diff options
| author | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-03-08 04:16:44 -0800 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-03-08 04:16:44 -0800 |
| commit | 9891c7d8ce96135cc229c67c74c6d0cac217f402 (patch) | |
| tree | 8df98f2f9ea8d83ae1465a41508781ac591fa251 | |
| parent | 2cb067b78d65d2bcf266288e57bd4c61da4163cd (diff) | |
| -rw-r--r-- | 42150-0.txt (renamed from 42150-8.txt) | 397 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 42150-8.zip | bin | 168152 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 42150-h.zip | bin | 545070 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 42150-h/42150-h.htm | 424 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 42150.txt | 8405 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 42150.zip | bin | 168133 -> 0 bytes |
6 files changed, 6 insertions, 9220 deletions
diff --git a/42150-8.txt b/42150-0.txt index e737980..d56c74f 100644 --- a/42150-8.txt +++ b/42150-0.txt @@ -1,37 +1,4 @@ -Project Gutenberg's With Sully into the Sioux Land, by Joseph Mills Hanson - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: With Sully into the Sioux Land - -Author: Joseph Mills Hanson - -Illustrator: John W. Norton - -Release Date: February 21, 2013 [EBook #42150] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WITH SULLY INTO THE SIOUX LAND *** - - - - -Produced by sp1nd, Martin Pettit and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42150 *** WITH SULLY INTO THE SIOUX LAND @@ -408,7 +375,7 @@ if they were to escape destruction. When her husband, as previously mentioned, started for the pasture, Mrs. -Briscoe reëntered the house, a log building of three rooms, quite +Briscoe reëntered the house, a log building of three rooms, quite capacious for the region and the time, and pulling a trunk from the corner of each of the bedrooms, began hastily filling them with the family clothing and a few books, standard works, much worn but of good @@ -8044,362 +8011,4 @@ THE END End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of With Sully into the Sioux Land, by Joseph Mills Hanson -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WITH SULLY INTO THE SIOUX LAND *** - -***** This file should be named 42150-8.txt or 42150-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/2/1/5/42150/ - -Produced by sp1nd, Martin Pettit and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project -Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you -charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you -do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the -rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose -such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and -research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do -practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is -subject to the trademark license, especially commercial -redistribution. - - - -*** START: FULL LICENSE *** - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at - www.gutenberg.org/license. - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy -all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. -If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" -or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the -collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from -copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative -works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg -are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project -Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by -freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of -this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with -the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by -keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project -Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate -access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently -whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, -copied or distributed: - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived -from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is -posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied -and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees -or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work -with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the -work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 -through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional -terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked -to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the -permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), -you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a -copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon -request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other -form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided -that - -- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is - owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he - has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the - Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments - must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you - prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax - returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and - sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the - address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to - the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." - -- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or - destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium - and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of - Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any - money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days - of receipt of the work. - -- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set -forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from -both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm -collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain -"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or -corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual -property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a -computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by -your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. -To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 -and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent -permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. -Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 -North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email -contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the -Foundation's web site and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To -SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any -particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. -To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42150 *** diff --git a/42150-8.zip b/42150-8.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index c525bb6..0000000 --- a/42150-8.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/42150-h.zip b/42150-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 1113ed3..0000000 --- a/42150-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/42150-h/42150-h.htm b/42150-h/42150-h.htm index 690c77d..386e8d3 100644 --- a/42150-h/42150-h.htm +++ b/42150-h/42150-h.htm @@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /> <title> The Project Gutenberg eBook of With Sully Into The Sioux Land, by Joseph Mills Hanson. </title> @@ -67,47 +67,7 @@ </style> </head> <body> - - -<pre> - -Project Gutenberg's With Sully into the Sioux Land, by Joseph Mills Hanson - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: With Sully into the Sioux Land - -Author: Joseph Mills Hanson - -Illustrator: John W. Norton - -Release Date: February 21, 2013 [EBook #42150] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WITH SULLY INTO THE SIOUX LAND *** - - - - -Produced by sp1nd, Martin Pettit and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42150 ***</div> <p class="bold2">WITH SULLY INTO THE SIOUX LAND</p> @@ -8160,384 +8120,6 @@ land.</p> <p class="center space-above">THE END</p> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of With Sully into the Sioux Land, by -Joseph Mills Hanson - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WITH SULLY INTO THE SIOUX LAND *** - -***** This file should be named 42150-h.htm or 42150-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/2/1/5/42150/ - -Produced by sp1nd, Martin Pettit and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project -Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you -charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you -do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the -rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose -such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and -research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do -practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is -subject to the trademark license, especially commercial -redistribution. - - - -*** START: FULL LICENSE *** - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at - www.gutenberg.org/license. - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy -all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. -If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" -or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the -collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from -copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative -works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg -are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project -Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by -freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of -this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with -the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by -keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project -Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate -access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently -whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, -copied or distributed: - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived -from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is -posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied -and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees -or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work -with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the -work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 -through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional -terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked -to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the -permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), -you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a -copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon -request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other -form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided -that - -- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is - owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he - has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the - Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments - must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you - prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax - returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and - sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the - address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to - the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." - -- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or - destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium - and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of - Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any - money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days - of receipt of the work. - -- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set -forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from -both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm -collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain -"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or -corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual -property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a -computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by -your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. -To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 -and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent -permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. -Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 -North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email -contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the -Foundation's web site and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To -SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any -particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. -To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - - - -</pre> - +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42150 ***</div> </body> </html> diff --git a/42150.txt b/42150.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 764bd14..0000000 --- a/42150.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8405 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's With Sully into the Sioux Land, by Joseph Mills Hanson - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: With Sully into the Sioux Land - -Author: Joseph Mills Hanson - -Illustrator: John W. Norton - -Release Date: February 21, 2013 [EBook #42150] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WITH SULLY INTO THE SIOUX LAND *** - - - - -Produced by sp1nd, Martin Pettit and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - -WITH SULLY INTO THE SIOUX LAND - - -BY THE SAME AUTHOR - -THE CONQUEST OF THE MISSOURI. Profusely illustrated. Large 8vo _net_, -$2.00. - -FRONTIER BALLADS. Cover, end-paper design, and illustrations by Maynard -Dixon. Novelty binding. $1.00 _net_ - -A. C. MCCLURG & CO., PUBLISHERS CHICAGO - -[Illustration: Catching up a heavy stick he hurled it at the head of one -of the warriors [CHAPTER III] ] - - -"AMONG THE SIOUX" SERIES - - - - -WITH SULLY INTO THE SIOUX LAND - -BY - -JOSEPH MILLS HANSON - -AUTHOR OF "THE CONQUEST OF THE MISSOURI," -"FRONTIER BALLADS," ETC. - -ILLUSTRATED BY -JOHN W. NORTON - -[Illustration: Logo] - -CHICAGO -A. C. MCCLURG & CO. - -1910 - - -COPYRIGHT -A. C. McCLURG & CO. -1910 - -Published, November 12, 1910 - -Entered at Stationers' Hall, London, England - -PRESS OF THE VAIL COMPANY -COSHOCTON, U. S. A. - - -TO MY FATHER -JOSEPH RANDALL HANSON, -WHO, AS A BOY AND YOUNG MAN ON -THE OLD DAKOTA FRONTIER, LIVED -THROUGH MORE ADVENTURES THAN A -VOLUME COULD DESCRIBE - - - - -CONTENTS - -CHAPTER PAGE - I THE SCOURGE OF THE BORDER 9 - - II THE FLIGHT THROUGH THE DARKNESS 35 - - III BESIEGED IN FORT RIDGELY 54 - - IV REFUGEES 77 - - V HOPE DEFERRED 95 - - VI ON GENERAL SULLY'S STAFF 119 - - VII UP THE MISSOURI 130 - - VIII PRAIRIE MARCHING 149 - - IX THE REVENGE OF THE COYOTES 167 - - X THE FORT ON THE RIVER 183 - - XI TRAILING THE HOSTILES 207 - - XII THE BATTLE OF TAHKAHOKUTY 224 - - XIII BESET IN THE BAD LANDS 253 - - XIV TE-O-KUN-KO 279 - - XV IN THE WAKE OF THE GRASSHOPPERS 302 - - XVI ADRIFT IN A BARGE 319 - - XVII CAPTURED BY GUERILLAS 345 - -XVIII THE DEFENCE OF GLASGOW 372 - - XIX REUNITED 394 - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS - - PAGE -Catching up a heavy stick he hurled it at the -head of one of the warriors _Frontispiece_ - -She charged at him as he fired 159 - -The Indian raised his rifle to shoot Corporal Wright 179 - -He was just pulling himself up 247 - -Bill Cotton protects Al from the guerilla 355 - - - - -WITH SULLY INTO THE SIOUX LAND - - - - -CHAPTER I - -THE SCOURGE OF THE BORDER - - -"Papa is coming, mama! Papa is coming!" - -Tommy Briscoe, brimming over with excitement, ran, shouting, across the -yard and darted into the kitchen, leaving a half emptied pail of milk -standing on the ground before the stable, where a small red calf he had -been feeding promptly upset it. In a moment he reappeared in the -doorway, his mother and little sister Annie behind him. Mrs. Briscoe, a -woman still evidently under middle age but whose sweet, serious face -showed plainly the lines which the patient endurance of hardships draw -upon the faces of most frontier women, looked down the faintly marked -road running away to the southward, surprise and perplexity in her -eyes. Along the road and still some distance away, a horseman was -galloping toward them furiously. The road led only to the Briscoe cabin, -which was distant a number of miles from its nearest neighbors. The -rider could hardly be any other than Mr. Briscoe; moreover, even at that -distance his wife could recognize the color and the short, jerking -gallop of the horse he was riding. - -"It is certainly Chick," she said, half to herself and half to the -children. "But what can bring Tom home so soon? He did not expect to be -back before four or five o'clock and now it is hardly past noon. He must -have left Fort Ridgely almost as soon as he reached there. I hope -nothing is wrong." - -"I hope he got the calico for my dolly's dress," exclaimed Annie, -dancing up and down in anticipation of the gift her father had promised -to bring her when he rode away in the morning. - -"And I hope he got my coyote trap," added Tommy. "The coyotes will carry -off all our chickens, first thing we know." - -He raised the short bow he was carrying and sent a little iron-tipped -arrow whizzing accurately into a tree-trunk fifty feet away. He had been -going out to the meadow in a few minutes, and he never went anywhere -without his bow and arrows, for he was sufficiently expert with them to -bring down now and then a squirrel or a quail and sometimes even a -prairie chicken. - -The two children, unconscious of any cause for uneasiness in their -father's early return, followed Mrs. Briscoe as she stepped from the -door and walked a few paces down the road to meet the approaching rider, -who came on without slacking pace until he drew up beside them. His -horse, a small animal, was dripping with sweat and trembling with -exertion, for it was a hot August day and his rider was a large man. Mr. -Briscoe, for he it was, stepped down from the saddle rather stiffly. His -face was very grave as he kissed his wife and children. - -"Did you get my coyote trap, papa?" cried the little boy, almost before -his father's foot had touched the ground. - -"Did you bring my calico, papa?" chimed in Annie. - -"No, my dears, I hadn't time. You had better run away a minute." He -glanced at his wife significantly. - -"Oh, I'm sorry!" exclaimed Tommy. "But let me unsaddle Chick." He caught -the stirrup leather and swung himself nimbly into the saddle. - -"Go and finish feeding the calf, Annie," said Mrs. Briscoe. - -The little girl, with disappointed face, walked obediently toward the -stable, into which Tommy had already ridden. - -"What has happened, Thomas?" exclaimed Mrs. Briscoe, her voice quivering -with anxiety, as soon as the children were beyond hearing. - -Her husband laid his strong hand reassuringly on her arm. - -"Don't be frightened, Mary," he said, "we shall doubtless get out of it -all right, but we must hurry. The Indians broke out at the Lower Agency -this morning; you know they have been becoming more and more restless -for a good while past. When I reached Fort Ridgely, about eleven, -Captain Marsh had already started for the Agency with about fifty men. -He may have the disturbance crushed by this time. I saw Lieutenant Geer, -who is left in command with forty men. Lieutenant Sheehan marched for -Fort Ripley yesterday with fifty men. Geer would have sent an escort -with me while I came for you but of course he could not spare a man from -the handful he has. I think it would not be really dangerous to stay -here, but to be on the safe side and not expose you and the children to -any risk