The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-07

thicker, and then in dense cloud that
soon shut out even the crest ahead OF them.
Captain Leale, calm, thoughtful battalion
commander, picked out certain level
headed sergeants and sent them, with
few men each, out to the right and LETT
front and flank, so as to guard against sur
prise, and then as the men danced about
in the snow and spared or wrestlec laugh
ingly, many and many were the conJec-
lures as to the cause of the halt and delay
"What are we waiting for? Why don't
we pitch in2" were the queries that
passed from lip to lip, and many were the
inquiring chances toward the little group
of officers smoking and talking, and chaft-
ing Ormsby at the head of the column.
With an Indian village barely mile
away, an Indian fight probably not an
hour ahead, the Twelfth was taking things
as coolly as beftted the season, and
Ormsby, after looking once more to the
chamber of his revolver and trying the
breechblock of his Springfield carbine,
Joined in the chat with all the GOODNESS he
could command and strove to appear more
interested in what was being said than IN
the immediate business at hand.
And vet when the adjutant came riding
RAPIDLY back from the ridge, there was in
slant movement to meet him.
Whats the trouble, JIMMY" was the
query on many tongue. What are we
waiting for?
They're going regularly into camp-put-
ting up their tepees," was the answer. at
looks as though they were waiting. to pa
LAYER with the pursuit. The colonel thinks
they re willing to come to terms rather
than march further in such weather. l
suppose the Eleventh can't be very far be-
hind them and as yet don't suspect we're
over here at all. Lucky for US, too" said
he, gravely, .'for it's two to one in their
favor, if Pm any judge at all.
"The devil you say! How many lodges
are there?"
"Bat says nigh unto seventy, though
they're not all up yet, and you can't see
thing now for the snow. The old rip must
have been re-enforced heavily. There
seems to be two or three bands rolled into
one. What can't understand is how the
Eleventh happens to be so far behind. We
thought they were right at their heels. l
hate to think how the settlers down the
Dry Fork must have suffered"
Seen or heard anything of them-or of
any refugees?"
Yes; two outfits passed up the valley
going for all they were worth this morn
ing. Bat and Chaska saw them from the
ridge yonder to the south. The scouts say
they abandoned their wagons and took to
their horses"
Even as they were speaking there came
indications OF some unusual object off to
the right rear column. One or two officers
and men were seen to ride off in that di-
rection and were quickly swallowed up in
the snowcloud. a sergeant coming up
from the rear saluted Captain LeaIe and
SAID: Captain Amory's compliments, sir,
and there are some mounted men coming
IN who seem about played out. He thinks
they're settlers seeking protection"
And presently this proved TO be the case.
Out from the fleecy clouds there soon came
In sight four or five horsemen slowly
escOrting one or two riders on broken-down
and exhausted quadrupeds, and there was
a general movement on the part of half the
men of the Twelfth to leave their linked
horses and gather about these new arrivals
There were two men, rough-bearded, typi-
cal frontiersmen, CARRIED in the toughest of
plains wear, men with faces so drawn and
haggard with terror and suffering that they
did not brighten even with the ioy of
reaching the protection of a strong force of
cavalry. There was a third, man heavily
bearded like his associates, but with dress
of costlier make, with features that told of
gentler birth than they, but whose eyes,
shifting, restless, filled with a dread as
great as theirs, gave no SYMPTOM of re-
assurance. Like shipwrecked mariners on
the broad ocean they had sought the succor
OF the first craft that came III sight, but
even now seemed TO dread the storm and
no doubt the stability, the safety of the
rescuing ship. 'How many men have
your they had eagerly asked, and, when
told %, had Vrung their hands and implored
the first rescuers not to dare confront the
indians, who were at least 1000 strong
"They have wiped out everything in the
valleys below, fired every ranch, murdered
every man. They've got dozen of our
women prisoners now in that very camp,
and the first thing they'll do will be to
butcher them if you attack. For the love
of God come away" they implored land
let them be. The troops in pursuit must
be fifty miles behind"
Thus eagerly, incoherently, the two
ranchmen said their say. The third was
strangely silent, yet seemed to be full as
eager to get away.
What say you to this story?" asked the
young lieutenant, who had ridden out to
bring them in.
ITS all Gods truth ~ was the answer.
you'll be wiped off the face of the earth
if you attack. Give US some provisions
bareback, bacon-anything and some
grain for our horses, and let as CO."
well, you'll have to come in and see
the commanding officer first was the
short reply. He'll decide after hearing
your story"
WHATS his name?" asked the stranger.
Colonel Farrar."
"Farrar2 Is this the Twelfth Cavalry l
thought they were ordered to Arizona
eve were, but this DEVILS work of the
ghost dance keeps US here. Now follow,
and we'll get you something to eat
But the stranger said that he would go
no further to the front. "I'm too near
that cursed band now" he protested, shak-
ing his fist through the wintry air. go,
you, Mullen, and see the colonel. Get
what help you can. Pm too weak to ride
until l can have something to eat
Even then it was noticed that Mullen
and his friend seemed anything but cordial
to his companion. % him." they
growled, as, sullenly, they left him dis
mounting at the pack train. "His saddle
bags are crammed with meat. He hasn't
suffered. Other men staid and fought and
tried to defend Crawford's ranch and Nor
gan's. They are dead, poor devils, but
that sneak who calls himself Glaice, he
only came among US six weeks ago, and if
he amt jailbird I'm no Judge. He's
afraid to see your colonel, lieutenant.
That's what | believe" And when Cap
tain Leale heard their story at the head of
the column he called to his orderly
mounted and rode back through the falling
snow.
Where is that third refugee?' he asked