The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-26


warnings; his medicine chiefs had been
slgnaled by the Great Spirit; his young
men were excited and alarmed; Els women
were weeping and gathering their children
to their knees. If the white chief meant
peace and friendship, let him show. it by
coming. 20 his lodge with gifts in his
hands instead of guns. He, the white
chief, was rich, and his horses and his
horses and his young men were lat and
strong. Big Road was poor and his people
We're hungry and cold; his ponies dying.
Fenton: indeed, would have gone with
only his adjutant and Interpreter and
single orderly but for the warning of
Brale girl, who had left her people few
years before to follow soldier lover, and
mad made her home among the whites, a
patlent, sorrowing woman, ever since his
untlmely death. The Amorys had pro-
was one of the captains troop, and she
mad grown deeply attached to them, even
though now occasionally visiting her
kindred.
1t was at luncheon, talking to his wife,
that Amory told of Colonel Fenton's pur-
pose OF riding over to the village that very
afternoon, and the story was repeated in
the kitchen, where it reached the ears of
the Indian girl. In an instant she had
darted out of the house and gone to the
colonels, where she frightened Lucretia
out of her seven senses with the first words
she uttered: "They kill the colonel! He no
goF Luckily, Wayne was at hand to soothe,
sent for, and despite Fenton's pooh-pooh
ing, so strong were their arguments that at
O'Clock messenger was dispatched to Big
Roads bailiwick to tell him the colonel
had heard that which made him say to
the Indian chief that now the only way
IN which he would meet him would be at
the adlutants Office, as originally pro-
posed, or else alone and unarmed midway
between the fort and the village, no sol
diers or warriors being allowed to approach
within 200 yards, unless, indeed, Big Road
himself should propose an adjutant for
each. If this was satisfactory, let the time
be set for o'clock and Fenton would be
there. The half breed messenger came
back in half an hour. big Road would
send his answer by squaw," and that
was Big Roads way of saying that the
white chief was an old woman. Utterly
forgetful now of the service Fenton had
rendered his people and him, duped by the
visions of his medicine men, and fuddled
with the liquor lavished on him by the
cowboys, Big Road was hot for war.
NO squaw came; no conference took
place. Darkness was settling down upon
the post when at last the westward SEN
tries reported small party of Indians
riding out from the village toward Fort
Frayne. The trumpeters were Just scat
officer OF the day conveyed the news to
Fenton, and in two minutes an officer,
with dozen men, trotted out from the
stable OF Troop K, and 400 yards beyond
the sentry post signaled to the advancing
warriors, "Halt"
There were ten in the party and Big
Road was not among them. The officers,
returning from stables and retreat roll
call, had gathered about the colonel on the
westward bluff, and field glasses were
brought to bear on the opposing parties.
now only dimly visible in the cleaning
Over at the barracks the men were still
gathered about their respective parades,
despite the fact that supper was ready and
they as ready for supper. All over the
garrison had gone the rumor of Big Roads
hostile and defiant message, and the troops
were wrathful at the indignity put upon
their colonel. Some of them had stepped
inside the quarters and were quietlyex-
aiming their belts and equipments and
counting the cartridges in their boxes
Ormsby, sharing the suppressed excite
ment, had FASTENED out to join his friends
of the Twelfth his nerves tingling again
at the thought of the possibility of
skirmish, and now he stood with Fenton
close at hand, waiting eagerly for the first
developments.
But little time was wasted. There was
brief parley between the lieutenant with
the troopers and a formidable looking In
dian who seemed to lead the others. Then
the officer turned and sent man galloping
back to the post. In four minutes he was
in the colonel's presence, diSmounted and
making his report.
"Big Roads compliments mean, the
lieutenant's compliments, sir r. and Big
Road sends his delegation for three wagon
loads of meat, -four, sugar and coffee, sir,
and says as the colonel hasn't come to see
him, he's going to move"
ha 10 ha I.
since Christmas, somebody remarked at the
time. care you sure there's no mistake,
Fallon ?" he asked the messenger.
That's what the lieutenant asked the
Indians, sir; but we have two of L Troop
with us-what's left of 'em-one Brule
late it the same way, and Bat is with us,
too, sir, and he says it's like Big Road
when he gets liquor in him. He thinks
he's lord of the earth. Bat says he's drunk
now, and believes the colonel will be glad
to do as he demands for fear of him"
"Well, who brought the messenger Who's
that big buck in the lead there2"
what is it, sergeant? What news have
your" asked the young platoon COM
mander.
They're off sir! A whole raft of old
folks and women on ponies and travois
have started across the Platte. The war
riors are all there yet You'll hear Big
1NOdO ouOuIlHS III u lHlllotC. AIC
full and is urging on some deviltry-I can't
make out what, but from all we can under
stand of it he wants to lead a rush through
the stables to capture or kill the horses.
He's just drunk enough to try, but the
others won't let him. They declare they
won't follow him. They know too much.
What they want to do is to get out and
reach Trooper Creek, reckon"
ride back, then, and let the captain
know. Who else are out at the front on
watch?''
"Only Rorke and two or three of the In
dian troop, sir. They are taking care Of
themselves, though"
And then for a moment the forward
movement ceased. .'Halt Haltl'' were
the low-toned orders of the non-commis-
stoned officers dispersed along the line,
and under the twinkling starts, dim,
ghostly and silent, the extended rank of
riders seemed as one man to rein in and
wait. Here and there an impatient
charger began to paw the snow, and others
shifted suspiciously and cooked their
pointed ears in the direction of the unseen
village. Some young troopers, tremulous
with excitement and cold combined, began
to slap their fur-gloved hands on breast or
| thigh, and had to be sternly called to Or
| der. Presently a muff1ed horseman came