we had perhaps better pack what we can on the wagon and go to -the fort for a few days till the trouble blows over. Where is Al?" - -Mr. Briscoe was slapping the dust from his coat and hat as he talked. He -tried to speak in as reassuring terms and as confident a tone as -possible, but his wife intuitively knew that he was not telling her all -that was in his mind. - -"Al just went up to the meadow to turn the wind-rows," she said. "Tommy -was going to help him as soon as he finished feeding the calf. Shall he -go for Al?" - -"Yes." - -Mrs. Briscoe called to the boy, who dashed away toward the meadow, -which lay only a short distance north, beyond a thicket of bushes and -small trees. Then she turned to her husband, who was walking into the -stable. - -"You have had no dinner, Tom," she said. - -"No, but I want none." - -"Were any white people killed at the Agency?" she asked, as Mr. Briscoe -came out with a halter and started toward the pasture lot where their -other horse was grazing. He seemed to want to avoid questions, but he -answered: - -"They say there were." - -"Many?" - -Her husband paused. He was not accustomed to conceal things from his -wife. - -"Why," he replied, hesitatingly, "it is reported that all of them were -killed; but that is probably exaggerated, and very likely it will prove -there were none." - -Mrs. Briscoe's face paled a little but she retained her composure. She -asked no more questions, for now she knew all that was necessary for the -present of the gravity of the situation. Moreover, she had supreme -confidence in her husband's judgment. He started again toward the -pasture, saying, as he glanced toward the lumber wagon standing near the -kitchen door: - -"You had better begin putting things in the wagon, Mary. You know what -to take; only the most necessary and valuable things, for we shall -doubtless be back in a few days." - -Indeed, Mrs. Briscoe knew well by hard experience what to take. Once -before during the brief year they had spent in the wild valley of the -Minnesota River, they had fled to Fort Ridgely, about twenty miles south -of their claim, at the alarm of an Indian uprising, which, however, in -that instance had fortunately proved false. That was in the Spring of -1862; it was now August of the same year. When they moved into the -country during the previous August, bringing the few possessions which -remained to them from the wreck of their fortunes in Missouri, their -nearest neighbor lived fourteen miles away. Now there were three pioneer -families within a radius of ten miles of them, and, in comparison with -the earlier isolation of their new home, they felt that the country was -becoming quite densely peopled. But away to the southwest and west of -them, not more than twenty-five miles distant, swarmed a host of -neighbors whose presence there always oppressed their imaginations like -the sight of a low, black bank of thunder clouds when they looked toward -that quarter of the horizon. For southwest, at Red Wood Falls, was the -Lower Agency, the assembling place of the M'dewakanton and the Wakpekute -Indians, and west was the Upper Agency, on the Yellow Medicine River, -where lived or congregated several thousand Sissetons and Wahpetons. -Still further west and extending away to Big Stone Lake, nearly one -hundred miles distant, were some other agencies and missions, where -greater or less bodies of Indians of the above tribes made their -headquarters. The Sissetons and Wahpetons on the Yellow Medicine were -not greatly to be feared. Many of them had become Christians under the -wise and kindly training of such heroic missionaries as Thomas L. Riggs -and Thomas S. Williamson, who with their families had for years lived -and maintained schools among them. Assisted by the United States -Government, many of these Indians had come into the possession of good -homes and farms and were rapidly becoming prosperous and accustomed to -the ways of civilization. - -But the M'dewakantons and Wakpekutes at the Lower Agency were of a -different character. Few of them had ever shown a disposition to settle -down to industry, and generally they spent their time out on the -limitless western prairies of the then newly erected Territory of -Dakota, living the wild, free life of their ancestors and coming to the -Agency only when one of the annual payments was due them for the lands -in Minnesota which they had sold to the Government several years before. -At such times they were usually accompanied to the Agency by many -turbulent spirits from the Sioux tribes living further west, who came to -share in the Government's bounty and the feasting and celebrating which -commonly followed its distribution. - -In the month of August, 1862, the distribution of the Government -payment, for various reasons, had been long delayed, and the wild -Indians, waiting in idleness for it to come instead of being, as they -should have been, out on the prairies hunting buffalo, became constantly -more restless, suspicious and arrogant as time went on. The idea gained -strength among them that the Government intended to cheat them of the -payment. Moreover, they had heard many rumors of the great civil war in -which the United States was engaged, and many white people among them -did not hesitate to make them believe that the Nation was about to be -overthrown, which, indeed, did not seem improbable in 1862 in view of -the many reverses which the Union armies were suffering. Such reports, -coupled with the fact that most of the United States troops along the -Minnesota frontier had been sent to the South and that those remaining -were few and scattered, caused the leaders of the hostile element among -the Minnesota Indians to believe that the time had come when the whites -might be driven back beyond the Mississippi, leaving the Indians again -in possession of all their old territories west of that stream. At the -time the Briscoe family had come into the country this feeling did not -yet exist among the Indians, but during the Spring and Summer of 1862 -many exciting incidents had occurred at the Agencies and elsewhere, in -which the growing arrogance and self-confidence of the hostiles had been -made plain. Of these incidents Mr. Briscoe had been made aware through -his occasional trips to Fort Ridgely after supplies, and, having had -some previous experience of the ways of Indians in the Southwest, he had -been disquieted and apprehensive for the future. But he had kept his -misgivings to himself as far as possible, not caring to alarm his family -needlessly. - -He knew that, early in August, Little Crow, the hereditary chief of the -M'dewakantons, had been deposed from the chieftainship by his fellow -tribesmen because of his attitude on an unpopular treaty made sometime -before, and that the crafty old chief was eager to find some means of -recovering his lost honors. He knew that Inkpaduta, the most cruel and -bloodthirsty leader of all the Sioux Nation, together with a throng of -his outlawed followers who had participated with him in the atrocious -massacre of the white settlers at Spirit Lake, Iowa, in 1857, was -hovering about the Lower Agency and mingling with the four or five -thousand dissatisfied Indians who were gathered there, waiting with -increasing impatience for the arrival of the annuity, and in a mood to -listen eagerly to any suggestions of massacre and pillage which might be -poured into their ears by Inkpaduta and his villainous companions. But -what he did not know until he rode into Fort Ridgely on that terrible -morning of August 18, 1862, was that on the previous day a wandering -party of young M'dewakanton braves had murdered three white men and two -white women near the hamlet of Acton, forty miles north of Fort Ridgely -and about twenty from his own claim; that the young assassins had then -ridden post-haste to the Lower Agency and with their news of bloodshed, -which was like a match in a powder magazine, had set the whole savage -horde assembled there into a frenzy for the blood of the whites; that -Little Crow, seeing in a flash the opportunity for regaining the chief -control of his tribe and, indeed, of the whole Sioux Nation, by leading -them in a triumphant war, had given the word to the Indians--who had -instinctively turned to him in the crisis--for a general uprising and -massacre of all the whites; and that, in accordance with his orders and -the mad impulse of the crowd, they had swarmed over the Agency, -slaughtering every white person whom they could find,--store-keepers, -Government employees, men, women, and children. - -All these things Mr. Briscoe knew, though in a confused and imperfect -way, when he met his wife after his swift homeward journey from Fort -Ridgely. But, being a brave man and one who had served his country with -honor and courage during the Mexican War, he faced the situation with -coolness and at the same time began preparing swiftly for the instant -flight of his family to the fort. He realized that this was imperative -if they were to escape destruction. - - -When her husband, as previously mentioned, started for the pasture, Mrs. -Briscoe reentered the house, a log building of three rooms, quite -capacious for the region and the time, and pulling a trunk from the -corner of each of the bedrooms, began hastily filling them with the -family clothing and a few books, standard works, much worn but of good -editions and carefully kept. From a locked cupboard drawer in the -kitchen she brought a small box containing a few pieces of handsome -silver ware, some of recent pattern but most of it old, into which she -looked carefully before depositing it in one of the trunks. Two small -oil paintings in frames she packed carefully, and when these had been -disposed of in the trunks little remained in the slenderly furnished -house except its rude furniture, largely homemade, the bedding and the -pots and pans and crockery dishes in the kitchen. She had just begun -taking these down and arranging them in a large box when a boy of about -fifteen years, straight and tall for his age, with light complexion, -light hair, and keen gray eyes, bounded into the kitchen from outside, -closely followed by Tommy, who was merely a smaller, eight-year-old -edition of himself. The elder lad stopped short, regarding Mrs. -Briscoe's preparations for departure with startled eyes. - -"What's the matter, mother?" he exclaimed. "What are you going to do?" - -"Your father has just come back from the fort, Al. Haven't you seen -him?" - -"No, mother." - -"He has gone to the pasture for Monty. We must drive to the fort at -once, this afternoon. The Indians have broken out at the Lower Agency -and the report at Fort Ridgely is that they have killed many white -people." - -"Whew-w!" whistled Al. "That's bad, isn't it? What will become of the -hay?" - -"Let's stay here and fight 'em!" cried Tommy, his head thrown back and -his eyes flashing. "Why should we run away from a lot of bad Indians? -They won't dare hurt us with papa here." - -"Hush, Tommy," said his mother, yet not without a glance of pride at the -fearless little fellow, so like his father. "There are a great many of -them and we are far away from help." - -"I don't care," persisted Tommy. "We could block up the doors and -windows, and they can't shoot through these thick logs." - -"No, Tommy," interrupted his brother, patting the small boy's shoulder, -"but they could burn the house, and then where should we be?" - -"Run for the woods." - -"And be shot there, out of hand. No, no! Mother, are the trunks ready to -put in the wagon?" - -"Yes, but wait for your father to help you with them. You and Tommy can -take out the mattresses and pillows. The fort will probably be full of -refugees, and we shall need our bedding." - -At this moment Mr. Briscoe entered. - -"Hello, Al, boy," he said, in his usual tone, as if nothing unusual had -happened. - -"Hello, father," returned Al, while Tommy ran to Mr. Briscoe for another -kiss. "You got back early." - -"Yes," answered his father, simply. He glanced at his son, and the two -pairs of steady gray eyes looked understandingly into each other for a -second. Then Mr. Briscoe walked to a shelf and took down an army musket -which hung, together with a double-barrelled shotgun, on a rack beneath -it. The musket was loaded, but he took off the old percussion cap and -replaced it with a new one. He loaded the shotgun from a powder horn and -shot flask on the shelf and then carefully examined a large, six-shot, -44-calibre Starr revolver, also already loaded, of a model at that time -recent, in which each chamber was loaded from the front with powder and -ball and fired by a percussion cap. By this time his wife, aided by -Annie, had the kitchen utensils in the box. Having put the weapons in -condition for instant use, Mr. Briscoe said: - -"Now, Al, we can load these heavy things in the wagon. We want to take -the saddle and the new plough, too; we can't afford to have them -destroyed while we're gone. Tommy, turn Spot out in the pasture with the -calf. She can get water from the creek, and there is plenty of grass for -her. It is a good thing that calf isn't entirely weaned yet. We will -leave the barn door open for the chickens to go in at night. Monty and -Chick are feeding now. As soon as they have finished we must be ready to -hitch up." - -When they had placed the first trunk in the wagon and were alone, Mr. -Briscoe turned to his son. - -"Al," he said, speaking rapidly and in a low voice, "be careful not to -alarm your mother and the children, but you must know that we are in the -greatest danger and that our only chance of safety lies in getting to -the fort without the least delay. The Indians at the Lower Agency have -gone mad. They have killed every white they could lay their hands on -and have started to sweep the whole country clean. Some of them may come -here at any moment. My boy--" He laid his hand on Al's shoulder and his -voice became very earnest. He spoke almost as if he felt a premonition -of coming events. "My boy, I know I can trust you; you are almost a man -in judgment and understanding. If we should encounter Indians before we -reach the fort and anything should happen to me, remember that your -first care must be your mother and your little brother and sister. -Protect them with your life but keep cool and do not throw it away. And -afterward,--well, my boy, just do your duty by our dear ones and -yourself as you honestly see it; no one can do more. And remember always -that you are the son of a soldier." - -Al's face paled a little beneath the tan while his father was speaking -but he returned the latter's gaze steadily until he had finished. Then -he replied: - -"Why, father, nothing is going to happen to you. But of course I shall -remember what you say and always try to do the best I can by mother and -the children." - -"I know you will, Al. Now, let us load that trunk and box and the rest -of the things." - -They continued their work rapidly while Mrs. Briscoe was busy putting up -some food to take along and placing the rest in the root cellar back of -the house where it might keep from spoiling as long as possible during -their absence. The day was hot and sultry, but the sky was beautifully -blue, with here and there white, fleecy clouds floating lazily across -it. Green, gently rolling prairies stretched away on every hand, broken -here and there by patches of dark, cool woodland where the trees stood -clustered on a slope or marked the winding course of some ravine or -sluggish creek. From the Briscoe cabin could be caught glimpses between -the trees north of it of the hay-cocks on the sun-flooded meadow, where -Al and Tommy had been working. It was a tract of native prairie grass -and a small one, for Mr. Briscoe had mowed it with a scythe. No sound -broke the stillness of the early afternoon except the rustle of the -breeze through the treetops and the piping of a chickadee which had -perched on a sunflower stalk beside the stable. It seemed impossible -that in the midst of such peaceful surroundings the horrors of savage -massacre and warfare could be abroad in the land; and so Al thought as -he looked about him, just as his father and he finished loading the last -of the household goods which they intended to take with them. - -They were starting to the barn after the horses when they heard the -breaking of branches and a commotion among the bushes in the strip of -woodland toward the meadow. Mr. Briscoe and his son turned in sudden -apprehension and saw six Indians, one after another, issue from the -woods and ride toward them. They were mounted on ponies and were naked -except for breech-clouts, while their heads were decked with feathers -and streaming war-bonnets, and their faces and bodies hideously bedaubed -with paint. Mr. Briscoe turned and walked deliberately toward the house. - -"Don't run," he cautioned Al, in a low tone. "But go in and stick the -revolver in your pocket under your coat, and set the guns just inside -the kitchen door. Tell your mother if she hears a shot to run with the -children from the bedroom door and hide in the rushes along the creek. -I'll meet the Indians here." He stopped by the kitchen door. Then -suddenly he asked, "Where's Tommy?" - -"In the house, I think," answered Al. But Tommy was not in the house. He -had bethought himself of the eggs and was in the barn hunting them, -unconscious of the approaching visitors. - -Al disappeared in the kitchen, and Mr. Briscoe walked toward the ominous -group of callers, who came on in silence until they reached the door, -each holding with one hand a rifle or musket laid across the neck of his -pony. They looked at the loaded wagon, which betrayed the impending -flight of the family. - -"How," said Mr. Briscoe, smiling and extending his hand. - -No responsive smiles lit the faces of the Indians. They regarded him in -gloomy silence while their leader, a fellow of lighter hue than the -rest, evidently a half-breed, sprang to the ground and, ignoring Mr. -Briscoe's extended hand, said, gruffly, in broken English, - -"We want food." - -"You shall have it," replied Mr. Briscoe. "Wait a minute." - -He stepped toward the door but the half-breed was before him. - -"We take what we want," he said, jerking his head toward his followers. -"Come on." - -Mr. Briscoe saw that conciliation was impossible. Once within the house -they would have the family at their mercy. He stepped inside the door -and with one push of his powerful arm thrust the half-breed out on the -step. - -"Stay out, and I'll feed you. But not if you come in," he said. - -Al, looking through from the next room, saw his father's action and -instantly understood that it meant trouble. With the sudden authority of -a man in the emergency, he exclaimed to his mother, pushing her toward -the south door, - -"Run to the creek, you and Annie! Keep out of sight; hide in the reeds. -We'll take care of Tommy." - -Then he ran back through the house toward his father. He reached him in -less time than it takes to tell it; but the half-breed, cursing -frightfully as he reeled back from Mr. Briscoe's thrust, had already -shouted to his companions, - -"Shoot him!" - -One of the mounted Indians threw his musket to his shoulder but Mr. -Briscoe, seizing the shotgun which Al had set beside the door, was -quicker than the savage. His shot rang out and the Indian pitched -headlong to the ground. Before he could cock the other hammer or even -spring aside from the doorway, the half-breed's rifle cracked. - -"My God! Mary!" gasped Mr. Briscoe, clutching his hand to his breast. He -wheeled, staggered a step or two into the room and then sunk to the -floor at Al's feet, dead. - -It had all happened so quickly that the poor boy's brain was reeling -with the horror of it. But in an instant he saw the half-breed's form -silhouetted in the doorway, an evil grin overspreading his face. -Mechanically Al raised the revolver in his hand and fired. Without a -word, his father's murderer tumbled backward through the doorway and -rolled out on the ground. Al stepped to the door. In one swift glance he -saw three of the four remaining Indians galloping furiously away toward -the meadow; he saw Tommy, half way between the barn and house, running -toward the latter, and he saw the fourth Indian, leaning far over from -his pony's side, swooping down upon the boy. The warrior looked back -toward the house and in that instant's glimpse Al noted that he was a -huge fellow, over six feet tall and that along his left cheek, down his -neck and clear out on his naked shoulder, extended a long, livid scar as -of an old and terrible wound by a sabre or knife. Again Al fired. But -the Indian was some distance away and the bullet apparently missed him -altogether. Before Al could get another aim the savage had caught Tommy, -screaming and struggling, from the ground and, swinging him up on the -pony's back, had ridden swiftly after his companions. - -For a moment Al was beside himself with grief and rage. His brother was -being carried away under his very eyes, probably to torture and death, -and he could do nothing. He ran out madly after the fleeing Indians, -shouting senseless threats and waving his arms. But he dared not fire, -for the last rider held Tommy, struggling fiercely in his iron grip, as -a shield between himself and pursuing bullets. In a few seconds all the -Indians had disappeared in the strip of woods and then Al remembered his -mother and sister. He abandoned his futile pursuit and ran to the house, -not even glancing at the dead Indian in the yard nor the one before the -door. Rushing into the kitchen, he threw himself in a paroxysm of grief -beside his father's body, crying out to him and vainly striving to -discover a sign of life in the quiet face, already grown so peaceful -under the soothing touch of death. At length, with dry, silent sobs -shaking his body, he rose slowly to his feet, closed and locked the -door, composed his father's limbs and spread a cloth over his face. Then -he picked up the musket, got the powder horn and box of bullets from the -shelf, and, with one last glance at the still form on the floor, ran -swiftly through the house and out, striking directly down the slope -toward the marshy ground along the creek. