Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-07-30
CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER VIII.
But Frayne was far from done with
excitement for the day. For while
all eyes seemed centered on the chase
now scattered miles toward the east
and, save for two of the number left
behind, blown, spent and hopelessly
out of the race, soon lost to view
among the distant swales and ravines
Then everyone turned to welcome the
coming harbinger, to congratulate
him on his escape, to demand the
reason for his daring essay. Gregg
and his men were first to reach him,
and while one of them was seen
through the leveled glass to dismount
and give the courier his fresh horse,
thereby showing that the gray was
well-nigh exhausted, the whole parry
turned slowly toward the post. Tn IN
one of their number suddenly darted
forth from the group and came spur
ring at top speed straight for the
ford.
THAT means news of Importance,
said Webb, at the instant. And
Gregg and all of his squad are COM
ing in-not following Blake. That
means he and they are more needed
elsewhere. Come on, Mr.. Ross. Well
go down and meet that fellow. Or
derly, have my horse sent to the
ford" SO, followed the three or four
younger otiicers-the married men
being restrained, as a rule, by pro-
testing voices, close at hand-thc
commanding officer went slipping and
sliding down narrow, winding path
way, a mere goat track, many of the
soldiers following at a respectful
distance, while all the rest of the
gathered throng remained at the
crest, eagerly, almost breathlessly,
awaiting the result. They saw the
trooper come speeding in across the
flats from the northeast; saw as he
reached the bench" that he was
spurring hard; heard, even at the
distance, the batter of hoofs upon the
resounding sod; could almost hear
the fierce painting of the racing steed;
saw horse and rider come plunging
down the bank and into the stream.
and showing breast-deep through the
foaming waters; then issue dripping,
on the hither shore, where, turning
loose his horse, the soldier leaped
from saddle and salutcd his com
mander
Captain Grcgg's compliments, sir
It's Rudge from the Dry Fork. Ser
geant Kelly feared that Kennedy
hadn't got through, for most of Lame
VOLTS people pulled away from the
Fork yesterday morning, coming this
way, and the sergeant thought it was
TO unite with Stabber to surround
any small command that might be
sent ahead from here. Rudge was or.
dered to make a wide sweep to the
east, so as to get around them, and
that's what took him so long He
left not two-hours after Kennedy"
In spite of his years of frontier
service and training in self-control,
Webb felt, and others saw, that his
face was paling. Ray, with only 50
men at his back, was now out of sight
out of reach-of the post and prob
ably face to face with, if not alread,
surrounded by, the combined forces
of the Sioux. Not a second did he
hesitate. Among the swarm that had
followed him was young trumpeter
of *" troop, reckless of the fact that
he should be at barracks, packing his
kit. AS luck would have it, there at
his back hung the brazen clarion,
held by its yellow braid and cord
"Boots and saddles, Kerry, quick!"
ordered the major, and as the ringing
notes re-echoed from bluff and build
ing wall and came laughing back from
the distant crags at the south, the
little throng at the bank and the
crowd at the point of the bluff, had
scattered like startled coveys-thc
men full run for the barracks and
stables, never stopping to reason
why"
Nearly half an hour later, gray
haired Capt. Dade stood at the point
of bluff near the flagstaff, Esther
pale and fearful, by his side, waving
adieu and Godspeed to Webb, who
had halted in saddle on reaching the
opposite bank and was watching his
little column through the ford-three
stanch troops, each about 60 strong,
reinforced by about half dozen of
Rays men left behind in the forward
rush at dawn, but scorning disquali-
flcation of any kind, now that danger
menaced their beloved captain and
their comrades of the sorrel troop.
In all the regiment no man was loved
by the rank and file as was Billy Ray.
The veterans trusted and swore by,
the younger troopers looked up to
and well-nigh worshipped him. and
now, as the story that the Sioux had
probably surrounded the sorrel troop
went like wildfire through the garri-
son, even the sick in the hospital
begged to be allowed to go, and one
poor lad, frantic through fever and
enforced confinement, broke from the
hold of the half-hearted attendant;
tore over to TX" troop barracks, de-
manding his exit" of Sergeant Schrei-
Der, and, finding the quarters desert
ed, the men all gone to stables, dared
to burst into that magnate's own
room in search of his arms and
clOthino and thereby reused n heayi-