The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-01-13

linen IL presently appeared JnaC tne
post commander desired to continue
conference with his staff officer, for
he failed to invite the surgeon to be
seated. Indeed, he looked up into the
doctors kindling eyes with odd mix
ture of Impotence and embarrass
1nent in his own, and the veteran
practitioner felt the slight; flushed
instantly, and, with much hauteur of
manner, took prompt but ceremoni-
Gus leave.
And when morning came and Fort |
Frayne awole to another busy day,
as if the excitements of the night |
gone by had not been enough for it.
a new story went buzzing, with the
first call for guard mount, about the
garrison; and, bigger even than yes
terday, the two details, in soldier 81
lence, began to gather in front of the
infantry quarters. Maj. Flint had or
dered sentries posted at the traders
home, with directions that Mrs. Hay
was not to be allowed outside of her
gate, and no one, man or woman,
permitted to approach her from with
out, except by express permission of
the post commander. Gen. Harvey"
and "Dan," the two best horses of
the traders stable, despite the pres
ence of the sentry at the front, had
been distracted some time during the
earlier hours of the night, and later
traced to the ford at Stabber's old
camp, and with Pete and Crapaud,
doubtless, We're gone.
That day the major wired to Omaha
that he should be reinforced at once.
One-half his little force, he said, was
now mounted each day for guard,
and the men couldn't stand it. The
general, of course, was in the field,
but his chief of staff remained at
headquarters and was empowered to
order troops from post to post with
in the limits of the department.. Flint
hoped two more companies could
come at once, and he did not care
| what post was denuded in his favor.
His, he said, was close to the Indian
lands-separated from them, in fact,
only by narrow and fordable river.
The Indians were all on the warpath,
and, aware of his puny numbers,
might be tempted at any moment to
quit the mountains and concentrate
on him.
And so another restless day went
by and no more news came from
either front or rear-from the range
| to the north or Rock Springs at the
south, and Flint was just formulating
another fervid appeal to that i'm
passive functionary, the adjutant gen
eral at Omaha, when toward evening
word came whistling down the line
in the person of Master Sanford Ray.
that two couriers were in sight
and fht aid f Fifty h affo the s niats
strength of Fort Frayne gathered on
the northward bluff like the evan
burghers" of ancient Rome, to watch
and speed their coming. Who could
tell what the day might yet bring
forth?
1t was well-nigh dark before the
foremost reached the ford-a scout in
worn and tawdry buckslkin, wearied
and impressive. He gave his dispatch
to the care of the first officer to ac-
cost him, and took the way to the
store, briefly saying in reply to ques-
tions, that he was ''too dry to speak
the truth" So they focked, at re-
spectful distance, about the major
as he read the hurried lines. The
general babe the post commander
wire the entire message to Washing
ton, and to 'take all precautions for
the protection of the few settlers
| al, hi Nha ~
Henry and Maj. Webb had united
near the head waters of the Clear
Fork of the Powder; had had rat
ting running fight with Lame VOLTS
people; had driven them into the
mountains and were following hot on
the trail, but that Stabber's band and
certain disaffected Sioux had cut
loose from the main body and gone
south. Whistling Elk, young chief
of much ambition, had quarreled with
certain of the Red Cloud element, and
joined Stabber, with his entire band
Look out for them and watch for sig
nails any day or night from Eagle
Butte"
Flint read with sinking heart. In.
dian fighting was something far too
scientific for his martial education,
and too much for his skeleton com
-mand. In the gathering dusk his face
looked white and drawn, and old vii.
kins, breasting his way up the slope.
puffed hard, as he begged for news
: There was still another dispatch,
however, which was evidently adding
to the majors perturbation, for it
concerned him personally and for the
moment Wilkins went unheard
The general desires that you send the
couriers back within "a hours of their ar
rival. after you have had time to scout
the line of the Platte say 20 miles each
way, giving full report of every Indian
seen or heard of. He enjoins vigilance
and hopes to keep the Sioux so busy
that they can send no more in your di-
rection. Should they do so, however,
he will pursue at once. He trusts that
you are doing everything possible to COM
fort and reassure Mrs. Hay and that
you can send good news of Lieut. Field.
HE is simply fretting his heart out
here" were the doctor,s words n