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -THE FLIGHT THROUGH THE DARKNESS - - -Al had almost reached the nearest reeds when he heard a shot off to his -left and looking in that direction saw Spot, the cow, sink to her knees -and then topple over on her side. An Indian with rifle held aloof, -exulting over this piece of slaughter, was galloping toward her. Al -crouched low and ran into the reeds. - -"Mother! Mother!" he called, softly, for the Indian was too far away to -hear. - -"Here," answered his mother's voice, not far off, and in a moment he had -crept to her. Annie, crying softly, was beside her, and they were lying -well hidden in a dense thicket of reeds close to the creek. - -"Where is your father?" whispered Mrs. Briscoe, the instant he reached -her, gazing at him with wide, terror-stricken eyes. - -"Why, he--he--can't come now," Al faltered. - -"He is killed," said Mrs. Briscoe, simply, in a lifeless voice. - -Her son did not look at her. - -"Yes," he said, almost inaudibly. - -It seemed to him that the end of all things was closing down upon them. -His mother did not weep; she was past tears. She did not even move, but -her face was almost like chalk. - -"And Tommy?" she asked presently. - -"The Indians have carried him away," answered Al. - -Mrs. Briscoe bowed her head upon her knees. - -"Oh, my little boy, my baby boy!" she moaned. "Why should I live any -longer with them gone?" - -Al, stunned by the tragedies of the past few minutes, had nearly reached -the lowest depths of despair. He felt numb and helpless, but at his -mother's heartbroken cry a sudden rush of vitality and determination -reanimated him. He recalled his father's words: "Remember that your -first care must be your mother and your little brother and sister." He -leaned forward and put his arm around his mother's shoulders. - -"Mother," he said, "don't say that. You must live for Annie's sake and -mine,--and Tommy's. We shall get him back; they will not hurt him, he -is so young and bright. When we reach the fort the soldiers will send -out after him." - -By a mighty effort Mrs. Briscoe controlled herself. Her son's words had -aroused her. - -"You are right, Al," she said. "I must live for you and Annie and Tommy. -But can we start for the fort now?" - -"I am afraid we shall have to stay here till dark," he replied. "The -Indians are still around. I will crawl up where I can get a look." - -Leaving the musket beside his mother he crept up through the reeds -until, by raising his head cautiously, he could see the house, about -three hundred feet away at the top of the slope. An Indian was coming -out of the barn leading Chick and Monty, both animals rearing and -plunging wildly, for a horse brought up in civilization fears an Indian -as much as he does a wolf. Al also saw columns of smoke beginning to -arise from the roofs of the house and barn and realized with a terrible -pang that his father's body was about to be incinerated in the ruins of -his home. He felt a mad desire to rush from his concealment upon the -savages and to fight them single-handed. But he restrained himself, for -he realized that he would have no chance even against the four who were -certainly there and who, for all he knew, might now have been joined by -others. He lay there watching until the house and barn were wrapped in -flames. Then two of the Indians rode out in opposite directions and -making wide detours, circled around toward the swampy tract. Then he -crept hastily back to his mother and gave her the revolver, the two -empty chambers of which he had already re-loaded, himself taking the -musket. - -"They are going to search for us, mother," he whispered. "We must keep -perfectly still. If they should find us and I should be hit, shoot Annie -and then yourself. Never let them take you alive. But if there are only -four of them we still have a good chance." - -No more was said, and for a long time they lay quiet, their ears -sharpened to unnatural keenness, listening to the snapping of reeds in -the marsh to the east and west of them but never very close. The -conviction at last came upon Al that their hunters, few in number, were -afraid rather than anxious to find them, and he began to breathe easier. -After more than an hour had elapsed he heard horses splashing in the -creek above their hiding-place, and presently he crept again to the edge -of the reeds. The house and barn were smouldering heaps of ashes, and -the wagon was gone. No one was around the ruins but presently he saw, -far off on a rise of the prairie to the eastward several horsemen, mere -specks in the distance. He conjectured that it was the party which had -wrought their ruin, bound for the Millers, their nearest neighbors, -seven miles away. He wished ardently that he might warn the Millers but -it was out of the question, so he went back to his mother and sister, -and through the remaining hours of the afternoon and until darkness fell -they lay in their concealment. Then very cautiously, under cover of the -darkness, he piloted them across the creek, over several hills and low -places, and so at last, two or three miles south of the claim, into the -faintly marked road leading away to Fort Ridgely. - -It is needless to enter into the details of that long and -nerve-wracking journey. Not a moment of it was free from the dreadful -fear of encountering enemies in the darkness, and, exhausted by -excitement and grief, they dragged their way through the night, stopping -every few yards to listen or peer into the gloom. Annie, utterly worn -out, sometimes fell to the ground asleep, and then Al and Mrs. Briscoe -had to take turns carrying her. Here and there at wide intervals around -the vast circle of the horizon appeared a far distant, dull, yellow glow -which they knew only too well must arise from other wrecked and burning -homes like their own. Now and then the exhaustion of Mrs. Briscoe and -Annie compelled them to sink down for a few moments' rest and it was -almost daybreak when they finally reached a point which Al knew must be -close to the cabin of the Olsens, about eight miles from Fort Ridgely, -though they could see nothing of the house in the darkness. Evidently, -therefore, it had not been burned, else they could have discerned the -smouldering embers. Al saw the first faint streaks of dawn in the East -and, realizing that they dared go no further by daylight, he led the -way to a small clump of timber which he remembered, lying about a -quarter of a mile east of the Olsens' buildings. He found a safe -hiding-place for his mother and sister in a dense thicket of bushes -under the trees, within a few feet of which he could himself lie and -have a clear view of the Olsen house and its immediate vicinity. Here -they remained until probably ten o'clock in the morning, Al all the time -keeping a close watch on the house. Not a person nor an animal was about -the place save a few chickens which he could see scratching in the yard, -and he concluded that the Olsens must have been warned, perhaps by Mr. -Briscoe himself on his homeward ride, and had escaped to the fort the -day before. The Briscoes had not tasted food since the previous noon, -and though neither his mother nor Annie would confess to being hungry, -Al knew that they all needed nourishment in order to be able to continue -their journey after nightfall. He determined to creep up to the deserted -house in the hope of finding some food there, if nothing more than a few -eggs in the log stable. Handing the revolver to his mother and dragging -the musket along beside him, he made his way with painful slowness -across the strip of open prairie between the woods and the house. On his -way he saw nothing to alarm him, though he noted that just west of the -house was a rise in the prairie, evidently concealing a depression -beyond, into which he could not see. But no tree tops were visible over -the rise, and he did not believe that any Indians would attempt to hide -in an open valley. He made a hurried search through the house, which -consisted of a single room, and was rewarded by finding a scant -half-loaf of very stale bread. Nothing else could he find, for the -family had evidently taken all their possessions, including food, in -their flight. He was just about to start to the stable in a search for -eggs when his heart suddenly seemed to stop beating at the sound of -galloping hoofs just back of the house. To his startled ears it sounded -like a hundred horses. His only thought was to get back to his mother -and sister and, seizing the musket, he dashed out of the doorway and -leaped away toward the trees, casting only one glance behind. It showed -him a group of eight or ten mounted Indians just riding up on the other -side of the house. His apprehension was such that he did not notice that -they were dressed in civilized garments until he heard a voice shout in -English and in a reassuring tone; - -"Wait, boy, wait! we no hurt you!" - -He ventured another glance behind and saw all the party save one -standing still, their rifles held aloft in sign of peace. The remaining -one was still riding toward him but his rifle was also held up. Al -realized that they could easily have shot him in his tracks had they -wished, and their failure to do so encouraged him. He halted while the -lone Indian rode up to him, dismounted and extended his hand, which Al -hesitatingly took. But the grasp was hearty and firm. - -"We no hurt you," repeated the Indian. "We Christian Indian from Yellow -Medicine. We hunting for whites to save from the bad M'dewakantons that -make the much kill. We take you to Fort Ridgely. More white people -there?" He pointed to the timber toward which Al had been running. - -The boy hesitated a moment. The Indian's appearance and words, and -still more his manner, inspired his confidence, and he found a brighter -hope springing up within him than he had felt since his father's death. -But should he trust his mother and Annie to these Indians when they had -just suffered so terribly at the hands of others of the same race? -Perhaps they were deceiving him in order to draw the rest of his party -into their power and would then kill or torture them all. But, on the -other hand, if the Indians were hostile he was already at their mercy, -so his protection was lost to his mother and sister. Could they make -their way to the fort alone if he should deny their presence now and go -with the Indians himself, either to safety or death? He did not believe -they could. But something kept telling him he must trust the Indian who -stood before him, so friendly and earnest. He was every inch an Indian -but his face lacked the expression of savage ferocity borne on the faces -of the war party which had attacked them the day before. It seemed -softened by better influences, and Al could hardly believe that he was -treacherous. He took his difficult resolution. - -"Yes," he answered. "There are more over there." - -The Indian smiled. "Good," said he. "We take you all to the fort. You go -get them." Then he added a little proudly, "We save since yesterday, -one, two, six white family." - -Al went into the woods and informed his mother that rescuers had come to -them and, without mentioning their character, led her and Annie out. -Mrs. Briscoe was much alarmed when she first saw the party of Indians -assembled to meet them, but the latter greeted her so kindly and -sympathetically that she soon felt easier. Three of the red men -dismounted in order that she and Annie and Al might ride; and so, with -the Indians leading their ponies, the cavalcade started southward at -once in the direction of the fort. Al found that his confidence had not -been misplaced, for in less than two hours they rode into the fort, safe -but very weary and depressed. - -Fort Ridgely was nothing more than a collection of buildings,--quarters -for troops, storehouses, stables, and the other structures necessary for -a permanent military establishment, standing on an exposed hill -surrounded by ravines and having no stockade or other defences whatever -around it; for it was designed merely as a cantonment and supply depot -and not as a defensive fortification. When the Briscoes entered it on -that afternoon of August 19, it presented a scene of confusion and -distress hard to imagine. It was thronged with refugees,--men, women, -and children, from all the surrounding country, many of them destitute -of everything save the clothes they wore. Some were wounded or badly -burned in escaping from houses set on fire by their assailants; and -others were arriving now and then who had escaped almost miraculously -from the devastated section about the Lower Agency or from more distant -points in other directions. These people were being fed from the stores -in the Government warehouse; and the post barracks were not large enough -to accommodate them, for, fortunately, more troops had arrived since the -day before. - -Mrs. Briscoe soon found a friend in the warm-hearted Mrs. Olsen, who, as -Al had conjectured, had come in on the previous day with her husband -and children after having received warning of the uprising from Mr. -Briscoe. Mrs. Olsen burst into tears on learning of the sad fate of the -man to whom they very likely owed their own lives, and of the carrying -off of poor little Tommy. She instantly brought them food, and after -they had refreshed themselves, she insisted on Mrs. Briscoe and Annie -taking her bed in their covered wagon and resting, at least until more -commodious quarters could be found for them. Having seen his mother and -sister thus as comfortably cared for as present circumstances would -permit, Al started out to look for another place for them which would -not so greatly inconvenience the Olsens, and to learn what could be done -about sending pursuers after the Indians who had carried away Tommy. - -Making his way among the groups of people, many of them disconsolate and -weeping, and among the wagons, the animals, and the heaps of household -goods scattered in confusion over the open parade ground in the centre -of the fort, Al suddenly felt a hand slap his shoulder while a familiar -voice said, - -"Hello, Al Briscoe! When did you get here?" - -He looked around and saw Wallace Smith, a young fellow of about his own -age, whom he had met at the fort several times during the past year when -he had come in after supplies. Wallace's father kept a general -merchandise store just outside the fort, at which the Briscoes had done -most of their trading, and it was toward this store that Al was walking -when he encountered Wallace. - -"I just came in with my mother and sister," returned Al, shaking hands, -and then he related briefly the events of the last twenty-four hours. -Wallace was very sympathetic and at once took Al to the store. Here Mr. -Smith told him that he would find a place for Mrs. Briscoe and Annie to -sleep that night, in one of the rooms occupied by his own family above -the store. As for Al, he could sleep in the store itself, in company -with a number of men who were to be accommodated there. But when Al -mentioned his hope of having an immediate pursuit made after Tommy's -captors, Mr. Smith shook his head. - -"I'm afraid you will find it can't be done now, my boy," he said. "There -are too few men here. But you can see the commanding officer and ask -him." - -The boys, accordingly, left the store and walked toward the headquarters -building. - -"Can't the Indians capture this place pretty easily" asked Al, looking -about. "I don't see what there is to keep them back." - -Wallace looked serious. "Well, I don't know," he answered. "The officers -seem to think we can stand them off if they come, and I'm afraid they -surely will. Most of the men are busy now putting the buildings in shape -for defence. There are about a hundred soldiers of the Fifth Minnesota -Infantry here, for Lieutenant Sheehan was recalled by a messenger sent -yesterday, and he got back with his men a little while ago. He is in -command now. Have you heard about Captain Marsh?" - -Al had not. - -"Why, he marched for the Lower Agency yesterday morning with forty-five -men, as soon as he heard of the outbreak there. They were ambushed by -the Indians at the ferry across the Minnesota and, though they seem to -have fought splendidly, all the men were killed except fifteen, who -finally got back here. Captain Marsh himself was drowned in trying to -swim the river. So, you see, there is a third of our force cut off at -one blow. But a messenger was sent after Major Galbraith,--he is the -agent, you know, at the Upper Agency,--at the same time that one went -for Lieutenant Sheehan. Major Galbraith started yesterday for St. Paul -with a company of half-breed recruits for the Union army. They are -called the Renville Rangers. They ought to be back here pretty soon and -will add fifty more men. Then there are a good many refugees, probably -one hundred, who can fight, and we have several cannon, with a regular -army sergeant in charge of them. The Indians, you know, are deadly -afraid of cannon. So we ought to be able to make a pretty good defence, -though I wish there were a stockade." - -"Did you say that Major Galbraith's company is made up of half-breeds?" -inquired Al, remembering with a shudder the evil face of the wretch who -had shot his father and whom he himself had killed. - -"Yes. But most of them are reliable fellows, otherwise they would not -be willing to leave their country and go South to fight the rebels." - -By this time they had reached the headquarters building, and Al saw, -standing in front of it, five or six of the Indians who had brought them -in. - -"Who are those Indians, Wallace?" he asked. "They are some of the party -who rescued us." - -Wallace looked closely at the red men, who were standing idle with their -ponies, evidently waiting for some one who was inside the building. - -"Why, those are Sissetons from the Upper Agency," he said. "Probably -John Otherday, Solomon Twostars or some of the Renvilles are with them. -They have been going around the country all to-day and last night, -warning white people and bringing them in and there are other parties of -Sissetons and Wahpetons doing the same thing; though it's mighty -dangerous business, for the hostiles are almost as bitter against them -as against the whites. Very few of the Upper Indians seem to have joined -the uprising. They are mostly Christians, you know, and their conduct -shows the great work of the missionaries." - -The boys entered the headquarters building, and though Lieutenant -Sheehan was surrounded by many men, all urgently anxious to transact -their business with him, Al presently found an opportunity to tell him -of Tommy's capture and to ask that men be sent after him. The officer -listened intently to the story and when it was finished, laid his hand -kindly on Al's shoulder. - -"My boy," said he, with much emotion, "God knows, I wish I could send -men after your brother instantly; I know how you feel and especially how -your mother must feel, and I would gladly do it for your poor father's -sake, for he was a gallant officer in the Mexican War. But there are two -dozen people here already who have lost members of their families in the -same way; and for many of them the situation is much worse than yours, -because those they have lost are grown and are likely to be killed or -tortured by the Indians, while your brother is a child, and I don't -believe they will hurt him. But I have had to tell every one the same -thing; I can do nothing now. This place is likely to be attacked by a -thousand or more Indians at any moment and we have not one-tenth enough -men to defend it properly. Not a man can be spared from here now, for it -will be all we can do to save ourselves and all these women and children -from massacre. Probably in a few days we shall have hundreds of troops -from St. Paul and the East, and then we can go after these infernal red -murderers and punish them and rescue their living victims. But, -meantime, you must be prepared to stand with the rest of us in defending -your mother and little sister. And I think you are a lad who will do -your share." He glanced approvingly at Al's straight figure and steady -eyes. - -"I shall try to, sir," answered Al. - -"I know you will," said the Lieutenant. "You had better go and help the -men who are working on the storehouse." - -He pointed to the building mentioned and then turned to several men who -were waiting for him; while Al, very much downcast at his failure but -still feeling a little more hopeful of Tommy's safety because of -Lieutenant Sheehan's words, walked out again with Wallace. