The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-10-03
NUMBER SO.

oilohIy III pdTdileI rows are popping
up over the divide. Away to the
south stretches rolling plateau. Be.
You'd that there is a deep impress
sion, wherein. as every troop leader
will understand, the hostile village
is lying, and beyond that, covering
or dottng the upland prairies for
acres and acres, are almost countless
numbersIot Indian ponies. The quar-.
ry is in full view.
One hundred and fifty miles have
we come on this night and day chase
sweeping around their right flank,
and here we are square on their front
the last quarter on earth from which
they look for attack. Mark the eyes
II the foremost men IN every troop
See how4they gleamJ Look atzthe
Colonel out In front of the centre.
His old gray pricks up his cans and
shifts the air. That horse can smell
an Indian FIVE miles. and any man in
the regiment will tell you so. "Guide-
centre" cautions the atjutant. gldnc.'
ing back, for far out on the extreme
right those fellows in "A" troop are
hulgirg ahead. eager to be the first
in the fight.
Over on the left, 200, the men in
"k" tro"p ar doing the same. de-
spite the threatening irowuS and
gestures uf the ca ptainl of the center
companies, who are restrained by
discipline from pushing upon the
heeiS of the commander. Down
with that guidon, you idiot !" yeIls
the ahjutant at an enthusiastic cor
p0ral riding in the ranks ofG"trOop,
who suddenly umfurls the silken col
GrS of his company, determined that
they should be foremost when the
dan comes. down with that flag"
hG rep ats as he trots back to the of.
finding soldier, "hayen't you sense
enough to know that nothing would
attract their attention quicker than
that 20
We are half way across the plateau.
In front the ground gently raises to-
line about 1000 yards away. Still
we are steadily trOtting in parallel
columns, for there may he shallow
rayinPS to cross before we get there.
"Bili" and the PaWnees cover the
front, the latter wildly excited and
tearing off any garment they fancy
may impede them in the fight keep
well to the right" shouts the Colonel
to the chief of "a" troop. "Dash
around the village and capture the
herd when we charge" Similar or.
ders go to the troop on the eastern
flank. Pass around and head them
off from that side"
READY FOR THE FRAY.
Every bit is foaming now. Every
carbine is grasped and advanced.
The officers have drawn their reyol.
vers and now they tWirl the cylinders
to see that all works we'll, Now the
ground dips little and we lose sight
of the distant slopes. Now we are
trotting up the gentle rise ahead.
The Colonel looks back and shouts
something that the breeze seems to
catch and carry away. but the gesture
is enough. LEFT front into line
gallop" are the prompt orders of the
captains.
Up came the rearmOst horses.
plugging into their new places and
now, in long line of dust covered
blue, the battalion sweeps southwark
to the attack. Every man knows
well that the village cannot now be
more than mile away. A few more
yards and the ponies heads come into
view. And now. Look We are
seen Riding like mad, swift as a
storm, straight as a hawk. an Indian
lashes his racer down the opposite
slope. tearing diagonally across our
front. We can see that he is yelling
wild warning. but the wind-whis-
Ting down from the mountains to
the west, bears his voice away.
Not an instant to lose now. Look!
Bill has reached the edge. He swings
his broad brimmed hat and grasps
his rifle. Loo! The Colonel spurs to
his side and turns with one Joyous
wave of his hand. The trumpeter
dlgf spurs to his horses TANKS and
raises his blazen clarion to his lips
No one waits to hear it. Every man
knows and knows we'll that il means
charge,
"Charge I" "Charge |" shout the
troop leaders. "Come on. men!
Hurrah !" is the answering yell, and
in one instant we are bursting after
the chief and the scouts, racing like
mad down the long prairie grade. be.
yond the ridge, and there. nesting
all along the shallow dip. sheltered
among the willows at the springs or
spreading up and down the trickIing