Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-07-05
in THE RANKS


land-the plains. Just as far as the
eye could reach not break on that
ocean of earth could be seen, not a
sign OF human habitation, not par
ticle Of life and not trace of vegeta-
ton except tufts of bunch grass and
SAGE brush, and away on all sides the
sky and earth seemed to meet.
1t was like the dawn of creation, or
rather after the end of the world,
when every living thing has been
swept from the earth. On that vast
treeless, trackless desert but two OBJ
Jects could be Seen-one man riding
slowly forward, and the other bird
that tioated lazily along through the
warm air as If looking for tree, and
not seeing one it flew to the ground
just in front of the horSeman and
burst into flood Of sweetest melody.
1t was in the early morning, and
the sun was just rising in the east
and sending his glorious light stream.
Ing over the desolate waste, and
though it was still the dull darkness
of dawn where the horseman was and
the skies were leaden he could look
away IN the east and see the day COM
ing and see the brilliant crimson sky.
He was soldier and private. You
could tell that from the broad
brimmed white hat he wore, the coarse
wooden shirt and the blue coat, upon
which there were no stripes to show
that he had yet passed the ranks. His
face was covered with luXuriant
beard, and when he took off his hat
and raised himself in the stirrups you
could see that his forehead and his
big, heavy hands were bronzed from
contact with all kinds of weather.
Officers and men in forts who have
never been located on the frontier, or
where, to use Il popular army phrase,
know but little of the trials of those
hardy men away out in the mountains
or on the plains. There Is nothing
there to break the monotony. The
same faces are seen every day. and the
routine of fort life becomes drearier
with each setting Of the sun. Occa-
sionally friend Of one of the officers
or of their wives comes out, and the
guest is welcomed as a benedicion
from heaven, but the men in the ranks
have no visitors, and their lives be-
come as monotonous and tiresome as
the life of hermit.
The fort from which thessprivate
came was located back of him 20 miles
and stood alone on the plain which
stretched away from it for apparently
countless miles, without even a pocket
or buffalo wallow to break its level
ness. But the fort was excited now
A band of Indians, led by Young
Horse, had broken away from the
agency and had started across country
with no special place for its desti-
nation, wandering collection of MUIR
derers and plunderers, seeking, like
vulture, something to rob, kill, destroy,
and the commanding officer had sent
out his scouts to locate them, return
and lead the cavalry to where they
were located. The private occasion
ally got Off his horse to walk a bit
and listen, or he stood up in the saddle.
and with his fieldglass swept the plain
for a sight of the red desperadoes.
IF those red devils go east, they
will surely strike the main trail for
the fort" he said, speaking aloud-a
habit so many frontiersmen have
IAN if / am not mistaken a sister Of
Mrs. Colonel is coming out to the fort
for visit. But l don't suppose she
will be along for week yet. It'll be
tough luck If she gets to the station
over on the railroad now while every
available man is out after those cursed
Indians"
1t was a thought which troubled
him. for he spoke of it to himself sew
eral times, As the sun rose higher up
in the heavens, the semi-darkness lift
ed, and the bright sunlight streamed
over the bleak plain, and In the clear
air objects were visible many miles
away. Standing up in his saddle, the
private took his glass and looked
long way. and there saw three objects
moving rapidly along.
notwithstanding the great risk he
was mourning. he rode forward slowly,
the object being not to tire his horse,
for the animal might have a long and
hard run ahead Of him. Soon he was
enabled to study the three objects
closer through his glass.
There are two men and a woman"
he said. I'll bet Mrs. Coloneps sister
has arrived and is making for the
fort. and one Of the men is the post
man and the other a guard BY Jove,
that's pluck for her to start"
He spurred his horse forward, but
the others had seen him coming and
were resting, awaiting for him to come
up. The woman was young and pref
ty. and as the private came up she
laughed gayly.