The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-03-20

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to. All this, and God alone knows how
much more besides, went thrilling
through his very soul as, on Farwell'l
left and in utter silence, he rode swiftly
onward at the head of the column
Leaving to his own first lieutenant the
command of the grays, Captain Farwel
had told him to follow close in the
tracks Of Farrar's men and, with only
one of the Indian company to aid and
no other guide OF any kind but his
senses and the stars, had placed himself
in the lead and pushed forth into the
night.
"Swing well out to the west" were
Fenton's last orders. keep dark, as
you know how. Head for the hills as
soon as you're sure you're far beyond
hearing and try to strike those bluffs a
couple of miles at least back of the
mouth of the canyon. You ought to get
there ahead of the village. Halt it with
a few men down in the gorge, but hold
your main body on the bluffs. Well
keep Big Road busy"
Luckily the stars were brilliant in the
wintry sky and the consultations out
in all their glory. The pole star glowed
high aloft and held them to their course.
Out in the advance, flashing his horse
with Indian whip to keep him to his
| speed, rode Brave Bear, corporal Of
the Ogalalla company, side by side
with Sergeant Bremmer. Whenever the
drifts were deep in the ravines, one of
them would halt and warn the column
to swerve to the right or left, Only
yard or two behind the two officers
Farwell, grizzled and stout, Farrar, fair
and slender-came Looping or trotting
the leading four, and, though it was
not his accustomed place, there rode
Terry Rorke, where, as he had explain
ed to the satisfaction of the sergeant,
he could be close to "Masther Will"
The prairie was broad and open and
fairly level. There was no need Of di-
minishing front. A platoon could have
ridden abreast and found no serious OBJ
stacle, except the snowdrifts in the deep
coulees. Two miles to the west they
sped, moving cautiously at first so AS to
give no inkling of their intent. and, for
the first time, almost doubling back up
on their tracks, so as to keep well away
from the Indian rear guard.
Then, in long curve Farwell led them
toward the low, rolling hills, now DIM
ly visible against the firnament, and
presently the ravines began to grow
deeper but farther apart, the slopes
more abrupt and the westward hills
doomed closer in their path, and still the
snowy expanse showed unbroken, and
Bear, bending low over his pony's neck
and watching for signs, declared that no
Indians had crossed as yet into the hills
and that the entrance to Elk gulch was
now not more than mile to the north.
And here the hills rolled higher, both
to their front and toward the west, but
Farwell rode on up gradual ascent un-
til the slope began to grow steep, then,
dismounting, led the way afoot, the
whole column rolling out of saddle and
towing its horses in his track.
Up, up they climbed until, breathing
hard now, but pushing relentlessly on,
Che captain reached the crest, and faint |
and dim i'll the starlight, dotted here |
and there with little clumps of spruce |
or cedar, the rolling, billowy surface |
lay before him, shrouded in its mantle |
OF glistening snow. Leading Oh until |
the whole command had time to reach |
the top, he motioned Will to halt, while |
he, with Bear and Sergeant Bremmer,
pushed few yards farther on. The |
column took breathing spell and
waited.
Far out to the eastward and below
them an occasional flash as of rifle or
revolver sparkled through the night,
and the faint report was presently borne
to their listening ears. Big Road was
still barring the way of the column
then, and that meant that all the viii
lage was not yet safely within the grim
walls OF the canyon. Northward the
snowy slopes rolled higher still, but il
was northwestward, among the clumps
OF trees, that the leaders had gone. The
steam from the horses nostrils and from
their heaving TANKS rose on the keen
air, and the blood raced and tingled in
the veins OF the men. Not whisper of
mountain breeze was astir. The night
was asstill as the voiceless skies. Three.
Tour minutes. with beating hearts,
the little command watched and waited
and drew longer breath. and then q dark
shape came jogging back from the front.
and Farwell's voice said, mount and
come on /"
Then came 10 minutes trot, winding
snakelike and in long extended column
OF twos among the stunted trees, and
then Farwell ordered walk" for more
than once dark form doomed up in their
path, and Bremmer wheeled his horse
about and rode by the captains side.
eagerly explaining in low tone. Will
caught the words: Fright ahead. You
can hear them distinctly, sir" and for
the life of him Will could not quite
the fiutter Of his heart. "Halti
Dismount and wait here!' were the
next orders. almost whispered, and
again Farwell pushed out into the
'front.', and again the column swung out
Oh saddle, watched and waited, and