The Taney County republican., 1913-09-04
Molly
Mcdonald |
s.--- BY -s-,s
Randall |
Parrish |
Uslsnsszauusluzzzuuss
CHAPTER XXxVlIl.
At Camp Supply.

story OF HamlIn's ride from the banks
Of the Washita to Camp Supply. It
remains one Of the epics Of the plains,
one OF the proud traditions OF the
army. To the man himself those hours
Of danger, struggle and weariness,
were more a dream than reality.
He passed through them almost un-
consciously, a soldier performing his
duty In utter forgetfulness Of self,
neryed by the discipline Of years Of
service, by the Importance of his mis-
sion, and by memory Of Molly Melon
aid. Love and duty held him reeling
In the saddle, brought him safely to
the journeys end.
Let the details pass unwritten. Be
meath the darkening skies OF early
evening, the Sergeant and the Usage
guide rode forth into the peril and
mystery Of the shrouded desert. Be-
yond the outmost picket, moving as
silently as two specters, they found
at last a coulee leading upward from
the valley to the plains above. To
their left the Indian fires swept in
half circle, and between were the
dark outlines Of savage foes. From
rock TO rock echoed cultural voices,
but, foot by foot, unnoted by the keen
eyes, the two crept steadily on
through the midnight Of that shelter
Ing ravine, dismounted, hands clasp
ing the nostrils OF their ponies, feel
ing through the darkness for each
step, halting breathless at every
Crackle of a twig, every crunch of
snow under foot. Again and again
they paused, silent, motionless, as
some apparition of savagery outlined
itself between them and the sky, yet
slowly, steadily, every instinct Of the
plains exercised, they passed unseen.
In the earliest gray OF dawn the
two wearied men crept out upon the
upper plateau, dragging their horses.
Behind, the mists OF the night still
hung heavy and dark over the valley,
yet with new sense of freedom
they swung into their saddles, faced
sternly the chill wind of the north
and rode forward across the desolate
snow fields. II was no boys play!
The tough. half.broken Indian ponies
kept steady stride, leaplng the drifts,
skImmlng rapidly along the bare hill
sides. From dawn to dark scarcely a
word was uttered. By turns they
slept In the saddle, the one awake
gripping the others rein. Once, in u
strip OF cottonwood beside q frozen
creek, they paused to light fire and
mafe a hasty meal. Then they were
of again, facing the frosty air, rid
Ing straight into the north. Before
them stretched the barren snow.clad
Bteppes, forlorn and shelterless, with
scarcely q mark Of guidance any
where, a dismal wilderness, Intersect-
ed by gloomy rayines and frozen
creeks. Hero and there a river, the
water Icy cold and covered with float
Ing ice, barred their passage; down
in the valleys the drifted snow turned
them aside. Again and again the
struggling ponies fioundered to their
ears, or slid headlong down some
steep declivity. Twice Hamlln was
thrown, and once tho Usage was
crushed between floating cakes and
submerged In the icy stream. Across
the open barrens swept the wind into
their faces, a ceaseless buffeting, chill
ing to the marrow; their eyes burned
in the snow.glare. Yet they rode on
and on, voiceless, suffering in the
grim silence Of despair. fit denlzens
OF that scene Of utter desolation.
At the Cimarron the half.frozen In
dian collapsed falling from his saddle
into the snow utterly exhausted. Stag.
gering himself like n drunken man.
the Sergeant dragged the nerveless
body into a crevice OF the bluff out
OF the wild sweep OF the wind, tram
pied aside the snow into e. wall Of
shelter, built hasty fire, and poured
hot coffee between the shlvering lips,
With the earliest gray of another
dawn, the white man caught the
strongest pony, and rode on alone. lie
never knew the story OF those hours
only that his trail led straight into
the north. He rode erect at first, then
leaning forward clinging to the name;
now and then he staggered along on
foot dragging his pony by the rein.
Once he stopped to eat, breaking the
Ice In a creek for water. 1t began to
snow, the thick fall of flakes blotting
out the horizon, leaving him to STUN
BILE blindly through the murk. Then
darkness came, wrapping him In a
cloak OF silence In the midst OF that
unspeakEble desert. His limbs stiff
fened, his brain reeled from intense
fatigue. He dragged himself back into
the saddle, pressing the pony into a
slow trot. Suddenly out Of the wall
OF gloom sprang the yellow lights Of
Camp Supply. Beneath these winking
eyes OF guidance there burst the red
glare OF fire. Even as he saw 1t the
pony fell. but the exhausted man had
forgotten now everything but duty.
The knowledge that he had won the
long struggle brought him new
strength. He wrenched his feet free
from the stirrups, and ran forward,
calling to the guard. They met him,
and he stood straight before them, ev-
cry nerve taut--a soldier.