Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-03-12
CHAPTER V.

NeNt morning the IrSt CslIl' or tho bugle aTToAo Mir. Raymcr Go conscious ness, and without dallying with str-ng inclination to prOlong his slunllurs he sprang out Of bed and began dressing for revcillc \ bright fire which his servant had kindlcd was filling the chimney with ruddy flame. As he threw his cape over his shoulders he noticed that the fife and drum now sounding tho final call awolle no echoes. Their vibrations seemed deadened. He walked l to the window, swept aside the curtain and looked out.
 The ground was everywhere covered | with snow, and the air was filled with fast falling flakes Through the feathory mist he could sec the men running from their huts, looking cold and uncomfort- able. With the closing notes of the call he opened his door and walked, ankle deep, through snow to his place before the line. The first sergeant called the | roll, reported and dismissed the com pany. Promptly upon the order, Break ranks, every man disappeared from the parade except the officer. He turned and looked out into the valley. La Sonora | Vieja will not be likely to leave us to- day." he thought.
 Looking up the ridge to the guard house, he saw the wrapped and untitled sentinel walking his post with rife at secure" and 20 columns of dark smoke rising from the cabin chimneys and floating off to the southeast. He then l entered the orderly room to give Ser ' ,l I with the camp routine.
 | Sergeant, said he, ''you may order the cooks to send tho Mexican woman her breakfast from the kitchen. I will send some coffee and few other things from my private supply"
 "Ycs, sir. Shall we send anything to the men?''
 You may let them havo coffee and fircwood. They havo rations of their own What do you think of this sudden storm, scrgvant?"
 ''It certainly did not look liko a storm last night, sir. think it is the beginning of a severe winter"
 Have you heard anything of the valley winters"
 "YCS, sir. The cavalry exprcSsmen say snow came last winter just after Christmas and staid till March. They were frequently unable to get into the valley until the infantry broke paths through the drifts for them. "
 But snow rarely falls ill other parts of the territory where have served and does not last week at most, t," said the lieutenant
 That is true, sir. No farther away than the eastern side of tho eastern ridge, scarcely seven miles from the edge of the valley, snow rarely falls. These close mountain valleys are quite like the northern states for climate" "
 We are likely to have some difficulty drawing our wood, them" asked the officer.
 Tho volunteers had to keep the road to the woods open with shovcls for some time, and their wheels ran hard. "
 II wonder if a sled could be made for hauling wood, scrgcant?"
 II doubt if we have a man in the company besides yourself and mo that ever saw one.
 But we have a carpenter and black. smith?"
 "IeS, sir, good ones. "
 VI t!is l CtAll tlIAN tIc pdttSEuS was born i'll snow and logging coun, try and am familiar with tho various kinds uf slrds.
 II suppose the lieutenant is aware that there is no hard wood ill the val ley, nothing harder than pine, hemlock spruce aud poplar, said Sergeant Gun niuSham
 'Thc hard pine will make excellen runners, and bars can be made of tn, holsters and aXles of the two broker wagons the volunteers left We car shoc the runners with the tires anC brace and bolt the sled with the othe, iron. Tho tongues and reaches can b, used too Yes, we'll make a sled; bobslcd. After guard mounting, ser gcant, l will go to the woods with tn fatigue party and the carpenter ant select the tree from which to hew tn r1nncrs. Order tle G,t"il 10 remove the wagon body from the wheels"
 Yes. sir. :"
 As the lieutenant returned to hi: quarters he glanced toward the kitche1 and at that instant saw a delicate han( sliding the window curtain along it rod. La ScnOra Nicja has a prctt! . hand for one of her age" he thought r. "Shc may have bcrn handsome half { ; century ago. hut it would be mistak, tu say that HOW either of her person O manners.
 Entering his cabin, Raymcr proceed ' cd to perfect the nasty toilet made be = fore reveille, and in few moments h sat before his hearth, overlooking Cain preparation of the morning meal Tn soldier had just arrived from the com pany kitchen with a portion of the lieu tenants breakfast and was now placin a coffeepOt and small steak upon l. bed of glowing coals.
 You may put in a double allOwanc of Java. Cain," observed the officer "and you may make the steak twice a large 1 want you to take some of eac n to the Mexican lady. Better run owe there now and tell her 1 will send he breakfast from here, and ask if the1 is anything ill our stores she would prt l. fer will look after the broiling'' ) Adding an extra allowance of coffe and cutting a second slice of beef, Cai 3, went on his errand Like most of tI ', soldiers who served in New Mexico | - ntiu aCqulFeu a ltiIr huo"IeuSe ol Co J. loQuial Spanish. Approaching the dot
 of the lady's cabin, the soldier rapped. ,i.; "Quien llama-who knocks?" aske '' a low feminine voice.
 n "El mozo del teniente, the man ser ant of the lieutenant, " answered Cail 9 ''What do you want?"
 'The lieutenant sends his compl D. ments and asks what will you have f.
 breakfast "
 3, Gall Antonio and then go ava,
 please Twill send my message by him. p Cain went to the fire, which was sti
 burning before la senora's door, and 8, side which stood the blanketed figur
 of the two grisos. Delivering his me