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

some reason Tor fearing to meet our party
here. They tell me he seemed excited and
worried the moment he heard we were the
Twelfth Cavalry. | only saw his back as
he rode away, but I've seen that man be-
fore somewhere. He rode like a trooper,
and it's ten to one he's deserter.''
Hes deserter this day if he never was
before said Ormsby in reply. 81 judge
We need every man, do we not?"
"Looks like it" was the brief reply. "All
right, gentlemen" he continued, turning
with courteous manner to the two younger
officers, his first and second lieutenants,
who came striding up through the snow.
Leale was famous in the cavalry for his
subalterns. He had the reputation of never
speaking hastily or harshly, and of getting
more out of his men than any other cap
tain in the regiment.
''All right, sir" was the prompt reply.
EVERY man in my platoon boiling over
with ginger" added the younger, his blue
eyes flashing, though his cheeks were pale
and his lips twitching with pent-up excite
ment.
81 see the guidon is being unfurled,
Cramer," said the captain, quietly. Per
haps Sergeant West wants to land it first
in the village, but tell him to handle his
revolver instead, if we charge" and, touch
ing his fur cap the officer turned back.
1.-THE colonel has said nothing about the
plan of attack. We may be going to charge
right in, for all know. Ha! Ormsby,
there comes the word!'
Looming up through the snow young
German trooper rode rapidly back toward
the little group, and, refining in his horse
few yards away, true to the etiquette of
the craft, threw his carbine over his shout
der and started to dismount before address,
ing officers afoot, but Leale checked him.
"Never mind dismounting, orderly. What's
the message"
1.-THE colonePs compliments sir, and he
would wish to see Captain Leale minute,
and the command will mount and move
slowly forward"
Instantly the group dissolved, each
officer turning quickly to his horse and
swinging into saddle. No trumpet signal
was given. Mount" said Leale in the
same quiet conversational tone. Mount"
repeated the first sergeant halted along
side the first set of tours, and all in a few
seconds the burly forms of the riders shot
up into the eddying fleece, and every horse
far back as eye could penetrate the mist
was suddenly topped by an armed rider.
Then, first thing, the fur-gloved right
hands went up to the shoulder and drew
over the little brown carbines and drove
the muzzle through its socket. Then in
the same soldierly silence the horsemen
edged in toward the center of each set and
there sat, boot to boot, erect and ready
One or two spirited young horses began to
paw the snow in their Impotence and to
snort excitedly. The adjutant trotted
briskly back along the column in order to
see that all four troops were similarly
ready, cautioned the rearward troop lead
ers to keep well closed on the head of the
column and signaled Forward" while
Leale disappeared in the snowclouds
ahead.
Not knowing what else to do, Ormsby
ranged alongside the senior lieutenant of
Leales troop, as in perfect silence the
column bore steadily on. A few seconds
brought them in sight of the colonel's form
again, and he waved his hand cheerily, as
though to say Gall right, lads; come on"
Then, sitting Roderick as squarely as ever,
the gray mustached commander took the
lead, swarthy half-breed Sioux scout rid
ing on one side, the grave, soldierly Cap
tain Leale on the other. The adiutant.
the chief trumpeter, sergeant-major and
orderlies fell in behind and the crack bat
TALON of the old Twelfth rode noiselessly
in to take position for the attack.
For perhaps a hundred yards they fol-
lowed the windings of the ravine in which
they had been concealed, had concealment
been necessary. Then, turning abruptly
to his left as he passed a projecting
shoulder, Little Bat looked back and mo-
toned to the colonel, This way" And
then the leading horsemen began to ascend
a gentle and almost imperceptible slope.
for the snow was sitting down so thick and
fast that the surface was invisible thirty
feet ahead.
"We might ride square in among them