Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-12-17

think they're all safe is that SO many
Indians hang around us out here. "
And just then came a grunt OF disgust
from La Bonte. The colonel at his side
said "H--l," and an excitable trooper
called out, Look there What's that?'
for over at the northwest all on n sud-
den, brilliant column Of flame had
burst through tho blackness of the night
and sent broad glare streaming over
the snow clad surface of the rolling
prairie.
"They're on to us, by the eternal!'
cried the adjutant, who loved the Jack
sonian form of oxpletive. "ListenT'
But no one listened more than an instant
Even through the mut1ling coverlet of
snow the rumble and rush of hun
dred pony hoofs, like low, distant thun-
der, told Of the instant flight of Big
Roads braves in answer to the signal.
Wayne was ablaze in a secont.
"Closo up on the head Of column
he shouted to the troop leaders. Come
Oh, now, men, for all you're worth.
There isn't second to spare.
And as tho amazed and wearled
horses gave answer to the spur and
broke into lum bering gallop far over at
the west tho rocks began to ring to tho
cracklo Of musketry. Farwell and the
Sioux had clinched on the bluffs to the
south of the springs and were fighting
in the dark for tho right Of way.
Ten miles away, at Allison's ranch,
wearied with the sleepless toll of "a
hours, too weary to be kept awake even
by the exasperating sense Of his wrongs,
the colonel was just rolling into his
blankets for a much needed rest before
setting forth with the rising sun Oh his
homeward road. Fifty miles away over
the white expanse of prairie, under the
cold and glittering skies, Marjorie Far
rar sat by the bedside of her beloved
daughter, praying ceaselessly for tho
safety of an equally beloved son now
riding for the first time in his bravo
young life to prove his worthincss to
bear the fathers name in headlong fight
with savage and skillful foe,
And if ever a young fellow, woarcr
Of tho army blue, realized to the full
extent the hopes and faith and fondness
centerCd in him this night OF nights, l5
was Will Farrar Barely arrived at
mans estate, not yet year out OF the
cadet coatoe, with his mother, his Sis
ter, his sweetheart, all there at the old
fort so long associated with his fathers
name, with that name to maintain, and
not only that, but with Malcolm Leale's
old troop as one man looking up to him
as their leader, yet competent, down to
tho very last man, to note tho falntest
flaw should he fail them, the junior
subaltern Of the Twelfth, the "plebe'
lieutenant, as his elders laughingly
spoke Of him, found himself, as though
some special providence had swept from
his path every possible barrier to danger
and distinction, lifted suddenly to
command that. seldom falls to army
subalterns today even within dozen
years and bidden here and now to win
his spurs for the honor Of the old troop,
the honor of the Twelfth, the honor OF
the name his father made famous and
that he must maintain or die in trying
to. All this, and God alone knows how
much more besides, went thrilling
through his very sonl as, Oh EarWell's
left and in utter silence, he rode swiftly
onward at tho head Of the column.
Leaving to his own first lieutenant the
command Of the grays, Captain Farwell
had told him to follow close in the
tracks of Farrars men and, with only
one of the Indian company to aid and
no other guide of any kind but his
senses and the stars, had placed himself
in the lead and pushed forth into the
night.
"Swing we'll out to the west" were
Fenton's last orders keep dark, as
you know how. Head for the hills as
soon as you re sure you're far beyond
hearing and try to strike those bluffs a
couple Of miles at least back OF the
mouth of the canyon. You ought to get
there ahead of the village. Halt it with
few men down i'll the gorge, but hold
your main body on the bluffs. We'll
keep Big Road busy"
Luckily the stars were brilliant i'll the
wintry sky and the consultations out
in all their glory. The pole star glowed
high aloft and held them to their course.
Out in the advance, lashing his horse
with Indian whip to keep him to his
speed, rode Bravo Bear, a corporal of
the Ogalalla company, side by side
with Sergeant Bremmer. Whenever the
drifts were deep i'll the ravines, one of
them would halt and warn the column
to swerve to the right or left. Only a
yard or two behind the two officers
Farwell, grizzled and stout, Farrar, fair
and alender--came Looping or trotting
the leading four, and, though it was
not his accustomed place, there rode
Terry Rorke, where, as he lad explain
ed to the satisfaction of the sergeant,
he could be close to "Masther WILL"
The prairie was broad and open and
fairly level. There was no need OF di-
minishing front. A platoon could have
ridden abreast and found no serious OBJ
stacle, except the snowdrifts in the deep
coulees. Two miles to the west they
sped, moving cautiously at first SO as to
give no inkling of their intent. and, Tor
the first time, almost doubling back up
Oh their tracks, so as to keep we'll away
from the Indian rear guard.
Then, in long curve, Farwell led them
toward the low, rolling hills, now dim
ly visible against the armament, and
presently the ravines began to grow
daener hut farther apart, the slopes