Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1913-05-08
CHAPTER II--contlnued.


Is threatened.
CHAPTER II--Contlnued.
mo! Oh, OF course not. Nothing |
that goes on out here ever drifts east
of the Missouri Lord! We might as
well be serving a foreign country. |
Well, listen: ! was at Washita then, !
and had the story first hand. Dugan
was lieutenant in ID Troop. out
with his first independent command
scouting along the Canadian. He
knew as much about Indians as COW
does of music. One morning the
young idiot left camp with only one
trooper along-Hamlin here-and he
was rookie to follow up what look
ed like fresh trail. Two hours later
they rode slap into war party. and
the fracas was on. Dugan got ball
through the body at the first fire that
paralyzed him. He was conscious. but
couldn't move. The rest was up to
Hamlin. You ought to have heard
Dugan tell 1t when he got so he could
speak. Hamlin dragged the boy down
into buffalo wallow, shot both
horses, and got behind them. II was
all done in the jerk of a lambs tail.
They had two Henry rifles, and the
rookie kept them both hot. He got
some of the bucks, too, but of course,
we never knew how many. There
were twenty in the party, and they
charged twice, riding their ponies al
most to the edge OF the wallow. but
Hamlin had fourteen shots without re-
loading, and they couldn't quite make
It. Dugan said there we're nine dead
ponies within a radium of thirty feet.
Anyhow 1t was FIVE hours before ID
troop came up, and that's what they
found when they got there-Dugan
laid out, as good as dead, and Hamlin
shot twice, and only ten cartridges
left He'll" he added disgustedly,
land you never even heard of 1t east
of the Missouri"
There was a flush Of color on the
sergeant's cheeks. but he never moy-
ed
There was nothing else to do but |
what did" he explained simply. Amy |
of the fellows would have done the |
same If they had been up against 1t
the way I was May ask" his eyes |
first upon one and then the other In
quiringly. what 1t was you wanted
OF me?'
Mcdonald drew a long breath.
Certainly, Sergeant. sit down-yes.
take that chair"
He described the situation in few
words, and the trooper listened quiet
ly until he was done. Travers inter
rupted once, his voice emerging from
a cloud of smoke. AS the major con-
ciuded, Hamlin asked a question or
two gravely.
How old is your daughter, sir?"
"In her twentieth year."
"Have you picture Of the young
lady?"
The major crossed over to his IA
tigue coat hanging on the wall. and
extracted small photograph from an
inside pocket.
This was taken year ago." he ex.
planned, "and was considered a good
likeness then"
Hamlin took the card in his hands.
studied the face moment, and then
placed It upon the table.
you figure she ought to leave Rip
ly on the 18TH" he said slowly. Then
/ shall need to start at once to make
Dodge In time"
You mean to go then? OF course,
you realize l have no authority to or
der you on such private service"
That's true. I'm a volunteer. but
I'll ask you for written order just
the same In case my troop command
er should ever object and I'll need
fresh horse; rode mine pretty hard
coming up here" .a#
You shall have the pick of the
stables, sergeant" interjected the cav
airy captain, knocking the ashes ,
from his pipe. Anything else? Have ,
you had rest enough?" II
-Four hours" and the sergeant [
stood up again. "All require will be !
two days rations, and few more re- |
volver cartridges. The sooner I'm OF !
the better" II
II he heard Trayers' attempt at
conversation as the two stumbled to-
gether down the dark hilll. he paid (
small attention. At the stables, aided ,
by a smoky lantern, he picked out a |
tough-looking buckskin mustang, with /
an evil eye; and, using his own saddle '
and bride. he finally led the half-brok- |
en- animal outside. II
That buckskin's the devils own" i
protested Trayers. careful to keep to '
one side.
I'll take 4. out of him before morn |
Ing" was the reply. Come on, boy!
easy now-easy! How about the ra- {
tions. captain"
Carter wifi have them for you at
the gate of the stockade. Do you know
the trail?" 4
We'll enough to follow-yes"
Mcdonald was waiting with Carter, |
and the dim CLEAN Of the lantern re- 9
Vealed his face. 7
Remember. sergeant, you are to
make her turn back II you can. Tell
her wish her to do so--yes. this let {
ter win explain everything, but she Z
Is pretty high-spirited girl, and may 4
take the bit In her teeth--imagine
shed rather be here with me, and I
all that. II she does / suppose you'll 1
have to let her have her own way {
the Lord knows her mother always /
did. Anyhow you'll stay with her till
she's safe"
i sure WILL" returned the sergeant,
gathering up his reins. "Good-by to
you"
"Good-by and good luck" and Nc
Donald put out his hand, which the
other took hesitatingly. The next In
stant he was in the saddle. and with