The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-04-24
IN THE RANKS.

A stretch Of drcary and desolato land
tho plains. Just as far as tho eye could
reach not q broak on that ocean Of earth
could DO seen, not sign of human habi-
tation, not a particle of 1ifo and not
trace Of vegetation except tufts Of bunch
grass and sagobrush and away on nll
sides tho sky and earth seemed to meet.
Itwas liko tho dawn of creation, OF rather
ofter tho end of tho world, when every liv-
Ing thing has been swept from the earth.
On that vast treoloss, trackless desert but
two objects could DO seen-ono man rid
ing slowly forward, and the other bird
that loatod lazily along through tho warm
air as If looking for q tree, and not seeing
one 1t few to tho ground just in front Of
tho horsemon and burst into q flood Of
sweetest melody.
1t was in tho early morning, and tho
sun was just rising In tho east and send
ing his glorious light streaming over tho
desolato waste and though it was still tho
dull darkness Of dawn where tho horseman
was and tho skies woro leadcn ho could
look away in tho cast and SEQ the day COM
ing and 500 tho brilliant crimson sky. He
was q soldier and private. You could
toll that from tho broad brimmed white
hat no woro, the coarse wooden shirt and
the blue cont upon which there were no
stripes to show that no had yet passed the
ranks. His faco was covered with n lux
urinnt board, and when no took off his hat
and raised himself in tho stirrups you
could SEQ that his forehead and his big,
heavy hands wcrc bronzed from contact
with oil kinds Of weather
Officers and mon in forts who have never
been located on tho frontier, or worse,
thousand miles from nowhere, to use n
popular army phrase know but little Of
tho trials of those hardy men away out in
tho mountains or on tho plains. There
is nothing thoro to break tho monotony
Tho Same faces arc seen ovcry day, and
tho routine of fort lifo becomes drcaricr
with each setting of tho sun. Occasionally
friend of ono of tho officers or of their
wives comes out, and tho guest is wei
coined Us bencdiction from heaven, but
tho mon in tho ranks hnvo no visitors, and
their lives become rs monotonous and tire
somo as tho lifo of hermit.
Tho fort from which tho private camc
was located back of him &c miles and stood
alonc on tho plain which stretched away
from it for apparently countless miles,
without even pocket or buffalo wal
low to break its levclness. But tho fort
was excited now. A band Of Indians, led
by Young Horse, had broken away from
tho agency and had started across country
with no special place for it's destination, q
wandering collection of murderers and
Plundcrers, seeking, like a vulturc, somc-
thing to rob, Kill, destroy, and the COM
handing officer had sent out his scouts to
locate them, return and lead tho cavalry
to where they wcro located. Tho private
occasionally got off his horse to walk bit
and listen, or no stood up In the saddle
and with his flcldglass swept the plain for
sight of the red dcspcradoes.
If tho&o red dovils go east, they will
surely strike tho main trail for the fort, -
no said, speaking aloud-a habit SO many
fronticrsmen havo-"and If I am not mis-
taken sister Of Mrs. Colonel Is coming
out to the fort for visit But 1 don't
suppose sho will be along for week yet
It'll DO tough luck If she gets to the station
over on the railroad now while every
available man Is out after those cursed In
dams"
1t was thought which troubled him,
for he spoke Of it to himself several times.
AS the sun rose higher up in tho heavens,
tho scmidarkncss lifted, and tho bright
sunlight streamcd over tho bleak plain.
and in tho clear air objects wcro visible
many miles away. Standing up in his
saddle, tho private took his glass and
looked long way, and there saw three
objects moving rapidly along.
Notwithstanding the great risk he was
mourning, no rodo forward slowly, the OBJ.
1ect being not to tire his horse, for the an
Imal might have long and hard run ahead
OF MIN. soon no was enabled to study the
three objects closer through his glass
There arc two mon and woman, " he
sold. IN bet Mrs Colonel's sister has
arrived and ismaking for the fort and ono
or tho men is tho postman and tho other q
guard BY Joyc, that's pluck for her to
start"
Ho spurrrd his horse forward, but tho
others had seen him coming and wcrc
resting, awaiting for him to come I'D
Tho woman was young and pretty, and as
tho private camo up she laughed gayly.
u suppose you have been sent out to
meet me, " she said. II am Mrs. Colonel's
sister, and l wrote her that would arrive
at tho station yesterday, but no one mot
mo. These gentlemen, I learned, wero go
Ing to tho fort, and so 1 decided to Join
thom.'
1t is very long and tircsome ride,
miss, F" said tho soldier, land you are yet
nearly 20 miles from the fort"
Il don't mind tho ride replied the
young lady, 'for I am very fond of this
sort of eXerciso.e
The four started on brisk trot, and in
few minutes tho postman dropped back
with the private
do you think there is any danger from
the Indians?" he asked
There's always danger from tho red
devils when they get started, answered
the soldier. You know we last heard of
tho Indians 40 miles north. That was day
before yesterday. BY this time they may
be making for tho settlement and if SO we
Will probably get distant sight of 'cm."
II shouldn't think they come near us if
they did, remarked the postman, for we |
aro RIDING straight for tho fort and don u |