Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-01-08
FOES IN AMBUSH. By Capt. CHARLES KING, U. s. A.
[Copyright, 1saa, by Charles King.l
CHAPTER XII.

send host of deep shadows sweeping ! and chasing over the wide prairie. ! Northward the view is limited by a ! 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 southward range veers around and spans the horizon. Midway across this monotone of land scape, cutting the stream at right an gleS, hard prairie road comes twist ing and turning out of one of the south ern ravincS. and after a long, gradual dip to the ford among the cottonwoods emergcs from their leafy shade and goes winding away until lost among the breaks to the north. It is one of the routes to the Black Hills of Dakota the wagon road from the Union Pa cifc at Sidney hy way of old Fort Rob- inson, Neb., where a big garrison of some II companies of cavalry and in- fantry keep watch and ward over the Sioux nation, which, enc year previous, was in the midst of the maddest, most successful war it ever waged against the white man. That was the centen- nial year-1S16. This is another event ful year for the cavalry for be- fore the close of the summer even the troops so 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 wears since WIG saw them under the heat and glare of the Arizona sun 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 were in saddle. and in long column have come marching down from the nOrth-fouT 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 dozing, guards. One troop is made up entirely of black horses, another of sorrtls-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 bank of the winding water for goo or 800 yards. Cook fires are smoldcring in little pits dug in the yielding soil, but tho cooking is over for the present. The men have had their substantial dinner and are now smoking or sleeping or chatting in groups iu the shade-all but a squad of q dozen. commanded by a grizzled veteran on whose worn blouse the chev- rons of q 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- CTS and waiting apparently for the pas se1gers who are to start in the stout built Concord drawn by four sleek, strong looking mules, now standing in the shade near the canvas homestead of the commanding officer
 Presently two soldiers following a young man in civilian dress come for ward lugging little green painted iron safe, and this, with swing and a thud, they deposit in the wagon.
 You've seen that before, sergeant, " laughs the civilian.
 II have, begad. an when it had a heap mole green inside an less outside than it has now Faith, I never ex- pectcd to sec it again, nor the paymaster either. We were both bored through an through. Twas our good habits that saved us. Sure your predecessor was a game fighter, Mir. Barnes, if he was a tenderfoot."
 Yes, the major often tells me he wishes he had him back, and me in the place he has instead of the one he had, :" answers the clerk whimsically. Does he know you re to command the escort in? You got him into such a scrape then that he's never tired of telling of it
 Then he may feel gratified at the honor 1 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 I volunteered to escort the ma jor now. Twas strong taste to last five years, though my reminder will go with me many a year longer. Here they come now.
 As the sergeant speaks little group of officers issues from the battalion commanders tent. Foremost among them, in loose Tapping raiment and broad brimmed hat and green goggles, is the rotund and portly shape of Major Hummer, the paymaster.
 Well, old man, says the cavalry leader. ''yOu can hardly get into a scrape 'twixt here and Sidney. We've seen you through all right so far; now we'll go on about our scouting. Your old friend Feeny asked permission to see you safely to the railway
 What, Feeny, and a first sergeant too? I'm honored indeed! Well, sergeant, " he adds, catching sight of the grizzled red face under the old scouting hat, "I'n promise to let you run the machine this time and not in terfere, no matter what stories come to Us of beauty in distress. All ready? ?"
 All ready, sir, if the major is. "
 He wasn't that civil to me in Ari- zona," laughs the paymaster as he turns to shake hands with the officers about hirn.
 You see you were new to the busi- ness then" explains a tall captain. Feeny considers you a war veteran now, after your experience at MorenO's. We all had to serve our apprenticeship as suckling heutenants before he would show us anything but a semblance of respect. Goodby, major; good luck to you.
 "Goodby all. GoOdby, Drummond. Gnodbv Wipg Herei I fnI1st shaka