The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-12-29

N
"Ihcy kill the colonel! He no gor'
veyed the news to Fenton, and in two
minutes an officer, with dozen mon,
trotted out from the stables Of Troop
K and 400 yards beyond the sentry
posts signaled to tho advancing war
riors, "Haltr"
There were ten in the party and Big
Road was not among them. The Off
GERS, returning from stables and retreat
roll call, had gathered about the colo
mel Oh the westward bluff and feldglass-
es were brought to bear on the opposing
parties, now only dimly visible in the
cleaning. Over at the barracks the
men were still gathered about their re-
spective parades, despite the fact that
supper was ready and they as ready for
supper. All over the garrison had gone
the rumor Of Big Road g hostile and de-
f1ant message, and the troops wore
wrathful at the indignity put upon
their colonel. Some Of them had stop
ped inside the quarters and were quiet
ly examining their belts and equip
ments and counting the cartridges In
their boxes. Ormsby, sharing the sup
pressed excitement, had hastened out to
join his friends Of the Twelfth, his
nerves tingling again at the thought Of
the possibility Of skirmish, and now he
stood with Fenton close at hand, wait
ing eagerly for the first developments.
But little timo was wasted. There
was brief parley between the lieuten-
ant with the troopers and formidable
looking Indian who seemed to lead the
others. Then the officer turned and sent
a man galloping back to the post. In
four minutes he was in the colonel q
presence, dismounted and making his
report.
"Big Roads compliments-I mean,
the lieutenant's compliments, sir-and
Big Road sends his delegation for three
wagon loads Of meat, -four sugar and
coffee, Sir, and says as tho colonel hasn't
come to see him he's going to move.'
Tho colonel laughed-the first laugh
since Christmas, somebody remarked at
the time. "Are you sure there's no mis-
take, Fallon?" he asked the messenger.
"That's what the lieutenant asked
the Indians, sir, but we have two of
L. troop with us-what's left of 'em
Ono Brule and t'othcr Ogalalla, and
: they both translate it the same way, and
Bat is with us, too, sir and he says it's
like Big Road when he gets liquor in
him. He thinks he's lord of the earth.
Bat says he's drunk now, and believes
the colonel will be glad to do as he de-
mands for fear of him.
"Wel], who brought the message2
Who's that big buck in the lead therc?"
''That's One Eyed Bull, sir--him
that was nursed in the hospital here
after the fight three years ago.
"Bull2 He ought to know better than
to bring any such message" said Fon-
ION rehectively. 81 presume he dare
not refuse, however. Mr.. Adjutant,
mount Fallons horse, gallop out there,
and tell Bull to tell Big Road to go to
the devil. That's all on that head. Cap-
tain Farwell, as soon as your men have
had supper let them saddle and be ready
for night work. Orderly, have my horse
sent up in half an hour. That's all for
the present, gentlemen. Come, Jack
LOUIS waiting dinner for us"
1t was the first time that any one had
seen Fenton mad, as Amory put it,
when the group broke up. either Big
Road will come down off that high
|
and within the next few hours too.
Ormsby brings us luck. He never comes
out here that we don't have shindy Of
some kind.
More than one officer was thinking Of
this remark Of Amory's as they scattered
to their homes Many dinner was kept
waiting and many housewife had to
be placated when tho lord and master
hurried in, and tongues that were primed
with wifely reproof were stilled by the
tidings that quickly spread from door to
door. Big Road had made an insolent
demand and coupled with it defiant
message. Big Road was drunk and had
threatened to move with his village,
and then it would become the duty Of
the Twelfth to surround and herd him
back. Under the stipulation Of late
treaty he was allowed for his winter
range only the south bank Of the Platte,
from Frayne to the breaks Of the Medi.
oine Bow. II he crossed the Platte and
struck out for the Big Horn, he invaded
the cattle lands and laid himself open
to attack from the hustlers. IF he
dove into the mountain range to the
south, he left his reservation and for
| lG1tSu tIlC uul Wuloi
the agent at Fetterman Bend was bound
to issue at regular intervals. He had
quarreled with the agent and moved his
village up stream to within ten miles Of
Frayno-which he had right to do.
He had quarreled with-and on good
grounds-the cowboys and then been
taken under the wing Of Uncle Sam for
safety, and now he proposed quarreling
with his benefaotors and launching out
on forbidden territory, and that meant
business for all at Frayne.
But One Eyed Bull was no truoulent
warrior. He had delivered his message
in accordance with his chief 8 demaDds,
and in far more civil tone and terms
than it was consigned to him, then had
waited in dignified silence, confronting
the somewhat ilippant blueooats from
the fort, refusing to make any response
J to the POPULARITY and ridicule in which
some Of their number indulged or to
enter into any discussion with Bat OF
the two Indian soldiers al TO the prob
able inspiration of Big Roads bombast.
Well enough he realized when the adju.
tant arrived upon tho scene that the