Waterbury Democrat., 1900-10-23

And this last, ut least, he had done. For |, few seconds after the fall of the buffalo bull. the watchers on the dis tant ridge lay still, except that Dean, turning slightly, called to the orderly trumpetcr. who had come trotting out atfer tLe troop commander, and was how halted and afoot some 20 yards down the slope. .'Go back, Bryan" he ordered. .1Ial: the 4mbulances- sNoi- Ny Capt. Brooks that there are lots of Indians ahead, and have the sergeant Icploy the men at once." Then he turned back nlrd with his field glass studied the party along the rayine. ..
 "Thcy cant have seen us. can they, licutenant?' muttered the trooper nearest him.
 Ert Deau's young face was grave and cloudcd. Certainly the Indians acted as though they were totally un- aware Of the presence of troops, but the mere he thought the more he knew that no big body of Sioux would be travelling across country at so crit ical a time Country, too, that was conquered as this was from their ene- mics, the Crows), without vigilant scouts afar out on front and flank. The more he thought the more he knew that even as early as three o'clock those keen-eyed fellows must have sighted his little column, con spicuous as it was because of its wag- ons. Beyond question: he told him. self, the chief of the band or village so steadily approaching from the northeast had full information of their presence, and was coming confidently ahead. What had he to fear? Even though the blood of settlers and sol diers might still be red upon the hands of his braves, even though fresh scalps might be dangling at this moment from their shields, what mattered it? Did he not know that the safeguard of the Indian bureau spread like the wing of protecting angel over him and his people, forbidding troops to modest or open fire unless they themselves were attacked? Did he not laugh in his ragged shirt sleeve st the policy of the white fool who would permit the red enemy to ride boldly up to his soldiers, count their numbers, inspect their ar- ray, satisfy himself as to their arma- ment and readiness, then calculate the chances, and, if he thought the force
 
 significant gesture in parting in- suit? If, on the contrary, he found it weak, then he could turn loose his braves, surround, massacre and scalp, and swear before the commissioners sent out to investigate next moon that he and his people knew nothing about the matter-nothing, at least, that they could be induced to tell.
 < One moment more Dean watched and waited. Two of the Indians in the rayine were busily reloading their rifles. Two others were aiming over the bank, for, with the strange stupid ity of their kind, the other buffalo, even when startled by the shot, had never sought safety in flight, but were now snifing the odor of blood on the tainted air and slowly, wonderingly drawing near the stricken leader as though to ask what ailed him. Obe- dient and docile the Indian ponies stood with dropping heads, hidden under the shelter of the steep banks. Nearer and nearer came the big black animals, bulky, stupid, fatuous; the foremost lowered huge head to sniff at the blood oozing from the shoulder of the dying bull, then two more shots puffed out from the ravine, the huge head tossed suddenly in air, and the un- gainly brute started and staggered, whirled about and darted few yards away, then plunged on it's knees, and the next moment, startled at some sight the soldier watchers could not sec, the black band, was seized with sudden panic and darted like mad into the depths of the watcrcourse, dis appeared one moment from sight, then, suddenly reappearing, came laboring up the hither side, straight for the crest on which they lay, dozen black, bounding, panting beasts laundering over the ground, followed by half dozen darting Indian ponies, each with his 1.-the rider scurrying in pursuit. ,'Out of the way. men! Don't fire!" shouted Dean. And, scrambling back toward their horses, the lieutenant and his men drew away from the front of the charging herd, invisible as yet to the halted troop and to the occu pants of the ambulance, whose eager heads could be seen pokcd out at the side doors of the leading vehicle, as though watching for the cause of the sudden halt. '-
 And then thing happened that at least one man saw and fortunately remcm bcrcd later. Bryan, the truIa- peter, with jabbing heels and Tapping arms, was tearing back toward the troop atl the moment at the top speed
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