The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-07-13
WON A COMMISSION.

was heard, except tho occasional CRY Of q
coyote.
Three O'Clock struck, and tho sentinel
on post No. l started tho call:
| No. ], O'Clock, and oil s wclln
A slight pause, and No. responded:
No. 2, O'Clock, and all's well!''
Then came n long pause.
The sergeant Of the guard stepped out of
the guardroom and listened.
Tho sentinel on No 3 must DO asleep. "
he remarked. Bad business for Il sentinel
| guarding tho corral.''
Turning to No. 1, no commanded:
Start the call again"
| No. 1 obcycd. No. 9 took it up But
thcro again it ended.
The sergeant turned out patrol and
marched to the corral.
AS he approached tho scntir L, post in
tho moonlight ho saw the figure Of No. 8
stretched out on tho ground. The position
did not look like that of n sleeping man.
Double timcP commanded tho ser
geant.
And the patrol came down the post at n
run.
AS tho men came closer to the figure q
sight met their eyes that frozo the blood
in their veins
Lying face down in the sand, his hand
still grasping his rifle, was their comradc
stiff and cold in death, an Apache arrow
buried deep in his body
Three sharp cracks of the rifle, tho rat
tic of the long roll of the drum, soon
brought the startled garrison to the spot.
Scouts were instantly sent out and the
plain thoroughly secured, but no Indian
signs could be found.
Tho next day, with muf1lcd drums. tho
members of the garrison followed tho body
of their comrado to it's last resting place.
With uncovered heads, sorrowfully and
reverently, they listened while the post
chaplain read tho burial service. Tho mill
tary escort fired three rounds over tho
grave, and the buglcr played the sweetest
of all calls, 'Taps-lights out-slcep. !"
Naturally gloom was thrown over the
whole post.
The soldiers gathered in small groups
and discussed the pcrplcxed question,
"How could it have been done!" The
moon had been shining brightly, and there
was no cover behind which an Indian
could conceal himself
The searching parties camo in after
fruitlcss hunts.
The corral was in an exposed place, but
the animals had to bo guarded
Night came. There would be no lack
OF vigilance OH tho part of tho sentinel on
post No 3. The moon was ever brighter
than on tho preceding night, and the OBJ
Jects on the plain could be seen almost as
distinctly AS in the daytime.
Each half hour the call of No / WINS
promptly answered by the other scntinels
Few expected II repetition Of the proceed
ing nights cowardly attack. Gradually
the garrison became silent, and one by
one the lights went out
some OF the more nervous awokc every
half hour, listened until all tho scntincs
had responded 10 the call, then droppcd
asleep again.
Morning came, and nothing had happen
ed to disturb the peace of the little fort.
Several days passed, and the post settled
down into its old ways, and the memory
of the dreadful event was beginning to
fade.
The officer of the day was making the
inspection of the scntincls after midnight
and was approaching post No. 3, when the
moon, which had been hidden behind n
cloud, suddenly burst forth, revealing at
the very feet of the officer the body of the
sentinel, rs before, completely pierced by
an Indian arrow.
The alarm was quickly given, but iii
spite of the most careful search no trace of
the assassin could be found
A horror settled over the post No one
dreaded an enemy they knew and could
fight openly, but against such ghostly at
tacks no one could defend himself.
At officers call the next morning the
affair was earnestly discussed Itwas evil
IDENTITY wrong to require sentinel to walk
post in such an exposed and dangerous
place. and yet, with the corral where it
was, no one could see how it could be
avoided.
While discussing the problem an orderly
appeared and reported:
Private Rogers would like to speak to
tho commanding officer"
The commanding officer went into his
private Office, and after the interview re-
turned to the room where the officers were
assembled and announced:
Young Rogers has asked permission to
take charge of post No at night until he
solves tho mystery, and have granted his
request"
The faces OF the officers showed plainly
the anxiety they felt.
Young Rogers was the son of brother
captain in their regiment who at that
time was stationed in an eastern city on
recruiting service.
previously with the object of obtaining an
officers commission, which may be won
by worthy and capable man.
The young fellow had gained the esteem
and respect of every one by his manly
qualities and strict obedience to orders
Many of the officers had known him from
his childhood lie had been the playmate
of their children and IL great favoritc with
all
Later on many tried to persuade him to
withdraw his request.
Take the po.t if ii fails to your lot, hut
don't volunteer they pleaded
1t was no usc. The young man had n
theory ana if he proved il ard discc,.,.,cd