Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-03-12

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 tn, 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 Nndled 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 it's hissing lead
 into the faces of the advancing force.
 Even here where the ridge was all 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 15 years in the ranks, that In
 dians must be close at hand. The
 crest was barely 800 yards in front
 of the section, and they were still
 "bunched," 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 loping by, Ray had half turned, with something like a smile in his dark eyes and nod of his curly head to the sergeant com manding, 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 captian 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 fixedly forward; saw Field run back to his horse and mount in 8 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 were at the front again in saddle Field back with the advance, Ray coolly seated astride his pet sorrel- scouting a second ridge, far to the north, with his glasses, and, sending, as before. Scott and his three troop CTS straight on to the front, and sig naling to the fankers to continue the move. Ten seconds study of the po- sition in the long, wide, shallow de- pression before him had fathomed the scheme of the savage. The little knot of Indians, jabbering, yelping, prodding and circling about some un- seen object on the turf, feigning ig- noEance 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- citement of the moment, far ahead three miles, perhaps-of the main body, and so enable the lurking band behind that second curtain, the far ther ridge, to come sweeping down to surround, overw>helm and butcher the luckless few, then be of to safe distance long before the mass of the troop could possibly reach the scene.
 No 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 a baby. Look, Field" he continued. They were jabbing 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 rldge, and we'll do a little fooling of our oyvn.-
 And SD, with occasional peep at feathered warriors on the far left flank, and frequent hoverings of small parties on the distant front, Rays nervy half:hundred pushed steadily on. Two experiments had satisfied the Sioux that the captain himself was in command, and they had long since recognized the sorrels. They knew old Ray was not to be caught ! by time-worn tricks. They had failed to pick of the advance. or the officers, as the troop approached the second l ridge. Lame WOlf's big bard was coming fast, but only dozen of his ! warriors sent flashing forward. had as yet reached Stabber- The latter . was too weak in numbers to think of . fighting on even terms, and as Ray . seemed determined to come ahead. . why not let him? Word was sent to l Wolf not to risk south of the Elk ' Tooth spur. There in the breaks and !. rsvines would be a famous place to | lie in ambush. leaving to stabber the duty of drawing the soldiers into the J net SO there in the breaks tkey 4 waited while Rays long skirnish line