Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-08-06

Gorham, have chung to front, flank and
rear, well knowing that so 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,
il need We're, 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 devolyed in the absence OF the be-
loved major now being tenderly nursed
and comfortably trundled homeward in
the warm interior of d Pullmans 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 a band would
be worse than desperation lie knows
that with Farquhar his own position Will
be only Chat of subordinate, and that he
must obey He knows how, were he SUI
preme, thousand troopers at his back,
he would conduct matters now. But
Farquhar is a soldier long accustomed
both to obedience and to command: Rolfe
Is one to whom obedience comes with
laggard grace, to whom command is OPP
pertunity for lavish vent Of his imperious
will
Orders or no orders, If he had the
power he would deal death TO the rabid
renegades before him. Orders to "bring
on 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 10 disarm but not molest are
simply something to be laughed to scorn.
/ When were the Sioux ever known to
surrender those precious almss Such
things when reported in years gone by
turned out to be as rusty shams as the
arms turned in. Rose was in mood as
snllen as the morn, and the signs about
the now bustling village were not to his
/ liking Over among the tepees blanket
"a squaws We're scurrying about, their
shrill voices suppressed, but their black
4 eyes flashing hatred at the silent squads
ii troopers, carbines ready in hand,
watching every move within the guarded
lines. Young women and boys were
belaboring the gauntand detected ponies.
Eager gestures and low ordinations
called attention to the coming force and
IN groups the warriors, shrouded to the
very lips IN their heavy robes. stood or
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!
wheresoeyer he goes eager ears are bent
to hear his exhortation.
"AIy God why can't / arrest him at
least? With that old scoundrel done for
/ the rest might not be so hard, f" is Rolfe's
impatient exclamation.
"Simply because tho attempt would
lead to instant fight, is Hazletts cool
reply.
But, man, he's putting them up q
organized resistance. He's giving them
some instructions now; you can see il
just ais well as do"
"Who doesn't? but A suggestive
shrug Of the shoulders indicates the
brother captains opinion. lyon know
the old saying, Rolfe, Ours not to make
reply"
"Who'sin command Of those advanced
men fronting that part of the villageg
asks Rolfe after a moments gloomy
pause
brewster. Dontyou see? He's talk
ing with Sergeant Ellis there now"
Rolfe grinds his heavy boot heel into
the frosted bunch grass not more harsh
~ than he grinds his teeth. by heav,
EN- Hazlett, bear me witness to this, fo'
there's no telling how things viii turn
out today. If / had my way those two
men would have been brought to bool
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
Hazletts reply.
"And / can't explain here or now, but
wait till we're home again, Hazlett, ii
we ever get there.
Farther down to the left two other
troop commanders have been watching
the symptoms among the swarming
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.
In logged submission to the orders Of
their captors and tho mandate Of the
big white chief which has been laid be-
fore them, silent, spllen, 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 gentle 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 fercest and brayest
Others still Turk among the squaws and
lodges. Others peer with glittering,
/ malignant ewes from under heans az