The Washington times., 1901-12-01

for his treacheryr' He glanced sig
nificantly at his Colt, and then at his
feet. where dark. rigid figure grasped
in death a tomahawk His drawn face
and wide staring eyes, even war paint
and the nigh. shadows could not hide.
You never did a better bit of work"
said Darlington. Here, old chap. take
this child. I've got to go back to the
men. Carry her to the rear and see
that MacKenna is found Immediately. Tell
me, she isn't dead?" he added. anxiously.
Johnson bent over the limp figure in his
arms, that moved slightly. as though even
in that death-like sleep she had felt the
transfer from Darlington to him
"Bebe?" Johnson whispered gently,
"Bebe?'
The eyellds quivered for a moment. but
did not open, and the breath came in low,
futtering gasps. He bore her away and
left her to MacKenna's watchful care.
The surgeons strong, grave face grew
graver as he bent over her.
Darlington, whose heart was filled with
thankfulness when he thought of Eliza
when he remembered Bebes white, strlck-
en-, upturned face, went back to his COM
mand
The worst was over. The reds, hear
ing of Osconwichita's death, soon showed
the white feather
Half an hour later Troop A Of the Eley-
enth had turned their horses heads in the
direction of the post. Darlington forced
them into a gallop. There was no know
ing when the attack on the fort had been
made, and how urgent was the need!
AS the moments wore themselves away
he began to fear that both horses and
men would give out before they reached
the garrison. The firing had been hard
| with them, but 1t might be still harder
with those there. since, as he surmised,
| osconwichita had probably resigned the
leadership of the attack to his son. Black
Hawk-a red who combined the advantage
of his fathers cunning without the added
weight OF years.
These devils are never to be counted
on" he muttered, as he urged his horse
forward. what man among us would
have thought that an Indian would at
tempt night raidi'
He had left MacKenna, Johnson, the
dead and wounded, and fifteen troopers
''Bebe's Guard of Honor" they called it
to escort the woman home. Miss Fairfax
sat with set lips and dry eyes, but her
cheeks were as white as Bebe's own as
she looked down at the unconscious bur
den she had ordered placed in her arms.
Now and again her strong hold strength
ened; now and again she crushed the
girls still head so close to her own breast
that it would seem as though the beating
Of that iuttering heart beat must be still
ed. And she had dared to wonder what
the men of the Eleventh had seen in her!
Oh, God, in the proud assurance of her
own power she had so dared!
Near her rode Johnson. By turning her
head ever so slightly she could distin-
guish the shadowy outline of men bearing
silent forms great oyerpOwering full
ness rose UP in her throat and chokod her.
Eight men had paid the Price of her res
cue with their lives, three more had been
hurt. and two others could not live, she
had heard McKenna say. The kid" Of
The regiment. fresh from the Point, was
one of them. His first fight had been his
last. and he was handing over his sword.
the insignia of his service and his rank.
to his superior.
In one of the brief halts for rest, in one
Of the times Johnson relieved her OF her
burden, she dismounted and went over TO
him. When she Strengthened herself, in
spite of the darkness, an orderly saw her
draw the army cape over the lads face
silently, and the orderly looked stoically
ahead and never told.
In all the after years, in the midst OF all
the blessings that came TO her. the pic
ture of that homeward ride would force
itself upon her memory. Once more she
watched the dawn breaking in the east,
its cold grey light falling on the faces of
the men near and the pallid one of Bebe.
Once more she saw that cayalcade slowly
moving onward; once more she heard the
hoof- beats of Cerrington's horse, growing
faint and fainter still; once more there
came to her the echo, in the far distance.
of that chant, weird, strange, and wild.
the death song that the Indians sing
above their fallen braves.
The attack ON the fort had been made
three hours before. The struggle was
fierce and the men of the Eleventh were
hard pressed. In vain they strained their
ears for a sound of Troop A. The minutes
dragged. The firing became sharper. One
tired, homesick4 trooper fell, calamity de-
Tending the north gate, and was mus
tered out" by God. The commander.
heartsiek and weary, raised his eyes to
the east where faint streaks of light were
to be seen, and groaned:
How long, oh, Lord, how long?'
AS if in answer, there broke across
the silence of the plains, clear and loud
and fraught with hope, the sound of
cavalry bugle The men heard it, and
it was like elixir to their souls. Black
Hawk heard it. too, and realizing that
the day was lost, fed with his followers
to the foothills.
Mid cheers and prayers the great
gate was opened, and Darlington and
his men entered in. He raised his hand,
and silence absolute fell upon those
there.
And so in the early morning, while
the sun rose over that far Northwestern
post. in his grave voice, he told them of
the night of darkness and of the fight;
how Miss Fairfax had been rescued
! (here he smiled little, and of Oscon-
wichita's death. And then, while his
voice grew graver and more sad. he
| counted off to them as he would have