine whv |
it was that they were treated with so much |
kindness and consideration by every men,
Der of the command. On this particular
night | was to find out.
"How the wind blows - exclaimed 4 |
young lieutenant. from his seat in the |
chimney corner. II declare. it will tear
the stockadc up by the roots
"Yes, it is wild night; and hadn't
been on the plains as long rs you have,
Jack" said the Captain. addressing him
self to the lieutenant. before | was called
upon to face just such storm as this,
without shelter of any kind. except what
was to be found in the hills, and under
circumstances that were calculated to
freeze the blood in the veins of the bravest
man that ever stepped. Those hours of
horror turned my hair as white as you
see it now. and made me an old man be-
fore my time. cannot recall them with
out shuddering.'
The Captain pulled vigorously at his
well blackened brier root for few minutes
and after making sure that it was well
lighted. continued;
81 always was fond of horses. dogs and
guns, and can scarcely remember the
time when did not own some of the very
best. My pointers could not be beaten.
my pony would take n fence almost as
=,
and my little fowling piece was sure death
to any bird that got up within any reason
able distance. When left home to 90 to
West Point. it almost broke my heart to
part from my pets; but my uncle. who
was an ardent sportsman, assured me that
if | would pass n creditable examination
ut the end OF my school term. he would |
present me with pack of dogs that would |
n MI pf thp I 1on
behind my father. n veteran of the Mexi- |
can war. and great admircr of the cav
airy. told me that if would fit mvselfto |
enter that branch of the service. he would |
give me the finest horse in his stable, and |
my mother said she would give me anoth-
er. Encouraged by these promises. and |
ambitious to distinguish myself in NV |
chosen profession. | worked hard. and
stood among the first five at the end of |
the course. Here are the dogs nv uncle |
gave me-" said the Captain. his stern face |
softening as he gazed almost lovingly at
the splendid animals before him. land |
the horses-well. one was killed during a |
fight on the Sweetwater, and the other
poor Gypsy, She was mothers gift.
AS soon as received my commission |
l was orderd TO report to the commanding
officer of Fort Scott for duty The officers |
were all lovers of the chase, and at the |
sight of my horses and hounds they re-
ceived mo with open arms. In company
with the neighboring ranchmen, we hunt |
ed almost constantly; there was little
scouting to be done. for the Indians were
quietly settled on their reservation, and
when winter came and the first snow
covered the ground. the sport we had in
coursing antelope was simply magnificent.
EARLY one morning. while l was re-
turning to the post with fresaly-killed
antelope slung across my saddle. noticed
that my eyes burned. and that the surface
of the snow. from which the bright rays
of the sun were reflected with almost daz-
cling brilliancy. seemed to be covered
with floating specks. Now and then some
thing that looked like chain danced
across the range of my vision. and This
would be followed 10y multitudes of min
nature pin-wheels and sky-rockets. II
knew that the glare of the sun on the
snow had affected my eyes. but thought
nothing of it. for was foolish enough to
believe that it would wear off in time.
''When reached the fort found there
was a runner from the Red Eagle agency.