The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1903-02-13

One day when Company b of the
Seventh was returning from scout
after hostile Indians Il boy of ten who
had been hiding in Il dry ditch sudden
~ leaped up before the horses. His
story was the familiar one. An emf
grant camp had been bcset by the hos
tiles at night. Il score of men, women
and children wiped out. and the hoy
had escaped. he knew not how. The
soldiers claimed the orphan as their
own. and in II way Company Il adopt
cd him.
For the first year or two it WAS
feared that relatives might turn up or
that the colonel would send him away
10 he adopted and cared for by civil
ians, but these caIamitipS did not hap
pen. The boy gave his name as Stanley
Martin. and So the chaplain wrote it
down in making Il record. but the sol
dicrS called him Billy from the first
day to the last He was Il bright.
cheerful y0un~Stpr Ivy nature. and aft
er time had bluntrd his grief no one
laughed uftrncr than Billy. The pct
ting he received from the mon of the
company would have spoiled most
kids. but il made Billy none the worse.
He might have picked up profanity,
selfshncsS and braggadocio. but he
never did. He was encouraged to
smoke and chew, but he did not fall
into those bad habits. At the age Of
twelve he WAS better educated than
some of the corporals, and at fourteen
the c0mmi$Sary took him on as 4 clerk.
How it WAS arranged does not mat
ter. but Il year later Billy became
Company BS bugler. He had been a
pupil until he could be taught nothing
more His buelc calls We're music 10
the whole regiment. and let others
wind the horn as they might their
fifteen he WAS as fresh faced and hun-
est looking lad ais amy father or
mother could have wished to call son.
There wasn't an officer in the regiment
who wouldn't have been glad to chip
in for Il purse 10 send the boy to some
school In the states and give him 4
show to make his way in civil life, hut
Billy had determined on soldiers
career and begged to he permitted TO
stay with the Seventh.
Soon after his promotion the Indians,
who had somehow held OH to them
selves for four or five years, dug up
the hatchet and took To the warpath. |
bit that band of them were raiding
down Smoky valley. There were but |
two companies ut the fort just then, |
and they held themselves in readiness |
to he ordered out at any moment. 1t |
was six miles from the post over to the |
valley. and many Il time during the |
days of peace Billy had mounted the !
Indian pony given him by the quarter |
master and ridden over TO Wharton's |
ranch. Wharton himself was jolly and !
good naturcd. his wife was mOtherly |
and kind hearted. and their daughter |
Kate, IL year younger than the hugler, |
WAS handsome enough to set boys |
heart tlultcriuy. The soldiers caught |
on after awhile and had their jokes at !
Rilly'S expense. but they did not go !
too far Even the toughest of the men
always respected The hoy's feelings.
He blushpd and stammered when they
laughed ut his love affair. but he went
lust as often to Wharton'$.
One day. and for the first time, he
was sent there officially. The hOStileS
were taking in the whole length of the
valley. heating back or lodging The
forces sent out and il the WhartonS
lid not seek the shelter of the fort
hey were certain to fall victims with
IN Il day or two. Other settlers had
.unc ill., but Wharton argued that the
would turn back before his
place WAS reached. The colonel of the
seventh had written him almost Il
order 10 come in without
III hours delay. and Billy was the
messenger dcputcd to carry ii. lie
lad Il fast pony. WIS Il good rider am.
lad Il cool head. and il was argued
hat he would he several hours ahead
If danger. i light Winchester and
Jelt of cartridges We're given him, and
1 W as 'lllA W nth liz was VII IlS way |
hat any one noticed the hugle slung to
lis back. He rode ut Il fast pace and
cached Whart0n's without adventure
The message must have convinced the
'auchman Of the necessity of haste. for
le brought up his wagon and began
oading it with household effects. II
VAS while thus engaged that the In
lihns came upon him.
Billy had left the fort at 10 o'clock
II the forenoon. 1t could he figured
,ut that if Wharton refused TO come
he boy would he back ut half past l.
t the latest If Wharton accompanied
linz back, then it might he an hour
alter. 1t came | o'clock. and il came ,
md =; and there was no sign of BILLY.
Then the colonel ordered out Company
for Il scout. There We're only seven
y men, hut il was believed they could
AXE care of any force likely 10 he met
With that far down the valley. The
riders were to ride on until they found
he boy. and the troop was no sooner
lear of the stockade than the horses
we're put To the gallon. They hoped to
meet Billy before the crest Of Snake
Ill was reached but when halt was
made on the summit to breathe the
orsps and the troopers leaked down
pom Wharton's ranch, still three miles
way. q dozen men cried out in chorus:
look! Look! The redskins have
Jumped the ranch and are burning the
ouse,"
Clouds of smoke We're arising from
hree or four points on the ranch prop
rT, but after a minute it was seen