The Redwood gazette., 1897-01-07

Uncle Sans 8 clothing, pay and ratiOns
with avidity, and even to his drill and
discipline, SO long as it was new toy,
but little by little the innate sloth and
restlessness Of the savage nature pre-
vailed, and, one after another, noncom-
missioned officer and private, the Sioux
soldiery had been discharged until nearly
all were gone. Of the dozen that re-
manned, however, were some Of the
noblest specimens of the race, men,
who, like Grow Knife, seemed deter
mined to rise above the apathy of the
past into some position of power and in
auence 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 was wise one.
Ever since Big Roads messengers
white Wolf and Pretty Bear) dashed
into the garrison at 8 O'Clock, claiming
the intercession Of the 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 breechclcut and paint and
feathers, indulge in genuine old fash
ioDed war dance on the parade. They
we're 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 the
disturbance. Then, as most of the men
On guard begged to be allowed to go
with their comrades, seven of the In
aians were distributed among the three
eeliefs, and Lssale's men filled all the
sther gaps. It was about 9 80, as has
been said, when the column marched
away. It might be back before Christ
mas night. It might not be back for a
week. No one at the moment could say
because, even now, Big Road could have
broken camp and started with his whole
village on night march for the fast
1esses Of the mountains, uncertain what
fate might be in store for them if he re-
manned. With the column went White
Wolf and Bear, the former generally
believed to be one of the four Indians
engaged in the fracas that wound up the
earthly career. of Laramie Pete. Ahead
Of the column, full gallop, with only
single orderly, but with instructions to
tell Big Road and his people to stay just
where they were, as the Great Father
meant to come to their protection, went
Lieutenant Warren, and the maddest,
''miserablest man in all the garrison
was Lieutenant Will Farrar.
When a young fellow is full Of SOL
dierly ambition, when he knows he is
master of his work and is eager for an
opportunity to prove it, when everybody
has been treating him as boy and he
knows he has all the 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 all
the more mad to prove at any hazard
that it contains no more daring and
spirited an officer, such an opportunity
as was here afforded Mr.. Farrar was not
to be lost He had imp]ored Colonel
Fenton to let him be the bearer of the
message and was broken hearted at the
kind but firm refusal. 'The Indian is
peculiar, WILL" said the old soldier
gently. "He never forgets or forgives.
If his father had been killed as yours
was he would hold it something to be
avenged, although resentment had to be
concealed, perhaps for years. They know
you are his son. They know that the
white men are leaguing now to avenge
the death of Pete. They cannot under
stand such thing as white soldiers,
from sheer sense Of duty and Justice, in
terposing against their own kind to save
the red man. III your coming they
would read only treachery and would
argue that you came to urge their re-
naming SO that we might join our
white brethren in surrounding and wip-
ing them out Of existence. Whatever
you urged, even in my name, they
would be sure not to do. No, I must
send Warren. They know him well and
trust him. But Fenton was thankful
he had SO good an excuse, for even with
out it he could not have brought himself
to send Marjorie Farrar's only remain
ing son upon mission that might prove
perilous- would certainly seem
perilous in her eyes.
fastening to the chaplain's as soon
as Thorpe made his melodramatic exit,
Ormsby was met at the door by the good
old dominic himself and begged him to
say to Mrs. Farrar that there was no
cause for alarm. There had been fight
between Indians and cowboys several
miles away, and Colonel Fenton had de-
cided to send force out to keep the
peace. She heard his voice, and family
but eagerly asked that he should come
in. It was Helen, not Ellis, who bore
her essage-Helen, who noted with
comfort, and Ellis, with mixed emo
tion, that the mother had learned to
lean upon this stanch and devoted
friend. Mrs. Farrar took his ha-.i and
looked appealingly up into his face as
he briefly told her what had happened
and what the colonel had decided to do.
"Will Willy have to go?'' was her
one question, and, ignorant as yet that
Leale's troop would be designated to re-
r ~