The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-03-07

with = sneers the first ana only -
1 have ever seen a sneer on the face
Of an Indian. You offer me peace for
honor. Go back to your tents
That evening at about 8 o'clock q
corporal came into my tent, saIuted,
and said that an Indian girl wished to
speak with me. My heart beat Violent
~, and ordered the man to show her
iii.
But it was not my 1ove-not my
Wood Dove, as she had told me her
name was among her people. The girl
who stood before me was small and
Wizened. with weak eyes and in rags.
What do you want?' asked her.
The Wood Dove could not fly to
you she replied, so she sent me. They
are guarding her, but she will escape
from them. She tells me to say to you
that my people will charge upon you to-
morrow morning. and that to deceive
you all of our women will be mounted
ana held in the rear. as if they were
men waiting for their turn to fight. She
tells me to say to you that she will be
mounted on a black horse, with star
on its forehead and with two white
forelegs.
she will be in the front line when
the charge is made, and at your first
fire will fall from her horse as though
she were wounded. You must then
manage to pick her body up before her
people do SO. Her father is the chief
of our people, he was the chief with
whom you spoke today. and he was very
angry with her when he came back to
US. She has persuaded him that she
does not love you, but hates you, and
though she is well guarded tonight, it
is because of the fear of an attack from
you
THE woman left me and returned as
she had come to the tents of her peo-
pie.
Il was excited naturally over this
story. I could not help realizing the
real danger she would run of being
killed, and was puzzled for some time
as to what I should do. Then an idea
occurred to me. and smiling to myself
I went to sleep and rested peacefully
until the morning.
In the morning called my officers
about me again and told them what ]
had learned. My plans were completed
to wait either. for within an hour the
and had but to wait. 1 had not long
to wait either, for within an hour the
warriors came forth from under cover,
and behind came what looked like a
second regiment, but what knew to be
the women.
THE Indians advanced and the bugle
sounded the order to mount. I rode out
to my place and stationed six chosen
body-guardsmen Immediately behind
me in the rank For some time could
not make out the horse I looked for,
but at last I saw 1t in the rear guard,
and then, as the Indians galloped their
horses, 1 saw 1T come out from among
the women and take a place In tho
ranks of the men.
The enemy came on now towards
US at brisk gallop. it's line as straight
as an arrow, and as I frightened my
waistband I caught sight again of the
horse with the white forelegs. It was in
the very middle Of the line: Ny joy
was almost complete.
THE enemy is now in the middle of
the plain and the time had come for
action. The bugle sounded and we
were off. slowly and quietly Looping over
the ground at first. Then as the enemy
came nearer, laundering over the
parched earth. Within gunshot we
came and the Indians opened on US.
A few of our men dropped, but we did
not reply. On we Numbered, and then
line of insipid, useless fire broke from
our lines
Il heard cry. I saw a figure-the
figure of the girl I loved. There was a
rushing and a growing and thunder
ing of hoofs. We were among them.
cutting to the right and left. We cut
our way through them. I dashed for
ward to where my love lay waiting for
me.
IT leaned forward over my horse.
seized her in one hand and lifted her,
with a strength knew not I possessed,
and placed her on the saddle behind
me. My bodyguard placed themselves
in circle around me, the bugle sound
cd the CHARGE pain al Ona1 fn cOTn-
mence firing, and then, wheeling, we