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -BESIEGED IN FORT RIDGELY - - -The remainder of that afternoon and the following night passed without -serious alarms, but it was heavy with labor for the little garrison. The -roofs of the storehouses and of the barracks for enlisted men were -covered with earth to protect them against fire arrows, and their sides -were loop-holed. Earth and log barricades were erected at various points -overlooking the heads of ravines. Little could be done to protect the -officers' frame quarters or the log stables and outbuildings, which lay, -much exposed, at the western corner of the fort. Early in the evening -Major Galbraith's Renville Rangers came into the fort, forty-five -strong, weary with a twelve-hour forced march from St. Peter, where they -had been overtaken by the courier sent to recall them. A large majority -of these men remained loyal to their duty during the ensuing days but a -few of them, their slumbering ferocity roused by the reports of the -uprising of their savage kindred, skulked away and joined the hostiles, -committing before they left an act of dastardly treachery. Several small -cannon, in charge of the gallant Ordnance Sergeant John Jones, of the -United States regular army, were placed in commanding positions in the -fort, and that night a heavy chain guard was posted all around the -place. But, though several false alarms were given, no Indians appeared, -and the night passed in reasonable quiet. Mrs. Briscoe, still too -overwhelmed with dumb grief to do more than mechanically comply with the -arrangements made for her and Annie by Al and her friends, passed the -night not uncomfortably in the hospitable but over-crowded home of the -Smiths; and Al slept with a dozen men and boys, including Wallace, on -the floor of the store below, his musket and revolver beside him. - -The early part of the next day was spent like the one preceding it, in -further strengthening the barricades and buildings, in cleaning weapons, -and, beyond that, simply in endless discussion of the ghastly events of -the past few days and uneasy speculation upon the future. Though many of -the refugees would have gladly given all that remained of their -shattered fortunes to get to St. Paul or some other place of assured -security, the attempt was not to be thought of, for it was known that -the hostiles were skulking all about the post and any party which might -start out for the East would undoubtedly be set upon and destroyed. A -few scattered survivors of the massacre continued to come in now and -then, exhausted, famished, often wounded, and always nearly insane from -the unnumbered perils and rigorous hardships through which they had -passed. An attack on the fort was expected at any time, as Lieutenant -Sheehan's words to Al had indicated, and the only cause for wonder was -that it had not come sooner. Indeed, had the defenders but known it, -Little Crow had been urgent in the councils of the Indians for an -overwhelming assault on Fort Ridgely on the evening of the eighteenth, -immediately after the bloody defeat of Captain Marsh's detachment. But -some of his more cautious followers opposed the plan on the ground that -many of the warriors were still out over the country, murdering settlers -and destroying property, so that the full strength of their forces could -not yet be brought against the fort. This view was eagerly sustained by -the strong element among the hostiles who were opposed to the whole -outbreak on principle, seeing in it nothing but ultimate disaster for -their people, yet who did not dare openly to champion the cause of the -whites for fear of being summarily dealt with by their more violent -associates. This element hoped that a delay in the attack on the fort -might enable the whites to gather a sufficient force there to repulse it -when it should be made, and assuredly the delay had rendered it possible -for the defenders to place the post in a much better state of defence by -the afternoon of August 20 than it had been two days before. - -It was about one o'clock on that hot, still afternoon when Al and -Wallace stepped out of the Smiths' store, having just finished their -dinner. They were about to start over to the storehouse of the fort, -where some work was still being done, when Wallace noticed a loose horse -wandering down into one of the ravines not far from the store. - -"That's one of our horses," he exclaimed. "He must have slipped his -halter. If he goes far the Indians will catch him. Come on; let's get -him!" - -Followed by Al, he dashed into the stable for a halter and then started -on a run for the ravine. The latter was quite wide and thickly fringed -with bushes and small trees, while the bottom of it was carpeted with -luxuriant grass, which the horse was nibbling as they came up. But their -appearance startled him and with a snort he leaped past them and -galloped on some distance further, when he again halted. The boys -followed, Wallace this time approaching more diplomatically and saying -in a soothing tone, - -"Come, Frank; come boy! Nice boy!" - -"He'll give you a jolt in the ribs if you get too close," warned Al, as -he noticed the animal begin to edge his hind feet around in the -direction of Wallace. - -But Frank was not so mischievous as he looked; for in a moment Wallace -had the halter on his head and the boys were just about to turn again up -the ravine toward the fort, when, without the least warning, there -sprang from the bushes not ten yards behind them two Indian warriors, -dressed only in breech-clouts and both armed with bows and arrows. -Uttering not a sound they sprang toward the boys with the evident -intention of taking them alive. Al and Wallace were too dumbfounded to -move until the Indians were almost upon them. Then Wallace dropped the -horse's halter and, catching up a heavy stick lying at his feet, hurled -it at the head of one of the warriors. It caught the savage fairly -across the face and he reeled for an instant from the force of the blow, -while his companion, somewhat daunted, halted also. The boys ran at full -speed up the ravine, not even pausing to note the effect of Wallace's -throw, which he afterward admitted had found its mark by pure accident. -They had gone but a few yards when an arrow whizzed past Al's head and -struck in the ground in front of them. They only ran the faster. A -half-dozen more arrows flew by them and then Wallace uttered a cry of -pain as one struck him fairly in the left arm. But by this time, -fortunately, they were at the head of the ravine and only a few feet -from the nearest buildings. Al stole a glance behind him, to see that -their two pursuers had been joined by more than a dozen others; and then -the boys dashed around the corner of the building, out of range, -shouting at the tops of their voices, - -"Indians! Indians!" - -All over the fort men sprang to their feet, seized their guns, and such -as were not already behind them rushed to the barricades and protected -buildings. But by no means all of them had reached cover when a -scattering, but numerous volley of musket shots and arrows was poured -into the fort, not only out of the ravine from which the boys had -escaped but from a number of others. Al then saw why the Indians -following them had not fired on them with guns, for that would have -spoiled the contemplated surprise of the fort, which their unexpected -appearance in the ravine in pursuit of Frank had, perhaps, precipitated. - -The defenders replied to the Indian fire so promptly and vigorously -that the savages fell back from their first rush and concealed -themselves about the heads of the ravines, whence they began a steady -and well-sustained fire. The women and children, however, had nearly all -reached places of shelter, when Al hurried up to the Smiths' store after -his musket and revolver, almost dragging Wallace who, beside himself -with pain, was frantically trying to pull the deeply imbedded arrow from -his arm. They encountered Mr. Smith and his wife, accompanied by Mrs. -Briscoe and Annie, who were fleeing from the exposed store, through -which the Indian bullets were crashing, to the shelter of the barracks -building. - -"Here, Al," cried Mr. Smith, thrusting the latter's musket, revolver, -and ammunition into his hands. "Don't go in there; you'll be killed. -Come on, Wallace. God, lad, are you hurt?" - -Wallace made no reply, but all of them ran, crouching low, to the -barracks, which they reached safely after a race of a few rods, though -it seemed like a mile with the bullets and arrows whistling about them. -Here Dr. Alfred Muller, the brave assistant surgeon of the fort, aided -by his heroic wife, took charge of Wallace and soon had the arrow -extracted from his arm and the painful, though not serious, wound -properly dressed. It was the first of nearly a score of similar cases -which the Mullers were called upon to treat in Fort Ridgely. Wallace was -much distressed at his inability to take his place with the defenders, -but Al and Mr. Smith had to leave him in the surgeon's charge and hasten -out to join the rest of the active garrison. On their way they -encountered Sergeant Jones, working desperately with several other men -over the vent of one of the small cannon. Al had already wondered dimly -why he had heard none of the cannon firing, but he understood after Mr. -Smith had asked, - -"Why don't you open with the guns, sergeant? It would scare the Indians -worse than anything." - -"Can't," replied the sergeant, without looking up from his work. "Some -of Major Galbraith's infernal half-breeds have spiked every one of the -guns and then skipped out. But I'll have them in action in a few -minutes." - -He continued boring furiously with the drill he was using to clear the -nail from the gun's vent and in a moment he shouted, - -"Hooray! She's clear!" Then he added, addressing the cannoneer of the -detachment, "Give them two-second shell and spherical case, fast as you -can work her. Sweep the head of the ravine and aim low. I'll see if I -can open the next one." - -Drill in hand, he rushed away toward another gun some distance off, -totally oblivious to the fire opened on him as soon as he appeared on -the open ground. Mr. Smith and Al followed him and took their places -among a number of others already there, behind a log barricade which -stood not far from the next gun and facing the post stables out beyond -the western corner of the fort. The men around them were chiefly -refugees and some of them were greatly excited, firing rapidly and -without aim, while a few others crouched down and did not attempt to -shoot at all. There were no officers among them and no one seemed to be -in command. - -"Don't fire without something to aim at, Al," said Mr. Smith. "Wait -till you see the flash of a gun or a movement in the grass and then -shoot at the spot." - -Mr. Smith was armed with a muzzle-loading rifle, which he was firing -very slowly and carefully, and Al followed his example, for neither of -them had much ammunition. Mr. Smith knew that the other men with them -were not much better off, for the small arms ammunition supply of the -fort was perilously low, and he tried with some success to induce them -to fire more deliberately. The panic-stricken skulkers, however, he -could not arouse to their duty. They merely lay still and cursed him -when he told them to get up and sneered at their cowardice. - -Out to their left, Sergeant Jones was still trying unsuccessfully to -open the vent of the field-gun. Occasionally the boom of the gun which -he had already repaired roared out above the crackle of musketry, and in -the ravine which its fire was sweeping the Indians gave way and retired. -Presently he succeeded in getting the second gun into action, and the -assailants disappeared from that front also; and by the time he had them -all working the Indians had become discouraged. Their fire gradually -slackened, and as night approached, their main body drew off; though -enough warriors still remained in well concealed places to maintain a -desultory fire, and the weary garrison, resting on their arms, caught -but fitful repose through the hours of darkness, for no one could tell -when the attack might be renewed. - -The fort remained in a state of siege all the next day until near -evening, the garrison taking reliefs in guarding the defences. But about -dusk the Indian fire ceased altogether, and total silence settled over -the hillsides, which for thirty hours had echoed the turmoil of battle. -Three soldiers lay dead within the fort and eight others of the garrison -were wounded. The quiet which reigned through the night and the morning -of the twenty-second was more disturbing than the uproar which had -preceded it. While the latter prevailed, the garrison at least knew -where their enemies were and what they were doing, while now no one -could tell what new and formidable plans they might be hatching. No one -believed that they had given up the hope of taking the fort and those in -the garrison most familiar with the Indian methods of warfare regarded -it as certain that they were making ready for a final, great assault. - -Early on the afternoon of the twenty-second it came, beginning with a -sudden and tremendous volley fired into the fort from all sides at once. -The Indians, in a seemingly countless horde, then sprang up and made a -rush for the fort, which seemed about to be overwhelmed by sheer weight -of numbers. But the garrison was in position and ready for them. Volley -after volley poured into the approaching mass of savages, while the -shells of the artillery tore through their ranks. Unused to bearing the -losses of an open, stand-up fight, the Indians quickly gave way and fled -back to the ravines, where, however, they remained, stubbornly pouring -in an intense fire, which searched every portion of the fort. Little -Crow was some distance behind the Indian lines, directing the general -attack, while on the field itself, Mankato, Good Thunder, Big Eagle and -other veteran chiefs were leading the savage hosts, which outnumbered -the garrison five to one. They pressed the attack relentlessly. Musket -and rifle balls tore through the officers' wooden quarters and other -exposed structures, and now and then a fire arrow whizzed through the -air and struck its blazing torch into one of the frame buildings. Soon -several of the latter, including the Smiths' store, broke into flames -and the roar of the conflagration added to the terrifying confusion of -the battle, while stifling smoke clouds rolled across the field, both -blinding and choking the defenders. - -But though the attack was vigorous all along the line, it was especially -so at the western corner of the fort, where the Indians had discovered -that if they could gain possession of the exposed stables they could -command and render untenable a considerable extent of the interior -defences. Al was at the same barricade which he had occupied two days -before, but it was being defended now chiefly by men of the Renville -Rangers, who were fighting as courageously as the best of veterans. All -at once Al saw Lieutenant Sheehan and Lieutenant Gorman, of the Rangers, -run up to the field gun near them, and heard Sheehan cry to the gunners: - -"Fire shell into the left of those stables! Set them afire if you can. -The Indians are trying to get in them." - -Then the officers ran on to their barricade. - -"Boys," shouted Lieutenant Gorman to the Rangers, "those stables on the -right must be burned. Come on! Don't go near the ones on the left; the -cannon is going to knock them to pieces. Hurry up!" - -He sprang across the barricade, and a number of the men without the -least hesitation darted after him over the exposed ground in front, -their guns trailing beside them and their heads bent low. Hardly -thinking what he was doing but eager to be of service, Al followed them, -and in the general uproar he did not hear Lieutenant Sheehan shouting to -him to come back. The distance was not great, and though the bullets -seemed to rain around them, almost before he knew it Al found himself -with Lieutenant Gorman and his dusky companions inside the stable, and -none of them hurt. Under Lieutenant Gorman's quick orders, the Rangers -snatched up handfuls of hay, lighted them, and blew them into flames -along the inner walls of the building. But Al, during the moment they -were thus occupied, peered out through an opening in the western end of -the stable. What he saw alarmed him. There were Indians everywhere, just -below the edge of the hill out of the direct line of fire from the fort, -and a number of them were actually along the outside wall of the stable -itself. Al thrust his revolver through the opening and fired three times -in rapid succession, with what effect he never knew, for he heard -Lieutenant Gorman shout, - -"She'll burn now. Come on, get away! Get away!" - -The inner walls of the stable were a seething mass of flames as they -fled through the doorway, hearing as they ran the crash and explosion of -a shell in the stables beside the one which they had just left. As he -sprang back behind the barricade again, Al felt a hand grasp him roughly -by the arm, and heard Lieutenant Sheehan's voice saying in his ear: - -"You young rascal, what do you mean by running out like that and -risking your life? You're not a soldier; I didn't order you out. What -would your mother and sister do if you were killed?" - -This aspect of the matter had not occurred to Al before. He began to -reply, in penitent confusion, - -"Why,--I don't know, sir. I--" - -"Well, hang it, don't do it again, that's all," broke in the officer. -Then he added, while a half smile came over his face, powder-grimed and -wet with perspiration: "Anyhow, you're a plucky youngster. Your father -would be proud of you." - -"I should say he is plucky," interjected Gorman. "He started to clean -out the redskins over there, but hadn't time to finish the job." - -The two officers disappeared through the smoke up the line, and Al -resumed his methodical musket practice, the Rangers around him now and -then glancing at him approvingly, though