Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1892-11-14

BTelUSter led has little band OF troopers
off into the night.
''Who's there?' demanded Brewster
from beneath his robes and blankets, as
late that night his name was called.
sit is Holden. Tumble up, man;
want you quick
'sMy God, doctor. is Berrien worse?"
s'No, thank heaven, he's sound asleep.
Sergeant Ellis was brought in by the
guard half an hour ago. He fell ex-
hausted at the lines. We've just brought
him to at the hospital tent, and from
what can make out-hes so weak yet
there's something back there out on
the prairie, an ambulance and women.
ran over for you as soon as could, for
you probably know him best"
BE with you in minute" shouted
Brewster, kicking off his moccasins
and struggling into his heavy boots.
''Lie still, Haddock; you're not want
ed" he added. what time is it, Door,
''Long after eleven-near midnight, l
judge. Come as quick as you can. I'll
go right back"
In five minutes, in the dim light of the
hospital tent, Brewster was bending over
Ellis PROSTATE form. Others had pulled
off his heavy boots and were chatting his
half frozen feet. Holden had just ad-
ministered another dose of brandy, but
at sight of Brewster the languid, half
open eyes began to CLEAN and the mus
cles of the lips to twitch.
''Stoop lower, Brewster; he wants to
speak to you" said Holden. And Brews-
ter inclined his ear almost to the black
mustache.
Nov, Ion, 1nx
his feet again.
"Whatr' he cried. 'God of heaven.
mani do you mean it?" His face was
ashen in an instant, but his eyes never
quit their questioning gaze. Ellis nodded
vehemently, striving again to speak.
Doctor. do you hear?'' cried Brewster,
in mad dismay. He says Mrs. Berrien
ami Winifred are in the ambulance
b11 ken down at Wolf Creek" And
without another word he darted from
the tent.
Ten minutes more, a dozen men of the
''black troop were bracing cinch straps,
buckling throat latches and loading
blankets on their astonished steeds. De-
spite the bowling of the gale, half the
camp was up and astir, Farquhar among
the first. Brewster had his own horse
saddled and was astride before any one
else was fairly dressed, and by this time
Ellis had recovered sufficiently to speak
and tell his story. The train from the
east came in on time at three, and he
was amazed to see Mrs. Berrien's face.
No one dreamed of her coming, for the
wires were down. The quartermaster
ran to meet her, and the sergeant him
self FASTENED to give her good news of
her husband. Nothing would answer,
though, but that she must go to him at
once.
In vain did Major Sterrett plead with
her. saying it took five hours to drive
over to the cantonment by day and he
feared the evening would be dark and
stormy. Go she would, and the quar-
termaster ordered out his own ambu-
lance and best four mule team, with his
own driver and compile of armed out
riders. He gave the ladies hot tea,
loaded in lots of blankets and robes, and
they started about half past three, were
in the teeth of the gale at five o'clock,
in pitch darkness and off the road at six,
and somewhere about seven the mules
became unmanageable in the blizzard,
whirled short around and snapped off
the pole. By this time, too one outrider
was lost, the other was frozen half to
death and had been drinking whisky.
The driver was so stiff he could hardly
move hand or foot, and he and Ellis had
the utmost difficulty in cutting loose
the mules. There was every prospect
of their capsizing the wagon, and they
had to get the ladies out until the beasts
were free. Then he found they were
close to Wolf creek, more than half
way, and Ellis determined to push on
through the cantonment for help, first
replacing the ladies in the covered
wagon, wrapping them in furs and
blankets and fastening the curtains.