St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1892-09-15
DICK SAVED THE COMPANY.

All this story was being told of Dick,
the company dog, way back IN that
summer of 60" out in the Indian
Territory.
"He came from the East with US,
Joined in Jersey City. How did he
come to Join? Well, to be honest,
we were waiting on the platform for
the train to back in, and when the
handsome dog came up and made
friends, soldier-like we just Struggled
him on board. Our company was
ordered to march to the next fort and
bring down supply train. Steam
Not much Six mule wagons. So one
morning off we started, Dick with US
as usual.
ITO make long story short, the
next afternoon found US surrounded
by 400 or 500 Indians, our wagon
animals killed and we were unableto
move, intrenched as best we might,
with our wounded as comfortable as
we could make them in the center OF
our circle Safe? Ofcourse we were,
that is, some ofus got hurt, OF course,
but they couldn't break our circle.
And no more could we move. There
we were, out on wide prairie, only
a few drops of water in our canteens
and cut off from any way OF getting
more. That made it question of
moving and getting killed, staying
still and dying OF thirst, or getting
aid from the tort. Night came and
volunteers for water tried to steal
through the Indian lines. Get
through? No, sir. Those plain Indi-
ans knew just the kind OF box they
had US in, and no man, white or red,
could have passed them. Every man
that made the trial came running
back for his life!
Next day it was worse; hotter
than ever and what little water there
was kept for the wounded. And the
meanest part OF it was to look at the
reds, some on horseback, some on
the ground stretched out enjoying
themselves out of range, and all OF
them free to ride over to the stream,
whose cottonwood-covere banks
were in plain sight few miles away.
Might came again, and l heard
somebody whistle; then Dick was
called softly. After bit every man
got orders not to let Dick inside the
lines. A message to the fort for aid
had been rolled up in piece of rubber
blanket and tied around his neck.
Our only hope was that he would
start off tor the fort and carry it,
and that some one would unite the
roll and read the message.
Every now and then Dick would
try to come up to where l lay in the
circle. But it was only to be met
with clods of earth that drove him
off to try to find some friend who
would welcome him as of old.
but every man. hand was against
Dick that night, and after a long time
word was passed around that Dick
was gone. Nobody could see him at
all events. But we had to wait for |
daylight to make sure the poor old |
boy was not lying down little way
from us, waiting for the dawn and
we had never failed III
giving him before.
daylight came atlaSt. Then every
eye was strained to find Dick But
ne was not there. And after the
field glasses had searched in vain for
him there rose cheer on the morn
ng air that brought the Indians to
their feet, anxiously scanning the
1orizon all around for the cause.
We'll, the little dog made his way
20 the fort over the dark prairies,
and, swimming the streams, until
ust after davbreak, about the time
we were cheering him back there in
he camp he trotted up to the stable
guard at one of the cavalry COM
)any's stables tired out.
well, it wasn't long after that we
Jaw our relief coming. And they
brought Dick with them How we
lid pet him! But often wondered
what the little fellow thought that
hight after we had driven him off, as
lie trotted along through the dark to
he Cot Cp:+tch.~n D;cno4nL