Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-03-10


 "Then-" But Blake got no fur ther. Breathless and eager, little Sandy Ray came bounding through the hallway into the presence of the officers. He could hardly gasp his news:
 Major, you told me to keep watch and let you know. There's a courier , coming-hard! Mother saw him too, through the-spyglass. She says they-see him, too at Stabber's- and she's afraid"
 "Right!'' cried Webb. Quick, Blake; rush out half a dozen men to meet him. Those devils may indeed cut him off. Thank you, my little man," he added, bending down and batting the dark curly head, as Blake went bounding away. 'Thank you, Sandy. I'll come at once to the bluff. We'll save him. Never you fear" s
 In less than no time, one might say, all Fort Frayne seemed hurrying to the northward bluff. The sight of tall Capt. Blake bounding like grey hound toward his troop barracks, and shouting for his first sergeant-of Maj. Webb almost running across the parade toward the flagstaff--of San dy rushing back to his post at the tel escope-of the adjutant and officer of the day tearing away toward the stables, where many of the men were now at work, were signs that told unerringly of something stir ring, probably across, the Platte. As luck would have it, in anticipation of orders to move, the troop horses had not been set out to graze, and were still in the sunshiny corrals, and long before the news was fully voiced through officers row, Blake and six of his men were in saddle and darting away for the ford, carbines advanced the instant they struck the opposite bank. -
 From the bluff Webb had shouted his instructions. "We could see him a moment ago." for half dozen field glasses were already brought to bear, ''six miles out-far east of the road. Feel we'll out to your left to head off any of Stabber's people. Three of them have been seen galloping out already"
 Aye, aye, sir," came the answer ing shout, as Blake whirled and tore away after his men. There had been a time in his distant past when the navy, not the army, was his ambition, and he still retained some of the ways of the sea. Just as Webb feared, some few of Stabber's young war riors had been left behind, and their eagle-eyed lookout had sighted the far distant courier almost as soon as Sandy's famous telescope. Now they were hastening to head him off.
 But he seemed to have totally van- ished. Level as appeared the north ward prairie from the commanding height on which stood the throng of eager watchers, it was in reality a low, rolling surface like some lazily heaving sea that had become sudden ly solidified. Long, broad, shallow dips or basins lay between broad, wide, far-extending, yet slight up heavals. Through the shallows turned and twisted dozens of dry arroyos, all gradually trending toward the Platte the drainage system of the from tier. Five miles out began the ascent to the taller divides and ridges that gradually, and with many an inter- vening dip, rose to the watershed between the Platte and the score of tiny tributaries that united to form the South Cheyenne. It was over Moccasin, or Ten Mile, Ridge, as it was often called, and close to the now abandoned stage road, Rays daring little command had disap- peared from view toward eight o'clock. It was at least two, possi- bly three, miles east of the stage road that the solitary courier had first been sighted, and when. later seen by the major and certain oth- CTS of the swift gathering spectators, he was heading for Frayne, though still far east of the highroad.
 And now Mrs. Ray, on the north piazza. with Webb by her side and Mamie Blake, Mrs. Dade and Esther in close attendance, was briefly tell ing the major what she had seen up stream. One glance through Sandy's glass had told her the little fellow had not watched in vain. Then with the ready binoculsr. she had turned to the Indian encampment mp the Platte, and almost instantly saw signs of commotion-squaws and children running about. ponies rum ming away and Indian boys pursuing. Then, one after another. three In- dians-warriors, presumably - had dashed away northward and she had sent Sandy on the run 10 tell the major. even while keeping watch on this threatening three until they shot behind a long. low ridge that stretched southward from the foot hills. Beyond doubt they were of in hopes of bsgging that solitary horseman. speeding with warning of some kind for the shelter of Fort Frsyne.
 By this time there must have been nearly two hundred men, women and children lining the crest of the bluff. and speaking in low, tense voices when they spoke at all and straining their eyes for the next sight of the coming courier or the swift dash If the intsrceptinr Sioux. Wen out now. and riding at the gsIlop. Blake --z hs. L-If 1ozs, v-51aEv- ser.zrzxfr,