The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-12
In Silence a Hero.


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 10 trot, from trot
to walk, or from walk to lope, sis eyes
fixed straight ahead, the scout rode abb
soutely alone.
Solitude and silence had been his por-
tor so much that language was TO him a
curio-a rarity-a 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 scream from afar overhead
Shrek. screech. But he did not look
Upward.
He new 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 little knoll, far away,
he saw q bush wave too fast. 1t was
far away, but he leveled his rifle 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 10 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 ne reached the post,
delivered his orders and turned to go.
The captain stopped him.
Meet anybody on the way over?" he
asked.
The scout looked hard, as if digesting
answered:
only some Indians
How mang?"
WAS seven" said the scout. NOW
six"
The scout looked troubled. as though
bored by the questions.
They fired" 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 non commissioned Off
GERS passed to and fro, bent on the du-
ties of the day. New recruits were be-
ing drilled singly and in squads. Now
and again the young lieutenant crossed
to the officers quarters or bent on in
spection went through the form of ex-
aiming quarters 10 see whether the dust
had been properly brushed away and the
hoor duly swept. Presently soldier en-
tered, walked to where the scout lay and
said:
Colonel wants YOU"
The scout remained immovable for a
few seconds. Then he turned to the
messenger and looked him squarely in
the eve In moment he recovered his
speech.
Hell"
That was all. Then he arose. deliber-
ately dressed, drew on his long boots,
buckled his belt with the ammunition
and revolvers in place and stalked into
quarters. The orderly halted him at the
door.
Colonel wants me-" he said.
He passed in. The colonel ignored the
lack of salute, for the keen-eyed man
before him was not a soldier, but a CT
william employe. 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.
Woman" he asked. The question had
of the hostiles on the road. the dangers
of the trail itself its double dangers for
a woman. He nodded.
Bad" said the scout.
Cant be heloeo,' said the colonel
The scout stood still a moment. Then
be turned and walked out. AS he reach
ed hte parade ground he saw a woman
before the officers quarters. The sight
revived his memory.
In a few minutes he was back at the
colonels quarters his horse saddled, his
blankets rolled behind the cantle. the rife
slung by the horses side, the RATA coiled
over the saddle post.
Tell him I'm ready he said gruffly
to the orderly. The soldier turned IN
disgust. He was not used TO unceremo-
Nous orders. But the scout was i'm
oenetrable. SO the orderly went
When the scout was ordered in he saw
L little woman wearing short riding
habit He looked at her indifferently. The
colonel spoke, saying he was the best
scout at the post, and she might feel
safe with him.
II feel it, she said.
The scout broke the silence. Better
lot Co. he said.
20, I must!' was her answer.
They rode away together All the night
ong they rode, hating during the day.
On the third morning, as the woman was
about to lie down for a few hours rest,
he scout arose as one who was about
o deliver an grafton.
"Only six miles" he said
Fear of the hostiles had forsaken her.
md they rode rapidly on, Indifferent alike |
o the whistle of the bullets, the yells of
he braves and the efforts of small par
les of bucks to head them off Closer |
nd closer to the camp and then. as
ne sentry challenged, the scout turned I
nd let the woman ride ahead
He faced the hostiles for moment. /
'he dancing braves Jared on his sight I
lie turned back to where the woman had /
inferred the camp, and then followed her (
The officer of the guard almost Rugged I
i'm. Men gathered about him The 4
aptain clasped his hand The wounded /
lieutenant, now almost well, wept
The talk annoyed him.