he did not notice it. - -The fire along their immediate front relaxed a little as the stables -blazed into ruins and the assailants found that they could not utilize -this coveted point of vantage. But the Indians clung to the ravines -with a stubbornness truly amazing, the utmost efforts of the artillery -failing to dislodge them. Presently one of the Rangers kneeling beside -Al, with a gesture of despair threw down his gun,--a cumbersome, -old-fashioned weapon of the type called "Harper's Ferry muskets," with -which all Major Galbraith's men were armed,--and exclaimed, - -"No more bullets!" - -It was an ominous announcement and one which was very soon followed by -others of similar nature, not only at their barricade, but all over the -fort. Consumed by the rapid fire which had been necessary to hold back -the fierce Indian attack, the small arms ammunition supply of the fort -was almost exhausted, and a few moments more of such work would see it -all expended. A dreadful contingency faced the defenders. With their -ammunition all gone, their assailants would be able to rush in and -slaughter them almost at will. One by one the men of the garrison ran -out of bullets and the fire perceptibly slackened. The Indians quickly -noticed this and, guessing the cause, redoubled their efforts. - -Al, thanks to his careful use of ammunition, still had quite a supply -left, but he saw with horror what the general situation was and realized -that unless something could be done to relieve it, they would all be -massacred in a few minutes. Being under no orders and wishing to be with -his mother and sister at the last moment, if this was really at hand, he -left the barricade and ran to the barracks building, where they were -crowded with the other noncombatants. A distressing scene met his eyes -as he entered. Many of the women were gathered in groups, weeping and -wringing their hands, their children clinging about them, while here and -there others knelt, praying aloud or absorbed in silent supplications. A -long row of wounded lay stretched on pallets at one side. But across the -room he saw another group, the only one in which the spirit of courage -and determination seemed still to prevail. To Al's surprise, his mother -was one of this party, apparently perfectly calm and her face lighted by -an expression of noble resolution and self-forgetfulness. With her were -several other women of like firm spirit, and two or three men, all of -them busily absorbed in some occupation around a stove in which a hot -fire was blazing. Al soon found that they were casting musket balls, -their supply of lead consisting of the flattened bullets of the Indians, -which men were gathering up outside and bringing to them to be -re-moulded. The rapidly increasing supply which they were thus preparing -was being augmented by some of Sergeant Jones's artillerymen, who were -opening spherical case shot and removing from them the balls, which -served perfectly for musket ammunition. Although Lieutenant Sheehan and -Sergeant Jones had thought of these providential expedients but a few -moments before, already small quantities of the new balls were being -taken out and distributed to the men in the defences, whose fire, -consequently, was resuming its former volume. - -His hope and enthusiasm all returned to Al as soon as he found that a -vigorous defence could still be maintained, and after an affectionate -embrace and a few words with his mother and Annie, he ran back again to -the barricade. It was not long after his return there, and late in the -afternoon, that the Indians once more made a determined effort to storm -the position. Marshalling their forces below the crest of the hill, they -rushed up from the ravines in throngs, brandishing their weapons and -whooping at the tops of their voices; while the flare of their -many-colored war-bonnets and robes, the tiger-like contortions of their -muscular, naked bodies, and the glint of rifle barrel and knife blade, -flashing back the rays of the sinking sun, made a spectacle as wildly -magnificent as it was awe-inspiring. But again the heroic garrison -proved equal to the emergency. From barricade and loop-holed wall the -infantry poured steady volleys into them, while the artillery, holding -its fire until the charge was well under way, lashed their ranks with -case shot. Though they had started forward with the utmost enthusiasm, -they soon began to hesitate and break. With their undisciplined methods -of fighting, the Indian does not live who could withstand such a fire. -In a moment they had halted, and a few seconds more saw them scurrying -back to the ravines, utterly repulsed, while from the throats of the -sturdy little garrison rose cheer after cheer of victory, and men leaped -upon the barricades and tossed their hats in the air. Every one felt -that the enemy had made his last, supreme effort, and such, indeed, -proved to be the case. The Indian fire gradually died away, and by -nightfall silence again reigned over Fort Ridgely, wrecked, smoking, and -shot-torn, but triumphant. - -The stables and outlying buildings, with the exceptions of the -guard-house and the magazine, were smouldering ruins; the officers' -quarters were riddled through and through; the storehouse and barracks -were pock-marked and splintered with bullets; nearly all the oxen and -mules belonging to the quartermaster's department were captured or -killed, and seven more wounded men lay beside those who had been injured -two days before. But the fight was won. Through the night the garrison -lay on their arms, watching the glare of distant conflagrations off to -the southeast, where the defeated Indians were burning farm-houses and -stacks as they marched on to the village of New Ulm, sixteen miles away. -Fort Ridgely remained undisturbed, though New Ulm, where two hundred and -fifty volunteer citizens under the command of Judge Charles E. -Flandreau had gathered to defend the town and the one thousand five -hundred non-combatants in refuge there, was desperately attacked next -day, almost wholly burned, and nearly captured by the infuriated -savages. Though the Indians seemed to be gone from their vicinity, the -occupants of Fort Ridgely were obliged to remain inert for several days -longer, and then, at last, on the morning of the twenty-seventh, their -eyes were gladdened by the sight of a large column of troops approaching -from the eastward, and the little army of Colonel H. H. Sibley, hastily -recruited and as yet poorly disciplined and wretchedly armed, but full -of ardor, marched into the quadrangle of shattered buildings amid the -cheers of the men and the tearful thanksgivings of the women. The -never-to-be-forgotten siege was over. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -REFUGEES - - -The arrival of Colonel Sibley's troops gave to the destitute refugees in -Fort Ridgely their first opportunity of turning from the desperate -struggle for immediate self-preservation in which they had been -ceaselessly involved for nine days, to contemplate fully the extent of -the disaster which had fallen upon them and to consider what their -future course must be. To most of them the Indian outbreak and its -consequent massacre and pillage had brought the total ruin of their -fortunes, for in general they were poor people who had come into the -West and started their homes on free Government land, in the hope of -acquiring comfort and modest fortunes through years of faithful labor. -But to the families which had been so fortunate as to remain intact, -losing no loved members at the hands of the savages, the disaster was -not irremediable. The property they had lost was not, in most cases, of -very great value, save as measured by labor; and as their lands still -remained to them, they could again enter into occupation as soon as -settled conditions were restored, and in a short time recover their -former positions. So, although a few such families lost heart and left -the country, most of them remained and lived to see the time when they -were very glad they had done so. - -But with the families which had been shattered by the savages, which had -lost father or mother or sons or daughters struck down in the slaughter, -the case was far different. And many, alas, were in this condition, for -more than one thousand white people had fallen victims to the Indians -along the desolated Minnesota frontier during those few mid-August days. -Where the head of a family had been lost, his widow and children must -either undertake to eke out a precarious existence on the devastated -claim from which they had been driven, surrounded by the hard conditions -of pioneer life, or they must return to the older parts of the country -whence they had originally come, and there seek the aid and protection -of relatives or friends. The first arrangement was often impossible, for -not many a widow with a family of small children could hope to sustain -herself in such a country, beautiful and fertile but at that time wild -and practically unbroken. For these reasons there was a long and doleful -procession of destitute people passing through St. Paul, Winona, and the -other towns along the Mississippi River on their way back to the more -easterly States during the days of late August and early September, -1862. They came from Fort Ridgely, from New Ulm, from Acton and Forest -City and Hutchinson and a score of other little settlements along the -border. Among these unfortunate people were to be found the survivors of -the Briscoe family, bound for St. Louis, Missouri. How they had finally -come to decide upon this course will require some explanation. - -When Al first realized, with the advent of Colonel Sibley's troops into -Fort Ridgely, that the Indians had been checked and the tide turned, and -that the white men were really setting about regaining possession of the -country, his first and greatest ambition was to set out at once for the -rescue of Tommy; his second was to visit the lonely and ruined cabin -twenty miles north of the fort and there give the remains of his father -tender burial. But he soon found that difficulties lay in the way of -accomplishing either of these desires. The army could not instantly -spring forth as one man and rush to the rescue of his brother. The -soldiers had to be prepared and provided for a campaign which, moreover, -even when inaugurated, must be carefully and methodically carried out. -Several hundred white captives, among whom it seemed almost certain that -Tommy would be found, were in the possession of the Indians. If a -precipitate attack should be made upon the latter their captives would, -past a doubt, be massacred to a soul. Their release must be accomplished -by diplomacy; the Indians must be made to realize that only by the safe -delivery of their prisoners could they hope to mitigate the stern -punishment which they had richly earned at the hands of the Government, -and which would surely be meted out to them sooner or later. To -accomplish the safe delivery of the captives might mean weeks of -careful work on the part of the friendly Indians in inducing the -hostile element to see the necessity for such action. It might require -numerous councils and it might require fighting, properly prepared for. - -All this meant that if Al were to take personal part in the rescue of -Tommy, they must stay at Fort Ridgely for some time to come; and to stay -at Fort Ridgely meant that they must have some money. Here was the most -distressing difficulty in the whole situation. The Briscoes had -absolutely nothing left; they were penniless. Even their few household -goods had been destroyed or carried away by the Indians and these goods, -together with their buildings and the handful of live stock and farm -implements on their claim, had constituted all their worldly -possessions. They had not always been in such a precarious condition; in -fact, two years before the period at which our story opens they would -not have dreamed that they could ever be reduced to such circumstances -as were theirs when we first saw them. - -In 1860 the Briscoes had been living in the prosperous little city of -Glasgow, Missouri, at that time an important centre of steamboat -traffic on the Missouri River, drawing to its numerous and -well-appointed stores the trade of a wide region of farms and -plantations, and to its wharves and warehouses the great crops of hemp -and tobacco, corn and grain, vegetables and live-stock with which the -whole rich country teemed. Mr. Briscoe's business, the retailing of -furniture, was extensive and profitable, his home was as comfortable and -attractive as any in the town, and his family lacked for none of the -comforts of life, while many of its luxuries were also theirs. Once or -twice a year, usually in the summer and winter, when there was something -of a lull in the business, they would make a trip to St. Louis, where -Mrs. Briscoe's sister, her only near relative, lived with her husband -and family. His parents had intended to send Al to an academy in St. -Louis in the Fall of 1861, to complete his preparatory education before -applying for an appointment as a cadet at West Point. Then came the -opening of the Civil War and the beginning of a rapid succession of -events in the family, which had forced the abandonment of this and of -all the other plans which they had cherished for the future. - -The opening of hostilities, precipitated by the attack on Fort Sumter, -produced a commercial and industrial effect upon the country at large -almost as calamitous as the political one; and this was particularly -true in the Border States, where sentiment was sharply divided. Mr. -Briscoe's business was one which depended to an unusual degree upon -conditions of general prosperity and tranquillity. When the people of -the community found their incomes destroyed or sharply cut down by -general conditions, they could and did get along without new furniture, -though they could not get along without groceries or clothing. His -business suffered on this account, but it suffered still more from other -causes. - -Mr. Briscoe had always commanded an unusual degree of popularity in -Glasgow since he had gone there, a youth, in 1844, because he had -enlisted for the Mexican War, among many other volunteers from the town -and from Howard County, in the First Regiment of Missouri Dragoons, -under Colonel Alexander W. Doniphan; an organization immensely popular -in central Missouri at the time. He had served through all the -wonderfully romantic campaigns of that regiment with gallantry and -distinction, coming out of the war a first lieutenant. He had won his -sergeantcy for saving the life of a comrade, another Glasgow youth, in -the fight at Brazitos, New Mexico, December 21, 1846; his second -lieutenantcy for faithfulness and courage during the long march from -Sante Fe to Chihuahua, and his first lieutenantcy for gallantry in the -capture of that city from a Mexican army five times as large as the -American force, on February 28, 1847. Consequently, on his return to -Glasgow he had been regarded as a hero, and the people could not do -enough for him, showing their favor in one most practical way by -bestowing as much of their trade upon him as they possibly could. He, in -turn, entertained the liveliest interest in the exciting events of the -Mexican War and the most profound and loyal regard for his old -commander, Colonel Doniphan. It was in the latter's honor that he -christened his eldest son Alexander Doniphan, and we have seen that he -even applied the fanciful names, Chihuahua and Montezuma,--shortened for -convenience to Chick and Monty,--to his horses, in memory of his days -below the Rio Grande. - -But the very fact that he had been one of Doniphan's men was equivalent -to a declaration that in spirit he was a sympathizer with the political -theories and social institutions at that time almost universally -accepted by the people of the Southern States, where slavery prevailed; -for it was among people of such convictions that Doniphan's regiment had -been almost wholly recruited. Because he had been one of them, everybody -so naturally assumed that his views agreed with those of his military -associates that he was seldom even called upon to express himself. When -he was, the fact that he said little, and that of a rather non-committal -character, only led people to believe that he did not care for -discussion and regretted the political unrest of the time, as, indeed, -did many others. This ill-defined position did very well until the -beginning of the period of intense agitation and bitterness immediately -following the election of Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency in the Fall -of 1860. He then found himself forced to face the issue frankly and -declare, not only to himself but to others, whether he intended to throw -in his fortunes with the South in the war which every one foresaw was -rapidly approaching, or to stand firmly by the Union. - -It was a bitterly hard choice for him to make and one which he deferred -as long as possible; for, though both he and his wife were of Northern -birth and ancestry, the most cherished associations of their lives had -been with Southern people, and they loved the South like their native -land. But he believed, and Mrs. Briscoe believed with him, that the -Southern idea of destroying the Union was absolutely wrong, and that a -true American citizen's allegiance was due, not to any one State or -section but to the nation. When, after much painful reflection, he found -himself unalterably committed to this conviction, he was a man of too -much courage not to declare it. His associates and fellow citizens in -the town learned of his attitude first with astonishment, then with -resentment, and finally with cold hostility. He had made his choice, he -had voluntarily arrayed himself against the dearest desires of their -hearts and what they conceived to be the most vital interests of their -lives. They turned from him as from a betrayer, a traitor, and he -suddenly found himself worse than a stranger in the community where for -fifteen years past he had been respected and beloved above most other -citizens. It was the sad story, as old as organized society, of the -dearest private associations torn asunder by the rancor of public -controversy. His business suddenly declined to almost nothing. It would -not have been so bad if he had made provision for the future. But it had -always been so easy to make money that he and his family had spent it -just as easily, for it had seemed that the business alone would always -continue to provide them with all they might need. His credit with the -wholesale houses of St. Louis and the East was large and unquestioned, -and when the trouble came his store was full of goods unpaid for. Too -long he struggled to dispose of his stock in a town whose people, all at -once, either could not or would not buy. Finally, when his creditors, -themselves pressed for money by the industrial depression, began to -harass him, he sold at ruinous sacrifices. But he could not stem the -tide. He was forced into bankruptcy, and stock, store building, home and -household goods, all went down in the yawning pit of debt; for such was -his sense of honor that he would withhold nothing in order to pay to -those who had trusted him the money to which they were justly entitled. -And he did pay it, dollar for dollar, to the last cent; but when it was -paid he had nothing left in the world except a little less than three -hundred dollars in cash, a few bits of cherished family silver and -bric-a-brac belonging to his wife, and a scanty stock of family -clothing. His brother-in-law in St. Louis, Mr. Colton, would gladly have -helped him, but he, also, had been brought to the verge of ruin by the -business upheaval, and Mr. Briscoe, well knowing this, declined to add a -particle to his burdens. - -To go into business again at such a time, in another town and without -capital, was not to be thought of. Neither was sufficiently remunerative -employment to be found, nor could he yet enter the Union army, as he -ardently desired to do, leaving his family destitute. The free -Government lands seemed to offer a home which they could acquire with -little difficulty, and a living in the meantime as cheap as could be -found anywhere. So