Waterbury Democrat., 1900-11-05
CHAPTER XVI,

 the eastern sky, the little party of troopers, Dean at their head, had ridden away from the twinkling lights of camp, and long before sunrise had crossed the first divide to the north, and alternating trot, lope and walk had put miles between them and Fort Emory before the drums of the in- fantry beat the call for guard mount ing.
 At ten o'clock the party halted un- der some spreading willows, deep in cleft of the bold high hills that rolled away toward the Sweetwater valley. Horses were unsaddled and picketed out to graze. little cook fire was started close to the spring that fed the tiny brook, trickling away down the narrow ravine, and in a few moments the aroma of coffee and of appetizing slices of bacon greet ed the welcoming nostrils of the hun gry men. The sun that had risen clear and dazzling was now obscured by heavy masses of clouds, and time and again Dean cast anxious eyes aloft, for a storm seemed sweeping eastward from the distant Wahsatch range, and long before the little com mand had dived downward from the heights into the depths of this wild, romantic and contracted valley. all the rolling upland toward Green river, far to the west, lay under the pail of heavy and forbidding banks of hur- rying vapor. Coffee and breakfast fin ished. Dean climbed the steep bluff overhanging the spring, a faithful sergeant following. and what he saw was sufficient to determine immediate action.
 Saddle up. We'll push ahead at once"
 For an instant the veteran trooper looked dissent, but discipline pre- vailed.
 The lieutenant knows that Carey's no. in yet he ventured to say, as he started back down the narrow game trail which they had climbed.
 'Yes: but wonder he comes and so does the storm. We can't be caught in this canyon in case of a hard rain. Let Carey have some coffee and bite, if he feels well enough. Then we'll push on.'
 Ordinarily when making summer SIicS of Sl l11c tie uTSG Wa ter camp" on the Sweet-water trail was here at Canoi. Springs. On the road to Frayne, which crossed the brock ten miles to the east, all wagon trains and troops not on forced march made similar camp. In the case of scouting dctachments or little parties sent out from Emory, it was always customary to spend the first night and make the first camp on the Box Elder at furthermost, then to push on, ready and refreshed, the following day. Dean we'll knew that to get the best work out of his horses he should start easily, and up to nine o'clock he had fully intended to make the usual camp at the Springs. But once be- fore, within few years, big scout ing party camping in the gorge of the Box Elder had been surprised by one of those sudden, sweeping storms, and before they could strike tents, pack up and move to higher ground, the stream took matters into it's own hands and spared them all further trouble on that score. distributing camp and garrison equipage for long leagues away to the east. Two miles back, trooper Carey, who had been complaining of severe cramp and pain in the stomach, begged to be allowed to fall out and rest awhile. He was reliable old soldier when whisky was not winning the upper hand, and this time whisky was not at fault. A dose of Jamaica ginger was the only thing their field pharmacopoeia provided, and Carey rolled out of his saddle and doubled up among the rocks with his hands on the pit of his stomach, grimacing.
 ''Go back if you think best, or come ahead and catch us at the Springs if well enough" were the orders left him, while the 4nen pushed on, and ilow, as the lieutenant said, Carey was coming himself. Some of the party were already dozing when the ser geant's sharp order ''Sadule up" was given, but glance at the lowering sky explained it all, and every man was standing to horse and ready when the missing trooper came jogging in among them, white, peaked, but de- termined. A look of mingled -dsap- pointment and relief appeared on his face as he saw the preparations for the start, but his only comment was: "I can make it, sir, as he saluted his young commander. Less than two hours from the time they unsaddled, therefore, the troopers once more mounted, and, following their leader, filed away down the winding gorge. Presently there came the low rumble of thunder, and sweep of the rising wind. "Trot," said Dean, and without other word the little column quick ened the pace.
 The .ravine grew wider soon and far less tortuous, but was still narrow and dangerous spot. For a mile or two from the Springs its course was nearly east of north, then it bore away to the northeast, and the Sweet water trail abruptly left it and went winding up cleft in the hills to the west Just as they reached. this point the heavens opened and the clouds de- scende0 in g deluse of rain. Out came the .ponchos, unstrapped from the sad dle, and every mans head popped through the slit as the shiny black "shedwater" settled, down on his shoulders. fFs
 ''Thnt outfit behind us will get Q soaking if it has been fool enough to A. x1 FS A. -e