The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-12-08
CHAPTER X.

just as 1liSt call Tor tattoo was sound
Ing Ono ono having thought to tell the
orderly trumpeter that, both on account
Of tho holiday and the unexpected duty
for tho garrison, "tho rules were sus.
pcndcd") long column of cavalry
wound away through thee simmer of
the snowy moonlight and disappeared
from sight along tho flats below the
post, Fcnton and Wayne, with four Of
the six troops, had ridden down stream
for n ten mile march. His object was to
bring Big Road, with his little village,
warriors, women, children, ponies, dogs,
dirt and all, within the lines of the
reservation Of Fort Trayno. Onco there
even cowboy dare not molest them and
no self appointed sheriff could impose
his authority. With all Thorpes blus-
ter Icnton felt reasonably assured that
even in so turbulent II corner of Wy
oming the hustlers could not muster in
force sufficient to warrant an attack
that night.
Big Roads braves were few in num-
Der, but they wero fighters to man.
Their sins, like those of all their tribe
and kindred tribes, had long since been
forgiven them by Uncle Sam, and it
was not for his vassals to keep up the
feud. Rare, indeed, are the cases when
the soldier has long cherished grudgo
against the Indian. The Twelfth had
fought like devils after the murder as
they could but regard it, of their beloved
colonel, but when the opposing band had
finally surrendered and accepted tho sit
uation all rancor speedily died away.
1t seemed to the regiment, therefore,
a perfectly natural and obvious thing
that it should hasten forth to protect
this little remnant from tho revenge Of
the whites. Laramie Pete, with all his
faults, was frontier hero whose popu-
larity was second only to that of Thorpe,
and at the latter's call, from far and
near, cowboy, ranchman, miner and
prospector would hasten to join forces
under his leadership, aud in "a hours or
less he could count OH 800 determined
followers, fearless as thoy were reckless,
and defiant Of any law that was not Of
their own devising.
In the selection OF his troops Fenton
had been governed by the time honored
tenets Of the Twelfth. Leale's men,
having returned but month before
from tour of detached service, escort
ing government survey through the
lands Of the Shoshones far to the west,
wero therefore tho ones designated to
remain in charge Of the post, boing sup
ported by what was left of tho so called
Indian troop-Crow Knifc's company, a
band OF swarthy cavalrymen that took
Uncle Sans clothing, pay and rations
with ayidity, and even to his drill and
discipline, SO long as it was new toy,
but littlo by little the innate sloth and
restlessness Of the savage nature pre-
vailed, and, one after another, noncom-
missioned officer and private, tho SionS
soldiery had been discharged until nearly
oil wero gone. OF tho dozen that re-
maincd, however, were some of the
noblest specimens of tho race, mon,
mined to rise above the apathy of the
Iast into some position of power and in
fiuence for their people in the future,
and it was almost unspeakable grief to
these that they should be told that they
could not go with the command.
Yet FentOn's decision Jasa wise one.
Ever since Big Roads messengers
(White Wolf and Pretty Bear) dashed
into the garrison at o'clock, claiming
the intercession Of tho Great Fathers
soldiers, the excitement among the rem
nant OF the Indian troop was furious.
For moment it looked as though they
might cast Off their uniforms and, turn
ing out in brcecLclout and paint and
feathers, indulge in q genuine old fash
ioncd war dance en- tho parade. They
were wild to get their arms and horses
and to gallop to the succor of their kins-
men down the valley, but the lieutenant
commanding was cool hand, and, aided
by the persuasive talk of one or two
older warriors, measurably quieted TIE
disturbance. Then, as most of tho mon
on guard begged to be allowed to go
with their comrades, seven of tho In
dians were distributed among the three
roliefs, and Leale's men flied all the
other gaps. 1t was about 80, rs has
been said, when the column marched
away 1t might DO back before Christ
mas night. 1t might not be back for q
week. No one at tho moment could say
because, even now, Big Road could have
broken camp and started with his whole
village on night march for tho fast
nesses Of the mountains, uncertain WI at
fate might be i'll store for them if he re-
mained. With the column went White
Wolf and Bear, the former generally
believed to be one of the four Indians
engaged in tho fracas that wound up the
earthly career of Laramie Pete. Ahead
Of tho column, full gallop, with only a
single orderly, but with instructions to
tell Big Road and his people to stay just
where they were, as the Great Father
meant to como TO their protection, went
Lieutenant Warren, and the maddest,
"miscrablost" man in all the garrison
was Lieutenant will Farrar.
When young follow is full Of SOL
dierly ambition, when he knows he ia
master of his work and is eager for an
opportunity to it, when everybody
has been treating him as boy and he
knows he has all tho ability Of man,
when his sweetheart. even, has been
teasing and twitting him upon his ap
parent lack of consequence in the eyes
Of the garrison, and he is therefore al
the more mad to prove at any hazard
that it contains no more daring anG
spirited an officer, such an opportunity
as was here afforded Mr.. Farrar was no
to be lost. He had implored Colone
Fenton to let him be tho bearer Of th'
message and was broken hearted at tn,
kind but firm refusal "The Indian i
peculiar, Will" said the old soldie
gently. "Ho never forgets or forgives