The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-26

exhibition at riding school. FIRST
Sergeant Harris had held his place for
ten years, and no soldier had a better
record. He was looking owlishly wise
as the command rode out and the col
onel glanced at him.
Five miles down the road the Salt
Valley trail came in The lieutenant
was riding ahead of the command and
without order from him the troopers
turned off the main trail. As soon as
he discovered their action he rode al
ter them calling a halt. No halt was
made He rode nearer and shouted
louder, but not man halted nor looked
back The aStOunded officer then
pushed to the front and with sabre
waving above his head, commanded a
halt He and his horse were pushed
aside by the men, who came riding
steadily on.
Sergeant, what in HI does this
mean p he exclaimed, as he forgot dis
cipline for moment and rode at Ser
geant Harris.
Too much drill" quietly answered
But this is mutiny-rank mutinyl"
Halt! Haiti I command you to halt!
If you don't obey orders I win have
every man ourt-martialed.'
No man halted. The lieutenant sat
his horse and cursed and ragged. He
might, il the command ever returned
to the fort prefer charges against every
man, but It could not fail to smirch
MN 10 an extent. he WOULD De REWEQ
and ridiculed, no matter how the affair
terminated The men were a mile
ahead when he rode after them. He
was still too angry to try Cancellation.
He had never been taught at West
Point that private soldiers could be
brought willfully and maliciously to
disobey orders.
AS he came up with the men he drew
his revolver and fired its contents over
their heads and shouted for a halt.
M 1ffeTfinr1 given hi half 2
moment later the sergeant repeated
the words and the command came to a
halt.
men. I want to know what this
means p said the lieutenant, in a hoarse
voice and trembling down to his toes
You are off the road and you refuse
to obey orders. Are you deserving in
a body?''
man in chorus, and then the sergeant
gave the word to move on
The cadet officer could say nothing
in reply. He could not ride back to
the fort alone and report that the COM
pany had mutinied, and he could not
exact obedience from the men where
they were. He followed after the
troop in a maze, not knowing what step
to take. The problem was solved for
him. Suddenly there was a rifle shot
ahead quickly followed by three or
four more, and the bullets came sing
ing over the troopers heads. There
were Indians ahead.
Right and left wheel and take COW
err" shouted the sergeant and a mo-
ment later the men were lined across
the road and had the shelter of rocks
and timber
The young officer. had chafed at the
thought that the campaign was over
and he had not had hand in it. He
had been told that it might be two
/ years before he would have a chance
to see a hostile redskin and yet here
4 n mr. hi 17x
/ had virtually mutinied and he had no
authority over them. He cursed and
/ shed tears as he thought of it, and 1t
was like blow upon blow as he heard
/ the sergeant's voice shouting:
Extend right and left fanksi Fire
\ slow and don't waste your bulletsi
Horse holders lead the horses to the
reari''
geant. His face was white and his
voice would not come, and the grim old
non-commissioned officer pitied the
boy as he looked into his eyes.
Your chance, sir he said.
And the men won't obey me and
am disgraced!" whispered the ieuten-
ant
rs it fight or drilI?v
For moment the cadet hesitated
It was hard for him to surrender, but
maybe he had been too hard on the
men. If the other officers were salts
fed with the discipline he ought to be
Its fight and fight like h-l.' he
| shouted
Take command then. Boys. the
lieutenant is in command. Extend still
further to the left and fight like I'LL!
And they did and beat off a force Of
two hundred Indians and returned t.
the fort with glory and renown and no
for a year did any man outside tbs
company know that military tactics
had been reversed for once and an Off
Ger disciplined instead of a private
Copyright. 1906. by Homer Sprague.