The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-11-10
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There was shimmez Of crimson light
in the sky as he rode along. Sitting
square and deep in the saddle, with an
attitude that changed little as his horses
gait varied from lope to trot, from trot
to walk or from walk to lope, his eyes
fixed straight ahead, the scout rode, alb
solutely alone.
Solitude and silence had been his por-
ton so much that language was to him
a curio, rarity, luxury. He seldom
heard the sound of human voice, and
when he did he listened deeply and an
swered deliberately, for his supply Of
speech was not great. As he rode there
came a scream from afar overhead-a
shrek, a screech. But he did not look
upward.
He knew the voice was the voice Of
a Springfield ball, high in the air. Man
and horse lay down and waited. Neither
moved, but both watched.
On the brow Of a little KNOLL far away,
he saw bush wave too fast. 1t was far
away, but he leveled his rife and fired.
Then horse and man arose as If by
mutual understanding, and turning from
the knoll he rode, the report Of the guns
behind him merely urging him to hasten.
He was not afraid. He was not ex-
cited.
He did not expect to die. He did not
expect to live.
Late that night he reached the post,
delivered his orders and turned to 60.
The captain stopped him.
Meet anybody on the way over" he
asked.
The scout looked hard, as IL digesting
the query. Then he thought. At last he
answered:
"Only some Indians"
How many"
"Was seven," said the scout. "Now
six"
ION the warpathT' asked the captain.
The scout looked troubled, as though
bored by the questions.
"They fred was all he said.
Now, then, the war was on in earnest.
But the scout ever after avoided the cap
| tain as a man who talked too much.
In the grounds noncommissioned Off
GERS passed to and fro, bent on the duties
of the day. New recruits were being
| drilled, singly and in squads. Now and
| again a stiff young lieutenant crossed to
the officers quarters or, bent on inspec-
ton, went through the form of examin-
ing quarters to see whether the dust had
been properly brushed away and the floor
duly swept. Presently a soldier entered,
walked to where the scout lay, and said:
Colonel wants you"
The scout remained immovable for q
| few seconds. Then he turned to the mes
senger and looked him sQuarely In the
eye. Then he arose, deliberately dressed,
drew on his long boots, buckled his belt
with the ammunition and revolvers In
place, and stalked to quarters. The or
derly halted him at the door.
Colonel wants me-" he said.
He passed in. The colonel ignored the
lack of a salute, for the keen eyed man
before him was not a soldier, but q civil
ian employee. Then he said:
"There is a woman here, the wife Of
Lieutenant Jasper, who Is wounded at
the ferry. She wants to join her hus-
band. You must guide her over"
The scout looked half terrified.
"WomanT' he asked. The question
had a world of meaning, for the colonel
knew Of the hostiles on the road, the dan
gers of the trail itself, its double dangers
for a woman. He nodded.
Bad" said the scout.
"Can't be helped" said the colonel.
The scout stood still a moment. Then
he turned and walked out. As he reach
ed the parade ground he saw a woman
before the officers quarters. The sight
revived his memory.
In a few minutes he was back at the
colonel's quarters, his horse saddled, his
blankets rolled behind the cantle, the
rifle slung by the horses side, the riata
, coiled carefully over the saddle post.
'Tell him I'm ready" he said gruf1y
, to the orderly The soldier turned in dis
gust. He was not used to unceremonious
orders. But the scout was impenetrable
, , So the orderly went.
When the scout was ordered in, he saw
little woman wearing a short riding
3 habit. He looked at her indifferently
The colonel spoke, saying he was the
, best scout at the post, and she might fee
, safe with him.
81 feel it," she said.
The scout broke silence. Better MOI
: CO." he said
"Oh, mustw was her answer.
They rode away e6gether. All thu
. night long they rode, halting during thu
day. On the third morning, as the wo
] man was about to lie down for a few
I | hours rest, the scout arose, as one wh'
! was about to deliver an oration.
"Only six miles," he said.
Fear of the hostiles had forsaken her
and they rode rapidly on, Indifferent alik
q to the whistle of the bullets, the yells o
t the braves, and the efforts Of small par
: ties of bucks to head them of. Close
and closer to the camp, and then, rs tn
7 sentry challenged. the scout turned an
, let the woman ride ahead.
: He faced the hostiles for a moment
Then he looked around and saw tn
) guard rush forth and welcome the faint
ing wife. The dancing braves Jared ol
: his sight He turned back to where tn
o woman had entered the camp, and the
: followed her.
The officer of the guard almost huge
him. Men gathered about him. Th
captain clasped his hand. The wounde
- / liantanant now almost we'll went