Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-05-05
CHAPTER MI.

81
white. wind driven clouds that
,Ja host Of deep shadows sweeping
..I ,rr.in-: over tho wide prairie.
:. ..,,.,..rd Tho view il limited by u
,.,.,,., a lnits. destitute of tree or
',..,.. r..t covered thickly with the
' ...,.,,r Growth OF bunch grass. South
- tb-e, miles away at lest. though
!, s-1us much less. Il similar range,
.i.--sl here ard there with deep IA
....s fram-s the picture on that side.
,r.,yey 4 tween thc two ridges and
i.,.,..i with clumps of cottonwood and
...fov.. "a nneuid stream flows silently
'...,.,,rI and is lost with the valley in
~. Dim distance. Out to the west in
t.,. ..-s.l-,ai curve the southwark range
IS ar1ani and spans the horizon.
yt.iv.av across this monotone of land
-.,rs rutiiug the stream at right an
d. q hard prairie road comes twist
b.. ,rl turning ont of one of the south
~. -fyiass. and after n long. gradual
i,r,, th, ford among the cottonwoods
,rm-.s from thcir lcafy shade and
...s winding away until lost among
,ft .'Iruk-' ~ the north. IL is one of
,,. routes ~ tho Black Hills of Dakota
tlp vl-l- ru1d from tho Union Pa
r,f. at Sid. = ly way of old Fort Rob
,r..r. Mob. where Il big garrison of
...r,, { : coz pauirs Of cavalry and in
,,n.rv i.r,n watch aud ward over the
sIarx nation. which. ono year previous.
W.. IN The rildst of the maddcst, most
sgrraslul y'ar IL ever waged against
fha white rln. That was the ccnten-
MIL v.ar-.s1G. This is another event
f.l wear iur the cavalry-fs11: for be-
t- Oh. close II the summer even the
et5r. =, far 20 the southeast are destined
hob. summoned to the chase and capture
Of wary old CHEZ Joseph-thc greatest
lg..n rtH raj ever reared upon the
rt.fr slJu.-and even now. on this
JAW day. r. are ravalrymen Mt their
accustomed task, and though it is five
var. siurr we saw them under the
h.a. ard clare of the Arizona sun there
ar tmihar faces amcng these that
srftus.
Al along under the cottonwoods be-
lE tsa crossing the bivouac extends.
Lua-ia.oru sunrise these hardy fellows
W.-r IN saddle, and in long column
Esyr c0Ir marching down from the
r--h-four strong troops-a typical
battalion Of regular cavalry as they
boxed and rode in those stirring days
that brought about the subjugation of
thr SIOUX. ont on the prairie the four
herds ct the four different troops are
quietly crgzing, each herd watched by
it. trio Of alert, though often apparent
IyGu1iuc. guards. One troop is made
upontirsly Of LACK horses. another of
.orrai--twJ are of bays. Another
h-rl IS grazing close TO tho b. stream
isc mules ut the wagon train-and the
white toys of these cJ:mbrous vehicles
T.dottiu- the lett bank of the winding
water Tor 200 or 500 yards. Cook fires
are smolder.ng in little pits dug in
the yielding soil. but the cooking is
over tor th. present. The men have had
IN IT substantial dinner and arc now
smoking or sleeping or chatting in
stugie m the shadc-all but squad
ct dp@en. commanded by u grizzlcd
victorian on whose worn blouse the chev-
1'hs nt first sergeant are stitched.
LIat'dar1 spurrcd. with carbinos slung
@l saddles packed. these sun tanned
lows are standing or sitting ut cas-.
''idIu2 The rcins Of their sleepy chGry-
'r aud Whiting apparently for the pas
"u 'rs VINO aro ~ start IN the stout
nHllt Concord drawn by four sleek.
s'r'n1 looking males, now standing in
i' 'EtI1 near the canvas homestead
ot Tue commanding officer.
Presently two soldiers following n
Young man in civilian dress come for
|ard lucgirg little Green painted iron
sll'' and this, with swing and thud,
tA'v deposit in the wagon.
You've sacn that before, sergeant"
laughs The civilian.
have, logad. an when il had a
n'ap inoic green inside nm less outside
''''l u has now. Faith. 1 never ex-
P,C''u % So 1t again, nor the paymaster
,'-".r' We were 10th bored through
aH through. Twas our good habits
,a't saved us. Sure your predecessor
was q game fighter, Mr.. Barnes, if no
Was 2 tend arfoot."
les. the major often tells me he
"''h's hr had him back. and mo in the
p'''' nc has instead of the ono he had, +"
answers the clerk whimsically. Docs
~ Know you'r TO command the escort
~, .A' You got him into such n scrape
.i'.i mat hes never tired of telling of
Ih,n he may feel gratifed ut the
h'uor | ain doing him now. Sure it's
.'He"th the dignity of u first sergeant
=" COMMAND squad like this except
"a ": extraordinary occasion, an it's to
'''"' M tastc of the last time out of his
H''ulh l volunteered to escort the ma
Jor now. Twas n strong taste to last
NV. years. though my reminder will 20
", m''n mo many u year longer. Here
'ley come now"
AS tho sergeant speaks little group
Vt oiiicets issues from tho battalion
. :, tent. Foremost among
n'in. in loose Tapping raiment and
p''ad trimmed hat and green goggles,
S y ,li' rotund and portly shape of Major
uui,inor' tho paymaster.
wei. old man, says the cavalry
'e''''r' you can hardly get into q
scfapo 'twixt hero nnd Sidpev wo,va