The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-07-15
loneliness and fear as rode thro

of loneliness and fear as I rode thro'
those desolate ravines almost overpow-
cred me. Every moment 1 felt that I
was in the jaws of the enemy, and that
a finger pressed to a hair trigger, even
as mine was, would put an end to my
life, from out the shadow of a ciump Of
trees, from behind the hump of a SOL
emn rock.
II had reached what I knew was the
last plateau between neutral ground
and the enemy's lines, when another ra-
vine, with nothing but a prospect for
the darkness of pitch, yawned before
me. There was no sod now for my
horse to tread on, and as the roa was
hard and finty, it's hoofs clicked ON
inously. Cautiously I CROPPED my way
through the ravine, when suddenly at
the bottom of it a voice came out of
the darkness.
why do you turn so slowly gruff-
ly demanded a man. l peered into the
gloom and recognized a group of sew
eral horsemen.
"'Have you seen Colonel Craig?' con-
tinued my questioner, whom I could
not distinguish from the rest, so dark
was it.
For a moment 1 gave myself up.
Then, SUDDENLY rejecting, it occurred to
me that they must think me one of
their ranks, or they would not have
asked me why I turned so slowly, or
whether I had met Colonel Craig. What
have you SEEM continued the inter-
rogator, while 1 was shaping an an
swer. Did you meet Colonel Craig
Now had my u {. 1 would rep
resent Colonel Craig's orderly. 1t was
the only way to save myself, at least
for the moment. So I spoke out boldly:
Colonel Craig met you messenger. He
has seen nothing, but advises hat you
scout along the edge of the creek for
a mile at least. I am Colonel Craig's
orderly, n he has dispatched me to
report to General Morgan that the fed
erals are retreating in heavy Masses
Is it a real retreat, or only a feint?'
questioned the first spokesman again.
Colonel Craig is not quite sure,
but he will investigate further. I am
to report to General Morgan hat if
he should see one rocket go up north
that he might talk it is a sign that
the enemy was ~retreating. If two go
up it means that it is only make-be-
lieve.
"'All right! exclaimed the leader of
the little group of mounted men. DO
you know the way to the generals
headquarters
TIL find it, I answered confidently.
although I am not familiar with this
side of the mountain
It's a mile from here to Sedley
Mansion continued the trooper. You
will find some pickets at the head of the
road. There you must dismOunt n
climb up the cliff, when you will see a
farmhouse. That's Sedley Mansion.
A dozen feet away from it is the gen.
erals tent The trOopers set off at q
gallop and left me to follow. Some
how they had not thought of the coun-
tersign, but I felt quite sure that the
first picket we would strike would not
be so inattentive to his duty. Still I
had a chance, for if T pricked my ears
I might hear the trooper in advance
give it. The movement, however, was
made so quickly that I only caught the
remainder was 1 might guess as best I
could. Tally, Tally, 1 sale in my mind,
while I drew up my horse to a slower
gait. 1t couldn't be Tallyho, nor Tai
leyrand, no.
Tallahassee! 1 yelled, and dashed
past the pickets, who dropped their
carbines before that open sesame
the countersign.
IT reached the place indicated by the
trooper, ~dismounted, tied my horse to
a tree, and clambered up the steep
wall. In the dim moonlight I saw the
farmhouse, and crept toward it on my
hands and knees.
"A hundred yards from the tent and
100 feet between me n himself, paced
a solitary guard. Boldness was the
proper play here, so l rose to my feet
and advanced toward him.
Who goes there?' said the guard.
ga friend I answered.
II advanced as far as 1 thought it
safe and whispered, Tallahassee
Elm the twinkling of an eye the guard
had a musket to his shoulder. You're
a liar!' he yelled and clicked his ham,
mer.
"A moment later T was upon him,
clutched him by the throat and forced
him to his knees. I pinioned his arm
so tightly that he could not use his
gun. At the side in his belt he had
a dirk, and to draw this he was making
a desperate effort. I caught it first n
plunged it into his side.
LAS 1 drove the sharp steel home his
mouth in a death grip clutched my
right arm, and his teeth sank through
the cloth of my coat and into the flesh
almost to the bone. I loosened his
He was dead Almost breathless from
the struggle, 1 arose, picked up his
musket and his hat, which had fallen
from his head, and patrolled his beat.
Back n forth I walked, drawing grad
ually nearer to the tent in which l
knew General Morgan was.
when I came within earshot of it I
heard voices, slow, deliberate language,
and now INC hen I caught a word.
But it was dangerous to be in too great
a hurry, n 1 confined myself to pa
trolling the dead guards beat a little
longer. Every time 1 passed the nan
I had been forced to kill in self-defense
1 glanced at his u%pturned face, pale
and waxlike in the moonlight, and still
as the ghosts that haunt us.
1.-THE next time 1 reached the tent l
made bold to peep under the canvas.
Five men were within, one of them