The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-11-11

starlit night, he should reach the old
frontier fort by dawn at the latest
and what news would Dade have tc
send him there? Not word had he
uttered to either the officers who re-
specially greeted, or reporters who
eagerly inlportuned, him as to the
situation at Frayne; but men who
had served with him in Arizona and
on the Yellowstone many a year be-
fore, knew well that grave tidings
had reached him. Dade had in fact,
supplemented Webbs parting dis
patch with another, saying that
Blake's little party, returning, had
just been sighted through the tele-
scope nine miles out, with two men
afoot. But not until the general
reached Lodge Pole creek did the
message meet him, saying that
Webb's advance guard could hear the
distant attack on Ray. Not until he
reached the Chugwate1 in the early
night could he hope to hear the re-
suit.
1t was nightfall when the awful
suspense of the garrison at Frayne
was even measurably lifted. Blake,
with three troopers at his back, had
then been gone an hour, and was lost
in the cleaning before DIR. Tracy's
orderly, with face that plainly told
the nervous tension of his two hours
ride, left his reeking, heaving horse
at the stables and climbed the steep
path to the flagstaff, the shortest
way to the quarters of the command
ing officer. Despite the gathering
darkness, he had been seen by a
dozen eager watchers and was del
uged with questions by trembling,
fearful women and by grave, anxious
men.
"There's been fight; that's all I
know" he said. 81 was with the
pack mules and the ambulances and
didn't get to see it. All saw was
dead ponies way out beyond Ten
Mile ridge. Where's the maior?-I
mean the captain?" No! the orderly
didn't know who was killed or
wounded, or that anybody was killed
and wounded. All he knew was that
DR.. Tracy came galloping back and
ordered the ambulances to scoot for
the front and him to spur every bit
of the way back to Frayne with the
note for Capt. Dade.
All this was told as he eagerly
pushed his way along the board
walk; soldiers wives hanging on his
words and almost on him; officers
wives and daughters calling from the
galleries or running to the gates,
and Dade heard the hubbub almost
as quickly as did Esther, who hurried
to the door. By the light of the hall
lamp the commander read the pen
ciled superscription of the gummed
envelope and the word Immediate"
at the corner. The same light fell
on dozen anxious, pleading faces
beyond the steps. His hand shook
in spite of himself, and he knew he
could not open and read it in their
presence. zone moment" he said, his
heart going out to them in sym
pathy as well as dread. "You shall
hear in one moment" and turned
aside into the little army parlor.
But he could not turn from his wife
and child. They followed and stood
studying his pale face as he read the
Hateful words that told so little, yet
so much:-
Reached Ray just in time. Sharp af-
fair. DR.. Waller will have to come at
once as Tracy goes on with us to rescue
stage people at Dry Fork. Better send
infantry escort and all hospital attend
ants that can be possibly spared; also
chaplain. Sergeants Burroughs and Wing,
Corporal Foot and Troopers Denny,
Flood Kerrigan and Preusser killed.
Many wounded-Lieut. Field seriously.
WEBB"
ITO Be Continuedl