Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-03-12

EsS A "IT WAS THE SIGHT OF PUFFs OF
 SMOKE SAILING SEWARD FROM l THE CREST OF THE MIDDLE
 TOOTH THAT CAUGHT RAYS AT
 TENTION."
 teeth" the Indians had called these odd projections, and one of them, the middle one of the three most promi- nent, was a landmark seen many a mile except to the south and west. Eagle Butte was the only point south of the Big Horn and in the valley of the Platte from which it could be seen, and famous were these two points in the old days of the frontier for the beacon fires that burned or the mirror signals that flashed on their summits when the war parties of the Sioux were afield.
 It was the sight of the puffs of smoke sailing skyward from the crest of the middle tooth that caught Rays attention the moment he reached the second ridge. A moment more had been devoted to recalling some of his eager men who, from the extreme right of the swinging skir- mish line, had broken away in pursuit of certain intentional laggards. Then a dozen of the Indians, finding them selves no longer followed, gathered at comparatively safe distance across the prairie, and, while in eager con sultation, found time for taunting, challenging and occasionally firing at the distant and angering troopers, whom Sergeant Scott had sharply or dered back, and Ray, after calm sur vey of these fellows through his glass, had then leveled it at the trio of buttes along the distant ridge, and turned to Field, sitting silent and disappointed by his side.
 There, Field," said the captain. "Take this glass and look at those signal smokes-Stabber has more men now at his call than he had when he started, and more yet are coming. They were just praying that you would charge with handful of men. They would have let you through, then closed around and cut you off. Do you see, boy?"
 Field touched his hat brim. "You know them best, sir," was the brief answer. What l wanted was chance at those fellows hanging about our front and calling us names"
 You'll get it, I'm thinking, before we're an hour older. They know whither we're bound, and mean to delay us all they can. An, Clayton" he added, as the junior lieutenant rode up to join them, while his pla- toon dismounted to reset saddles be- hind the screen of the skirmish line. Men look full of fight. don't they? There, if anywhere, is where we'll get it. I've just been showing Field those signal smokes. Mount and follow when we're half way down to that clump of eottopwoods yonder. We must reach those people at the stage station tonight, and I may have to give these beggars a lesson first. Watch for my signal and come ahead lively if l turn toward you and swing my hzt. All ready, Field. Shove ahead.
 And this was the last conference between the three officers that event full morning. As once again the ad- vance guard pushed cautiously for ward toward the banks of the arroyo in the bottom. Ray turned to Field. "skirmish work suits you better than office duty. Field. You look far live Her than you did yesterday. Don't you begin to see that the major was right in sending you out with us?"
 And the dark eyes of the trained and experienced soldier shone kindly into the face of the younger man.
 I'm glad to he with you, Capt. Ray" was the prompt answer. .'It isn't-my being sent. but the way I was sent, or the-csuse for which I was sent that stings me. I thought then. and think now. that if you had been post commander it wouldn't have been done. I don't know yet what charge has been laid at my door--
 There was no time to talk of req sons. Field" interrupted Ray. though his keen eyes were fixed on the dis tsnt ridge ahead. beyond which the last of the Indians had now disap- peared. The outermost troopers. with Sergeant Scott, were within a few hundred yards of the little elump of cottonwood. that marked the site of a water hole To the right and left of it curved and twisted the dry water course between it's low. jagged. precipitOBs banks Behind the ad- vance. full 60 yards. rode the skir- TBish line from the first platoon. a dozsn strong Far out 10 the east and west the fsnkers moved steadily Borthward. keenIy watching the slopes beyond them and scanning the crooked line of arroyo ahead Not a sign st the moment could be seen If the painted foe yet every man in the troop well knew they s-srued