Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-03-20

to escort and convey the colonePs
wife down to the railroad. This was
trip OF forty miles. For the first
ten miles it was over o level plain,
then the trail ran through the scrub,
along the foothills, over five miles of
desert, around the south base OF the
mountain and straight down to the
railroad. 1t was q hard, rough trail.
It took the army wagons from three to
four days to make the forty miles.
We could make it in two if allowed to
pursue our way in peace. 1t was
queer enough that the colonel should
come down to us in person as we stood
beside our saddle horses, knowing
nothing of where We were to go or the
object of the trip. but stranger yet
that all military etiquette" should go
out OF his voice and demeanor as he
said:
"Men, I am going to send my wife
down to the railroad to 90 East. You
are to be her escort. 1t is a case of
life or death, or she would not go. I
am afraid of the Indians and yet I
think you will get through all right.
You are to make the best time posi-.
BILE. If attacked"
"We shall beat them of. sir" re-
piled Sergeant Gregg, after waiting
half minute for the colonel to finish.
II hope you can. can only send
the seven of you and driver. Eight
men ought to beat off hundred Indi-
ans, unless taken in ambush. Be
watchful and prudent. Sergeant, you
are an OLD Indian fighter. You will
know best what to do. You will got
away by l O'Clock. Travel as fast as
you can and as late as you can, SO as
to finish the journey tomorrow. II
you are attacked"
The colonel did not finish. He
looked at each man and horse, in.
spected the ambulance and its pair OF
mules, and with half nod to us be
walked away. His wife must go, and,
owing to details and sickness, no com
missioned officer could be sent along.
If the Indians were ont an escort ol
twenty men would rot be too large,
Only eight OF us were to go. Had he
finished his sentence he Would have
said:
"If attack ed and you are about te
fall into the hands OF the red devils dc
not let my wife be captured alive"
We understood what he meant
though we said nothing to each other
No matter what he or anyone els,
feared, the little woman was almos
merry as she took her seat in the am
bulance for the start. She trusted II
to the fullest extent, and that feeling
made every man worth three. Gu
hcrses were in fine fettle, and the frs
ten miles were covered in gallop
Then the way became so rough tha
we could only proceed at walk. w
wound through the scrubby cedars ant
pines to the crest OF q low mountain
and then descended into Little Valle,
at Just 5 o'clock. A dash across th
valley to the base OF Blue Mountain
would put us in camp for the night
We had progressed famously we'll, an
had not yet sighted an Indian. Thre
different times we had to bridg
chasms which mountain torrents ha'
cut ont within weeF, and twice W
had to drag trees and logs out OF tn
path before we could 60 on.
Nothing had happened when "
reached the valley, and as We locke
around us and across it nothing coul
be seen to alarm. We had just take
the ropes off the blocked wheels of tn
ambulance when the warwhoop of th
hostile Indians sounded behind III
. and we looked back over our trail I
catch sight of a hundred mounte
warriors bearing down upon us. The
had picked our trail and run us dowr
"Mounti Now, straight across th
valleyi Fall in to the rear of the an
bulance."
, The voice of the old sergeant WI
hard and firm as he spoke. The Gu
tains of the ambulance we're up, and
glanced at the colonel's wife. 81
had seen and heard. Her cheeks ha
paled, but she was removing a repea
ing rifle from its hooks as we fell
: behind the vehicle. It WAS q cle'
five mile dash. The prairie was
:. level as floor, and the mules needle
. no urging after hearing the yells
the Indians. The soldier driv