The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-27

the river, ard Swimming and sITNg-
Cling, we reached the other bank.
There we formed as disusourted skir-
gsishcxx. while the reserve held the
horses behind the bluff, and waited the
crossing OF the Indians. but they eth
er thought we were stronger than they.
or we really were. or. as is likely: they
remembered the Indian principle -nes-
err fight In the dark Al any rate they
did not come, and the roll OF us. in the
gray OF the dawn, was called in whis-
pers. 1t was a zisgracefnl affair. we all
thought, but we could rot have done
any rnare IN the darkness, not knowing
the strength OF the enemy. However.
we were pleased 80 find that only two
OF us had dropped from our saddles.
and we hoped we had hit sonse OF the
enemy in the few minutes fight /
say we were pleased for a menent. but
before daylight il was whispered along
the Iine-'Biily's missile g.
The poor little rascal. He rad always
had a fancy for riding Tip" when he
could. because the brute was the hard
est-mouthed. nanSt unmanageabie horse
In the troop. and BIlly-as they say
fancied himself on his riding, and
Tip was now with us. ridegiess.
L don't remember much talking or
swearing. or iamenting on the part of
the men that night. but Big Heaiy
was next TO me, and know / heard
him sobping. He wasn't alone In that
weakness. either AT hast morning came.
and we looked across the Canadian and
there was never a sign OF Conanshe.
We didn't talk much about what
ought to be done. The captain didnN
say a word until we hastily boiled
coffee. and ate a biscuit, with a bit of
cold SOW belly for those who had
wise enough to put piece OF pork in
their sadddle-bags. Then we fell in
and the captain gave orders to mount.
He was as grave as a judge. ana spoke
quite softly. as he drew his sabre, and
faced the center OF the troop.
Men," he said. 81 was sent out here
with you TO scout for cattle thieves
round the ranches here. Something
has happened. though no fault of yours
or mine. to make me break through
my instructions. ! don't know the
strength of that band we ran into last
night In the darkness. but one of your
most cherished comrades is either dead
among the bluffs over there. or with
them, a prisoner. / am going to DISC
hey my instructions and hnd-Biily."
We cheered the captain, OF course.
but we knew and he knew that
though the cattle thieves had raided
the whole of Kansas and Texas too.
and the commanding general and every
other officer downwards had given
orders to the contrary, the old troop
1.,.pf cd
selves.
We crossed the river cautiously, for
there was a belt of wood the other side,
affording an enemy shelter. and we
reached the scene Of the disturbance
the previous might, without any attack
upon us. We hunted the ground all
about, and found our dead comrade
mufilated. There was no sign Of his
horse. We waited a little time, and
buried him with more sorrow because
we knew that he, like the rest of us.
had always hoped, should he fall, that
Billy would blow taps" over him.
The guide was a Kiowa and trusted
as friendly and skillful at following a
trail. but the rain of the previous night
had so saturated the grass of the plain
and the earth of the trails. that 1t was
not difficult for any of US to make out
the direction the Comanches had taken.
Their ponies footmarks were quite per-
ceptibie to the unframed eye.
When we had buried the dead trooper
we took UP trot and travelled at "a
good pace. 1t was obvious that the cap
tain was as nervously anxious as any
to come upon the reds. for he quite fire.
quently allowed his horse to break into
a gallop, and we followed readily A
consultation between the "old man."
and the scout and first sergeant took
place at noon. but of that know moth
ing. / am speaking as one from the
ranks. We had only a. few days
rations for horse and man, and we
knew we should be away out of our
course, but no single man rnurnlured.
We munehed OUR Crackers" boiled
some coffee and went steadily onward.
The old troop had the reputation of
being the jolliest OF the regiment. while
ON the march, but that day there was
no song, no laugh. no horse play. Healy
rode by me. and, poor chap, once when
looked at him, saw a tear trickling
down from beneath his heavy red eye
brows.
|, All the afternoon and on into the
evening. till the sun sank down
amongst the Sullen clouds to the west
OF us and it grew chilly and dreary--
all that afternoon we rode silently on.
A parting gieam of gold and crimson
just tinged the horizon, when the cap
tain halted and again consulted with
the scout To our right lay the mouth
of one OF the tributary creeks of the
Canadian. and the stream descended
from a preeipftous canon. whose upper
waters were cushioned In a cloud of
cedar trees.
AS the daylight spent itself. as the
sun went down, we turned in column
OF twqs and erept up the narrow pass.
the Kiowa a few PAGES ahead of the
column.
1t was on the very verge Of night and
the captain was reckless, else he would
have never ventured his men In such a
defi,e at such a time. We were getting
Up. up the stream, and the banks were
beginning 10 reach far above our heads
shutting out the last gleam OF sunlight.
when suddenly from beyond came the
clear shrtll notes OF a bugie. The cap
tain halted instinetively. and the troop
drew up behind him.
''What-what-waa was that, ser
geang?' the old man asked. as he
turned In his saddle ana looked the
first sergeant anxtousiy IN the face.
Hes&y grew tremendously excited.
He left his place IN the ranks and gal
&R