The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-12

all day, but he knows what he's doing
and is as sober as he is at any other
time"
Farrar gazed doubtfully after the relief
as it trudged away through the misty
moonlight, shook his head in some dissat-
isfaction, then turned in at the doorway OF
the tower.
~ will look over the guardroom and
cells" said he, land visit sentries later, u
and, taking up his lantern, the sergeant
followed.
A big stove burned brightly in the cen
ter of the guardroom, and the men of the
third relief, sitting or sprawling about,
sprang up and stood to attention as the
officer looked in. Another stove, the
mate to it, was burning almost at red heat
in the general prison room, across the hall.
Here were confined some half dozen poor
devils, the scapegraces of the command,
some drink-sodden and stupid, others
merely reckless and "ne'er do weel." Fol
lowing the spirit of holiday decoration,
and never expecting the visit of an off GER
that night, one of the number, with a fine
sense of humor, had induced comrade to
fetch him parcel from the barracks, and
now on the bare wooden wall opposite the
entrance there hung chrome with the
fowery border and the pious sentiment,
"God bless our happy home" Wills eye
Caught ~ dL tnC luSbdllt dhC budl
down!' said he, with manifest indignation.
There is to be no burlesque business here
tonight" There was faint odor of dead
tobacco about the grimv room. you'll
have to search those men and that room"
said he to the sergeant, as they turned
away. "There must be neither pipes,
matches, nor anything with which they
can start fire. If this old rookery ever
flames it will go like flash. Do it at once.
A tho coils 05
sFNone, sir, and none in the other prison
room.'
keep the other empty, then. The
chances are it'll be filled tomorrow when
the column gets back. Remember the orders
about fire."
mo mans like to forget that, Lieutenant,
with the powder stored there on the
second floor"
81 know" answered Will, gravely.
Chow much powder is there there?''
'tOnly dozen cartridges for the reveille
gun, sir; but that's enough to blow the
place into FINDERS
There's no one in the light prison room
on that foor?'
mo one, sir. That floor is empty. There's
no fire up there at all.
Presently the tramp, tramp of martial
feet was heard on the crunching snow, and
officer and sergeant both stepped forth to
receive the relief of sentries Just taken off
post. One of them was Crow Knife. He
gravely saluted as he passed his officer, and
placed his carbine in the arm rack, then
went out on the east side of the little build
ing and stood there, silent, listening for
sounds from the distant east.
MAY have the lieutenant's permission
to go out on the bluff awhile?' he asked,
as Farrar came by him. 81 can hear the
call OF the corporal if we are wanted foI
anything, and am very anxious" And
Will, who at first would have said no, saw
the anxiety in the Indians face and con-
sented.
"Crow is strangely superstitious," said
the sergeant, and after moments silence
HE has been like that ever since he came
on guard. He says the ghost dogs were
bowling the death song last night, and that
somebody's to get his death blow tonight
We can't laugh him out of it,