Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-03-14
How [ wish / could

get rid of it,
Where do you keep it tonight"
Right here in my saddlebags under
my head Nobody can touch them that
/ do not wake; and my revolver is here
under the blanket. Hold on! Let's take
look and see if everything is. all right.
He holds little camp lantern over the
bags, opens the flap, and peers in Eyes,
all serene. got big hunk of green
sealing wax from the paynastcr and
sealed it all mp in one package with the
memorandum list inside. It's all safe so
far, even to the hunk of sealing wax.
What is it, sergeant"
a tall, soldierly, dark eyed trooper an
pears at the doorway of the little tent,
and raises his gauntleted hand in salute.
His language, though couched in the
phraseology of the soldier. tells both in
choice of words and in the intonation of
every phrase that he is a man whose an
tece1ents have been far different from
those of the majority of the rank and
file:
"Will the captain permit me to take
my horse and those of three or four more
men outside the corral? Sergt. Clancy
SAYS he has no authority to allow it. We
have found a patch of excellent grass,
sir, and there is hardly any left inside. l
will sleep by my picket pin, and one of
us will keep awake all the time, if the
captain will permit"
GLOW far away is it. sergeant"
"Not seventy-tive yards, sir-close to
the river bank east of us"
Very well. Send Scrgt Clancy here,
and I'll give the necessary orders"
The soldier quietly salutes, and disap-
pears in the gathering darkness.
That's what | like about that man
Cover" says the captain, after mo-
ments silence. He is always looking
out for his horse. If he We're not such a
gambler and rake he would make a
splendid first sergeant. Fine looking fell
low, isn't he:"
Yes. sir. That is a face that one
couldn't we'll forget Vino was the other
sergeant YOU Oyerhauled for getting
lleeced by those sharps at the canton
mcnt?"
CLANCY? He's on guard tonight, A
very different character"
II don't know him by sight as yet.
Well. goodnight. sir. I'll take myself
oil and 90 to my own tent
Daybreall again. and far to the cast
he sky is all aoaze. The mist is creep
in" from the silent shadows under the
banks, lat all is life and vim along the
shore With cracking whip, Juggling
trace, .onorous hlaspA,my. and ringing
shout the long train is whirhng ahead
slmo5t at The run. Al is athrill with
excitement, and bearded faces have a
strange, sci look about the jaws, and
yes CLEAN with eager light and peer
-carChingly from every rise far over TO
ne southeast. where stands a tumbing
ucIp of hills against the tightening sky.
on there, are they says a burly
roper, dianounting hastily to tighten
un the "cinch" of his weather beaten
saddle. 1--WE can make ii quick enough,
rs soon as we get rid Of these blasted
wagons" And, swinging into saddle
again, he goes cantering down the slope,
hi, charger snorting with eXhilaration in
the l,co;' morning air.
Before dawn "A courier has gailopcd
into camp. bearing dispatch from the
commanding officer OF the RiAcrs. 1t
says but few words, but they are full Of
meaning: I'VE have found a biz party
of ho,tiles. They are in strong position,
and have us ut disadvantage. Raynei
with his four companies is hurrying tc
us. Leave all wagons with the boat
under guard, and come with cycry horse
and man you can bring