The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-06-23
Reversal
By SAMUEL E. BRANT
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

citation. 1911.
A fair haired, blue eyed young officer
Of the United States army knelt in Q
narrow canyon in the far west. Before
him was an improvised fort about the
size Of those made by boys out OF
snow, though Lieutenant Osborne's
fredoubt was composed Of loose stones
gathered from the dry bed Of a creek
in which it was located. In its center
an opening had been left, through
which protruded the muzzle Of the
onacer's rife, the butt Of which rested
against his shoulder.
There was no sound ave the rustic
Of the leaves Of the trees, no motion
save a slight swaying Of the branches
and the hopping about Of a chipmunk
which finally stopped on a limb, sat
upon its launches, looked at Osborne
out Of the side Of it's head with n OF
its bright little eyes and seemed to
say:
"What are you doing there"
This was what the lieutenant was
doing there: He was n Of the garrt-
son Of q fort not many miles distant.
| Rosa Hammond, who had been visit
ing her married sister, had that day
left the fort to return to the east. o.
borne had the evening before offered
her his heart and hand. Not being GER
tain of her feelings for him-she was a
conscientious girl-she had taken b
benefit Of the doubt and refused him.
Her refusal did not make any differ
ence in. her lovers feelings for her.
He had his doubts as to the safety Of
her journey to the railroad terminal.
Rumors were current that Indians
whom the garrison was intended to
keep in order were meditating rebel
lion. Rebellion meant murder and
scalps. The colonel commanding pooh.
poohed. Nevertheless on the morning
Of Miss Hammond's departure Osborne
arose long before reveille, took his r.
fe and a belt of ammunition, mounted
his horse and started alone to act as
q skirmish line over the route the girl
he loved would pass. She was to trav-
ell in an ambulance with an escort OF
half a dozen mounted outriders and to
start at 8 o'clock in the morning.
Osborne had ridden over the route
Miss Hammond was to travel along a
ridge looking down on to the plains.
Not caring to put too great a distance
between himself and the ambulance, he
turned to ride back when below or
the open ground he saw a band of not
less than fifty warriors huddled to.
gether looking up at the ridge OH
which he stood, but at a point between
him and the fort. With the quick in.
stinct of one used to such q life, he in
ferred at II that they were looking
at the ambulance containing what was
dearer to him than his life.
Osborne was peering through foliage
and consequently invisible to the In
dams. AS he looked they dashed of,
making straight for the mouth Of a
canyon leading from the plain up to
the ridge. their purpose evidently be.
ing to come up through the canyon and
ambush the party with the ambulance
when 1t came along. Osborne hesitat-
ed for a moment between two plans.
Should he ride back and arn the par
ty, or should he go down the canyon,
fortify himself in q narrow gorge and
delay the Indians till the party had
passed? A move Of the Indians decid.
ed him. A dozen or more bucks broke
away from the body Of the savages
and rode toward the mouth Of a can
yon leading up to the rear Of the trav-.
elers. Osborne dismounted and tied
his horse to q tree. He could not use
the animal in the canyon. and when the
travellers came along the horse would
serve as a warning to them. Then the
lieutenant dropped down into the an
yon.
The route up the canyon from lie
mouth was difficult. and, though the
distance was not great, the Indians
made slow progress. The point chosen
for the improvised fortress command.
Cd an open space widening downward.
Hsaring the breaking Of undefbrush
at the farther end Of the opsn, Osborne
put himself on the alert aud when .
redskin broke. through Cred. The buck
pitched forward on his face. Two or
three mpre,indians -bre&e into the opea
1t brief intervals. ard Osborne dropped
every one Of them 10 'h4 appeared. >.
IAdians are not prone to nghtinG
what they. have NO knowledse Of. and
not another oHs;of ,thsm5care.siptpe he
open. They wers rieconnoiterihs lie
toy fort with one man in y. tAepgh.
they could not soa the man. and III