Waterbury Democrat., 1900-10-23
CHAPTER ".

CHAPTER ".
 Away to the left of the little com mand tore the quarry and the chase. Out on the rolling prairie, barely four hundred yards from where the ambu- lance and mules were backed into q tangle of traces and whifEetrees and fear-stricken creatures, another butfa- 10 had dropped in a heap; a swarthy rider had tumbled off his pony, cut a slash or two with ever-ready knife, and then, throwing a bead-bedizened left leg over. his eager little mount, had gone flashing away after his fellows, not without a jeering slap at the halt ed soldiery. Then, in almost less time than it takes to tell it, the pursued and pursuers had vanished from sight over low ridge a mile to the north. Only a hunting party" said one of the nervous recruits, with a gulp of re- lief. "Only hunting party" gasped Burleigh, as presently he heaved him. self up from the floor, and l thought I'd never find that damned gun of mine. All this fuss for nothing!" he continued ,7his1ip still blue and quiv- ering. That green youngster up there in front hasn't learned the first princi- pies of plainscraft yet. Here, Brooks he added, loudly, tits high time you were looking after this sub of yours" and Brooks, despite his illness, was in- deed working out Of the back door ofhis yellow trundle bed at the moment, and looking anciously about. But the en- gineer stood pale and quiet, coolly studying the fustered growler, and when Burleigh's shifting eyes sought that young scientists face, what he read there-and Burleigh was no fool Ltold him he would be wise to change the tune. The aid had pushed him in front of the troop and was signaling to Dean, once more in saddle and sean ming through his glass the big band afar down the valley.
 ''Take my horse, sir," said the ser geant, dismounting, and. the officer thanked him hnd rode swiftly out to join the young commander at the front. Together they gazed and con- suited and still no signal came to re- su1ne the advance. Then the troopers saw the staff. officer make a broad sweep with his right arm to the south, and in moment Dean's hat was up- lifted and waved we'll out in that di-
 
 sergeant. By twos again. Incline to the right. Damn the Sioux, l say! Have we got to circle five miles around their hunting ground for fear of hurt ing their feelings? Come cn, Jimmy" he added to the driver of the leading wagon. Jimmy responded with wig orous language at the expense of his leading mules. The Quartermaster and engineer silently scrambled in; the ambulance started with a jerk and away went the party off to the right of the trail, the wagons jolting bit now over the uneven clumps of bunch grass.
 .,, But once well up at the summit of the low divide the command reined in for a look at the great Indian caval- cade sWarming in the northeastward valley, and covering its grassy surface still good%milc away. Out from among the dingy mass came galloping half a dozen young braves, followed by as many squaws. The former soon spread out over the billowy surface, some following the direction of the chase, some bounding on southwest ward as though confident of finding what they sought the moment they reached the nearest ridge; some rid ing straight to the point where lay the carcasses of the earliest victims of the hunt. Here in full view of the soldiery, but vcuchsafng them no glance ncr greeting whatever, two young warriors reincd in their lively ponies and disdainfully turned their backs upon the spectators on the di- vide, while the sduaws, with shrill laugh and chatter, rolled from their saddles and began the drudgery of their lot-slsinning and cutting Up the bulfaloes slaughtered by their lords.
 Don't you sec" sheered Eucleigh, tits nothing but village out for a hunt-nothing in Gods world to get stampcded about. We've had all this show of warike preparations for noth- ing" But lie turned away again as he caught the steady lock in the en- ginccr's blue eyes. and shouted to his more, arprcciative friend. the aid-de- camp: Well, pardner, haven't we fooled away enough time here, or have we got to await the pleasure of people that never saw Indians before ?'
 Dean flushed crimson at the taunt. He well knew for whom it was meant. He was indignant enough by this time to speak for hilnself, but the aid-de- camp saved him tho trouble.
 T requested MT. Dean to halt n few moments, Burleigh. It is necessary should l-pow what band this is. and