The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-10-07

NC. mo ueeQ TO auu Guc Weli-WOTu
cause of such night excursions-"In-
dians."
The Office was brightly lighted, and
there, sleepy-eyed and silent, were
gathered many Of the officers about
their alert commander. Ray was
down at his stables, passing jldg-
ment on the mounts. Only so were
to go, the best half hundred in the
sorrel troop, for it was to be
forced march. Neither horse nor
man could be taken unless in prime
of either on the way meant delay to
the entire command, or death by tor
ture to the hapless trooper left be-
hind. Small hope was there of a
march made unobserved, for Stab
ber's band of Ogallalas had been for
weeks encamped within plain view.
Less hope was there of Stabber's
holding aloof now that his brethren
at the Big Horn had declared for
war. He was a recalcitrant of the
first magnitude, subchief who had
never missed the warpath when the
Sioux were afeld, or the consolation
| C1lIJ " COA OCCWSSl1
Where Stabber went his young men
followed unquestioning. 1t was
marvel that Kennedy had succeeded
in getting through. 1t meant that
the Indian runners, or the Indian
smokes and signals, had not at once
SO covered the country with scouts
that couriers could by no possibility
slip between them. But now the sig
nal fire was cleaning at Eagle Butte,
and an answering blaze had fared
from Stabber's camp. Invisible from
Fort Frayne, they had both been
seen by shrewd non-commissioned
officers, sent scouting up the Platte
by Maj. Webb within half an hour
of the coming of the alarm.
cray will push ahead at once" said
Webb. to his silent subordinates.
"You see Col. Plodder has only two
troops up there and he will need all
his infantry to defend the post. I've
wired to Laramie and to department
headquarters and further orders
viii come before noon. Let all the
cavalry be ready. Then if we push
out, Dade, we leave Fort Frayne to
you. They'll hardly venture south
of the Platte this time"
'Is-Mr. Field going with Capt.
Ray?" presently ventured young
Ross, who knew Ray had but one
subaltern for duty at the moment,
and whose soul was burning with
eagerness to accompany the first
) troop to take the field.
NO." said the major, shortly.
"Capt. Ray needs no more"
81 only asked because Field isn't
here, and l thought-maybe-" tum-
bled Ross, ingloriously, but the mis-
chief was done.
"Mr. Field is-busy," answered the
, major, still more shortly, then red
dened to his bushy brows, for at the
doorway, in riding dress, and with a
face the color of parchment, stood
the officer in question. 1t was me-
ment that threatened panic, but
Webb met the crisis with marked
aplomb.
sob, Field,'' he cried, there's an
other matter. 1 want two good men
to slip out at once and see how many
!, of Stabber's people start or have
started. 1t may be daybreak before
they can tell. Sergt. Schneider would
be a tiptop man for one-and little
Duffy. You tend to it,
And so, lnercifully, he sent the lad
away until the crowd should have
dispersed. Only Blake and Ray were
, with him when, after awhile, Mr..
! Field returned and stood silently be-
fore them. Well he knew that the
post commander could hardly over
look the absence of his adjutant at
such time.
'Have you anything to tell me,
Field:" was the majors only query,
his tone full of gentle yet grave re-
proach.
! 81 was restless. could not sleep,
!, , sir. | went out-purposely."
You know no horse can be taken
from the stables at night except in
: presence of the sergeant or corporal
of the guard"
81 took none, SIR" was the answer,
and now both faces were white. 81
rode one of-Mr. Hays"
For one moment there was no
sound but the loud ticking of the big
office clock. Then came the aues-
: ton:
'Who rode the others, Field? The
sentrics say they heard three
There was another moment of ST
!, lence. Ray stepped on tiptoe to the
door as though he wanted not to
hear. Blake looked blanlly out of
> the window. Then the young soldier
; spoke.
''I-cannot tell you, SIR
For full ten seconds the post com
' mander sat with grave, pallid face,
, looking straight into the eyes of his
young staff officer. White as his
!. senior, but with eyes as unfinching,
Field returned the gaze. At last the
majors voice was heard again, sad
; and constrained.
> "Field, Capt Ray starts on a forced
march at once for Fort Beecher L
. wish you to go with him.
=