The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-03-02

half FINISHED log huts came the be-
wi!dered men. Often as the alarm had
sounded on the frontier there was a
thrill and ring about it this time that
told of action close at hand. Out from
the little huts, hurrying into their
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
aays-one or two, only, youngsters
way and unglazed window appeared
the pallid faces of women and children,
some of them weeping in mingled
fright and@istress. In front of the
log guardhodse the sergeant quickly
formed the two reliefs not on post.
On their designated parades the COM
panies rapidly fell in, while stern
voiced non-commissioned officers re-
buked the laggards and aided them
into their belts, and each first sergeant
took rapid note of his men. No need
to call the roll, skulker would have
been detected and kicked into the ranks
at the instant. Over under the rough
board shelter of the quartermastcr's
employees the workmen came tumbling
out in shirt sleeves, many of them rum
ming to the nearest officer and begging
for gun and place in the fight, for
now the firing was loud and lively.
Down by the swift flowing stream the
tethered horses of the cavalry plunged
and neighed in excitement, and the
mules in the quartermaster's corral set
up their irrepressible bray. For five
minutes there was clamor, but no con-
fusion. Then disciplined silence reigned
again, all but the nearing volleying at
the south. Presently, at rapid trot the
cavalry, some so strong, came clatter-
ing up the stony trail from the stream
and with carbines advanced disap-
peared through the main gateway in
Il cloud of dust. Two companies were
told off to man the loopholes of the
stockade. Two others under the COM
mand of a senior captain faced by the
right flank, and in double-quick time
danced away in the wake of the cav
airy. Eagerly the watchers climbed
the wooden walls or to the tower of the
half-fnished guardhouse, and, as the
red light strengthened in the east and
the mountain sides became revealed,
studied with their glasses or with
straining eyes the southwark vista
through the hills. They saw the troop
form line to the front at the gallop as
it swept out over the open ground 400
to the nearest shoulder of bluff, saw
their excited signals and gesticulations,
and presently sheaf of skirmishers
shot forward from the advancing line
and breasted the low ridge 800 yards
out from the fort, and then there came
floating back the sound of ringing,
tumultuous cheer as the skirmishers
reached the crest and darted headlong
at some unseen object beyond, and aft
er them went the reserve, cheering too.
And now the sound of firing became
fierce and incessant, and messengers
came galloping back to the commander
of the steadily advancing infantry, and
they, too, were seen to throw forward
heavy skirmish lines and then resume
the march. And then, down over the
ridge came little knot of horsemen,
made up of three men riding close to-
gether. the outer ones supporting be-
tween them the comrade in the center.
Before they were within 400 yards the
young adiutant, gazing through his
glasses at the colonel's side, exclaimed:
'It's Dean-dead or wounded!" and
one of the surgeons rushed forward to
meet the party. Hes weak, sir, al
most gone from loss of BLOOD" ex-
claimed Trooper Conroy, himself bleed
ing from cash along the cheek. A
faint smile drifted over the young fell
lows pallid face as the adjutant, too,
galloped up. A feeble hand indicated
the bullying saddle pocket. A faint
voice faltered: "There's $4,000 in that
packet. We had to fight our way
through" and then the brave blue eyes
closed and strong arms lifted the al
most lifeless form from the saddle as
Marshall swooned away.
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