Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1903-11-12
THE KIDS CHANCE.

There was a kid Tor you-a IypIca4
Western kid, who had grown to the
age Of fifteen in the tough towns with
out being entirely spoiled. The quar-
ter-master at the fort took him on to
help around because the boy was not
old enough to enlist, and yet wanted
to get away from the vicious life he
had been leading He was fresh and
slangy and up to thing or two, but
we found him to be right at heart.
He couldn't read or write, and he
couldn't add four and four together,
and furthermore he did not want to
learn. He had a musical ear, how
ever, and within a month after a bat
tered old bugle had been given him ne
was doing fairly well at palmer calls
He had set his heart to become bug
Ter, and when this became known
there were those who offered their
help. In six months, without being
able to read a note, that Kid could
blow any call in the books. 1t was
proud day for him when he was al
lowed to blow his first official calls,
but there was no show for him. There
were buglers enough and one or two
to spare, and the Kid was an outsider.
The Seventh had seen two or three
Indian campaigns, and Of course there
was more or less story telling IN bar
racks. The Kid was an interested
listener to each and every one, and
the next day would go out and prac-
tice the longer with bugle and revol-
yer. Itgradually dawned upon US that
the boy was waiting for his chance,
and some ofus determined to help him
get it. There was no question about
his courage, but it was one Of years.
He'd no father, mother or guardian,
but there was no show for him to pass
the recruiting officer. He had been
with us a year and half, and most of
his toughness had disappeared, when
Red Cloud broke loose again and led
800 of his warriors into the valley OF
the Republican River.
As first move on our part, thirty
of us troopers were ordered to make
a night ride and get ahead of the in
dams and give warning to the settlers
While the best mounts were being Sc
lected and saddled the Kid appeared
among us and whispered to Sergeant
Bliss, who was to have charge of Us
under a lieutenant:
Sarge, it's my chance. I've been
waiting for it these two years. Don't
turn me down and say l cant 60 or
you'll break my heart"
The sergeant looked at him for
minute without replying and then
turned away. He neither consented
nor opposed. That was enough for
the Kid. He disappeared like fash
and when we rode through the gates
he was at the rear mounted on bare
back horse he had gobbled from the
corral. Over his shoulder was slung
his old bugle and in his belt a revol-
yer, and he meant to follow wherever
we led. He'd have been ordered back
fast enough had the lieutenant known
of his presence, but no one gave him
away. We put our horses to the gall
lop at once and held them to it for
hours. At midnight there was halt
for twenty minutes, aud then it was
on again. When daylight appeared
we had covered fifty miles and were
entering the valley. The Kid had
stuck to US like burr, but kept out
of sight of the officer.
We were drawing long breath for
the last gallop when a scattering rife
fire was opened on our front, and two
or three men toppled from their cad
dies. 1t was "left into line, and
rush for a ridge hundred rods away
and we find ourselves surrounded by
Indians. We had headed Red Cloud
off, but be had gotten US into box.
There were enough loose boulders on
the ridge to make stout breastworks,
but every one of our horses and two
more men were down before We had
completed it. and were standing the
redskins off.
Red Cloud didn't move on to the
valley with part of his force, as he
might have done, but held every one Of
his 800 bucks close In hand to accom-
plish our determination. He'd sooner
raise the scalp of one soldier than
slaughter half dozen citizens, and he
had old grudges to pay of. The en-
tire band circled Us and opened
FIRE, and every man realized from the
tart that our position was almost