The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-12-11

Major BSrr1en, followed DN a klilgIe Or
DERBY, is riding about from point to
point TO satisfy himself that the guards
are stationed where best they can Sc
cure the bivouac against surprise.
The ridge to the southwest is higher
than those which limit the view at other
points, and thither Berrien is now riding
at easy lope. Rolfe and Hazlett, watch
ing him for moment, exchange an ap-
preciative nod as they hear from the
group of soldiers at the nearest camp
/ fire some brawny son of the old sod re-
mark, Just luck at the ould man now;
sure it's a smart redskin that viii ever
get through the pickets he posts" Not
since the days of old Major SlowtrOt,"
old Pap Thomas, has there been a
battalion commander better loved by
the rank and file. They know nothing
will ever induce him to forget one pre-
caution for their safety, and reward his
care with loyalty of devotion good 10
see. Watching him still further, Haz-
lett notes that a distant vedette has sig
nailed, and that Berrien, slowly now, is
riding up the slope TO join him. A ser
geant has some question to ask at the
moment, and when Hazlett again looks
out TO the southwest, major, orderly and
vedette have disappeared from view
around a little shoulder of bluff. Other
vedettes can be seen at their posts on all
sides. and a few dismounted sentries
lying prone where, unseen themselves,
they can sean the country TO their front.
But HaZlett's curiosity is excited by the
fact that two men. mere specks in the
distance, are huddling together at the
crest half mile away to the southwest
and evidently watching something out
at their front and motioning to the ser
geant back with the supports. Presently
this trooper, too, trots out to join them.
Berrien and his party are still out of
sight from camp.
Captain, may / borrow your field
glasses!' asked Mr.. Brewster, swinging
up to the fire where Hazlett stands. Il
have lent mine to the sergeant Of the
guard
did you see where the major went!'
asks Hazlett by way of reply, as he
hands the desired instrument.
Il last saw him at the point yonder
He rode around it with Sergeant Ellis
and a couple of men, and that vedette
must have been calling to him. 1t
seems to me they've been gone some
time; so Gorham says can ride out and
find out what it means"
I'D go with you, Brewster, but my
49,, - ont harl t. I,a
with You, anyhow" Brewsters big
black is led up at the moment, and the
lieutenant quickly mounts and canters
easily away.
Meantime, old Berrien, who has noted
the signals of the vedette referred to,
has joined him, with the brief inquiry,
What is 1t, Scott
why, sir, was posted here by the
sergeant, and he had no sooner gone
than l saw what took to he horsemen
il the valley several miles out yonder to
the southwest. The major can see the
whole country from a butte that lies
perhaps three hundred yards farther out
beyond this ridge. But here comes the
sergeant back, sir"
1t is Ellis. cantering briskly from the
advanced position Scott has designated,
and coming to them now around the
shoulder of the bluff little TO the right
That Ellis has seen something Is evi-
dent: his face shows il in an instant.
''An Indian war party. major. per-
haps q dozen. rode from behind long
ridge over TO the west and down into
the valley of what take TO be branch
Of the POrcupine That butte hides q
good deal Of the valley; but we can see
II from there, though"
''YOu three men come with me-" saws
Berrien quietly. I'VE must look into
this"
Two minutes lope brings them to the
butte Ellis has pointed out. Leaving
their horses with the orderly. Berrien.
the sergeant and the sentinel 90 crouch
ing up The hither slope. throw them
lelves on the ground and crawl to the
Iumnit. As .he vedette has said, the
whole country for miles IN every direc-
tion can be scen-a country of bold cor
tours. Of bare. rounded bluffs and butt5s,
of deep, shadowy ravines and gulches-
a country bare Of trees save tho ghostly,
leatiess cottonwoods perched by the
banks of many a frozen stream. Miles
and miles 10 the north and northwesi
the wlld Indian land spreads before their
eyes. Close at hand, tumbling, billowy
and abrupt, the ridges follow or inter
cept one another in rapid succession.
The face Of the land is cut UP into tor
tuous breaks" the deep. narrow beds
of countless little streams. al winding
tributary to the river that flows placidly
away TO the northeast IL the broad val
ley from which the column marched al
dawn. Beyond that. west Of north.
clearly, sharply defined II the distance.
already alternating glaring surface and
glaostly shade under the slanting rays Of
ths westering sun, a tUmbling mass OF
Jagged, fantastic shapes, a tangie OF
vertical cliffs and scanned and fUrTowed
walls, labyrinth Of gorscs. gullies,
washed out channels, deep. black crew.
ices, and broad, yawning, impossible
gulfs, the storied Bad Lands of Dakota.
Stunned by all except the renegade and
outlaw in the past, now habitable only
by the Indian. Beyond these, faint and
dim in the distance, the snow covered,
pine crested SUBMITS in the Black Hills.
All the rest of the surface, east, west
and south, a frozen sea of gray, glinting
here and there in the declining rays; and
there off TO the southwest. perhaps five
miles away, lies the valley into which
the party Of dusky warriors has gall
loped 50 short time before-the valley
beyond which, long. long days march
away, stands the guarded camp Of COM
rade soldiery awaiting their return.
Berrien studies the scene long and care
fully through his glasses. intermediate
ridges are not many, but they are sharp
and clearly defined.
WHO was II reported that the ad-
vance saw signal smokes south If rs at
noOn:7 he asks.
Corporal Waite, sir; he and two of
the men saw them plainly, and they
seemed 10 he answered off here And
Ellis points miles away to the west.
Berrien pOnders d moment.
Where away would you locate tho |
agency, sergeant, if you We're going to
take bee line for it:
''OGt of here, sir"
And they crossed that line going into
the valley?'
They certainly did, sir, and Look, |
major: leok yonder! Another band, |
and from exactly the same place
s little bevy of dark objects darts
into view from behind cur
tainlike divide and goes skimlning over
a level stretch toward the lowlands CT /