they chose Minnesota and went to the claim north of -Fort Ridgely, where Mr. Briscoe hoped that in a few years he might -develop a farm and accumulate a little money. Then, if the war was not -yet over and his services were still needed, he might leave Al in charge -for a time and go to the front. - -Such, briefly, was the history of the Briscoe family up to the time when -we first met with them, and such their plans for the future, so rudely -interrupted by the calamities of the Indian outbreak. Without father, -without money, without agricultural implements or horses, and without -even a home to live in, with the whole country still overrun by hostile -savages, it was out of the question, after the relief of Fort Ridgely, -for them either to return to their claim or to remain where they were. -The only place in the world which seemed to offer a haven of refuge for -the time being, at least, was the home of Mrs. Briscoe's sister in St. -Louis. Pitying friends among the other almost equally destitute -refugees, even soldiers of the garrison who were touched by the wretched -plight of the little family and by Al's manly conduct during the siege, -contributed to a small fund sufficient to take them by steamboat to St. -Louis; and on one of the last days of August they started for St. Paul -with a large party, escorted by a detachment of soldiers. - -Before they left, Al and his mother asked and obtained an interview with -Colonel Sibley, concerning Tommy. Colonel Sibley was a man of great -prominence in Minnesota, having been elected the first Governor of the -State after its admission to the Union in 1858. At the time of the -Indian outbreak he was living at the mouth of the Minnesota River, where -Governor Ramsey sent for him to take command of the troops called out to -suppress the uprising, because of his great influence over the Indians -and his familiarity with their methods of warfare. He was a gentle, -kindly man, whose heart was torn by the loss and suffering of the people -along the western border of his State. Mrs. Briscoe and Al called at his -headquarters on the morning of the day they left for St. Paul. The -Colonel received them with his accustomed courtesy, asked them to be -seated and, himself taking a chair facing them, listened to Mrs. -Briscoe's sad story with deep and compassionate attention. When she had -finished he sat, seemingly lost in thought, for a short time, his chin -resting on his hand. Then he looked up at Mrs. Briscoe and said: - -"Madam, my heart bleeds for you. I wish that it were within my power to -restore your little son to you at once. I wish that you might remain in -Minnesota in order that you could sooner have the happiness of knowing -when he is recaptured. But neither you nor your son here," he glanced at -Al, "need feel that your absence will defer the little boy's rescue one -moment longer than if you remained here. The recovery of all the white -captives is now in the hands of my forces and we shall get them all as -soon as we possibly can. I give you my promise, Mrs. Briscoe; I will -personally see to it that he is sent to you in St. Louis as soon as it -can be done, and if there should be any delay you shall be promptly -notified of the facts. Your husband's remains shall also receive -Christian burial whenever a party can visit your claim, and in case any -of your property is found there which is of value, I will have it stored -here in Fort Ridgely until you return or send for it. Can you tell me, -my boy," he turned to Al, "anything of the appearance of the Indian who -carried away your brother which might help to identify him?" - -"I should know him again instantly, sir, if I saw him," Al replied. "He -was a tall fellow, over six feet, I think, and seemed very strong. He -had a deep scar, like a knife or sword cut, running down his left cheek -and along his neck and shoulder." - -"O-ho!" ejaculated the colonel. "That surely ought to make it easy if he -is an Indian belonging to any of the tribes in this region. Orderly!" - -Instantly a soldier opened the door, came to attention and saluted. - -"Tell Major Brown I want to see him." - -The orderly disappeared, but in a moment the door opened again admitting -Major Joseph R. Brown, a famous Indian trader who had been Major -Galbraith's predecessor as Indian agent at the Lower Agency, and who -was now in command of one of Colonel Sibley's companies of volunteers. -Probably no white man in Minnesota was personally acquainted with more -of the Indians in that section. Colonel Sibley and Al described to him -the Indian who had carried off Tommy, but Major Brown shook his head. - -"I know no Indian in these parts who answers to that description," he -replied. "He must be an outsider; perhaps a Yanktonais who has drifted -in because there was trouble in the air. There are probably a good many -of them around." - -This was disappointing intelligence yet enlightening in a way, for -though it indicated that Tommy was not in the clutches of any of the -Minnesota savages, at the same time it limited his captor to one of the -Dakota tribes further west and to that extent simplified the mystery of -his whereabouts and possible fate. Colonel Sibley, however, was still of -the opinion that he would be found with the other white captives when -these should be recovered, as he did not believe that a warrior from a -distant part of the country would care to burden himself permanently -with a prisoner. - -With such unsatisfactory conclusions Al and his mother were forced to be -content, and though somewhat encouraged by the hopeful and reassuring -words of Colonel Sibley, who did his best to cheer them, they began the -long journey toward St. Louis with heavy hearts. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -HOPE DEFERRED - - -It is not necessary to enter into the details of that trip, which was -devoid of unusual incidents. In due time the unfortunate family reached -their destination, where they were affectionately received by the -Coltons and taken into their home. Since the dark days at the beginning -of the war the Coltons had been obliged to give up their pleasant home -on Morgan Street, in what was then one of the most desirable residence -districts of the city, and had moved into a smaller house on Palm -Street, far up on the North Side and not many blocks from the St. Louis -Fair Grounds. Mr. Colton had succeeded in weathering his reverses and -still had his business, that of real estate, downtown; but it was in a -far from prosperous condition, and his income was hardly sufficient to -support him and his family, consisting of his wife and two small -children. He had had the misfortune, when a young man, to lose his left -arm at the elbow so that he was handicapped in the battle of life; but -he made up in mental capacity what he lacked in physical, so he had -always been able, until the beginning of the war, to make a comfortable -living. - -On the second evening after their arrival in St. Louis, when supper was -over, Mr. Colton asked Al to take a walk with him. They strolled west -across the open lots and along the thinly populated streets lying in the -direction of the Fair Grounds. Mr. Colton seemed rather abstracted and -talked but little; and presently Al asked, abruptly, - -"Uncle Will, your business isn't paying very well just now, is it?" - -"Well, no, it isn't, Al," Mr. Colton replied, apparently a little -startled by the question. "Why?" - -"I have been thinking ever since we got here," Al answered, "that our -coming to you as we have, without money or anything else, will add a -great deal to your expenses and other troubles. Of course I look forward -to repaying you in the future, so far as money can repay such kindness; -but that won't help just now, and I wish I could find some work to do -right away, so that I could earn enough to pay part of the living -expenses of Mother and Annie and myself." - -Mr. Colton laid his hand affectionately on Al's shoulder. - -"My boy," said he, "you are your father's true son. That is just what he -would have been thinking of in similar circumstances. I am glad you have -spoken of it, Al, for it is just that problem which has been troubling -me ever since you and your dear mother and little sister came. You know -how thankful I should be if I could provide you all with everything you -need and have no question of means enter into the matter." - -"Yes, I do know, Uncle Will," said Al, earnestly. - -Mr. Colton went on, "I should like to make your poor mother and Annie as -comfortable and easy in every way as possible and I should like to have -you continue with school until you are ready to take up your chosen -profession. But I do not see how I can compass these desires at present, -though perhaps I can later. I was just going to suggest that it would -probably be necessary for you to get employment for a while when you -spoke of it. I am more pleased than I can say that you thought of it -first, without any suggestion." - -"I don't see how any one could fail to understand the situation, sir," -answered Al. "Do you suppose I could find a place to-morrow?" - -"Quite likely. You can go down town with me in the morning, and during -the day we can call on several acquaintances of mine, some one of whom -may be able to give you as good a position as you can well fill to begin -with." - -Accordingly, quite early next morning they started for the business -district. Mr. Colton's office was more than two miles from his home and -they walked to Fifth Street and there took a horse car down town. The -first place at which they called was a large wholesale grocery house -whose proprietor, Mr. White, was a personal friend of Mr. Colton. The -latter held a brief private interview with him, rapidly relating the -circumstances under which the Briscoes had come to St. Louis, and then -Al was called in. Mr. White liked him from the first, and within half -an hour he was hard at work on an upper floor of the big warehouse, -assisting one of the shipping clerks in getting down, checking, and -sending out orders of goods. Mr. White had informed him that as soon as -he was sufficiently familiar with the stock and the method of checking -it out, he would himself be promoted to a position as shipping clerk. - -Though as time went on and the days lengthened into weeks, Al was -obliged to confess to himself that the business possessed few -attractions for him, yet he applied himself industriously to mastering -its details, feeling not only a sense of satisfaction in the knowledge -that he was winning his employer's confidence and approval, but a still -deeper pride in the fact that he was becoming able to bear a very -material share of the modest living expenses of himself and his mother -and sister. Although Mr. White imagined that Al's rapid progress in -familiarizing himself with his work was due to a natural aptitude for -the business, the fact was that he was simply determined to get ahead -and earn as much money as possible. A constant mental unrest, due -chiefly to his suspense over Tommy's fate, possessed him, and he tried -to soothe it as far as might be by becoming absorbed in his work. Beyond -his natural anxiety for his brother, however, though he did not exactly -realize it, was the repugnance to obligation, the unquenchable desire to -have his mother and sister independent, which was a characteristic -inherited from his sturdy father. He very soon qualified himself to take -his place as a shipping clerk, thus securing an advance in pay, which -enabled him still further to relieve his uncle's unwonted burdens. - -Thus the Autumn went by and Mrs. Briscoe began to look impatiently for -news from General Sibley, for they had been able to gather something in -a fragmentary way from the St. Louis papers of the events which had -taken place in Minnesota since they had left there, and they knew that -Colonel Sibley had been made a brigadier general of volunteers for his -skilful conduct of the Indian campaign. At length one day the -long-looked-for letter came. Mr. Colton brought it out from his office, -and with palpitating hearts the family gathered around Al while he read -it aloud; for Mrs. Briscoe was too much agitated to read it. The letter -was dated at Fort Snelling and was in General Sibley's own handwriting. -It read as follows: - - - _Mrs. Thomas Briscoe, St. Louis, Mo._ - - MY DEAR MADAM: It is with the deepest regret that I am obliged to - inform you that thus far our efforts to recover your young son from - his Indian captors have been unsuccessful. Late in September we - rescued about two hundred and fifty white prisoners near the Yellow - Medicine but he was not among them. We have also captured about two - thousand of the Indian miscreants who were prominent in the late - outbreak and massacre, and they are now being tried by a court - martial. Many of them are being convicted and will be executed. - Among them, however, is no individual satisfying the description of - the captor of your son Thomas, as given to me by your elder son. - - I have, however, received information which leads me to believe - that this man is a Yanktonais from the region of the Missouri - River, who is known to have been consorting with the Minnesota - Indians during the late outrages and who has since fled into Dakota - again. Indian prisoners whom I have interviewed claim that he took - with him a white boy, who, I have little doubt, is your son. The - several prisoners with whom I have conversed all agree that the - child appeared to be in good health when they saw him, though I - have been able to gather nothing further concerning him. - - It is quite possible that his captor may weary of holding your son - a prisoner during the coming winter and take him into one of the - fur-trading posts along the Missouri River. But, in case this - should not happen, I may say to you that it is the present - intention of the Government to send strong expeditions against the - hostile Indians about Devil's Lake and along the Missouri, next - summer. I may be in command of one of the columns; but, whether I - am or not, I beg to assure you that no efforts will be spared to - effect the release of your son and his speedy restoration to you. - Nor is it at all probable that such a thorough campaign as is now - contemplated will fail of the desired result, for it is the - Government's purpose to pursue the Indians relentlessly until their - last prisoner is recovered, until the last savage guilty of - atrocities against the whites is given up to justice, and until the - entire Sioux Nation is brought to submission. - - With renewed assurances of my deep sympathy and regret that I have - no more satisfactory news for you at the present time, I beg to - remain, my dear madam, - - Very respectfully, your obedient servant, - - H. H. SIBLEY, Brig. Gen., U. S. V. - - -Mrs. Briscoe broke down completely on hearing this disappointing -intelligence and could not be comforted for a long time. But the -courageous spirit which had already carried her through so much finally -reasserted itself; since there was nothing to do except endure the -suspense, she resolved to endure it patiently and not depress the -spirits of those around her with her own griefs. - -On his part Al felt at first that he could not bear to spend more time -in idle waiting while his brother remained a captive. It seemed to him -that he must start out and do something. But reflection showed him that -this desire, though natural, was futile. Hard as the conclusion was, it -seemed plain that the best thing was to trust General Sibley and the -soldiers with the problem, at least for the present and until the -results of the next summer's campaign could be known. Had he been old -enough to enlist, Al would undoubtedly have joined the army in spite of -everything, in order to be at the front and share in the search for his -brother. But as he would not be sixteen until the early Spring of 1863, -that was out of the question. - -Nevertheless, the atmosphere of the place and the time in which he was -living were well calculated to develop in him the strong military -inclinations of his nature, and as the months went on he found it more -and more difficult to be satisfied with the work in which he was -engaged. There was hardly an hour of the day in which squads or -companies of troops did not pass along the busy streets of St. Louis, -and often full regiments, with bands playing and colors flying, or -batteries of artillery rumbling over the cobble-stones, marched past on -their way to the Levee to embark on steamers for the seat of war in the -South. St. Louis was the great recruiting depot of the West, and at -Benton Barracks, just beyond the Fair Grounds and only a few blocks from -the Colton home, as many as twenty thousand men were nearly always -quartered, mustering, drilling, outfitting and then marching away to -take their places in the fighting armies at the front. News of battle -was constantly in the air and the war formed the chief topic of -conversation always and everywhere. Now it was the disastrous repulse of -the Army of the Potomac at Fredericksburg, Virginia; then the terrible -conflict at Murfreesboro, Tennessee; and then, a little later, the -capture of Fort Hindman, at Arkansas Post, Arkansas; while authentic -news and uncertain rumors of other battles, skirmishes, and military -movements circulated constantly. - -Though St. Louis was a Union city by a very substantial majority there -nevertheless existed there a strong though suppressed Southern -sentiment; but Al was even less inclined to be influenced by it than -his father would have been, or than he would have been himself before -his father's death. The reason was that public opinion in the North and -West at this time held that the outbreak of the Indians in Minnesota had -been instigated and encouraged by agents from the Southern Confederacy, -who hoped, by precipitating an Indian war upon the Northwest, not only -to divert a good many Union troops from the South but even possibly to -effect a Confederate conquest of the Northwestern Territories. Happily -for the fair fame of American civilization, it has in later years been -quite clearly established that the Confederates had nothing to do with -inciting the barbarous outbreak, but at the time it was firmly believed -in the Northwest. Therefore it seems but natural that a person in Al's -position, grieving for a father murdered and a brother carried away -captive by the red fiends, should entertain bitterness toward those whom -he believed to be largely responsible for his bereavement. This feeling -but added to his interest in the military preparations of those who were -going to fight the Southerners, and increased his desire to be a -partaker in their toils and trials and triumphs. - -When he found an opportunity to do so, as he did on Sunday afternoons -and his other infrequent holidays, he occasionally went down to the -river front where were to be seen the big transport steamers, starting -out loaded to the guards with troops or coming in with cargoes of sick -and wounded men, and where, also, were generally to be found one or more -of the pugnacious-looking iron-clad gunboats which had been and still -were fighting their way foot by foot down the battery-lined rivers of -the South, carrying the flag of the Union into regions where it had been -outcast for two years past. But more frequently his steps turned toward -Benton Barracks, for there on the great parade ground between the huge -barracks, each seven hundred and fifty feet in length, were always to be -found swarms of troops at drill. Here he would see a squad of four or -eight recruits receiving from a corporal instructions in the rudiments -of tactics, such as the salutes, the facings, or the manual of arms. A -little further on would be a regiment executing ponderous evolutions in -company or battalion front. - -Observing all these tactical exercises with lively interest and careful -attention, Al soon began to comprehend the methods and objects of -movements which at first seemed wholly bewildering. He obtained a copy -of the "United States Infantry and Rifle Tactics," the text book then in -use for the instruction of the United States troops, and spent evening -after evening studying them until he was much more familiar with the -contents than the average volunteer