The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-06-20

forgotten, with no thought save the
mad ones of jealous rivalry, they
struggled together. Therewa little
difference in their weights, but Healy
was the wirier, and neither mans
wind was as good as in the days of
early campaigns. So it happened that
after half an hours fierce fighting,
when both were bloody and both more
full of wrath than ever, they fell to-
gether and rolled in the trampled snow
too blown to spring up. Healy had the
upper hold, and he cried in Fin Straits
ear:
''Tek it back-about the kiss! TEX it
back an swear yell Pave the wildly
bep'
Fin gasped sturdy, fierce defiance,
and Healy's hand was raised over him
when there came family thrilling over
the snow the first clear note of bugle.
Healy's hand dropped harmlessly, and
he raised his head and pricked his ears
like dog at the call Of the master.
More loudly rang the bugle, and sud-
| denly the rivals were apart, sitting in
the snow listening intently. Clear and
shrill at last, loud, commanding, blood
burning, out sang the bugle boldly, so
that the cold air thrilled through the
sottonwoods and every living thing on
| the plain stood still to listen. Ere the
trumpeter was half through with the
call the disciplined soldiers were on
their feet, as they would have strug-
| gled to their feet at that call if a
sword had passed through the body Of
each. All love and jealousy and hate
must wait when thus the trumpets
call.
"'Tis boots and saddles" cried Fin,
"and me not at the stables!"
With that each seized his coat, and,
all regardless Of their bruised faces
and blood stained shirts, they ran
swiftly to the post. There were rush
ing of men to the corrals, the sharp
commands of officers, the click of re-
volvers as they were hastily loaded,
saddling Of horses, curses of men be-
lated, hasty issuing of ammunition
and at last the cool, clear voice of the
captain of the troop:
prepare to mount! Mount! Form
ranksv'
i The corporal and the farrier were in
their accustomed places, breathing
hard, flushed and bloody, but ready
ready as any lance corporal there, the
pride of first sergeant's heart. Then
a whisper passed from man to man
down the line of horsemen:
There's an outbreak on the Snake
lFiver reserve. They've killed the agent,
and the reds have massacred ranch
man and his family"
The moon had disappeared. Great
gray clouds had been blown up by the
gathering wind, and once more the
snow fell, but now more fiercely, more
heavily, than ever before. Through it
the little blue coated column proceeded
at determined trot to the place. some
twenty miles away, where the uprisen
!, Indians were supposed to be gathered
together. A plainsman who had
. brought the news of the massacre and
the regular government scout attached
to the post led the way. AS ranking
corporal Healy rode on the right of
the first set of tours. The farrier was
back in the column, so that for time
the rivals were effectually separated.
But this midnight expedition, although
it thrilled the hearts of younger men,
troubled the minds of the two veterans
little. They rode on as matter OF
duty, just as they would, If ordered
have gone through the manual of arms
The unfinished fight had left them
I with heated brains too full of jealousy
and disappointment and hate to dc
, more than brood over the fancied
treachery of each. Gone now were al
. memories OF stirrup to stirrup charges
of friendly frolics, of pains and pleas
ures shared together. True comrades
once, they were bitter foes now.
; Faster and faster the snow drove ii
their faces; deeper and deeper it lay OIL
, the trail, to be scattered high by the
J laboring feet Of the horses. To righ
! and to left, one yard away from the
: column, nothing could be distinguish
ed. A trooper could but family se'
; the man in front of him. Only tn,
half breed guide and the trained plains
man could devise an unerring patti
through that storm. In their hands
the captain had to leave his troop ant
himself There was no pause, for re
venge on the tribe must be swift to b.
sure. At every clearer space, wher'
] the freezing wind had swept the trai
, clean~of drifts, the guide turned to thu
/ captain, and he raised his hand, press
| ing his knees to his horse, when a
| once the troop broke into gallop will
2 jingling of bride and clash of stee
| and thunder of hoofs. So they rode
} each man grimly silent, swift.
} through the night and the storm.
Il They reached the place before day
/ light, seeing nothing before them, bu
; all at once they heard the yapping o
, dogs and the shrill voices of squaw
} and the chant and yells of blood fren
: zied savages. In the fancied securit.
!. of the storm the reds in their tepee
j were celebrating their hideous triumph