Waterbury Democrat., 1900-11-05

| and horses bowed their heads before the delugs and the rain ran in streams from the manes and tails. The as- cending path turned quickly into running brook and the black forms of steeds and riders struggled sidewise up the grass-grown slopes in search of higher ground. The heavens had turned inky black. The gloomy ra- vine grew dark ss night. Flash after flash the lightning split the gloom. Every second or two trooper faces gleamed ghastly in the dazzling glare, then as suddenly vanished. Horses slipped or stumbled painfully and, man after man, the riders followed the example of the young soldier in the lead and, dismounting, led their dripping beasts farther up the steep incline. Halfway to the summit, peering through the wind-swept sheets of rain, a palisaded clump of rocks jutted out from the heights and, after hard climb, the little band found partial shelter from the driving storm, and huddled, awe stricken, at their base. Still the lightning played and the thunder can- nonaded with awful resonance from crag to crag down the deep gorge from which they had clambered, evil dent1y none too soon, for presently, far down the black depths, they could see the Box Elder under a white wreath of foam, tearing in fury down its narrow bed.
 Beg pardon, lieutenant" shouted the veteran sergeant in the young commanders ear, even in that mo- ment never forgetting the habitua1 salute, "but if I didn't see the reason for that sudden order to saddle I more than see it now. We would have been drowned like rats down there in the gulch.''
 I'm wondering if anybody has drowned like rats," shouted Dean, in reply. "Carey says another party was just behind us. Who could they bc?"
 But for answer came another vivid, dazzling flash that for an instant blinded all eyes. By God! but that's Q stunner!" gasped big trooper, and then followed the deafening bang and crash of the thunder, and it's echoes went booming and reverberating from earth to heaven and rolling away, peal after peal, down the bluff bound canyon. For a moment no other sound could be heard; then, as it died away and the rain came swash- ing down in fresh deluge, Carey's voice overmastered the storm.
 That's struck something, sir, right around wonder by the Springs. God help that outfit that came a-gallopin' after mel"
 What was it? Which way were they coming?" Dean managed to ask.
 Right along the bluff, sir, to the east. Seemed like they was ridin' over from the old camp on the Frayne road. There was 25 or 30 of 'em, I should say, coming at a lope."
 ''Cavalry?" asked Dean, queer look in his face.
 NO, sir. They rode dispersed like. They was mile away when I sighted them, and it was gittin' so black then l don't think they saw me at all. They were bout off wonder, half mile east of the Springs, when I dipped down into the rayine, and what seemed queer was that two of them galloped to the edge, dismount- ed, and were peering down into the gorge like so many Indians, just as though they didn't want to be seen. I was goin' to tell the lieutenant bout it first thing if had found our fellows off their guard, but you were all mounted and just startiag."
 Iustinctively Dean put forth his hand under the dripping poncho and tueged at the straps of his off saddle bag. No need for dread on that score. The bulky package, wrapped, sealed and corded, was bulging out of the side of his field pouch till it looked as though he had crammed a cavalry boot into it's maw.
 Thirty men-mounted?- mo wag- ons or -anything?" he anxiously asked.
 Full thirty, sir, and every man armed with rifle as far as I could see," said Carey, "and if it was us they was after, they'd have had us at their mercy down in that pocket at the Springs"
 A shout from one of the men at- tracted the attention of the lead CTS. The storm had spent its force and gone rolling away eastward. The thunder was rumbling far over toward the now invisible crest of the Black Hills of Wyoming. The rain kheets had given place to trickling downpour. A dim light was stealing into the blackness of the gorge. Louder and fercer reared the Box Elder, flashing its banks with foam. And then came the cry again.
 'I tell you it is, by God! for there goes another!"
 All eyes followed the direction of the pointing finger. All eyes saw, even though dimly, the saddled form of a horse plunging and struggling in the flood, making vain effort to chamber out, then whirling helplessly away. swept out of sight around the shoulder of the bluff, and borne down on the toss ing waves of the torrent. Men mean no irreverence when they call, upon their Maker at such times, even in sol dier oath. It is awe, not blasphemy.
 By God, lieutenant, that's what we'd a-been doing but for your order" It was the sergeant who spoke. 4,ze
 And at that very hour there was ex- citementg at Fort Emory. At eight o'clock the colonSl was on his piazza