Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1903-06-27
The Kids Chance
. HERE was a kid for you-a typ


o. HERE was kid for you---a typl.
cal Western kid. who had grown
to the age of Is In the tough
towns without being entirely spoiled.
The quartermaster mt the fort took him
on to help around because the boy was
not old enough to enlist, and yet want
ed to get away from the vicious life lie
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 furth.
ermore. he didn't want to learn. He
had a musical ear. however, and with
IN a month after a battered old bugle
had been given him he was doing fairly
well at the palmer calls. lie had set
LIS heart on becoming a bugler. and
when this became known there were
those who offered their help. In six
months without being able to read n
note. that kid could blow any call in
the books. 1t was proud day for him
when he was allowed to blow his first
official calls. but there was no show
for him. There were buglcrs 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
next day he would 90 out and practice
the longer with bugle and revolver. 1t
gradually dawned upon US that the boy
was waiting for his chance. and some
Of US determined to help him get It.
There was no question about his cour-
age. but It was one Of years. He'd no
father, mother or guardian. but there
was no show for him to pass the re-
cruiting officer. He had been with MS
n year and half and most Of his
toughness had disappeared when Red
Cloud broke loose again and led 300 Of
his warriors into the valley Of the Re.
publican river.
As n first move on our part. thirty
Of our troopers We're ordered to
make a night ride and get ahead
settlers. While the best mounts were
being selected and saddlesl the Kid up.
pcarcd among us ana whispered ia
Sergt. Bliss, who was to have charge
of MS under a lieutenant.
sarge, It's my chance. I've beer
waiting for 1t these two years. Dom
turn me down and say can't 60 O
you'll break my heart"
The sergeant looked at him for
minute without replying and thel
turned away. He neither consented no
opposed. That was enough for the Kid
He disappeared like fash and whcl
we rode through the gates he was n
the rear, mounted on barebacket
horse he had gobbled from the corral
Over his shoulder was slung his oil
bugle and In his belt n revolver, ant
he meant to follow wherever we led
He'd have been ordered back fas
enough had the lieutenant known o
his presence, but no one gave hir
away. We put our horses to the ga
lon Mt once and held them to 1t fo
hours. At midnight there was wa
for twenty minutes, and then it wa
on again. When daylight appeare
we had covered fifty miles and WEI
entering the valley. The Kid ha
stuck to us like burr, but kept out
sight Of the officer.
We were drawing a long breath 10
the last gallop when a scattering rih
fire was opened on our front and Nv
or three men toppled from their sal
dies. 1t was left into line" and
rush for ridge hundred rods ava
and we reached 1t to find ourseiv'
surrounded by Indians. We had hea'
ed Red Cloud off, but he had got
into a box. There were enough loo'
boulders on the ridge TO make sto'
breastwork, but every one or OF
horses and two more men We're dow
before we had completed II and Wei
standing the redskins on. Red Clou
didn't move on the valley with part
his force, as he might have done, b'
held every one of his 800 bucks clo'
In hand to accomplish our cXtermin
ton. He'd sooner raise the scalp
one soldier than slaughter half doze
citizens, and he had old grudges to pa
of. The entire band circied us an
opened steady fire, and every ma
realized from the start that our pos
ton was aim st hopeless.
1t was half an hour after we reac
ed the hill before any one missed Il
Kid. Then 1t was believed that he ha
fallen when we first struck the Ind
ans, or being in the rear, had been c.
of. There were plenty Of others
mourn for. Lying as snugly as v
could behind the blulders, and fril
only when the redskins seemed
clIned TO rush, twelve Of our hr
were killed between sun and 81
There wasn't the slightest sh W OF !
lief from the fort or from the vale