Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1892-11-07


''Since you ask me, sir, 1 most dis.
tinctly oppose its being referred to Major
Berrien. He is doing well, but the ex-
element might bring on fever-and dis
aster."
1t was Dr.. Holden who spolze-and
very firmly spoke-to Colonel Farquhal
four days after the little fight beyond
the Porcupine. The colonel sat with
bowed head, grave and thoughtful. Be
fore him stood his surgeon, respectful
but most earnest in manner. Beside
him on the narrow field bed sat Rolfe,
with face of gloom-three or four letters
and telegram in his gauntleted hand.
Already the wintry twilight was settling
down; the wind, that had been moaning
through the fimsy shelter for the last
hour, was now whistling in gathering
wrath and Tapping every loose rag of
canvas about the crowded cantonment.
Mules and horses at the picket lines
with one accord were turning tail to the
black northwest and paving the hard
and frozen ground in nervous disquiet.
The orderly who suddenly stepped with
in the tent was followed by few whirl-
ing flakes of snow, and the first match
he struck in the effort to light the
colonel's field lamp was pulled out in
twinkling.
''Give my compliments to Mr.. Brew
ster and ask him to step here" said the
colonel after a moments silence, and
the orderly vanished.
In the camp of the Twelfth, where
Berrien was universally beloved, three
names had been on every lip since the
battalion's return-those of the gallant
major himself. of Lieutenant Brewster
and of Sergeant Ellis. Painfully shot
and stunned and bruised though he was,
Berrien's wits had never left him. He
was positive that the rush of war parties
toward the old road portended mischief,
and despite the lateness of the hour he
ordered the battalion to saddle at once
and march to the Porcupine. From the
abandoned lodge poles found along the
banks experienced hands had quickly
dashed together a comfortable litter.
Between these improvised shafts two of
the most sedate of the elderly pack
mules were harnessed fore and aft. A
bed of robes and blankets was hung
midway, and while Rolfe and Hazlett
pushed ahead, scouting every ridge and
ravine with their keen eyed skirmishers,
Gorham and Thorpe followed, escorting
their beloved chief.
just as was anticipated, at nightfan
the distant fash and report of rifles
proved that the hOstiles were busily at
work in some deviltry or other and,
launching forward at the gallop, Rolfe's
long line swooped down into the valley
in time to send the yelling circle of
mounted warriors whirling away into
the ravines beyond the stream, and to
rescue little squad of scouts and troop
ers, mere handful, who had ventured
forth with dispatches for Berrien's COM
mand and were fighting for life behind
their slaughtered horses. Two were
already sorely wounded and all would
doubtless have lost their scalps but for
the veteran majors clear judgment and
the sense of duty that triumphed over
physical pain.
1.-The ould mans clear grit all
through" said his invariable eulogists,
the troopers. But there would have
been no dear old man left to them, as
Ellis and Scott had borne testimony, had
it not been for Brewster daring charge
into the midst of the red warriors. 1t
was his bullet that laid low the savage
brandisher of the knife just as he would
have gashed the brave old majors throat;
but ssWhite Wolf" had counted his last
coup and, stripped of his fnery, lay
stiffening on the prairie a painted corpse,
awaiting funeral honors at the hands of
his bowling comrades.
Every soldiers heart rejoiced that it
was Brewster who saved the majors
life, for Brewster, of all the subalterns,
was first favorite among the rank and
file. And as for Ellis. though he was
too exclusive-''toom much like as though
he wanted to be an officer"-to be gener-