Warren sheaf., 1903-07-16
CHAPTER III.

..., e., &.a CHAPTER III.
Comforted by abundant food. re-
freshed and stimulated by more than
two OF three enthusiastic toasts to
the health Of the major, the men so
loved, Trooper Kennedy, like born
dragoon and son of the ould sod, be-
thought him Of the gallant bay that
had borne him bravely and with hard
ly halt all the long way from Beech
er to Frayne. The field telegraph had
indeed been stratched, but it afforded
more fun for the Sioux than aid to
the outlying posts on the Powder and
Little Horn, for it was down 10 days
out of ~. Plodder, lieutenant colonel
OF Infantry commanding at Beecher,
had been badly worried by the ug.y
demonstration of the Indians for ten
days past. He was forever seeing in
minds eye the hideous details of the
massacre at Fort Phil Kearney, few
miles further on around the shoulder
OF the mountains, planned and carried
out by Red Cloud with such dreadful
success in '67. Plodder had strong
men at his back, whom even hordes Of
painted Sioux could never stampede,
but they were few in number, and
there were those ever present help
less, dependent women and children.
His call for aid was natural enough,
and his choice of Kennedy, daring,
dashing lad who had learned to ride
in Galway, was the best that could
be made. No peril could daunt the
light-hearted fellow, already proud
wearer of the medal of honor; but,
duty done, it was Kennedy's creed
that the soldier merited reward and
relaxation. If he went to bed at .'F''
troops barracks, there would be,
no more good cakes and ale, no
more of the majors good grub
and rye. If he went down to
look after the gallant steed he
loved-saw to it that Kilmaine
was rubbed down, bedded, given album
dant hay, and later water-sure, then,
with clear conscience, he could accept
the majors "bid,'' and call again on
his bedward way and toast the ma
jor to his Irish hearts and stomach's
content. Full of pluck and fight and
enthusiasm, and only quarter full, he
would insist, of rye, was Kennedy
as he strobe whistling down the we'll
remembered road to the flats, for he,
with Capt. Truscott's famous troop,
had served some months at Frayne
before launching forth to Indian
story land in the shadows of the Big
Horn range. Kennedy, in fact, es-
sayed to sing when once out of ear
shot of the guard-house, and singing,
he strolled on past the fork of the
winding road where he found he
in the fullness of his heart went
striding southwark down the slope,
/ past the once familiar haunt, the
store, now dark and deserted, past
! the big house of the post trader, past
the traders roomy stables and cor
raj, and so wended his moonlit way
along the Rawlins srail, never not
! ing until he had chanted over half a
mile and most Of the songs he knew,
that Frayne was well behind him
and the rise to the Medicine Bow in
front. Then Kennedy began to laugh
and call himself ma names, and then, as
ne turned ABOUT 70 re5race ms steps
oy q snor1 GU .eu' over e ne pot1om, &ne
was presently surprised, out IN no no
wise ulseole' - nie ei1 ~ la.e a,.e
~ 1aoe W. .;aa : 49, a,o4A. 80 :,
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grass, vas .ne .laineu pohy 1els, r. :,
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