The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1913-12-26
CHAPTER xxxviii.
Al Camp Supply.

There are yet living in that great
Southwest those who will retell the
story of Hamlin's ride from the banks
of the Washita to Camp Supply. II
remains one Of the epics Of the plains.
one Of the proud traditions OF
army. To the mar himself those hours
Of danger. struggle and WEAKNESS.
were more a dream than a reality.
He passed through them almost IN
consciously. a soldier performing MS
duty in utter forgetfulness OF sell.
nerved 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 reelins
in the saddle, brought him safely to
the journeys end.
Let the details pass unwritten. Be
meath the d%arhening 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 al
silently as two specters. they found
at last a coulee leading upward from
the valley to the plains above. To
their left the Indian Ares 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 eacn
step, hating breathless at every
crackle Of a twig. every crunch o.
snow under foot. Again and agar
they paused, silent. motionle3s. al
some apparition Of savagery outlined
itself between them and the sky. We
slowly, steadily, every instinct OF tn
plains exercised, they passed unseen
In the earliest gray OF dawn tn
two wearied men crept out upon tn
upper plateau, dragging their horses
Behind. the mists Of the night still
hung heavy and dark over the valley
vet with a new sense of freedor
they swung into their saddles, face
| SIeTnlN tne Culll Wln0 vi NhC " =
and rode forward across the desolat
snow fields. 1t was no boys play
The tough, half-broken Indian ponie
kept steady stride. leaping the drift
skimming rapidly along the bare hill
sides. From dawn to dark scarcely
word was uttered. BY turns the
slept in the saddle, the n awai
gripping the others rein. Once, In
strip OF cottonwood beside a froze
creek, they paused to light a fire ar
make a hasty meal Then they we
of again, facing the frosty air. ri
ing straight into the north. Befo'
them stretched the barren snow-cls
steppes, forlorn and shelterless. wi
scarcely a mark Of guidance an
where. a dismal wilderness. interse'
ed by gloomy ravines and froz'
creeks. Here and there . river. q
water icy cold and covered with flo;
ing Ice, barred their passage; doy
in the valleys the drifted snow turn
. them aside. Again and again I
struggling ponies ioundered to th'
ears, or slid headlong down sor
steep declivity. Twice HamNn "
n thrown. and once the CeGge W
d uushsd between floating cakes a
d submerged In the icy stream. Aero
8 the open barrens swept the wind in
n their faces. a ceaseless %buffeting. CHI
ing to the marrow; their eyes burn
g. In the snow-glare. Yet they rode
and on. voiceiess. suffering in I
re grim silence Of despair. At denis@
n Of that scene Of utter desolation.