Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-10-09


across the burning sands of a desert re-
gion; lips, nostrils, eyeids smarting with
! alkali dust, Threats parched with thirst,
temples throbbing with the intense heat;
, several men and horses used up and left
behind were now slowly plodding back
toward the railway Look at the letter
, one of those leaders wears upon his worn
old scouting hat-D. Yes, it is the
Devils own D's," and Lane is at their
head.
AT the moment of the outbreak both
companies from Graham, K and D, or
strong detachments from both, were
scouting through the country - one
through the northern Peloncillo range,
the other far up among the head waters
of the ella. Not word did they hear
of the trouble until it was several days
old; then D troop was amazed by the
sudden appearance of their captain in
their midst-Lane, whom they supposed
to be on sick leave far in the distant
east. 1t was then for the first time they
learned how their comrades of K troop
had lost their popular old commander,
and that the great outbreak had occurred
at San Carlos. Stopping only long
enough to cram their pouches with am
munition and to draw more rations, the
troop FASTENED away toward the rail
road by way of Graham, and at the sta
ton, just at dawn, Lane sent brief dis
patch to the commanding general saying
that he was pushing with all speed to
head the Indians off via San Simon pass.
He had then ferty-five men and horses,
in fair condition. K troop would reach
Graham that evening, and he urged that
they be sent at once to reinforce him.
This dispatch 1.-THE chief received with
an emphatic slap of his thigh and an ex-
preston of delight: "Bless that fellow
Lane! he is always in the nick of time. l
had not hoped for an instant that either
D or K would be available, and now
look" he said to his aid-de-camp, che
has started for San Simon pass, and will
probably throw himself across their
front. Only wish he had more men,"
Shall l wire to Graham to have K
rush after him, sir"
Yes. Order them to start the instant
they can reft, andnot to take more than
an hour in doing that. They have been
having easy work on their scout-prOb-
ably taking it leisurely all. the time;
they ought to be in first rate trim. D,
on the contrary, has been making long
and rapid marches to get down from the
Upper ella Where was K at last &C
counts?'
''Couriers had gone to the Upper Pei
oncillo for them several days ago, and,
as Lane says, they are expected at Ora
ham this evening. Lane himself rode
after his own men two hours after he
got to the post from the east, and Noel,
who is KS new captain, is due at Ora
ham station tonight"
Then send him orders to lead his
troop instantly, follow and support
Lane. Tell him not to. lose moment
on the way. Everything may depend
upon his promptnesS nd zeal"
And so it happened that when Capt.
Noel stepped from the.train that after
noon at the old station the telegraph
messenger came forward to meet him,
touching his cap and, saying, This dis
patch has been awaiting you, sir, since
II o'clock this morning. I have just had
a dispatch from the post. and K Troop
got IN two hours ago and lisa lready start
ing. Lieut.. Mason, says an orderly is
coming ahead With Il horse and the cap
tain's field kit Snail 1 wire -for anything
else?"
Noel openedthe dispatch tn vt had been
handed him, and read it with an express
sion that DH,;1l1- ;,,J;oo+od nov atioD
II not disU4:.;. He had not beeh in sad
die for al entire year.
Why, must go out to the postW he
said TO the operator 81 am tot at all
ready to take the field. Let tb em know
thS-t have arrived, and will come out
there without delay. Better have the
troop unsaddled and wait for*my COM
ing"
"Will the captain pardon me?" said
the operator; 1.-THE orders from the de- |
partment commander that went Through |
this morning were that the troop should |
not take more than an hour fnlreftting |
at the post and should start at once. ! |
thought could see them coming over
the divide just as the whistle blew"
The captain gave no sign of enthu-
siasm as he received this news He was
still bordering over the contents of his
dispatch from the commanding general
its tone was so like that of his order
from the war department-so utterly
unlike what his admiring circle of rela-
tives and friends would have expected.
Stepping into the telegraph Office he
took some blanks and stroveto,compose
q dispatch that would convince the gen.
eral that he was wild with easerness to
ride all night to the supporttof Lane,
and yet that would explain how ,abso-
lutely nece:ss y If was that he should
1rst go out to the post. But the fates
were against him. Even as he was
the pencil and cudgeling his
brains Incorporation called out:
Here come some of 'ems now, sir"
And, looking nervously from the win
low, Noel saw three horsemen galloping
N 10 the station. Foremost came lieu
tenant of infantry, who sprang to the
ground and tossed the reins to his order
y the instant he neared the platform.
One s-of the men had a led horse, COM
pleFily equipped for the field, with blan-
ler;, saddle bags, carbine, canteen and
laversack; and Noels quick intuition
eft him no room to believe that the
steed was intended for any one but him.
The infantryman came bounding In:
us this Capt Noel? am Mr.. Renshaw,
post adjutant, sir, and / had hoped to
get here In time to meet you on your ar
rival, but we were all busy getting the
troop ready. You've got your orders,