Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1901-01-09

next day, investigating matters. for
old Stevens had got stampcded be-
cause his sergeant ma or was assault
cd and old Folsom knocked out and n
drunken captain by the name OF New
hall had been making trouble and IL
had all told on Maj. Burleigh who had
taken to his bed with nervous Trostra-
ton.
So, while the garrison went 10 rest
happy. the commanding officer walked
long. and finally slept Soundly and
might have slept late. but that Just at
dawn, full half an hour before the time
for reveille. there came sharp knock
ing at the door of his log hut and the
imperative voice OF the officer OF the
day:
Colonel. colonel. I say. There's
sharp firing out here in the hills 10
the south"
The peaks 10 the west were Just ting
ing with purple and rcd. re- flcrted from
the eastward sky, and "a faint light was
beginning TO steal down into the deep
valley in which the cantonmcnt lay
sleeping. when the veteran commander
came hurrying out, half dressed and
hied him, with his attendant officer. to
the southern angle OF the stoc kadc.
There on the narrow ledge or platform
built under the sharp tops OF the up
right logs. were grouped the silent.
grave-faccd guard. a dozen men. intent
~ listening. Thither presently came
running others OF the officers or men.
suddenly awakened by sense OF some
thing unusual going on. Far away
among the wooded heights 10 the
south, echoing from the rocky pail
Sades to the west, could bc heard the
pop. pop Of distant muskctry. pune
tuated sometimes with louder bang as
of large calibcr rifles closer at hand
Little time was there in which 10
hazard opinion as to the cause. One or
two men, faint-hcarted at the thought
OF the peril of Indian battle and hope
full Of influencing the judgment OF their
superiors, began the murmur of big
hunt, buffalo drive" etc, glancing
furtively AT the colonel the while as
though to observe the effect. But an
imperative silence. YOU idiots!" from
the officer Of the day put sudden end
to their cjnjectures. Only moment
did the commander listen. Then. quick
and startling, came the order: Sound
to arms" and within the minute the
stirring peal of the cavalry trumpet
was answered by the hoarse thunder
of the snare drum, beating the long
roll. Out from their dog tents" and
half-finished log huts came the be-
wildcred men. Often as the alarm had
sounded on the frontier there was a
drill and ring about it this time that
told OF action close at hand Out from
the little hntG
frock coats and betting on their swords
as they glared about them for the cause
of the uproar. came the officers. old
and young. most of them veterans of
many hard-fought fields of the war
d"yS-one or two, only, youngsters
fresh from the Point. At many door
WaI and unglazed window appeared
the pallid faces of women and children.
some of them weeping in mingled
fright and distress. In front Of the
log guardhOuSe the sergeant quickly
formed the two reliefs not on post.
On their designated paradcs the com
panies rapidly fell in. while stern
voiced non commissioned officers re
huked the laggards and aided them
INTO their belts, and each first sergeant
took rapid note of his men. No need
10 call the roll. SllUlker would have
been detected and kicked into the ranks
at the instant Over under the rough
board shelter of the Quartermastcrs
cmPioHcs the Worllmcn came tumblmg
ont in shirt sleeves. many of them run
ming 20 the nearest officer and begging
Tor gun and place in the fight. for
now the firing was loud and lively.
Down by the swift flowing stream tho
| tctEcrcd horses of the cavalrv plunged
and Weighed in excitement. and the
mules in the quartermaster's corral set
| mp heir irrepres.iblc bray. For five
minute, there was ciamor. but no con.
fusion Then disciplined silence rcicucd
/ again. al but the nearing yollcvine at
/ he south. Presently. at rapid trot the
. r,.ft..,f c,,..,