Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-10-19

mGu were luahluS aONn -eiAStA DeAA'NS
for the night when the first sergeant
entered the barrack room and called
for Private Donovan. ~
ssHerel' answered voice from the
lower end. of the room.
ssReport to the adiutant, mounted,
for courier duty as soon as you can
possibly get ready, land tho sergeant
closed the door with bang.
The young fellow who had answered
the sergeant's inquiry was not more
than 19, but tall and well-made, with
that trim appearance for which the
American soldier is noted. AS he was
rolling blanket aud getting together
the articles usually required for such
duty, the first sergeant again entered
and impatlently commanded him to
make haste.
ssNerer mind any extras, Mickey;
the adjutant seems to be in a terrible
hurry to get you off; so just take an
extra hundred rounds of ammunition
/, and enough rations to last you for one
day, get your horse and report to him
at his quarters. The sentinel has or
ders to let you in the stable to get the
animal out"
''AlI right, sarge, old boy" said
Mickey, with an utter disregard OF the
difference in rank that was common IN
the days of frontier service.
Twenty minutes later Donovan drew
rein at the adjutant's quarters and
/, dismounted, but before he could tie up
his horse the door opened, and Lieu
tenant Haley appeared.
'sPrivate Donovan, G troop, reports
for detached service, sir, and Mickey''s
right hand was raised to his hat with
military promptitude.
every we'll, Donovan, tie your horse
to that post and come inside. +"
When he entered the room the lieu
tenant addressed him in serious tones:
'.I want to tell you, Donovan, that
/ the duty you are about TO enter upon
: is fraught with great danger to your
self, and, in fact, you stand a good
: chance of never returning; for want
I You, to ride to the railroad with o mes
xssso
has gone there to meet his daughter.
T have Just received news byia scout
that the whole Cheyenne nation will
probably be on the war-path by day
light tomorrow"
Mickey did not vince, and the
lieutenant went on: 'Tf you succeed
in getting through, the general can
remain there until the mounted troops,
which will Immediately follow you,
arrive to escort him to the post. If
you can get through Dead Mans
Canon very early in the morning you
may BIZ in time to cross the open
country before the Indians are astir.
s'If there is such . thing as reaching
the place will deliver your message
to the general" said Mickey: "Any
written message to be carried, sir?"
eyes; here is a paper you will de-
liver to General Farr, if you manage
TO get through, which explains your
Journey to him. The train is not due
;at Rock Greek until about 10 o'clock
in the morning, so you have time to
ride the distance with q good horse"
Donovan took the orders, placed
them in the inside pocket of his blan-.
.ket shirt, unhitched his horse and
leaped into the saddle. He crossed
the parade OF sweeping gallop and in
few minutes was lost to sight in the
darkness. General Farr was an off,
Ger who commanded the respect and
goodwill of every man in his regi-
ment. His daughter was worshipped
by all the enlisted men because of her
kindly ways aud the interest she man
ifested in them upon her annual visits
to the post! She had discovered on
previous visit that Mickey was the
pupil of an intelligent man in one of
the troops, and she at once interested
herself in his studies, assisting him
in many lesson while he was on duty
as orderly at her fathers quarters.
To this young fellow, whose only
memories were. of kicks and cuffs,
homeless wanderings and starvation,
this lovely young girl seemed being
of another world. He thought of her
as he rode along through the darkness
and felt thrill of pride in the fact
that he had been selected to warn her
father of the threatened danger and
probably save her from death at the
hands of the Indians.
At the end of three hours Mickey
had reached the first range of hills,
and he knewit must be after midnight.
He did not want to push his horse too
hard at the start, for if he succeeded
in getting through the canon there
was still stretch of level prairie
over which he must race for 80 miles
to reach the railroad. and if the In
dians were out again it might end in o
race for life.
After allowing his horse to browse
for few minutes, he frightened the
saddle-girth, mounted and set out for
the next range. It was difficult work
riding down the steep incline into the
valley, but once of the foot he raced
across the bottom lands and did not
draw rein until the towering heights
of the Black Hills loomed up before
him. Here he gave his horse short
rest, while he himself munched hard
tack and refreshed himself with coffee
from his canteen.
He decided to take the trail leading
over the summit instead of going
through the canon, for he reasoned
that he would be in better position
to make fight outside the canon than
in it, if the Indians had already en-
tered, and also lie stood greater
chance of escaping observation.
By the time he reached the summit
of the range great bars of golden light
were beginning to. shoot through the
eastern heavens. He anxiously scanned
the prairie that stretched away below
him to the horizon, but not living