Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-25
Growers eager listener saw him dig the


spurs into his horse.
why, what's the matter?" she exclaim-
ed. and then as her eyes followed the stall
wart horseman a little frightened ..Oh"
burst from her.
In moment all was excitement. The
gentlemen of the party leaped to the
ground, running aimlessiy a few PAGES in
advance of the ambulance, as though, I'M
armed, to protect their gentle companions.
They could see Growler shading his ewes
with one hand while he scanned the hills.
linen horse and rider dashed toward the
alarmed party.
II. assure you. ladies'" said he. sweeping
ms nat low to the ground, there is not
the slightest possible danger. 1 cannot
say that this is q peace party, but YOU are
perfectly SAFE The Indians outnumber us,
but not sufficiently to make an attack.
consider it,, he added with little laugh.
Just as show arranged for your benefit"
He carefully inspected the ambulance,
d;smounted the cavalry escort to see that
the horses girths were all right saw that
the men We're we'll supplied with ammuni-
tion and then spread out half of them in
huge semi-circle to the front and TANKS
OF the ambulance. The rest of his men he
oroered In rear of the wagons. to be ready
dt moments notice to gallop to a threat
ened attack.
Take up steady trot," said he to the
lead driver "
He would not gallop the mules, for IT
was at least fifteen miles to the post and
he knew that any show of haste on his
part would be considered as a sign of weak
ness by the Indians.
The Sioux were keeping their Distance
Inc country was well suited to their mode
OF warfare. Low hills stretched far awav
70 the right and left. from the top of none
Oh them could white man see into the
bottom of the next cooIIe But the lien
tenants trained brain knew that In every
hiding place lurked the willy foe, and that
every movement OF the little column was
signaled by the braves on the hilltops back
to heir hidden allies
every few minutes Grower rode up to
Inc ladies' to reassure them of their SAFETY
The very sight of an armed Indian
changed him from the weak grumbler to
the stern-faced soldier. and brought the
biood OF excitement to the cheeks that
were tanned by western exposure. He was
no longer the careless officer; he was now
the dashing soldier. his thoughts divided
ladies'
Look at that" exclaimed the staff Off
GER, pointing to an Indian a mile ahead
What is he doing?''
Merely exercising his pony" lied the
lieutenant. biting his lip to keep down the
excitement
Far to the front rode the brave. with
hideously painted face and body. His pony
was decorated in savage splendor, while
the rider. with gun held high in the air,
was riding at a gallop In small circles
Good God" muttered Grower. but his
face never changed expression. 'if this
staff officer here knew what that riding
| means he would throw every. lady here
into spasm of fear"
Just watch him." he said aloud. isn't
he graceful rider? Where is the Cossack
or Arab who can equal him.
But beneath his assumed calmness the
lieutenant well knew that this riding in
circle was signal for concentration. His
practiced eye caught occasional gliinpses of
brown, naked bodies racing their steaming
ponies toward the point ahead. Many of
them wore war bonnets, with eagle feath-
ers that f1uttered down over the ponies
foaning TANKS. Some of them waved their
aS N he
tural note of defiance. Some shook their
untanned shields and held aloft their huge
bows, four feet long. Once Growler caught
sight of a young warrior brandishing his
coup stick and then he took the staff Off
Ger to one side and explained to him that,
in the heat of battle. whatever a warrior
struck with one of these sticks thereafter
belonged to him.
'If we pass the point where that devil is
charging around in circle" continued
GROWER to the staff officer alone, I'VE will
be all right and in that case am going to
ask the President for four years detail
in Washington. If we don't get past that
pont-well, 1 will not want the detail"
Then he galloped to the front with his
men,
The only road to the post ran directly
below the hill where the Indians were
massing, but Growler pushed his troopers
we'll to the front and scared up several
small covies Of the foe. Don't fire shot
until you get my ORDERS" he cautioned the
men. realizing that his only course lay in
putting on a bold front and delaying the
attack. AS they neared the threatened hill.
he increased his forces on that flank, still
keeping the ambulances well covered on
all sides.
Suddenly, two warriors dashed down to-
ward the approaching cavalrymen. Chant
irg war song as they galloped, on they
came until within two hundred yards of
the soldiers. then suddenly wheeling TO the
right they dashed their ponies along the
flank of the ambulance train. The others
bI cke up into small groups. fell back as the
troopers continued their steady advance,
and then rode pell-mell to discover weak
point in the thin line of the escort.
But the lieutenant had seen them do this
On many previous occasion, and wherever
they appeared in greatest numbers, there
they found the greater part of the troopers.
moment slackened their steady gait Ex-
cept for the wild contortions of the savages,
and their threatening cries. the game was
for all the world like some sport OF school
hcys. Not for moment did the rage of
the warriors abate. First at the head of
the column then at the rear they dashed,
ly. they withdrew their exhausted ponies.
and with a 50O-yard interval, trotted even
with the soldiers. Like disappointed vul-
lures they watched the little party gain
mile after mile toward their goal. the post.
At last, just as Grower caught sight Of the
distant Flagstaff at Barrenall, with the old
flag flying at its top the Indians gave a
lest howl of unsatisfed rage and galloped
"Growler," said the staff officer in a re-
lieved tone, your services in this part of
the country are too valuable to he spared
That is just what expected" answered
the lieutenant, and then he settled back
into his old grumbling state.
On the following day all Barrenall was
drinking the good health of the President,
His party and GROWER. When they had
drunk all imaginable good luck to them,
they fell to toasting the first things that
entered their minds-anything, everything
for a toast. AT this stage Of peace and
goodwill toward all mankind, Growler, by
some ill chance drank to the good detail
he was expecting.
That's right" hiccoughed the staff off,
cer.' you deserve it, and I'll get it for you,
so 1 will l know good man when see
him, and the way you pushed through those
Indians"
Get out" hiccoughed back Growler.
You don't know an Indian from a wooden
sign in front of cigar store. That wasn't
an Indian fight. l gave old Mato Wakan
SO to get up a sham fight for my snap de-
tail, and you couldn't tell the difference,
Here's to my detail
Which you will never get" drank the
staff officer.