The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-19


ed.
1.-THE lieutenant knows that Carey's
not in yet" he ventured to say, as he
started back down the narrow game
trail which they had climbed.
yes: but yonder he comes and so
does the storm. We can't be caught in
this canon in case Of a hard rain. Let
Carey have some coffee and bite,
If he feels well enough. Then yell
push on"
Ordinarily, when making summer
marches over the range, the first
water camp" on the Sweetwater trail
was here at Canon Springs. On the
road to Frayne, which crossed the
brook ten miles to5the east, all wagon
trains and troops not on forced march
made similar camp. In the case or
scouting detachments or little parties
sent out from Emory, it was always
customary to spend the first night and
make the first camp on the Box Elder
at furthermost, then to push on, ready
and refreshed, the following day. Dean
we'll knew that to get the best work
out Of his horses he should start cas-
lily, and up to 9 o'clock he had fully
intended to make the usual camp at
the Springs. But once before, within
few years, a big scouting party
camping in the gorge Of the Box Elder
had been surprised by one Of those
sudden, sweeping storms, and before
they could strike tents, pack up and
move to higher ground, the stream
took matters into it's own hands and
spared them all further trouble on
that source, distributing camp and gar
rison eQuipage for long leagues away
to the east. Two miles back, Trooper
Carey, who had been complaining OF
severe cramp and pain in the stomach,
begged to be allowed to fall out and
rest while He was reliable Old
soldier when whisky was not winning
the upper hand. and this time whisky
was not at fault. A dose of Jamaica
ginger was the only thing their field
pharmacopoeia provided, and Carey
rolled out of his saddle and doubled up
among the rocks with his hands on
the pit Of his stomach. grimacfng.
go back if you think best or come
ahead and catch US at the Springs II
we'll enough" were the orders left him,
while the men pushed on, and now,
as the lieutenant said, Carey was COM
already doing when the sergeants
sharp order Saddle up" was given,
but glance at the lowering sky ex-
planned it ALL and every man was
standing to horse and ready when the
missing trooper came jogging in among
them, White, peaked, but determined.
A look of mingled disappointment and
relief appeared on his face as he saw
the preparations for the start, but his
only comment wGs: L can make 1t,
SIR as he saluted his young COM
mander Less than two hours from
the time they unsaddled, therefore, the
troopers once more mounted, and, fol-
lowing their leader, filed away down
the winding gorge. Presently there
came the low rumbling of thunder, and
a sweep of the rising wind "Trot,
said Dean, and without other word
the little column quickened the pace.
The ravine grew wider soon and far
less tortuous, but was still narrow
and dangerous spot. For a mile or two
from the Springs its course was nearly
east of north, then it bore away to
the northeast, and the Sweetwater trail
abruptly left it ana went winding up
a cleft in the hills to the west. Just
as they reached this point the heavens
opened and the clouds descended in a
deluge of rain. Out came the ponchos,
unstrapped from the saddle, and every
mans head popped through the slit as
the shiny black "shedwater' settled
down on his shoulders.
THAT outfit behind us will get a
soaking if it has been fool enough to
follow down to the Springs, said Carey
to the sergeant, as they began the pull
up the slippery trail.
What OUTFIT" asked Dean turning
in the saddle and looking back in sur
prise.
A binding flash Of lightning, followed
almost on the instant by the crack and
roar of thunder put summary stop to
talk of any kinds Men and horses bow
ed their heads before the deluge. and
the rain ran in streams from the names
and tails. The ascending path turned
quickly into a running brook and the
black forms of steeds and riders strug-
gled sidewise up the grass grown
slopes in search of higher ground. The
heavens had turned inky black. The
gloomy ravine grew dark as night.
Flash after flash the lightning split the
gloom. Every second or two troopers
faces cleaned CHASTITY in the dazzling
glare, then as suddenly vanished.
Horses slipped or stumbled painfully
and, man after man, the riders followed
the example Of the young soldier in the
lead and, dismounting, led their drip
ping beasts farther up the steep incline.
Half way to the summit, peering
through the wind-swept sheets Of rain,
a paliside clump of rocks jutted out
from the heights and, after a hard
climb, the little band found partial
shelter from the driving storm and
huddled, awe-stricken, at their base
Still the lightning played and thunder
cannonaded with awful resonance from
crag to crag dc Hn the deep gorge from
which they had clambered, evidently