The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-02
A Voice In the Dark ness.

At midnight most OF the horses were lying
down. and in the ca mp every man not on post
was fast asleep. There were two sounds to
break the stiffness. No. they did not break it.
but formed part Of It. On the plains the
cricket keeps up an incessant chirping. II
you lie awake for hours. you will find no in
terval. no change. It blends into the night
as q part of the darkness. as a part OF
ITSELF The camp fires no sooner be-
gin to die out than tho howl Of the
coyote Is heard. After bit.that gets to be a
part OF the night. But for those noises the
awful solitude Of quiet night would prevent
men from sleeping. Even with them there are
hours when you seem to have been buried
alive. and the coming Of a sudan gust Of
wind or the rising or lying down Of a horse 10
glad relief. On this night and with that
gravollke silence hanging over camp like q
black cloud. a sentinel suddenly challenges:
Haiti Who goes there2 Halt. or ! Arep'
He had not sung out at the top OF his voice.
but in fifteen seconds a hundred men were on
their feet with carbines in their hands. There
was scramble and a clatter and every horse
and mule was IN. figure had softly and
quietly approached post No. 4. The sentinel
was sure that 1t was q human being. AS he
challenged it vanished in tho darkness. He
gave his explanation in whispers. and when
bent his head to listen. Not a horse moved a
foot Each one held his head high in air. and
their eager eyes Glistsned in the darkness like
is lost and can't find HIM"
out Of the darkness on the north side Of the
camp-a voice broken and qnavering full Of
Dsn with hS sS
miles! And yet we could not be mista ken.
While we kent silence and maintained our
With arms oatstretchsd We found only tho
darkness As We returned to camp and md stood
side.not shout, but wall:
IT,, Won't ySp let me re, have NJ Jimmy Come.
You shall have Jimmy: Come and get him."
said the Captain in reply. Come right into
We almost prayed that she would come in.
realizing now that whoever she was she was
lost and must be starving and exhausted. 1t
away and more broken as we caught the Words;
Jimmy Sah iost na and motker can't lnd nh him
BY order Of the Captain we soSSghs our our
sR.y beors dsys 20 to rsvea her.
but no man slept We saw the stars pale.
the darIpe e turn h eastern ST hoTzGn
vision was extended. and by and By the plain
hsnS out II for niles o1s U.s. No 61
even coyote was moving, But to the west
OF the camp and scarcely hundred feet from
the sentry line we noted queer object lying
DR as Sp tSSSst sf
stoeking-a stocking for the foot of q child
perhaps two years old Tho color had faded
and though the heel had been deity darned
who had called to us from tho darkness had
I've shall find her down there" said the
Captain as he pointed down the creek where
the banks were fringsd with willows.
And 50 We did; After breakfast q squad OF
men rode down the stream. beating tho bushes
on either side. and two miles away We found
her body under the willows 1t WAS nalf naked
and little more than skeleton. She must
f have been without bout food for days and days;
unless she gnawed at the willows or caught
the crickets lurking In the grass. And beside
her We found that which made our hearts ache
still more It was bundle OF clothlng-two
and dress and and 2 little sunbOnnet;s We
omigrants wife who escaped with her
child when tho Indians nttacked-some
gloneer's wife fesiRg from the cabin when
the child had broathsd its last in her arms:
She thought It wanted to sleep and undressed
It. Its wasted body might still be lying with
IN dozen miles of US. but 1t ives more likely
the w9vss had fought over Il We carried the
and dug her 2 grave under the shade Of a cot
tonwood. When she had been placed In 1t We
folded tho little garments and laid them on
her breast and to-day they are mingled with
that grave and bowed our uncovered heads as
the earth was shovelled In. but yet when the
night comes down dark and quiet hear again
that sobbing. qn!aiyering. grteving voice crying
out to mo: Won't you let mo have my
JIMMY Come. Jimmy-mother's lones omsl'