Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1892-08-25

the long freezing night have kept watch
and ward lest again the wary chief
should slip through the meshes. 1t has
come at last. The big warriors fanat-
ical braves have made their rush, Ber-
rien's men the tackle. Back flew the
signal with the setting sun. Up through
the night came Farquhar with ''the
guards"
Here IN front the four old troops we
know so well have shiyered for hours
about the village. Here, alert and de-
termined. Roife and Hazlett, Thorpe and
Gorham, have clung to front, flank and
rear, well knowing that 50 soon as the
colonel got the news he would not only
speed the second battalion on its way,
but, gathering any other forces he could
find, would ride the long night through,
if need were, to join his men,
Stern and silent Rolfe is standing at
the bank of the stream, wearied enough,
yet certain that there is no rest before
them. On him as senior the command
has devolved in the absence Of the be-
loved major now being tenderly nursed
and comfortably trundled homeward in
the warm interior of a Pullman. No
excitement, no cheer attends the coming
Of the column now at steady. soldierly
gait winding into the shallow depression,
Rolfe knows that without Farquhar and
his re-enforcements attack upon or inter-
ference with so formidable band would
be worse than desperation. He knows
that with Farquhar his own position will
be only that of subordinate, and that he
must obey. tIe knows how, were he su-
preme, thousand troopers at his back,
he would conduct matters now. But
Farquhar is soldier long accustomed
both to oobedience and to command; Rolfe
I is one to whom obedience comes with
laggard grace, to whom command is op-
portunity for lavish vent of his imperious
will
Orders CT no orders, if he had the
power lie would deal death to the rabid
renegades before him. Orders to s'bring
Oh the Indians, but not bring on fight, "
to his thinking are orders like those
which should forbid mans going to
water until he had learned to swim.
Orders to disarm but not molest are
simply something to be laughed to scorn.
When were the Sioux ever known to
surrender those precious arms? Such
things when reported in years gone by
turned out to be as rusty shams as the
arms turned in. RoEse was in mood as
sullen as the morn, and the signs about
the now bustling village were not to his
liking. Over among the tepees blanket
ed squaws were scurrying about, their
shrill voices suppressed, but their black
eyes flashing hatred at the silent squads
of troopers, carbines ready III hand,
watching every move within the guarded
lines. Young women and boys were
belaboring the gaunt and detected ponies.
Eager gestures and low exclamations
called attention to the coming force, and
in groups the warriors, shrouded TO tho
very lips IN their heavy robes, stood OF
sat in council; but all the while, darting
from point to point with fierce declam-
atory gesture, went Mephisto himself
in the Indian medicine man" Mark
wheresoever he goes eager ears are bent
to hear his exbortation.
MY Godl ,lzshss can't ] arrest him at
leasts With that old scoundrel done for
the rest might not be 50 hard, is Rolfe's
impatient exclamation.
f'Simply because the attempt would
lead to instant fight" is Hazlett's cool
reply.
but, man, he's putting them up To
organized resistance He's givsng them
some instructions now; you can see it
just as well as do"
"Who doesn't? but A suggestive
shrug Of the shoulders indicates the
brother captains opinion. "You know
the old saying, Rolfe, Ours not to make
reply
"Who's in command of those advanced
men fronting that part Of the village;"
asks Rolfe after moments gloomy
pause.
Brewster. Don't you see? He's talk
ing with Sergeant Ellis there now,
Rolfe grinds his heavy boot heel into
the frosted bunch grass not more harsh
ly than he grinds his teeth. by heay-
en-! Hazlett, bear me witness to this, for
there's no telling how things Will turn
out today. If | had my way those two
men would have been brought to book
and made to explain instead of having
posts of honor here Farquhar refused
to listen to another word on the subject
until we got home again; then it may be
too late"
"Well-l, can't understand what you
have against them both or either" is
Hazlett's reply.
"And can't explain here or now, but
wait till were home again, Hazlett, if
we ever get there"
Farther down to the left two other
troop commanders have been watching
the symptoms among the swarning
lodges.
"There'll be the devils work this day,
Thorpe" says Gorham at last with
gloomy brow.
And Thorpe only bows his head
Three hours later look upon the scene.
The open prairie on the hither side Of
the village is no longer tenantless, as it
was at dawn. Two parallel lines con
front each other there
Iii dogged submission to the orders Of
their captor5 and the mandate Of the
big white chief which has been laid be-
fore them, silent, sullen, muffled to the
eyes in dingy robe or blanket, the braves
have slowly moved out from their lurk-
ing places among the tepees and shuffied
down the gcntle slope until well away
from the outskirts Of their town, and
just in front Of long, silent rank If dis
mounted troopers they squat upon the
ground. No word is spoken by either
side. Here crouch the savage leaders of
the hostile tribe. and. in long extended
line, scores of their fiercest and bravest
Others still lurk among the squaws and
lodges. Others peer with glittering,
malignant eyes from under heaps Of
foul smelling robes OF parheches. Those
in the outing glance but furtively at the
blue line before them. They are silent
as the dead, yet the war cry trembles on
their lips, They wait, but wait expectant
They crouch, but it is the tigers
crouch, ready for a spring. The word
has been passed that all arms must be
surrendered, and every arm is there,
ready, hidden, but 'with the lightning
sleeping in it."
Rack among these brown dinov 70