The Washington times., 1902-01-05
tie diminutlve mound of newly turne,

the diminut!ve mound of newly turned
carth.
He sat down beside it, putting; and when
he had regained breath. he crooned the
| little native song young Robinson had
heard beside the persmbulator. 1t was
| not long: and having finished. he sravely
went to the foot of the mound and began
to pluck the long grass. Then with great
care, he drew something from the rocket
of his blouse 1t was the peaked cap with
| the red and white stripes. Frcm-th same
pocket came the bandanra, and the belt
that was half sash. These he tied into
small. compact bundle. and, scooping
out some earth with his bony fingers.
placed in the hole, covering them with
| the grass. For the head OF the grave the
| resplendent pocket mirror was reserved.
| Then he chanted another verse of the
song. stood little while~in silence after
| ward and finally backed away toward
quarters.
The column was on the march by dawn.
| First we're the scouts. a.dozen or so. Jim
amons them; then the troopers, Captain
| >Tc,i:ire and young Robinson at the mead;
| las the stringing pack train. Their course
| ay along the trail to the eastward; and
| Laany miles were between them and their
| destination. Into the-bright rays CT the
| morning sun they cast expectant ey IS. for
! action was before them But two seemed
to have thoughts other than fer what was
to come. Young Robinson rode with head
bowed in grief, Devil Jim in 4 stupo-.
| Forty miles was the distance that day:
| and at nightfan the bivouac was in a
deep gully the bed OF which was dry.
| About the camp fires there was gayety;
for the yesterday. was M longer remem-
| bered in the new excitement. Young Reb
| iAson left his scompa Mons at the
| earliest opportunity and climbed the
steep sides OF the rdvi1e to the
! prairie above. There, beneath the vault
| in which shone stars like baby suns. his
| hot head cooledAbys the breezes that set
| the grass to muTInuring, he walked until
long after midnight. He thought, he felt,
that he was alone; and in the darknesx1
| he was.
But Devil Jim. his lank figure ;L(.istip-
guishable. was never far FROM linn Io
whispered softly to,-hims>'' '-cvenss tbe
whispers seemed guttur>,. he wanted IN
speak; but his EngI;S>, was not good He
never got furthe> than the whispering.
Inc morT9"s sun rose red and burn
ing. VnI9-iy the troop got under way
again Iloving still to the eastward. The
sc9p.s were some miles in advance. now
t.rown out as a skirmish line. 1t was
/ thought that by noon there would car-
] tainly be some sign OF the marauding
| band. And it was not long before the
watchful eye of the commandant detected
the presence Of hostile Indians in the ac-
tion OF these scouts ahead. They were
gallopirg in to centre from their out
posts.
One presently came at wild pace to
the rear. He reined up before Captain
MCGUIRE and spoke few words quickly
Then conn, ands were given and trumpet
rang out There was a. hasty dismount-
ing. tightening OF girths; then ~.
trumpet again sounding to saddle. ;,
interval of speaking silence ensr>.> 'n
Suddenly another blast ~ ,ho
column forward at qui,~ 80 ,rs tn sIoai.
fiarks of horses and y a,;,.o,.i,i.r ne eo..,
trements shone . from tbe Cloud of
dan'' dan - me- 49, no sound save the thun-
hena. VI .&.s and the clashing of scab-
~ at when they got up to the front
low chant OF the Crow death song
came back on the breeze from theslinc of
| scouts.
Down through a sravine the advance
was made slowly. and then there was a
creek to be forded. The opposite bank
was fringed with cottonwoods, and moth
| ing could be seen yet. But upon emerging
| from the underbrush. a long stretch of
| bottom land lay away to the South, and
| in the distance was an Indian encamp-
meGt. 1t was not merely depredatory