The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-09-23
THE LOST ORDERLY.

1t was not yet noon, but the running
fight which had disturbed the solitude
OF the Buttes since early morning was
over. The troop had scattered after
them with a great deal of threatening
and Intentionally wild firing, but it
was no part of Captain Pillogg's orders
to unduly STAY or even harass. His de-
sire was merely to impress "the fear of
God and Washington" upon the deluded
tribe and drive them back like sheep to
their fold. Besides, after the mornings
amusement, the hot sun made rest vel
come.
Sound the recall, - said Pillogg to
his senior trumpeter, and at once threw
himself from his horse, lay at full
length on the grass and produced his
flask and cigar case.
The bugle sang brightly over the
plain, and as it's clear command filed
the distant hollows and rang from
bluff to bluff the distant shouting and
firing gradually ceased. While the cap
tain pulled his cigar at ease, and the
trumpeter stood holding the horses be.
side him, the roar Of the first sergeant
forming the troop came to their ears,
and in few minutes, with much snort
ing Of excited horses and clatter Of
steel, the men came galloping back in
column Of tours, formed company front
swiftly and halted.
Call the roll, said Captain pillogg,
remounting, and the first sergeant.
drawing paper from his blue shirt
pocket, faced the men and ratified Off
the names. while the officer eyed each
man critically as he answered. "Here {"
There were some casualties. One man
was badly hurt by shot in the side;
Others were scratched, but one alone
was missing. The captain, who had led
the fight in the beginning Of the affair,
thought consolingly Of the number Of
Indians bowled over, who had mostly
been carried off by their comrades. The
first sergeant swung his horse about and
lone man missing, sir, he reported
"the second trumpeter, Thomas Cox"
Anybody know anything about him?
Anybody see him drop?'
A trooper replied that Tommy was
riding hard mouthed Rip and in the
pursuit appeared to have all he could
do to hold the horse in. The trooper
opined that Rip, being half crazy at the
best Of times, had gone mad with ex-
element and borne Tommy Cox ..into
the next county," The captain had just
ordered the sergeant to detail a corporal
and men to look up the missing when
from the direction Of the Indians fight
there came a mad batter Of hoofs and a
shout. Up charged the missing bugler,
a smooth faced lad, with saber rafting
wildly against his side, his bugle pound
Ing his back and his bride hand, though
touching the rein, evidently powerless
to control his foaming, wild eyed horse,
who dashed pellmell into the troop and
came to standstill only when it had
damned itself between two bruised and
cursing troopers. Tommy's right arm
desperately embraced wriggling bun
die Of dirty shirt and red brown skin,
and from this bundle came hideous
of bowls and snarling lamen-
tations. The troopers leaned forward
Oh their horses necks to look, and at
once there ran from right to left rum
BILE Of sardonic laughter.
What is that, sir?'' the captain ask
I'D and peered disgustedly at the bundle.
Please, sir, !" said Tommy, year in
the service and glorying in his first ex-
petition, ga prisoner, sir. ;"
"Oh, h-!' cried Pillogg, and the
troopers roared. "Let the papoose go.
Are you dry nurse, sir?''
"No, sir, (" said Tommy, very red and
anxious. "But he's such little devil,
IN he's hurt, an I'm afraid I've
killed his father, SO II thought I'd
bring him along. Oh, ali, oh!''
The wriggling Indian child had
about until it got Tommy's
aand between it's teeth and was now
biting like rat. When the next man
in ranks overcame his laughter suffi-
GENTLY to release ths bugler, the cap
tain was smiling.
"You killed the father, Ell? How did
i happen you did not keep up with the
troop?"
Tommy, eager to excuse himself, and
not at the laughter Of the'grizzled troop,
hastily explained.
Grip got a bit the best Of me-" he
ierked out, can ran wild. We lost
sight of the other fellows, sir, ap over
there the horse bolted up a cody.
There was an Injan without a pony, an
this kid on his back, running ahead, an
he turned an fred on me. So fired
back with my revolver, an (Tommy
srinned with modest pride) I dropped
the son-dropped him, sir, deader than
stutfing. This here kid howled; guess
The bullet grazed him. An-an | got
Rip in hand an dismounted an took
The kid; he fought like wildcat, an
The bites-jing, can't he bite!"
"f you'd taken the rifle it would
have been more sensible" Pillogg
"What do you want to do
with him?'
HE can't walk, SIR" Tommy pro-
tested ss8n I was kinder corry for him