Evening star., 1896-07-25
PART /.

PARI L.
On this June morning there is peace in the
land.
The Indian agent at Fort Bliss reserva-
ton is congrat tulating himself on the meek
and humble deneanor of the 5000 subjects
under his care, and today his monthly re-
port will announce that the war fever, which
seized upon some of the bucks a week Or so
ago, has entirely vanished Even Bald
Faced Charley" subchief. and the worst
of the lot has settled himself down to be
"a good boy"
At 6 o'clock In the morning Sergeant Yates
rode out of Fort Bliss with seven troopers
to repair the bridge at Devils Run F1f-
teen miles to the west Devils Run cuts
across the military road. as 1t comes up
from the Union Pacific railroad. 1t Is
mountain torrent rushing through the rocky
gorge twenty feet wide, and the spot Is Wild
and lonely.
At $50 O'Clock, after guard mount, and
before the men are ordered out for forenoon
drill, Lieut.. Day and Miss phelps cahter
out of the fort for a ride across the country
to the west. The officer is one of the three
or four unmarried men at the post; MISS
Phelps is Major Halidays niece, mere on d
three months visit from the east. 1t Is
beautiful morning, and so full OF the balm
of peace that the sick men in the hospita
feel the effects Of it like tonic.
At IL o clock the soldier Telegraph opera
tor at the post, who is smoking his pipe and
looking out OF the window at troop drill,
catches a sharp and sudden call, and five
minutes later he hurries to the office OF the
adjUtant with a telegram from the Indian
agent, which reads:
"Bald-Faced Charley and fifty fighting
bucks jumped the reservation last night and
headed for Little Valley
So, while cOngratula ting himself the
humble attitude of his charges, a war party
had slipped off under cover of darkness, and
had doubtless found their first victim be-
fore he was out of bed So Sergeant Yates
and his seven men had departed for the
exact spot where the Indians would seek to
cross the military road to fall upon the half
dozen settlers in Little Valley. And so. rid
ing forth across the plains toward the
green-covered foothills. Lieut.. Day and
Miss Phelps were liable to ride into an am
bush within ten miles of the fort. The signs
which signified peace were base deception.
Ten minutes after that dispatch was re-
ceived Fort Bliss was in state of turmoil.
Under cover of darkness the renegade In
dians made straight for Little Valley thirty
miles from the agency, and about the same
distance from the fort They had six hours
before daylight, and meant to fall upon the
settlers in the early morning. After mid
night a fog came Oh which reduced progress
and hnal.y checked it altogether. 1t thus
happened that daylight found the war party
still TO the north OF the military road and
they dld not propose TO cross it until night
came again The bulk of them went into
camp Tor Lhc Gay, Dul scouts We're sent out
in every direction to pick up information
Two of these scouts. from their position on
the crest OF a ridge. saw the two riders
they came ioping over the plains A signal
brought two more scouts 10 their assist
ance. Then the four. mounted on their fleet
ponies. made q haSty run of a mile and
entered d dry ravine and waited. Ten min
utcs after their arrival the riders passed
them. headed almost direct for the Indian
camp, and with the four warriors in their
rear. The pair Were cut off, and as good as
captured For mile or more they rDde on
in ignorance of the situation Then. as they
drew rein on the crest Of ridge to breathe
their horses. the officer looked back and