Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1919-10-02
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most youthful in contrast with
wealth Of gray hair.
GLOW long have you been here at
Armstrong, lieutenant?" he ques-
toned, toying with an official-looking
paper in his hands.
"Only about three weeks, sir. I
came north on the Enterprise, with
dispatches from General Gaines.''
Il remember; you belong to the
Fifth. and without orders, I promptly
dragooned you into garrison service"
His eyes laughed. "Only sorry I can
not hold you any longer. It seems you
have an application pending for fur
lough."
Eyes, sir"
1T Is my pleasure to inform you
that 1t has been granted-slxty days.
with permission to proceed east. There
has been considerable delay evidently
In locating you.'
A sudden vision arose before me Of
my mothers face and Of the old home
among the hills as I took the paper
from his extended hands and glanced
ut the printed and written lines.
"The date is month ago."
"That need not trouble you, Knox.
The furlough begins with this deliv.
cry. However, as shall require your
services as far as st. Louis. I shall
date this acceptance from the time Of
your arrival there"
(which is very kind, sir"
"Not at all. You have proven Of
considerable assistance here, and /
shall part from you with regret. /
have letters for Governor Clark Of
Missouri and Governor Reynolds Of
Illinois; also one to General Atkinson
at Jefferson barracks, detailing my
views on the present Indian situation.
These are confidential, and / hesitate
to intrust them to the regular mail
service. l had intended sending them
down river in charge Of a noncommis-
stoned officer, but shall now utilize
your services instead-that is Il you
are willing to assume their care1" <
every gladly, of course @
II thought as much. Each ofsthese
is to be delivered in person. Captain
Thr0ckmorton informs me that he will
be prepared to depart within an hour.
You can be ready in that timer"
I smiled.
I'm much less. I have little with
me but field kit, sir. It will not re-
qutre long to pack that"
"Then return here at the first whistle
and the letters will be ready for you.
That will be all now. Travel as a
civilian If you please. lieutenant, but
I suggest it will be well to wear the
uniform of your rank when you deliver
the letters"
Fifteen minutes sufficed to gather
together all my belongings and
change from blue into gray, and, as I
emerged from quarters, the officers
of the garrison flocked about me with
words of congratulation and innu-
merable questions. Universal envy of
my good fortune was evident, but this
assumed no unpleasant form, although
much was said to express their be-
lief in my early return.
I shook hands all around, and left
them. Fastening across the parade to
the Office. Ten minutes later I crossed
the gangplank and put foot for the
first time on the deck of the Warrior.
Evidently the crew had been await
ing my arrival to push of, for Instant
~ the whistle shrieked again, and i'm.
mediately after the boat began to
churn its way out into the river cur
rent, with bow pointing down stream.
Thr0ckmorton leaned out from the
open window Of the pilot house and
hailed me.
"Put your dunnage IN the third.
cabin. Knox-here, you. Sam, lay hold
and help"
It was nothing to boast Of, that
third cabin, being a mere hole, meas.
uring possibly about four feet by
seven. but sufficient for sleeping quar-
tiers. and was reasonably clean. It
failed. however. In attractiveness suf-
f1cient to keep me below. and as soon
as I had deposited my bag and in
dulged in somewhat captious scru-
tiny Of the bedding very willingly re-
turned to the otitside and clambered
up steep ladder to the upper deck.
Judge Beaucaire was standing at the
low rail. Our eyes met inquiringly,
and he bowed with all the ceremony
Of the old school.
"a new passenger on boartl, think,
sir" and his deep. resonant voice left
pleasant impression. 'sYou must
have Joined our company at Fort
Armstrong;"
"Your supposition is correct" I an.
swered,. some peculiar constraint pre-
venting me from referring to my MILL
tary rank. my name is Knox. and /
have been about the island for few
weeks. I believe you are Judge Beau.
caire Of Miss0uri?"
lie was aplendldly proportloned
{ Z = b. 10 < - $40 . i : =