Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-07-08
I lotion
OF THE TENTH
ey EILEEN

CllApllCl Ssil VIZ VIC iti3o W las
bungalow and admitted it to himself
he laid much of the blame or his own
shoulders.
The robber bands of India. known as
dacoitS, had been busy around Aliwal.
and squads Of British cavalry We're
being sent u every few days to de-
stroy them. Your true dacoit is not
only a -obber. but Il fighter as well.
He robs his OWN race whenever OPP
p~ortuaity offers and fights the British
whenever and wherever he meets
them. He is Il coed shot. 4 brave foe.
and there are honor and promotion TO
be had in wiping him off the face of
the earth. Young Dauforth had lately
joined the Tenth. He had family and
political influence and a fortune be-
hind him. and be had a personality
which made friends. There could be
No greater privilege than to be sent
out at the head of Il detachment to
give the dacoits II wllirl. When the
time can. that the colonel could do
young Danforth this favor be had a
long and quiet talk with him. He
posted him as to the characteristics
and tactics of the foe and warned
him of the pitfalls that even veteran
officers might fall into. He was to
find the enemy and destroy him, but
he was cautioned against impetuosity
and useless sacrifice of men. This eN-
petition was TO be the young officers
"tryout." He had never been under
fire. and he could not claim full kim
ship with the regiment until he had.
They gave Young Danforth Il British
sergeant and corporal and thirty-eight
Sikh troopers. Under an officer in
whom be has confidence there is no
better soldier than the Sikh. His on,y
weak point is that he must have his
foe in front of him. Danforth had the
luck to strike 4 band of robbers within
twenty miles of the post. They had
captured q village and We're pillacin@
1t WAS testified to by 4 dozen Silks
that he was as cool as an old veteran.
He sent scouts forward To ascertain
the strength OF the enemy and the lay
of the lanG. and at the head OF his
forty men be charged into the village
and routed out the band OF 80. He
lost two llen and killed q dozen. and
it was n little affair to he proud Of. He
held lis men We'll in hand and was on
the watch for trickery, and had all the
troopers been Europeans all would have
gone wei! .tS the robbers retreated
over broken ground men We're flung off
from either flank to create an ambush,
They We're few in number and only
half hearted. but as they opeued fire
the Sikhs bolted. There were confu-
sion and Il rout. and the pursuers be-
fight ended the sergeant and corporal
were missing,
A our martial was demanded by
young Danforth. No sooner had the
detachment returned than the remnant
of the Sikhs began to whisper about
incompetency and cowardice. They
praised the officer for his fight at the
village. but they declared that his COW
ardice when he found himself in 4
tight place had brought about disas'
ter. His defense was straightforward
and clear. There was not an officer
who doubted one of his statements
and he was honorably acquitted Of the
charge. but q stain had been left be
hind. 1t was felt by men and officers
that to be even suspected OF cowardict
was a smirch on the name Of the regi
ment. 1t was agreed that the Sikh:
had lied to excuse their W coward
ice. and there was the verdict Of thu
court martial. vet the cloud was no
d~issipated.
Young Danforth could not fail t
notice the change in the attitude of hi
brother officers. They did not cut him
but they had to make an effort to b.
friendly. Pretty soon hints wer
thrown out that it would be we'll 70
him to transfer or leave the service
: Then he went to the colonel and said:
~ was charged with cowardtce b,
the Silks. Had my sergeant and col
poral lived to come back with m
could have had witnesses to prove t
the contrary. The court martial too
my word. however. and I was honor
ably acquitted. realize that ! ar
tainted. There are hints that ough
to transfer or resign. With your pei
mission I shall remain right here an
hope for something to happen"
81 believe hat the Sikhs perjure
themselves" quietly replied the cole
mel, land perhaps it will be the wises
thing you can do to stay on"
The words were kind and fair, bt
no grip of the hand accompanied then
In his heart Of hearts the colonel ha
hoped the subaltern would go ava.
though at the same time he realize
that only an innocent a would hay
cared to remain. Young Danforth le
no more expeditions, and montl
rolled away before anything happene
to put his case in a more favorab
light. Then a number Of dacoits WEI
captured. Among them We're w
three who had fought him that da
They boosted of how they had drive
his Sikhs; they praised the courage
had exhibited in seeking to rally thei
There was an increase OF cordiali
after that. but the Subaltern gave I