The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-11-18


. mounted and, leaving his horse with
the others along the slope, had gone
crouching to the crest, he leveled his
glasses for one look, then turned ex-
citedly and began rapid signals to his
followers. Presently young trooper
came charging down, making straight
for Ray. "The ieutenant's compli-
ments," said he, "but there's dozen
Sioux in sight, and he wishes to know
shall he charge"
A dozen Sioux in sight! That was
unusual. Ordinarily the Indians kept
in hiding, lurking behind sheltering
crests and ridges in open country, or
the trees and underbrush where such
cover is possible. A dozen in sight?
"Kow far ahead, Murray?" asked
the captain, as he shook free his rein
and started forward at the gallop.
did you see them yourself?"
Yes, sir. Most of 'em were
punched by the roadside, jabbing with
their lances at something or other.
Two or three were closer in. They
must ha' been watching us, for they
only quit the ridge just before we
came up. Then they skedaddled."
The vernacular of the civil war days,
long since forgotten except about the
few veteran soldiers homes in the
east, was still in use at times in regi-
ments like the til, which had served
the four years through with the Army
of the Potomac. Old sergeants give
the tone to younger soldiers in all the
customs of the service. The captain
and the two men now with him had
caught up with Fields swift-trotting
support by this time, and the eyes of
the men kindled instantly at sight of
their leader speeding easily by, cool,
confident and as thoroughly at home
as though it were the most ordinary
skirmish drill. Those who have never
tried it do not quite realize what it
means to ride in closed ranks and
compact column, silent and unswerv-
ing, straight forward over open fields
toward some equally silent crest, that
gives no sign of hostile occupancy,
and yet may suddenly blaze with
vengeful fires and spit its kissing lead
into the faces of the advancing force.
Even here where the ridge was al
ready gained by two or three of the
advance, proving, therefore, that the
enemy could not be in possession,
men saw by the excitement manifest
in the signals of the lieutenant, and
indeed of Sergeant Scott, who had
spent Is years in the ranks, that In
dams must be close at hand. The
crest was barely 500 yards in front
of the section, and they were still
punched" a splendid mark if the foe
saw fit by sudden dash to regain the
ridge and pour in rapid fire from their
magazine rifles.
Even as he went Looping by, Ray
had half turned, with something like
smile in his dark eyes and nod of
his curly head to the sergeant COM
handing, and gesture Of the
gauntleted hand-a horizontal sweep
to right and left, twice repeated-had
given the veteran his cue, and with
another moment Winser had the
dozen in line at open, yet narrow, in
tervals, with carbines advanced and
ready for business. They saw their
captain ride swiftly up the gentle
slope until close to the crest, then off
he sprang, tossed his reins to the
trumpeter and went hurrying afoot
to join the lieutenant. They saw him
kneeling as though to level his glasses
and look fiNedly forward; saw Field
run back to his horse and mount in
a twinkling; saw him whirl about as
though coming to place himself at
their head, yet rein in at once-his
chargers fore feet ploughing the turf
at some word from their leader. Field
was eager to charge, but Ray had
seen for himself and for his men, and
Ray said no. Another moment, and
all We're at the front again in saddle
Field back with the advance, Ray
coolly seated astride his pet sorrel-
scouting second ridge, far to the
north, with his glasses, and, sending,
as before, Scott and his three troop
ers straight on to the front, and sig
mailing to the fanllers to continue the
move. Ten seconds study of the po-
sition in the long, wide, shallow de-
preston before him had fathomed
the scheme of the savage. The little
knot OF Indians, jabbering, yelping,
prodding and circling about some I'M
seen object on the turf, feigning ig-
norance of the soldiers coming, was
at the old-time trick to get the fore
most troopers to charge and chase,
to draw them on in the dash and ex-
element of the moment, far ahead
three miles, perhaps-of the main
body, and so enable the lurking band
behind that second curtain, the far
Their ridge, to come swooping down
to surround, overwhelm and butcher
the lucllless few, then be off to safe
distance long before the mass of the
troop could possibly reach the scene.
mo you don't, Stabber!" laughed
Ray, as Field, not little chagrined,
and the dozen at his back, came trot-
ting within hearing distance. "That
dodge was bald-headed when I was
baby. Look, Field" he continued.
'"They were iabbing at nothing there
on the prairie. That was fake cap
tive they were stabbing to death.
See them all scooting away now.
They'll rally beyond that next ridge,
i