soldier several years his senior. -Though he could not utilize his knowledge because of his youth, he -persisted in acquiring it, not only because he liked it but because he -felt that eventually it would be useful to him, especially if he could -ever carry out his cherished ambition of entering West Point. - -One day in the Spring of 1863, Mr. White called Al into his private -office. - -"The chief commissary of subsistence in this city has asked me if I -could tell him of a few good men to act as civilian clerks in his -department," said he. "They must be men who understand something of -staple groceries such as the army uses and who know how to get out -orders and ship goods. Would you like to have such a position for a -while?" - -Al's eyes brightened. Such work would place him in closer touch with the -army, an object which appealed to him strongly. But he bore in mind his -obligations and answered, cautiously, - -"I should like it very much, Mr. White, if you approve of it and if I -could make as much as I do now." - -"The position will pay you a little more than you are getting now," said -Mr. White, leaning back in his chair as if to give plenty of time to the -discussion, "and it will give you some valuable experience if you aim to -continue in the wholesale grocery business. The commissary department is -handling enormous quantities of goods in St. Louis now and an insight -into the Government's methods of transacting such a volume of business -will be a great benefit to you. Of course, whenever you want to leave -the Government's employ and come back here, your position will be open -for you. You are very young for such a place but you have made such -rapid progress and learned to do your work so well and thoroughly that I -shall have no hesitation in recommending you as one of my best -employees." - -"Thank you, sir," said Al, flushing with pleasure. "I hope I deserve -it." - -"You understand," Mr. White continued, "I don't want you to leave me; -but I owe it to the Union to give her the best I have when she asks it. -I am past middle age myself and I don't think I am worth enough as a -soldier to volunteer yet; there are plenty of younger and stronger men -still pouring in to fill up the armies. But if the war drags on and the -time comes that I feel she needs my actual, physical services, I shall -go. Meantime, as I say, I shall give her the best I have in other ways, -and you are part of that best. Though you are not old enough to be a -soldier, I know you will appreciate that your work as a civilian -employee may be quite as valuable to the Government as though you were -enlisted in the service." - -"Indeed I do, Mr. White," answered Al, "and I shall do my best to serve -the Union faithfully." - -In the new work upon which he entered next day Al continued throughout -that momentous Summer and Fall. Though serving in a capacity both humble -and obscure, he had his part in preparing and forwarding the supplies -which enabled General Grant to cut loose from his base, swing his army -around to the rear of Vicksburg, and two months later to capture that -Gibraltar of the Mississippi with all its garrison and munitions of war. -He helped to make ready the subsistence carried by Grant's and Sherman's -armies when they went to the relief of Chattanooga; and from the depots -where he worked a constant stream of stores was always going forward to -the thousands of Union troops scattered in fortified posts and -encampments or marching hither and thither all over the Southwest -fighting innumerable minor battles and skirmishes. But his daily -occupation was very prosaic and needs no more than casual mention. - -At length, when Autumn came again, another letter was received from -General Sibley. It was as disappointing as the one of the year before. -He told briefly of the long Summer's campaign in which he had marched -westward from the Minnesota River to the Missouri, defeating the Indians -in three pitched battles and driving them across the Missouri, and of -the later advance of another column up the valley of the Missouri, under -General Alfred Sully, which had also encountered and defeated the -Indians. But neither column had rescued Tommy, though they had heard -rumors of his whereabouts and had gained a little new information -concerning his captor. - -The latter, it now seemed clearly established, was an Upper Yanktonais -warrior named Te-o-kun-ko, or, in English, The Swift. From the -statements of hostile Indians who had talked with friendlies or had -surrendered to the troops during the campaign, it appeared that this man -had not been with the main body of the Indians during the Summer; he had -taken his family, in company with a small party of about a dozen other -lodges, over into the country along the Yellowstone and Powder Rivers, -in Idaho. They had probably spent the season in hunting and skirmishing -occasionally with the Crows, the powerful people occupying most of that -region, who were hereditary enemies of the Sioux. It must be understood -that the great Sioux Nation consists of a number of different tribes, of -which the Upper Yanktonais tribe is one, and the Lower Yanktonais -another. It seemed that he still had with him the white boy whom he had -captured in Minnesota. The lad seemed perfectly contented and was -displaying such aptitude and prowess in learning to ride, shoot, hunt, -and perform the other feats of skill, agility, and hardihood which the -Indians regard as most manly, that Te-o-kun-ko took great pride and -delight in him and was evidently trying to wean him away from any -longing for his white relatives, in the hope of eventually making him, -to all practical intents, a full-fledged Sioux warrior. - -General Sibley added that in the Spring of 1864 General Sully would -almost certainly lead another expedition up the Missouri to fight the -Indians, though whether he himself would move against them again was -doubtful. He renewed his regrets that he had been unable to recapture -Tommy, and his hopes that another year would surely see him restored to -his family, and here the letter ended. - -Mrs. Briscoe and Al were not only bitterly disappointed by the news; it -positively stunned them. The idea that Tommy could have been, all this -time, anything but a suffering and wretchedly unhappy prisoner, was -entirely new to them. That he could have grown not merely contented with -his lot among the savages but even attached to it, a possibility very -clearly suggested by General Sibley's letter, seemed unbelievable, at -least to Mrs. Briscoe. But Al, on reflection, was not so much inclined -to scoff at it as he had been at first. He remembered having heard of -several cases in which white boys, taken captive by Indians when so -young that their affections and habits were not deeply rooted, had -become so attached to the wild, free life of the red men that they -voluntarily renounced civilization and remained all their lives with the -people of their adoption. Then he recalled the prominent characteristics -of Tommy's disposition,--his sturdy independence, his love for being out -of doors, for handling horses and for hunting and -trapping,--inclinations which he had not shown until their removal to -Minnesota but which had developed rapidly there, where Tommy, in the -midst of a solitude which was almost wilderness, had apparently been -happier than ever before in his life. He recalled, also, the little -boy's warm-hearted affection for his parents and for himself and Annie; -a trait of character which certainly seemed the strongest argument -against the theory that Tommy could grow to forget them. But Al was -obliged to admit to himself that the other impulses of his young -brother's nature would all find gratification in the life of the plains; -while, moreover, if he were kindly treated, even his affections might be -kindled for the people with whom he was living. He had been with the -Indians now for more than a year, which is a long time in a young boy's -life. - -The more he became convinced of such possibilities, the more was Al -disturbed and alarmed by them. It had been bad enough to think of his -brother as a heart-broken captive, but to think of him as perhaps a -future renegade, an apostate to his race, was far worse, for it added -shame to sorrow. He could not bear to think of his mother having to face -such a calamity. Finally he took his troubled thoughts to his uncle, -who was always kind, sympathetic and helpful. - -"I have been thinking a great deal about this matter, too, Al," said Mr. -Colton. "There is no question in my mind that Tommy might take the -course you speak of, if he should remain long enough with the Indians. -From the reports we have he seems to be well and even happy. The most -important reason now for getting him away from them seems to be to -remove him from their moral influence. But, incredible as it may seem, I -really believe there may be a possibility that now; even if the soldiers -should find him, he would be unwilling to come away with them." - -Al looked at his uncle and slowly nodded his head in agreement. - -"Yes, I believe that might be so," he answered. "And it seems to me, -Uncle Will, for that very reason if no other, I ought to go with the -next expedition; for if Tommy should be found I know that when he saw me -and I told him about mother and all of us, he would want to come back. -But I can't go, that's all." - -"Al," said Mr. Colton, "I agree with you that you ought to, and I think -probably you can. Since midsummer my business has begun to revive. -People are commencing to see that the South is getting the worst of this -war and there is a growing feeling of confidence that the Union is going -to be saved. Therefore interest is reviving in business matters of all -kinds, real estate among others. If the Union is going to be preserved, -St. Louis will continue to be a great and growing city; nobody cared to -speculate on what it would be while the success of the Confederacy -seemed probable. But, you see, I am beginning to have business again, -and if our armies continue gaining such victories as they have been -during the last six months, there will be more business by next Spring. -I wish to Heaven I could go into the service and help to hasten the end; -but this," he moved the stump of his left arm impatiently, "forever -debars me from such service. But if I can help you to go where you may -be able to assist in recovering your brother and at the same time to be -perhaps of some service to our country, even though you are not old -enough to enlist, I shall feel that I have done something. I think by -Spring I shall be able to take care of your mother and sister while you -are gone and I shall be only too glad to do it." - -Al's cheeks flushed with mingled surprise and pleasure. His sense of -duty, however, was still uppermost. - -"But, Uncle Will,--" he began. - -"Now, that's all right, Al," interrupted Mr. Colton. "This is simply a -family matter, and you need not worry about it at all. The only question -which remains to be settled is whether it can be arranged for you to -accompany an expedition into the Indian country. If General Sibley were -going, no doubt he would be willing to find a place for you some way. -But it seems that he may not go again, and another commander, like -General Sully, for instance, may not want to have you. However, we shall -have to wait to settle that until we know more about actual plans for -next season's campaign, and that probably will not be possible until -late Winter or early Spring." - -Mrs. Briscoe at first found it very hard to reconcile herself to the -plan, for she was divided between anxiety for Tommy and apprehension -lest harm should befall Al if he went in search of his brother. But by -pointing out to her that it was still uncertain whether the commander of -the expedition would permit him to go at all, Al, shrewdly aided by his -uncle, induced her to give the subject calm consideration, being -convinced that if she did so she would in time see that it was best. So -the Winter passed with little further discussion of the subject. Al -continued at his work, Annie was attending school, and Mrs. Briscoe -aided her sister with the duties of the household. Indeed, the refugees -from Minnesota seemed to have become fixtures in the Colton home, and, -though all of them thought occasionally of their returning some time to -the abandoned claim above Fort Ridgely, the time for doing so remained -in the indefinite future. None of them could feel like attempting to -resume the even tenor of their lives until Tommy should have been -brought back from his captivity. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -ON GENERAL SULLY'S STAFF - - -At last, early in March, the long uncertainty respecting the next -season's campaign against the Sioux, and the rumors which had circulated -about it all through the Winter, were terminated by the arrival in St. -Louis of General Alfred Sully, who, so the papers announced, had come to -begin the accumulation of supplies and to make other preparations for -his impending campaign. Brigadier General Sully was the commander of the -District of Iowa, with headquarters at Davenport, in that State; but he -had come to St. Louis directly from Milwaukee. There he had spent -several days in consultation with General Sibley and Major General John -Pope, who was in command of the Department of the Northwest, embracing -the Districts of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota, the latter under -General Sibley. - -General Sully very soon made his presence known at the commissary -office in St. Louis by the requisitions for supplies which began to pour -in from him. A few days later a young army officer, an _aide-de-camp_ on -General Sully's staff, was sent down to the office by the General to -check over the requisitions already made. Al was assigned to assist him. -The aide, whose name was Lieutenant Dale, proved an agreeable youth, -only a few years older than Al, and after their work was finished they -fell into conversation. Al told him briefly of the disasters which had -befallen his family in Minnesota, and then of the battle at Fort -Ridgely. - -"Why, you've seen enough fighting to be a veteran already," exclaimed -Lieutenant Dale, when Al had concluded his narrative. "I'll tell you -what you ought to do; you ought to go up into the Sioux country with us -this summer. We're going to have some fun up there. And maybe you could -get on the track of your brother." - -"That is just what I want to do," answered Al, "but I'm not old enough -to enlist." - -"That makes no difference," answered Dale. "The General could arrange -to take you in some capacity or other if he knows that you have a good -reason for wanting to go and that you won't lose your nerve in a pinch." - -"Do you think he would?" asked Al, doubtfully. - -"I think it's very probable. Go and ask him. He is very kind-hearted, if -he is a strict disciplinarian and a hard fighter." - -"He's a hard fighter, is he?" asked Al, eagerly. "You see, I don't know -much about him." - -Lieutenant Dale looked at him pityingly. "A hard fighter?" he replied. -"I should say he is! He fought against the Seminoles in Florida and the -Rogue River Indians in Oregon and the Sioux in Minnesota and Nebraska -and the Cheyennes in Kansas, all before the beginning of the Rebellion. -He won honors at Fair Oaks and Chancellorsville; and then, when the -Indian trouble in the Northwest came, they sent him up into Dakota to -fight the Sioux again, last Summer. That was the first that I was with -him, and we certainly had our share of marching, going up the Missouri -Valley, and our share of fighting at White Stone Hill, where we swung -away from the Missouri and struck the redskins out on the prairie -nearly over to the James River. They had been following up General -Sibley, never suspecting that we would come from the other direction and -fall on their rear. But we'll punish them worse this year, for we shall -have a much larger force; and the General intends to follow them until -they are either forced to make peace or are broken up and scattered all -over the country. And he can scatter them; what he doesn't know about -Indian fighting isn't worth knowing." - -"I'm sure it will be a campaign well worth taking part in," replied Al. -"I ought to go, and I hope I can." - -"I will speak to the General about you and the reason you have for -wanting to accompany us," Lieutenant Dale said. "Then you come and see -him yourself to-morrow or as soon after as you can." - -Al did not delay the visit. That evening he talked with his mother and -uncle about it and, though the former was naturally reluctant to have -him go where she felt he would be in danger, she had also come to -realize that the arrangement afforded the best chance of recovering her -lost son, Tommy. Mr. Colton, after Al had told him of his conversation -with young Lieutenant Dale, concluded that it would be as well for Al to -interview General Sully alone. - -"I do not know the General," said he, "and I could influence him but -little; while, if you go by yourself, it will indicate more -self-reliance on your part. I know, of course, that you have plenty of -it, but a stranger naturally would not until he had become acquainted -with you, and it is always well to make a good first impression. I think -you were fortunate in meeting this Lieutenant Dale. He will probably -speak favorably of you to General Sully, and that will help your case." - -Accordingly the next afternoon when his work for the day was finished, -Al hurried off to the place where General Sully was making his -headquarters while in the city. He found little evidence of pomp or -ceremony about these headquarters. An orderly was in the outer room, to -whom Al told his name and errand. The soldier replied that the General -was alone, writing letters; and then, stepping to the door of an -adjoining room, he announced Al by name. - -"Bring him in," Al heard a deep but pleasant voice answer, and the next -moment he found himself standing, with a somewhat fluttered pulse, in -the presence of General Sully. The latter rose as he entered and -extended his hand. - -"I have been expecting you, young man," said he, smiling. "Lieutenant -Dale told me of you last evening, and I had also heard of you before -from General Sibley. I was on the watch for your brother all last Summer -but I couldn't get hold of him. Have a chair," he went on, resuming his -own seat and motioning Al to another one. "Now, what can I do for you?" - -As clearly and briefly as possible Al related his reasons for thinking -that he ought to go into the Indian country to assist in the search for -his brother, finishing with the request that he might be taken along in -some capacity and adding that he would try to make himself useful. As he -talked, he was conscious that the General was studying him critically -through the pair of deep-set eyes which, though penetrating, were not -forbidding. When he had concluded, the General did not reply at once. -Instead, he remarked, after a pause, - -"General Sibley told me he understood that your father was one of -Doniphan's men. Is that correct?" - -Unconsciously Al's shoulders straightened a little. - -"Yes, sir," he replied, a touch of pride in his voice, "he was. I am -named for Colonel Doniphan,--Alexander Doniphan Briscoe." - -"Indeed?" said the General, with evident surprise and interest. - -He was silent a moment, then asked abruptly, - -"Do you know anything about tactics,--military routine,--discipline?" - -"I have been a clerk in the commissary department here for a year, sir," -Al replied, "and have become pretty familiar with the Government's -methods of handling stores and more or less so with other matters of -administration. Then I have studied tactics pretty hard, both in the -book and in watching the troops at drill out at Benton Barracks." - -"H-m! That's good." The General's voice became decisive. "If you should -go with me you would have to become a part of the expedition and submit -to discipline the same as a soldier, even though you are not enlisted; -and I understand you are too young to enlist. I can have no favored -idlers around. We are going after the Indians and for no other purpose, -and in order to be successful every individual must do his part. Do you -think you