The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-01-01


that with Farquhar his own position VIII
be only that of subordinate, and that he
must obey. He knows how, were he su-
nreme. a thousand troopers at his back,
he would conduct matters now. But
Farouhar Is a soldier long accustomed
both toobedience and to command; Rolfe
* one to whom obedience comes with
laggard grace, TO whom command Is OPP
pertunity for lavish vent of his imperious
will.
Orders or no orders, if he had the
mower he would deal death to the iabid
renepades before him. Orders to ''bring
ON the Indians, but not bring on hight,
10 his thinking are orders like those
which should forbid a mans going TO
water until he had learned TO SWIM
Orders TO disarm but not molest are
simply something to he laughed to soorh.
When were the Sioux ever known to
surrender those precious arms! Such
things when reported in years gone by
turned out TO be as rusty shams as the
arms turned in. RoEe was in mood as
sullen as the morn, and the signs about
the now bustling village We're not to his
liking. Over among the tepees blanket
ed sauaws were scurrying about, their
shrill voices suppressed. but their black
ewes flashing hatred at the silent squads
of troopers, carbines ready III hand,
watching every move within the guarded
lines. Young women and boys were
belaboring the gaunt and detected PONIES.
Eager gestures and low exclamations
called attention 10 the coming force, and
in groups the warriors, shrouded 10 the
very lips in their heavy robes, stood or
sat in council; but all the while, dartin9
from point to point with fierce declam-
atory gesture, went Mephisto himself
in the Indian medicine man" Mark.
wheresoever he goes eager ears are bent
TO hear his exhortation.
my God; why can't l arrest him at
least? With that old scoundrel done for
the rest might not be SO hard, Is Roles
impatient exclamation.
aSimply because the attempt would
lead TO instant fight" j. Hazletts cool
reply.
But, man, he's putting them up to
organized resistance. Hes giving them
some instructions now; you can see 1t
Just as well as do"
"Who doesn't? but 4 suggestive
shrug Of the shoulders indicates the
brother captains opinion, lyon know
the old saying, Rolfe, ours not TO make
reply"
'Who's in command of those advanced
men fronting that part Of the village:
asks Rolfe after a moments gloomy
pause.
Brewster. Don't You see? Hes talk
ing with Sergeant Ellis there now"
Rolfe grinds his heavy boot heel into
the frosted bunch grass not more harsh
iy than he grinds his teeth. BY heav'
en-! Haziett. bear me witness 10 this, fo'
there's no telling how things viii turn
out today. If / had my way those two
men would have been brought TO book
and made TO explain instead of having
posts of honor here. Farqnhar refused
to listen to another word on the subject
until we got home again; then 1t may bt
too late"
"Well-l, can't understand what YOU
have against them both or either" /:
Hazlett's reply.
"And can't explain here or now, bul
wait till we're home again, Hazlett, Il
we ever get there"
Farther down TO the left two Other
troop commanders have been watching
the symptoms among the swarmin2
lodges.
"Therell be the devils work this day
Thorpe" says Gorham Ut last witt
gloomy brow.
And Thorpe only bows his head.
Three hours later look upon the scene
The open prairie on the hither side o
the village is no longer tenantless, as i
was at dawn. Two parallel lines con
front each other there.
In dogged submission to the orders O
their captors and the mandate Of tn
big white chief which has been laid be
fore them, silent. sullen. mufiied 10 tn
ewes in dingy robe or blanket. the brave
have slowly moved ont from their lurk
ing places among the tepees and shufiie'
down the gentle slope until well ava.
from the outskirts of their town, an'
Just in front of a long, silent rank If dis
mounted troopers they squat upon tn
ground. No word Is spoken by eithe
side. Here crouch the savage leaders o
the hostile tribe, and, in long extends
line, scores of their fiercest and bravest
Others still lurk among the squaws an
lodges. Others peer with giitterin2
malignant eyes from under heaps Q
foul smelling robes or parfieches. Ihos
in the outing glance but furtively AT tn
blue line before them. They are sllen
as the dead. yet the war cry trembles o.
their lips. They wait, bat wait expectani
They crouch, but it is the tiger
; crouch, ready for spring. The wor
has been passed that all arms must b
surrendered, and every arm is there
ready. hidden. but with the lghtnin
sleeping ii 1t.
Back among those brown, dingy t.
pees, breathless with excitement. sqUaw
are scurryins 10 and froi children ar
being huddled away 10 the farther STAT
Look at that. Curly" lnutters Ware
!. under his frozen mustache, as he paSse
rapidly along in rear. isn't that enoug
to show they mean mischief Some c
tie Indian police and interpreters az
, still searching for warriors III hiding
: : Yet has not the old chief bowed lis al
sent to the orders aad given his direI
tons that his people should comply
i Nothing must be, can be done so long q
!. the Indian makes 10 overt move. Th
[ | dismounted men of two troops are
T long single rank. Some OF the me
t siiiver 4 little, for cold and excitemeI
[ ere telling now, as in many cases owe
J. coats have been thrown aside, but bray
5 men tremble ofttimes until the first shC
e comes. and then the nervous strain
= gone, for the hot blood leaps and tinglC
: through the veins. Back some distanC
e the horse helde-s ere aligned OF
e the harks and rear cOlnrade troops Gaz
!. silently on the scene. From the cre'
!, Of a low bluff the black mnzzle Of IL
: Hotchkiss gun peers from It's knot {
:, watchful batterymen. FarGuhar, Wig
j iant and grave, has just sent Ware
with other orders. \ halfbrced India
: steps forth, as though 10 carry its i'll
Il port TO the chief. At him the eyes
f the old maniac of q medicine man glal
4 with tigerish fury. Ee lowers his fcatl
{ cred head. He crouches.
Then. suddenly. catlike leap, a vii
e yell. OF goes every blanket, rs thong
/, hurled by the explosion from within
r In simultaneous crash TIE fame an
2 lead have leaped upon the trooper lin
: and now through the yelling slnol
every Indian is Gghtin., ike Il demo,