Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1892-11-21


some instructions now; you can see it
just as we'll as | do"
ssWho doesn't? butt A suggestive
shrug of the shoulders indicates the
brother captains opinion. "You know
the old saying, Rolfe, ours not to make
reply"
sWho's in command of those advanced
men fronting that part of the village?"
asks Rolfe after a 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 heav-
en-! Hazlett, bear me witness to this, for
there's no telling how things will turn
out today. If l 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.
land l can't explain here or now, but
wait till we're home again, Hazlett, If
we ever get there"
Farther down to the left two other
troop commanders have been watching
the symptoms among the swarming
lodges.
.sThere1l 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 the mandate of the
big white chief which has been laid be-
fore them, silent, sullen, muffied to the
ewes in dingy robe or blanket, the braves
have slowly moved out from their lurk-
ing places among the tepees and shuff1ed
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 fiercest and bravest.
| Others still Turk among the squaws and
| lodges. Others peer with glittering.
malignant eyes from under heaps of
foul smelling robes or 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 Ill 1T.
Back among those brown, dingy te-
PEGS. breathless with excitement, squaws
are scurrying to and fro; children are
being huddled away to the farther side.
Look at that. Curly" mutters Warren
under his frozen mustache, as he passes
rapidly along in rear. "Isn't that enough
/ to show they mean Mischief Some of
| the Indian police and interpreters are
| still searching for warriors in hiding.
Yet has not the old chief bowed his as
sent to the orders and given his direc-
tions that his people should comply?
Nothing must be, can be done SO long as
| the Indian makes no overt move. The
dismounted men of two troops are in
long single rank. Some of the men
shiver little, for cold and excitement
are telling now, as in many cases over
coats have been thrown aside, but brave
men tremble ofttimes until the first shot
comes, and then the nervous strain Is
| gone for the hot blood leaps and tingles
through the veins. Back some distance
the horse herders are aligned. Off to
the TANKS and rear comrade troops gaze
silently on the scene. From the crest
of low bluff the black muzzle of the
Hotchkiss gun peers from its knot OF
watchful batterymen. Farquhar, vigi
liant and grave, has just sent WarreR
with other orders. A halfbreed Indiar
steps forth, as though to carry its Inn
port to the chief. At him the eyes OF
the old maniac of a medicine man glare
with tigerish fury. He lowers his feath-
cred head. He crouches.
Then, suddenly, catlike leap, a wild
tell. Off goes every blanket, as though
hurled by the explosion from within
In simultaneous crash the flame ana
lead have leaped upon the trooper line,
and now through the yelling smoke
every Indian is fighting like a demon.
Down goes many a sturdy soldier, vet
eran sergeant, brave faced boy. The
line reels With the sudden shock, but in
an instant men like Thorpe and Brews-
ter and Randolph leap forward among
the men and their voices ring with the
clamor of battle. Back up the slope,
scurrying, STOPPING low, firing, dropping
in their tracks, the Indians are making