The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-12

.,o,.c,, 49,. CHAPTER XII. '"'o
1t Is a sultry day, early in July, and
Fsthe ,snn, 10 going westward through Q
! 'aeet of 'whitea wind driven clouds that
send Il hust Of; deep shadows sweeping
and chasing over the wide prairie.
Northward the view is limited by q
low range of bluffs. destitute Of tree or
foliage, but covered thickly with the
summer growth of bunch grass. South
ward, three miles away at least, though
it seems much less, a similar range,
pierced here and there with deep ra-
vines, frames the picture ON that side.
Midway between the two ridges and
fringed with clumps of cottonwood and
willow, a languid stream flows silently
eastward and is lost with the valley in
the dim distance. Out TO the west in
long, gradual curve the southwark range
veers around and spans the horizon.
Midway across this monotone of land
scape, cutting the stream at right an
| giles, a hard prairie road comes twist
ing and turning out of one Of the south
ern ravines, and after a long. gradual
! dip to the ford among the cottonwoods
emerges from their leafy shade and
goes winding away until lost among
the breaks" to the north. 1t is one of
the routes to the Black Hills of Dakota
the wagon road from the Union Pa
cifc at Sidney by way of old Fort Rob
| inson, Neb., where a big garrison OF
some IA companies of cavalry and in
fantry keep watch and ward over the
Sioux nation, which, one year previous,
was in the midst Of the maddest, most
successful war it ever waged against
the white man. That was the centen-
| NAL year-lS76. This is another event.
ful year for the cavalry--fs77; for be-
fore the close of the summer even the
troops 30 far to the southeast are destined
to be Summoned to the chase and capture
Of wary old Chief Joseph--the greatest
Indian general ever reared upon the
Pacific slope--and even now, ON this
July day, here are cavalrymen at their
accustomed task, and though it is five
years since we saw them under the
heat and glare Of the Arizona ss,n there
are familiar faces among these that
greet us.
All along under the cottonwoods be-
| low the crossing the bivouac extends.
Long before sunrise these hardy fellows
We're in saddle, and in long column
have come marching down from the
north--four strong troops >~a typical
battalion Of regular cavalry as they
looked and rode in those stirring days
that brought about the subjugation Of
the Sioux. Out on the prairie the four
herds of the four different troops are
quietly grazing. each herd watched by
its trio of alert, though often apparent
ly doing, guards. One troop is made
! up entirely of black horses, another of
/ sorrels-two are of bays. Another
herd is grazing close to the stream
the mules of the wagon train--and the
white tops of these cumbrous vehicles
are dotting the left bark of the winding
water for 600 or 500 yards. Cook fires
are smoldering in little pits dug in
the yielding soil, but the cooking is
over for the present. The men have had
their substantial dinner and are now
smoking o. sleeping or chatting in
groups in the shade--all but a squad
of a dozen, commanded by grizZled
veteran on whose worn blousdthe chew
rons of first sergeant are stitched.
Booted and spurred. with carbines slung
and saddles packed, these sun tanned
fellows are standing or sitting at ease,
holding the reins of their sleepy charg-
ers and waiting apparently for the pas
sengers who are to start in the stout
built Concord drawn by four sleek,
strong looking mules, now standing in
the shade near tho canvas homestead
of the commanding officer.
Presently two soldiers following q
young man in civilian dress come for
ward Juggling little green painted iron
safe, and this, with swing and thud,
they deposit in the wagon.
you've seen that before, sergeant"
laughs the civilian.
II have, begad, an when IL had q
heap more green inside an less outside
than it has now. Faith, / never ex-
pected to see it again, nor the paymaster
either. We were both bored through
an through. Twas our good habits
that saved us. Sure your predecessor
was game fighter, Mr.. Barnes, If he
was tenderfoot."
| Eyes, the major often tells me he
wishes he had him back, and me in the
| place no has instead of the one he had, "
answers the clerk whimsically. docs
he know you're to command tho escort
in? You got him into such scrape
then that he's never tired of telling of
it."
"Then he may feel gratified at the
honor am doing him now. Sure it's
beneath the dignity of first sergeant
to command a squad like this except
on an extraordinary occasion, an it's to
take the taste of the last time out of his
mouth volunteered to escort the ma
jor now. Twas a strong taste to last
five years, though my reminder will go
with mo many year longer. Here
they come now"
AS the sergeant speaks little group
| of officers issues from the battalion