News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1893-09-14

surrender those precious arms? Such
things when reported in years gone by
turned out to be as rusty shams as the
arms turned in. Rohfe was in mood as
sullen as the morn, and the signs about
the now bustling village were not to his
liking. Over among the tepees blanket
ed squaws were scurrying about, their
shrill voices suppressed, but their black
eyes flashing hatred at the silent squads
of troopers, carbines ready in hand,
watching every move within the guarded
lines. Young women and boys were
belaboring the gaunt and detected ponies.
Eager gestures and low exclamations
called attention to the coming force, and
in groups the warriors, shrouded TO the
very lips in their heavy robes, stood OF
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!
to hear his exhortatiOn.
"My God! why can't l arrest him at
least? With that old scoundrel done for
the rest might not be so hard" is Rolfe's
impatient exclamation.
''Simply because the attempt would
lead to instant fight" is Hazlett's cool
reply.
"But, man, he's putting them up to
organized resistance. He's giving them
some instructions now; you can see it
just as well as do"
"Who doesn't? but A suggestive
shrug of the shoulders indicates the
brother captains opinion. "You know
the old saying, Rolfe, Ours not to make
reply"
"Who's in command of those advanced
men fronting that part of the village?
asks Rolfe after 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-
enl Hazlett, bear me witness to this, for
there's no telling how things will turn
out today. If | had my way those two
men would have been brought to book
and made to explain instead of 4a.n,
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.
"And | 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.
''There1l 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 dOgged 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
eyes 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 Hf 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 lurk among the squaws and
lodges. Others peer with glittering,
malignant eyes from under heaps of
foul smelling robes or parfleches. 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 q spring. The word
has been passed that all arms must be
surrendered, and every arm is there,
ready, hidden, but "with the lightning
sleeping i'll it.
Back among those brown, dingy te-
pees, 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 q 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
eomes, 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 fianks and rear comrade troops gaze
silently on the scene. From the crest
of a low bluff the black muzzle of the
Hotchkiss gun peers from its knot of
watchful batterymen. Farquhar, vigi-
liant and grave, has just sent Warren
with other orders. A halfbreed Indian
steps forth, as though to carry its i'm
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, wild
yell. Off goes every blanket, as though
hurled by the explosion from within.
In simultaneous crash the flame and
lead have leaped upon the trooper line,
and now through the yelling smoke
every Indian is fighting like demon,
Down goes many sturdy soldier, vet.
eran sergeant, brave faced boy. The
limo 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