Year: 1869

A storm had ragged all day; the bel
lowing blast carrying with it dirt and fine
particles of sand,uutil the cloud was not
only binding, but till it was next to AIM
possible for human being to venture
from under cover without having the very
flesh lacerated or peeled from the bones.


Tents lay scattered and rent in every
direction, and some of the 'sdobie" guar
ters had even been leveled with their
mother earth. Indeed, Fort Sedgwick
presented much such an appearance as
might have been expected had band
of Sioux Indians made Il successful as
sault upon the place.


As the darkness came on the wind
ceased to some extent, and then q steady
storm set in, almost as terrible as was
the sand tempest of the day. 1t was
densely dark, and this darkness was IA
vorable to the movements Of savage
band, who had lurked in q shallow "a
vine behind the bluffs back about two
miles from the Platte river


The bugles at the fort had just sound
ed the tattoo and taps, when one OF the
band referred to arouse from his pros
trated position, and, as be did SO, gave
vent to a coarse and mocking laugh.


Immediately after small light shot
up He ignited match for the purpose
Of lighting his pipe, and the brief fame,
as he protected it from the wind with
his fur cap, revealed his features. dc
was hideous in the extreme land although
painted like a savage, it was easy for an
experienced eye to detect the fact that
he was not SC. Then his voice and
words were another proof, for turning
round he spoke thus:


MEN, you will understand that our
work must be quickly performed. At
the first alarm those have designed
vii. dash into the quartermaster' the
suffers and the commissary's | have
business at the commandments quarters,
and this l shall perform alone. l shall
be successfuls and if you are not equally
so the fault will be your own-not mine.
In all cases of this kind you must re-
solve that you will never know the mean
ing of failure. Come and be cautious y


Some twenty OF thirty dark forms
were seen to arise as if out of the ground
and then they silently took their way
down the bluffs toward the fort. Soon,
however, the band separated, and every
one of the number proceeded onward,
singly. Those who had received their
instructions from the ,master-spirit SIM
ply contented themselves with gaining
certain positions, and avoiSEng every
sentinel. Not so with the leader.


When this person had arrived within
q hundred yards of the hospital, he
paused and stood silently surveying the
camp. Here and there were dim lights,
but barracks and tents generally were
wrapped in gloom. After time the
man muttered:s


"Everything favors me tonight, and
l feel like tiger 0, shall succeed
If l do not, death will be the only thing
which will prevent me. Do ] love that
girl? l SCARCELY know. / have strange
feelings when in her presence. Some
thing of the past comes up before me !;
but the recollection is like dim dream.
l am puzzled Many is the time l have
felt an inclination to spring upon her,
even as the tiger would ona young fawn
and rend her into pieces; and then |
have felt again as though | must fold
her to my breast and weep. Curse upon
it-what is this? Hang me if | don't
think that tear drop has already start
ed from my eyes and daInpened my
cheek. Pshaw! Mad Leon, the rene
gade, weep! Preposterous. 1t is only
melted ice drops; melted 5y its contact
with my warm cheek. But never shall
my heart be Melted


"Slowly did the renegade now advance
and as he approached near the hospital
he crouched lower and lower, until he
actually crawled upon his belly like q
serpent Now he reached the building,
and then he clung closely to the walls.
still retaining his PROSTATE position.


1t was but moment after that foot
fall was heard, and guard passed the
villain, who was not discovered. The
solder was closely wrapped in his great
coat; while he carried his carbine in such
Il manner as to protect it from the damp.
He did not dream that even death was
lowering so near him. a moment after
he turned, and then paused exactly at
the place where the renegade was lying
But quick as lightning's fash he was
hurled to the earth, and the dark mon
ster was upon his breast A sharp cry
arose, and then it became death vail
merging into a moan and silence, for
huge knife was plunged into the Quiver
ing breast Of the guard, and his life
gushed forth with his crimson gore.


The murderer had clutched the throat
of his victim in order to prevent any
out cry from the dying man, and had
only partially succeeded. He now rails
ed his head and listened attentively, but
no sound gave indication that the voice
of the soldier ha6 attracted attention
Raising the corpse in his arms the rem
egade bore it some distance to the rear,
and deposited it in the dead weeds.-
Doing so, he exclaimed:


"a good general always leaves an
opening for retreat in case of defeat, and
1 will do so by disposing Of every guard
in this direction. There is but one
more to deal with, l think, and he is be
hind the quarters of the General com
manding."


Mad Leon crept forward as before,
and soon the soldier referred to shared
the same fate as the first; but his cry
was louder, and was not entire! y unhecd-
ed, for window where light had been
burning was thrown up, and voice
asked: ..I


"What is the matter down there ?"


The dying man struggled hard to
speak but the renegade prevented, while
he answered himself:


"Nothing that am aware o."


s'But l heard cry


$50 did l it was one Of the prowling
coyotes." -t' ..@.'


No further question was asked, and
the villain saw that the light which he
had before observed had Disappeared