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


ting down for pair Of No. / trousers,
which would not have done more than
make a couple of patches on his own
huge pants.
And a bugIer Billy was-neyer one
blew cheerier reyelile. never one blew
a sweeter, more heart-rending TAPS"
over poor fellows grave in the will
ierness-never one could thrill you
more. when your horse was Juggling at
your bride arm. and your sabre was in
the air. and yoa were longing for the
captain to tell him To sound the
charger
Well. we loved him as the best of bu-
glers. but we loved him for more than
that. When / was down with maaarial
fever In Fort S.. and although was
reckoned a surly fellow enough, little
Billy brought me grapes. and he must
have paid through his nose for them,
the poor little angel. and guess other
fellows had some of the same sort OF
experience Never a man was in the
guardhouse but Billy would find some
way. To case his mind and raise his
spirits, and cheerful he was. always.
and the cleverest jockey I'm the regi-
light weight. lie used to sing. too
and the boys would be cleaning up for
Sunday morning inspection. and Billy
would chirp up something jolly. and
we'd yell Il chorus. and then he'd sing
quietly some horeliNA song. and we'd
forget the snow on the prairie. and the
trouble 20 get wood. and the half ra-
lion. and the boys wouldn't Join in the
chorus. but just kept on wiping the
rust from the carbines. and some of
them may be dropping something on
the barrel that would turn TO rust very
soon.
Well. well, Custer was there and that
meant fun and iighting-more of the
last than the ilrst--and down we went
in the chill OF n late autumn afternoon.
Just cur old troop under the captain, 10
do something. / don't recoliect now
what Ii was. May be to break up a
small yiliage~snay be 10 bring in a
chlef--any1low the captain didn't seem
from his manner to think IL was going
To be very serious. whatever IL was,
and Billy kept chirruping away, as he
rode behind the captain. as Jolly as if
We were going to break up the whole
Sioux nation. ] remember now he had
his fasorite hugie st,ang on Its yellow
cord round HIS shoulders, a bugle he
used 10 handle as senderly as girl
does her doll. ave. and a bugle that is
handled tenderly ~ this day by these
who have the great privilege OF clean
ing 1t.
We took up a trot. after getting out
or the post, ami made for the Canadian
river. and we kept mp a trot for a long
tlufe saving when We halted every
hour for four or five minutes 10 tight
en- giFshs ard breathe the horses--a
good practice. We had coffee at sun
set while II was drizztng rain. and II
looked Ike Il had night The scout that
MAS with us we thought little better
shan a greenhcrn. bat he was supposed
70 know the country. and, AZ any rate.
none Of as expected any trouble, or the
Use OF a sevo!vss. or a sabre.
These came. however.
Whether the guido Numbered. or the
captain. as Some say. was Obstinate.
ana stuck 70 his own opinion. IL IS
needless to argue here srrAa >"hig
chiefS'3id that afterwari; but instead
% keeping - the trail and going The
ordinary way dSuvn 20 the ford. we
hranched eff and struck right into q
wandering band of Consancses. The
devils Ssw uS before we knew they
were anywhere near. and the drs; thing
we knew Wa were greeted with as
horrible ysll as ever q Canfanc7he
managed - make. IL was. as l have
SAID. raining. and IL was right time
ssss9 more than THAT. we did ros exrs$et
;Aeu1. 81 when we d4naly saw them
wsar}ing round us az top sped. some
lying o. the ofT-sSSss> - their ponies
hslihzs asai ssaYe OF them learing to
their feet ia ssse saddle. and aiI OF them
firing into rs sg best as they cauld. we
wev, too ratified Just Ak first - dn
much. We had walked right inso a uest
eE them. The esi captain 3yss rcafsxes.
tfse state 80 affairs. lie devoted just
| Snsrzy Saccgsis 10 curssng TIRE guide.
as'sa tlszTl began business. We were
sssss< esee river. and oar immediate safe
- wss - get across THAI. Forming rs
ag-~*eF We had ALREADY opened n sat
tersag fire on sass IaS!asss~-ssss old man
Charged IA cae dsrscssozs. Tented. and