Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-07-02

sir" or "ma'am," as the ease might
be. No need TO add the well-worn
cause of such night excursions-'ln
dams"
The Office was brightly lighted and
there, slcepy-eyed and silent, were
gathered many of the officers about
their alert commander. Ray was
down at his stables, passing judg-
ment on the mounts. Only 80 were
to go, the best half hundred in the
sorreI troop, for it was to be a
forced march. Neither horse nor
man could be taken unless in prime
condition. for "A break down on part
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
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
wa~ lie was a recalcitrant of the
| first magnitude, a subchief who had
never missed the warpath when the
| Sioux were afeld, or the consolation
trip to Washington between times.
| Where Stabber went his young men
! followed unquestioning. 1t was a
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 tlared
from Stabber's camp. Invisible from
Fort Frayne, they had both been
seen by shrewd non-commissioned
officers, sent scouting up the Platte
by Mai. Webb within half an hour
of the coming of the alarm.
! Ray 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
will 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
eagcrness 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 ] thought-maybe-" tum-
! bled Ross, ingloriously, but the mis-
chief was done.
"NIr. 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 a mo-
ment that threatened panic, but
Webb met the crisis with marked
| aplomb.
"Oh, Field" he cried, there's an
other matter. | want two good men
| to slip out at once and see how many
/ of Stabber's people start or have
started. 1t may be daybrcall before
they can tell. Sergt. Schreiber would
be tiptop man for one-and little
! Duffy. You tend to it."
And so, mercifully, 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. We'll he knew that the
post commander could hardly over
look the absence of his adiutant at
such a time.
Have you anything TO tell me,
Field?" was the majors only query,
his tone fun of gentle yet grave re-
proach.
Il 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"
Il took none, sir" was the answer,
and now both faces were white. u
rode one of-Mr. Hays"
For one moment there was no
sound but the loud ticking Of the big
office clock. Then came the ques-
ton:
"Who rode the others, Field? The
sentries say they heard three"
There was another moment of 81
lence. Ray stepped on tiptoe to the
door as though he wanted not to
hear. Blake looked blankly out of
the window, Then the young soldier
spoke.
"G-canuot tell you. sir"
For full ten seconds the post com
mandcr sat with grave, pallid face,
looking straight into the eyes of his
young staf officer. White as his
senior, but with eyes as unninchiug,
Field returned the gaze. At last the
majors voice was heard again, sad
and constrained.
ssI'fslI II