Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-01-31

do not believe to this day that
there was hardly a man in that fOr'
at that time who would not have
stood even Indian torture If she
had so wIshed-but don't be
alarmed, gentlemen. No such
thought would have ever entered
that girls mind. And then she
was very beautiful. Perhaps this
had somethlngt to do with 1t. Those
among MS who had been sick had
especial reasons for feeling CRATE.
full to her, for as soon as she heard
OF a case of sickness, she seemed
to be on pins and needles until she
received consent from her father
to nurse the sick one. whether he
was officer or private. In truth,
her kindness and charltableness to
all made adorers out of halt the
men IN the fort aud the other hall
were dead in love with her.
"Now get down to the story
One day there came the announce.
ment that the Indians had gone on
the warpath aud that the men
should be got in readiness to leave
at almost any moment, to hunt
down a band of rowing bucks, who
were thought to ein our neigtbor
hood, before they had much chance
of killing and rohbing the settlers.
Ore morning the command came,
aud a troop of cavalry was detailed
to 60 out, and, if possible, to bring
them in. The matter had now
taken serious turn, for the few
bucks who had started the depre.
datlons on a small scale had been
iolned by the others, until several
hundred Of them had gone on tue
warpath in dead earnest. 1t
happened that the mysterious
plivate's troop was the one detail
ell to 60 out first on IA sort OF
reconnoiteriug tIip, and Ii on IN
vestigation 1t was thought necrs
sary to send our more men. Ih~y
eIe TO return for relnfOrcements.
1T was a busy scene at the tor,
hat morning. Soon the buglr
sounded, the men leaprd Into their
saddles and moved up to the gate
If the fort. 1t was a prOnd mo-
ment tor the men who composed
that troop. for il was thcn fist
actual expedition after the enemy.
Then came the sound OF the bngle
again. aud TIE men were off, with
cheers of their comrades ringing IN
Their ears.
eve in the fort had manN
anxious hours that day and nishI,
Wond, ring how the expedition
would turn out, though we little
rhought thar there wonld be an
serious results.
"Tbey would probably return" We
thought, with the whole band OF
Indians as prisoners. We had no
Idea that the red devils would dare
DEFY them, or much less fire on
them.
"During the night a terrible
snowstorm set in, however, and we
kept anxious watch 10 see u lneJ
would give up the chase on this ac'
count and return to the fort. But
no. The night passed away and
dawn still saw no trace OF the men.
The storm seemed to become more
furious with the advent Of the day
and the binding flakes made II
impossible TO see many feet outside
the fort. Then missglviDgs re-
garding The safety of the men be-
gan to take form. We had almost
forgotten about the Indians ami
our only thoughts were of the men
and how they would manage to re-
turn TO the tort in this terrible
storm. About noon there was a
Hull in the wind and snow and
couriers were sent out 10 see II any
traces of the troop could be found
They might be wandering a few
miles outside the fort, We thought,
unable to find their way III. The
searchers returned, however, alter
a fruitless search, saying that II
was impossible to fpd any trace o.
them, not knowing exactly where
10 look lOr them. The GROUND, O.
course, having been covered by Tue
suowstOrm after their departure, II
was impossible to follow thell
racks.
"About three O'clock III the
afternoon, however, we we're re
warded in our watch by seeing q
dark mass off to the west, aud al
LIT drew nearer a shout went uI
from the watchers as We discover
ed our missing troop.
an hen the men rode into for