The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1895-10-17
THE MAJORS COURTSHIP.
gggYggYgxYggYgYgg
BY Nellie CrOIins,

the home OF his DoTnoOd FOft ialllll-
ton, N. Y. He had been on active
duty in the west for nearly five years
ever moving from place to place. for
at the time of which we write the
a had become discontinued and
disorderly, and frequent depredations
upon white settlers were the result.
To subdue the lawless Indians was
the chief duty of the troop under the
immediate command of Major Her
bert, or Fighting Bob" al he was
called.
In one of these conflicts with the
willy savage foes, the major, with n
detached body of fifty men, was
adroitly led into an ambuscade, about
forty miles from Fort Benton. Here,
in a natural basin about a half-mile
in diameter, surrounded by heavily
wooded hills, the fifty men We're en-
circled by fully one hundred and
twenty savages, who thought to pick
off the soldiers at their leisure, by fir
ing at them from the trees behind
which the Indians were screened from
observation.
This style of warfare was not adj
mired by Fighting Bob" To try to
break through his scattered foes
would be extremely hazardous; to
make a dash for the heights would
recklessly expose his command. He
therefore made his men screen them
selves behind a cluster of powders
and from their protecting shelter
make targets of every savage head
or body that exposed itself on the
heights.
Just after dusk they crawled in a
body to a narrow detile, hoping thus
to safely make their exit unobserved.
This vas just what the Indians had
anticipated, and had there %concentrat-
ed their forces.
"Fighting Bob" soon discovered the
new nov on the part of the enemy,
and he said:
"Boys, the redskins are just as we
want them-all in a bunch. With II
foes only in front of us, we can soon
start them on the journey to the happy
hunting grounds"
Creeping cautiously as near to the
foe as possible, without revealing
themselves, they lay concealed until
daylight.
The first faint streak of the gray
dawn We're just visible when three
quick vOlleyS from the troops awoke
the mountain echoes; and then the
blue-coats dashed in upon the red
skins.
1t was a surprise, and the contest
was brief and decisive.
In less than ten minutes over a hun
upon the field, and the remainder
sought safety in flight.
In the melee the major was severely
wounded by a knife thrust in the
shoulder, in a hand-to-hand conflict
with two stalwart redskins. one of
whom had just stunned a private
named EastOn, telling him with a club
and the other was about to scalp him
when Fighting Bob" bounced upon
them, sword in hand.
He made quick work with the blood
thirsty w%retches; in two minutes they
were stretched ~lifeless beside their in-
tended victim. and young Easton was
thus saved from their intended butch
cry.
The wound received by the major
proved to be very severe, and after
the return to camp it was five weeks
before he was able to use his arm.
News of the valiant fight against
such overwhelming Odds-with almost
three to one against them-soon reach
ed the war department at Washington,
and "Fighting Bob" was thanked by
the Secretary in an autograph letter,
and given an extended furlOugh, to
recruit his health.
A month later, as described in the
opening of this story, we find him at
his early home, Fort Hamilton, the
welcome guest of his maternal aunt,
Mrs. HOdgkinsOn.
One day. while strolling along the
shore road. about half Il mile from
the fort, he came across a young lady
painting at her easel.
Without thinking what he was do
ing, he wandered up behind the artist,
II looking over her shoulder stood,
for a minute or two, admiring the
half-finished water-color.
Then, suddenly seeing the lady about
to move, and realizing the apparent
rudeDcss on his part, he lifted his hat.
and mumbled out some indistinct
words Of apology.
There is no need of an apology"
she said, turning to him. 81 take it
as a great compliment that you should
SoiN w w az my pun tllp1tS.
Scarcely that" he replied. 81 was
attracted by the cleverness of YOUR
work, and that must be my excuse
for intrusion"
All! Major Herbert, like all soldiers
you are not above fiattery,' she an
swered with Il sweet smile and the
least suspicion of color mounting to
her cheek-and then she turned to
pack up her easel and sketching pad.
The major seized the opportunity and
begged to be allowed to help her. Re-
ceiving assent, he went down on his
knees to arrange the portable appara-
tus.
For a few minutes there was an
awkward silence-both experiencing
shyness in each others
Now come, tell me how YOU knew
l was a soldier" he said at last. and
without looking up.
What modestyr' she replied. "As
II all Fort Hamilton does not know
Major Herbert. the hero of the great
fight near Fort Benton. Has not the
description of that fierce fight, with n
lucid account of the ~self-sacriice of
F1gbting Bob in saving the life of a
wounded soldier, beer published in all
The New York d~ailies?"
She said this with an entbusiaS m
that once touched his heart.
sha it be admitted that he.
nero many a fight, blushed at u,
words OF praise issuing from the Inns
OF a little rural maiden? But indeed il
was u fact, and his shyness and awk
WdrdneSS Increased.
liz ,,;ol