Waterbury Democrat., 1901-06-24
TEN YEARS TRIAL @ @
 The Story of a Soldiers Struggle :, By Brigadier General
 CHARLES KING
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Copyright. 1901. by Charles King.

behind, the crowded train was speed ing swiftly, yet cautiously, over the broad, open westward prairie. Except a few famished, homeless dogs bowling mournfully about the scene not liv- ing thing remained at the station, and only the, ghastly relics of one human creature had been found in the brief. hurried. two minute search. Already it was/known far as the Atlantic that the /first stories of massacre were gxfevousfy exaggerated, many families Reported murdered having made their way in panic : but safely to Castle Butte and others escaping to the south But not word from any source had come as to the special, the last news by wire being that the Ogallalas were dancing and bowling about their agen- cy at, Pine Ridge and firing on the scouts sent out from Robinson. The Brulesz could only be somewhere be tween Rosebud and Wounded Knee. Wherever.that luckless train could be found there would be the Indians in direful :Sforce and fury. Grave, set faces were those in the cab and about the engine and tender. The road ran straight for miles. The landscape was open and treeless and lay like laZily rolling ocean turned suddenly to earth ands stone. Langdon and the conduct or, clinging fast each to a stanchion, were under the headlight above the pi- lot. A sergeant and three men, best nhots of the rifles, hampered the cab and tender, but the engineer felt safer In having them there, and the hope, pluck and spirits of the whole train load shad gone up at a Eound in the consciousness that that cool headed, gritty ex-regular was at the front to take command. Hunt had brought his feldglass, and despite the jar and jolt as the huge engine clanked along over the elastic roadbed Langdon searched the prairie ceaselessly while the con ductor kept track of the mileposts.
 we twist and turn every which,w five miles farther on," shouted the lat ter into Langdon's ear. "That bluff ahead there marks the end of this tan gent. Then we follow the creek piece and then make streak cross country at the big bend.'
 ..Any deep cuts thereT shouted Lahgdon in reply, hanging to the iron bar with hooked arm and still peer ing through the binocular.
 -Four or five. WhyY
 ssThat's where we'll find lem. They'll run the train into cut for protection, line the banks on both sides and stand off the Sioux till help comes if they can. Signal full speed to the engineer, will you? He can slow down again at the bend"
 A moment more and the huge ma chine seemed rushing through space, and the two men at the pilot bent dou- ble and hung on for dear life. Five minutes brought them once more along the banks of the stream and close to the frowning bluffs. Watch themp signaled Langdon, pointing to the crests and leaning far out from the side of the engine, now reducing speed. The sergeant, clamping his campaign hat to his head, nodded, "I under stand"
 The bluffs were but the shoulder of high ridge through which long centu- ries before the stream had torn its way It hid like curtain the spread ing landscape beyond. It might be hiding hundreds of lurking warriors, but Langdon believed that though a few wary scouts would be thrown out to give warning of coming troops the main body of savages were clustered close about the beleaguered train. He had never before been brought into contact with mounted Indians, but had had long talks with comrades well or,1 faIf sure of his ground. From what he could gather he believed that several old Indian fighters from the westward stationssmust be on that train and req soned that they would make their. de- fensiye stand where the cars could be sheltered and they themselves, the de lenders, be partially covered by, the sides of the cut. He was reasonably certain that they could there hold out for his coming.
 And now as they sweep cautiously round the long curve at the foot of the bluff and see before them four miles ahead up the distant slope of the divide the jagged seam of spaded earth and the black shadows of the snow fence and realize that all that stretch of Wln0lQS grace muSI De OfeFcOLue DS- fore they can hope for sight of the be- sieged Langdon's heart throbs like the massive engine straining at its burden. "Hit her up again, Jimmyp shouts the conductor, his hands forming a speak ing tube The fireman is thrusting coal by the stovelful into the seething fur mace. Inky smoke jets from the stack and streams tailward over the train. :ssNo hiding our coming, cap" yells the conductor, with a backyard and up- ward glance. Langdon shakes his head. @They've spotted us long before this," is the answer. Again the speed increases despite reverse curves that hug the bank like the convolutions of a snake. Jim is gathering headway for the climb. Hitting far toward the stream, the black demon in the lead, skins the shining concave of the rails under low line of heights to the left, watched every inch of their length by the wary eyes of crouching sharpshoot- CTS in the tender. Then the steel road way curves inboard again and whirls them around projecting nose of bluff, and still Jim's hand never winces at the throttle, and under almost full measure thp huQe drivers tear at the