The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-21
CHAPTER VII.

Lieut.. Deans orders required that he should
march his troop without unnecessary delay
to Fort Emory, there to take station reliev-
ing Troop f, ordered to change to Frayne,
which meant, in so many words, to take the
field Capt. Brooks, still wrestling with the
fever, had retired to his quarters at the old
frontier fort that stood so long on the bluffs
overlooking the fords of the Platte. The sur
geon said he must remain in bed at least
week, so In the meantime the troop packed
up, sent its wagons ahead over the range
bade Godspeed to T as it passed through en-
route to the front, exchanged a yoley of
chaff and chewing tobacco over the parting
game OF freeze out" fought to a finish on
many an outspread saddle blanket then
logged on toward Gate City, making wide
detour at the suggestion of the field officer IN
command at Frayne, that they might scout
the Laramie plains and see that all was well
at Folsom'S ranch. This detour was duly re-
ported to the peppery veteran at Fort Emory
an cid colonel whose command was by this
time reduced from headquarters, field staff
and band six companies CT infantry and four
troops OF cavalry to the band and two des-
perately overworked companies of foot "Two
nights in bed" were all his men could hope
LOT, ana sometimes no more than one so
grleVous was the guard duty. Hence "old
Pecksniff," his adjutant and quartermaster
and his two remaining companies saw fit to
take 1t as most unkind in Lieut. Col. Ford
to authorize that diversion of Deans and
nignIy improper on Deans part to attempt
it. BY this time, too, there was in circula-
ton at Emory story that this transfer of
to interior lines and away from probable
contact with the Sioux was not so much that
1t had done far more arduous work, complete
ly using up its captain as that now the
captain was used up, the authorities had their
doubts as to the nerve" of the lieutenant
IN temporary command. A fellow who didn't
care to come to Emory and preferred rough
duty UP along the Platte must be lacking in
some essential particular, though the women
folk and at the very moment that Marshall
Dean sat there at Hal Folsom's ranch as
nd I'LL
ever forded the Platte, looking forward to
those days to come at Emory, with Jessie
jessie and, of course, Pappoose-so close at
hand in town, there gaining ground at
the post an impression that the safety of the
board of officers sent to choose the site of the
new Big Horn post had been imperiled by
DeRns weakening at critical moment in the
presence of band of probably hostile Sioux
Burleigh had plainly intimated as much to
his chief clerk and Col Stevens and when
Loring and Stone came through a day or two
later and questions were asked about that
meeting, the alde-de-camp gave it as distinctly
to be understood that he had practically as
sumed command, Deans inexperience being
manifest, and his own prompt measures had
eatrlcateu tne attachment from most deli
cate and dangerous position. The engineer
let 1t be said, did not hear this statement
and the aide was very careful not to make if
III his presence. He was a comparative stran-
ger, ana as no one presumed to question him
he volunteered no information
Planning to biyouac until dawn of the next
DAY at Folsoms Dean had then intended to
reach Fort Emory in three easy marches
He was anxious to bring his horses in in
best possible condition, despite all their hard
service; yet now, barely o'clock on this
not June afternoon, came most unlooked-for
most importunate interruption to his plans
Springing to the gate at the sergeant's sum
mons, he first directed his gaze to the dis
tant peak, recognized instantly the nature
OF the smoke puffs there rising. then turned
for explanation to the swift-riding courier
whose horses heels were making the dust
ny from the sun-dried soil. One or two
ranch hands, with anxious faces, came has
tening over from the corral. The darkey
COOK rushed up from the kitchen, rife In
hand Plainly these fellows were well used
to wars alarms Mrs. Folsom, with staring
eyes and dreadful anxiety in her face, gaz-
ed only at the hurrying courier, clinging tho
while to the pillar of the portico, though
needing support. The smoke puffs on the
mountain, the dust cloud back of the tear
ing riders were symptoms enough for Dean.
Get in your herd, sergeant! he shouted
at the top OF his voice; and over the rush
ing of the Laramie his words reached the
rousing bivouac, and saddle blankets were
sent swinging in air in signal to the distant
guards, and within few seconds every horse
was headed for home; and then, to the sound
of excited voices was added the rising thun-
der of scores of bounding hoofs, as, all in
dust cloud of their own, the sixty chargers
came galloping in, ears erect, eyes ablaze
nostrils wide, names and tails streaming in
the breeze, guided by their eager guards full
tilt for camp. Out ran their riders brides
In hand, to meet and check them every horse
when within few yards of his master seem
ing to settle his launches and plow I'D
the turf in the sudden effort to check his
speed, long months of service on the plains
and in the heart of Indian land having taught
them in times of alarm or peril that the
quicker they reached the guiding hand and
bore, each, his soldier on his back the quick
err would vanish the common foe. Even be-
fore the painting steed of the headlong courier
came within hailing distance of the ranch,
half the horses in the troop were caught and
the bits were rafting between their teeth;
then as the messenger tore along the gentle
slope that led to the gateway, his weared
horse 'laboring painfully at the rise, Mrs.
Folsom recognized one of her husbands
herdsmen, man who had lived long years in
Wyoming and could be unnerved by no false
alarm, and her voice went up in shrek
of fear as she read the tidings in his almost
CHASTITY face.
Where is Hal?" she screamed "Oh what
has happened"
Hes safe" was the answering call, as
the rider waved a reassuring hand, but at
the instant he bent low. Thank God you're
here, lieutenant he gasped. Mount quick.