could agree to do that?" - -"I shall certainly obey orders and try to make myself useful," responded -Al, promptly. - -General Sully swung around in his swivel desk chair and gazed -abstractedly out of the window for a moment. Then he swung back again -and looked at Al frankly. - -"I may as well tell you," said he, "that it is against my policy to have -any more civilians with me in the field than I can possibly help. Too -many civilians mixed up in military affairs have nearly been the -ruination of the United States during this Rebellion. At the same time, -I like to have young fellows of the right metal; they are often more -useful than old stagers. And I believe you'll do. A son of one of -Doniphan's daredevils, especially a namesake of his, ought to be all -right for courage; and moreover, General Sibley told me of the reports -he heard of your conduct at Fort Ridgely. You see, I know more about you -than you thought." He smiled at Al's embarrassed glance. "I'll find a -place for you somewhere, as a commissary's or quartermaster's clerk, -probably. Come and see me again to-morrow or next day and I'll have it -arranged." - -Al thanked him heartily and went away, feeling already a warm admiration -for this firm but courteous soldier. The interview aroused in him more -pleasurable anticipation of the expedition than he had felt heretofore, -and he found himself preparing for it and looking forward to it -enthusiastically. - -True to his promise, General Sully had a position arranged for him when -he called next day, and one, moreover, upon whose duties he could enter -at once. He quitted his work as clerk of the St. Louis commissary office -only to continue it in the same place as a clerk for the chief -commissary officer of the Northwestern Indian Expedition. Knowing that -he was to be with them, General Sully's staff officers took an immediate -interest in him, especially Lieutenant Dale, whose friendship proved not -only increasingly pleasant but very helpful as well. Dale was able to -give Al many suggestions as to how best to meet the problems and -situations which constantly arose in his position. There was also a -Captain Feilner, who treated him with much kindness. He was an officer -of German birth who had risen to his position from the ranks of the -regular army and was now General Sully's chief topographical engineer. - -For six weeks every one in St. Louis connected with the expedition was -busily occupied in getting supplies together and in shipping several -hundred tons of foodstuffs, clothing, camp equipage, and ammunition on -steamboats which were going up the Missouri on the Spring high water to -Fort Benton, Montana, the outfitting point for the newly discovered gold -district in that Territory. These goods were consigned to Fort Union, -the chief trading post of the American Fur Company, at the mouth of the -Yellowstone River, where a depot was to be established so as to have -supplies ready for the troops when they should reach that point, as it -was planned they should do, after marching overland from the Missouri to -the Yellowstone. Many hundreds of tons more were loaded on the eight -steamers which General Sully had chartered for the exclusive use of his -army, and on them were carried also a great quantity of building -materials for use in the two forts which were to be erected, one on the -upper Missouri and one on the Yellowstone. Few troops were to start with -the fleet from St. Louis, because General Sully's men were either -scattered in the several forts and cantonments along the river in Dakota -where they had spent the Winter, or were to meet the boats at the -village of Sioux City, Iowa; while a large column from General Sibley's -command was marching from Minnesota straight across the high prairies of -Dakota to join the rest of the expedition at Bois Cache Creek, nearly -opposite the mouth of the Moreau River. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -UP THE MISSOURI - - -On the last day of April the long preparations were finally completed. -The eight steamers lay along the Levee with flags floating from their -forward peaks and the black smoke pouring from their funnels. A great -crowd had gathered on the river bank to watch the departure; and while -drays and wagons rattled over the cobblestones and long lines of negro -roustabouts ran back and forth across the gang-planks of the steamers, -carrying on board the last packages of freight, Al stood at the boiler -deck rail of the _Island City_, General Sully's headquarters boat. He -waved his hand and smiled, more cheerfully than he felt at that moment, -to his mother and Annie and Uncle Will, who stood in the wide doorway of -the wharf-boat below, looking up at him. Now that the final moment had -come, Mrs. Briscoe's heart was torn at parting with her boy, who had so -loyally and unselfishly devoted himself to her wellbeing since her -husband's death. But she bore it as bravely as a good mother always -bears such trials, smiling brightly at him through her tears as the -head-lines were slipped from the _Island City's_ bow and her great stern -wheel began slowly to revolve. Al, his own eyes misty, watched his -mother until in the distance she became blurred with the crowd. The -steamer swung gracefully out into the swift current of the Mississippi, -described a wide, sweeping curve to the middle of the channel, and then, -rounding up stream at the head of the majestic line of her consorts, -forged up past the smoky city on the first mile of the long journey into -the Northwestern wilderness. - -Until the cheering crowd on the Levee was quite blotted out by distance -and intervening steamers along the bank, Al stood at the rail looking -back. When at last he turned away, with a strange feeling of depression -and loneliness, he found Lieutenant Dale standing behind him. - -"Come, boy," said he, slapping Al's shoulder, "brace up! We are going to -have a great time this Summer, and you'll be mighty glad you came. I -know it's hard leaving your folks. I felt just the same way less than -three years ago when I marched off from home to Washington and the first -Bull Run. But it does no good to feel blue over it; you'll come back -again all right, anyway. Get busy; that's the best remedy for blues. Are -those last goods that were brought on board checked up yet? No? Well, -you better go down and check them, hadn't you?" - -Al acted on the suggestion, and by the time he was through, the fleet -had entered the mouth of the Missouri and was approaching St. Charles, a -picturesque little old city straggling up over the rugged, wooded hills -on the north bank of the Missouri. The boats did not stop at the town, -but continued running until nearly dark, when they laid up for the night -at Penn's Woodyard, four miles above. Excepting in high water, when the -channel is broad and deep, it is very unusual for boats to run at night -on the Missouri owing to the danger of striking snags or going aground -on sandbars. Next morning, after replenishing their fuel supply at the -woodyard, they started at daylight and ran without mishap or halt, -excepting to take on wood several times, until dusk found them just -below the mouth of the Gasconade River, where they again tied up to wait -for daylight. - -In the Spring of 1864 there had been little rain in the Missouri Valley, -and the river was very low for the season, a fact which greatly -disturbed General Sully; he foresaw that the trip would probably be -painfully slow and that he would not be able to reach the Indian country -until so late that the campaign would have to be a hurried one. Early -next morning, at the mouth of the Gasconade, they encountered the first -of the obstacles which they had been dreading. As is usual below the -mouths of tributaries, where the eddy created by the muddy current of -the main river coming in contact with that of the tributary causes the -mud and sand to sink to the bottom, a sandbar here extended across the -Missouri's channel. The _Island City_, in the lead and running near the -south shore along the base of the bluffs, notwithstanding the caution of -her pilot, stuck her bow into it and stopped short. Al, who was in the -main cabin, ran forward as he felt the boat shiver and careen and looked -down over the bow. - -"Why, we've stuck fast!" he exclaimed to Captain Feilner, whom he found -standing by the rail. "What will they do now?" - -"Send out a boat and sound for a passage," the Captain answered. - -Even as he spoke, Alexander Lamont,--or, Alex Lamont, as he was usually -called,--the tall, bronzed captain of the _Island City_, leaned out over -the rail and shouted up to the hurricane deck above, - -"Lower away the yawl, there! Step lively, now!" - -They heard the shuffle of feet on the sanded tar roof overhead, the -creak of falls and tackles, and in a moment the boat, its long oars -manned by six stalwart deck hands and carrying, besides, a steersman at -the stern and a leadsman with a sounding pole at the bow, pulled around -the side of the steamer and out into the shoal water ahead. Meanwhile, -the long line of steamers behind them also came to a stop. - -"How much water must there be for us to get through?" asked Al. - -"We are drawing three and a half feet," answered Captain Feilner, "and -we ought to have four feet to go on, but we can do it on three and a -half by sparring or warping. Have you never seen those things done? -Well, you will probably have a chance in a few minutes,--and plenty more -before we are through with this trip. Some of the other steamers do not -draw quite as much as we do but none of them seem to be going to try to -pass us." - -The yawl gradually worked its way diagonally across and down the river, -following the crest of the bar, until it had approached quite near to -the north bank, the leadsman constantly thrusting his pole down to the -river bottom. Then the boat suddenly turned around and came rapidly back -to the _Island City_. - -"There's three and a half, large, over there," said the pilot who had -acted as leadsman as he came aboard, speaking to Captain Lamont. "We can -go over but you'll likely have to set spars." - -He ascended to the pilot-house and jerked the whistle rope. A warning -bellow roared out over the river, re-echoing from the forest-clad bluffs -on either side. One by one the steamboats behind them took up the -refrain, until the noise resembled that of a manufacturing city at the -noon hour. - -"What on earth is all that whistling for?" asked Al. "Are they trying to -scare the bar out of the river?" - -"No," laughed Captain Feilner. "That is a signal that we are going to -back up. There isn't room to turn in this channel and all the others -must back up, too, so that we won't run into each other." - -The fleet backed for a half mile, then the _Island City_ reversed her -wheel and started up again, running this time, however, close in by the -north shore. As she went ahead the strokes of her pistons became more -and more rapid until, as she approached the crossing, she was going at a -great speed for a steamboat. - -"He's going to try to belt her through," exclaimed Lieutenant Dale, -coming up at this moment. "We'll get a jolt. I hope nothing breaks." - -Hardly had he finished speaking when there came a loud grating sound -from the bow as the boat's flat bottom began to scrape over the sand. -Her timbers quivered and groaned, her speed diminished so quickly that -those who were standing on her decks were nearly thrown down, and then, -after scraping along for a few feet slowly and painfully she came to a -full stop. For a moment the stern wheel continued to churn the water -into white foam; then the pilot, with an impatient gesture, jerked the -wire to the stopping-bell down in the engine room, and the ponderous -wheel came to a halt. - -"No use," he cried to Captain Lamont, leaning out of the pilot-house -window. "She's nearly over but you'll have to set the spars!" - -There was a great shouting and commotion on the lower deck as the spars, -two long, heavy timbers like telegraph poles, one on each side of the -bow, were swung out and erected in position, their lower extremities -resting on the river bottom, the upper, fitted with tackle blocks, -rising high above the level of the boat's top deck. Through the tackle -blocks ran heavy cables fastened at one end to the boat's gunwale and at -the other to the steam capstan. When the spars had been set, the capstan -began to revolve, winding up the cable and thus hoisting the bow of the -boat until it hung suspended on the spars. At the same time the wheel -was slowly revolved, forcing the boat ahead until the spars had tilted -forward so far as to let the bow down again into the sand. Then they -were dragged forward and set upright once more, and the process was -repeated. Before a great while the crest of the bar was passed, and the -_Island City_ floated on into deeper water and continued her journey. -But though it had not been what river men would consider a hard -crossing, she had lost nearly six hours in sounding and sparring, and it -was noon by the time she had left the Gasconade out of sight behind her. -The vessels following her each forced its way across the bar in the same -manner as she had done, excepting the _Chippewa Falls_ and the _Alone_, -boats of smaller dimensions and lighter draft, which were able to slip -over without sparring. By the time the last one had passed the -Gasconade, it was evening again, and the fleet was strung out for miles -up the river. The _Island City_ anchored out for the night to a bar just -below Kate Howard Chute, so called for a beautiful packet of that name -which had sunk there in 1859. The point was only thirty miles above the -Gasconade, so that twenty-four hours had been consumed in covering that -insignificant distance. The _Island City_ was towing a large barge, -intended for use when they should reach the Indian country, but it was -very much in the way and retarded her progress considerably. - -That evening Al asked Captain Lamont how far it was from St. Louis to -the mouth of Cannonball River, Dakota, where it was expected that the -actual campaign against the Indians would begin, and was told that it -was about fourteen hundred miles. He did some figuring and found that if -they continued to progress at the same rate as they had done that day it -would be more than six weeks, or past the middle of June, before they -would reach their destination. It seemed an astonishingly long time to -him but, as the event proved, he had considerably overestimated the -average speed which the fleet could maintain. For days they continued -travelling through the State of Missouri, contending with sandbars and -head winds. The interior of the State was in a deplorable condition as a -result of the war. Guerillas were overrunning it everywhere, and the -boats rarely landed at a town without hearing either that some of the -marauders had just left on the approach of the fleet or that they had -been raiding there a day or two before. General Sully's vessels were so -numerous and well armed that the guerillas did not dare attack them. All -Missouri River boats at that time were more or less fortified around the -pilot-house with timber or boiler-iron bulwarks, to protect the pilots -from the bullets of guerillas on the lower river and from those of -Indians in the upper country, while the piles of cordwood on the main -deck afforded some protection to the men there. Yet the fleet seldom -passed a downward-bound boat which had not been fired into or boarded, -and fortunate was the vessel which had escaped without the loss of one -or more people on board killed or wounded. - -There were plenty of men in the expedition who would have been glad to -encourage such attacks had they been made, for, as was always the case -among the class of men who worked as laborers on the steamboats, there -were many hardened and even desperate characters in the crews of Sully's -vessels. Not a few of them were deserters from the Confederate army, -tired of fighting but still rebels at heart; and others were Southern -sympathizers, fleeing from the draft in the Northern States. Most of -these men hoped, when they should draw near to Montana, to find -opportunities for slipping away from the expedition and making their way -to the gold fields which were just being opened in the placer deposits -around Bannack, Last Chance Gulch, Alder Gulch and other places, and -which were attracting a wild rush of adventurers from all over the -country. Such men were naturally hard to handle and it took steamboat -officers of firmness and courage to keep them in control. - -Since the beginning of the voyage Al had not had much occasion to -mingle with the crew of the _Island City_. The cargo of the steamboat -consisted chiefly of corn for the use of the cavalry horses in the -Indian country and, once it was on board, required little attention. He -therefore seldom had any reason for going to the lower deck except to -while away the time, which, indeed, was the principal occupation of the -army officers on board. As might naturally be supposed, he was usually -with some of them. But one day he was standing on the main deck near the -boilers when one of the deck hands, a young fellow a few years older -than himself, came by carrying a couple of heavy sticks of cordwood to -the furnaces. Al had once or twice in the past noticed this fellow -staring at him in a disagreeable way and felt instinctively that it must -be because the deck hand was envious of the apparently easy and pleasant -time which he was having. Al's back was turned toward him and neither -saw the other until one of the sticks collided heavily with Al's -shoulder, almost throwing him down. Al turned and though bruised, was on -the point of apologizing for being in the way, when the fellow, an -ugly, red flush overspreading his face, shouted, with a plentiful -sprinkling of oaths between his words, - -"Get out of my road, you little Yankee snipe! What are you loafing -around here for, anyhow?" - -"I'm sorry I got in your way," replied Al, controlling his temper, "but -I didn't see you." - -"Well, you'd better stay upstairs with your blue-bellied Yankee -officers. They oughtn't to let their little pet run around this way." - -Hearing loud words, several other deck hands gathered round, grinning at -the excitement, their sympathies evidently with their companion. - -"As for my being down here," Al answered, feeling that it would not do -to let such language pass unnoticed, especially before the other men, "I -have as much business here as you have. As for being a Yankee, I suppose -everybody on a United States ship is a Yankee. If they're not, they'd -better go ashore." - -"It would take a mighty big lot of such spindle-legged doll babies as -you to put me ashore," shouted the young ruffian, flinging down his -wood and advancing on Al with clenched fists. "Down South we don't use -anything but boats we've kicked the Yankees off of." - -Several of the other deck hands crowded closer, exclaiming, - -"Aw, let the kid alone, Jimmy. He ain't done nothin' to you." - -"Look out, Jimmy; you'll get in trouble, talkin' that way." - -"So you're a rebel deserter, are you?" asked Al, his eyes flashing. "I -thought so. If you're so much attached to them, why didn't you stay down -there and take some more Yankee boats?" - -The fellow, quite beside himself with rage, did not wait to reply but -sprang at Al like a bull-dog. Al knew little about boxing, but he was -quick. As his assailant rushed at him, he jumped forward and planted one -fist with all his strength on the point of the fellow's chin. The -rowdy's feet flew from under him and he fell to the deck with a heavy -thud, completely dazed for a moment. Then he scrambled to his feet with -a string of imprecations pouring from his lips, and jerking an ugly, -broad-bladed knife from a sheath on his belt, again leaped at Al. Seeing -his intention, his companions rushed forward to stop him, but Al had -snatched up a stoking iron from the floor beside him and swung it back -over his shoulder. His face was pale, but not with fright, and as his -assailant looked into his steady eyes something in them caused him -suddenly to lower his knife and hesitate. - -"Come one step nearer and I'll brain you," said Al, his voice very low -and quiet. "You miserable, cowardly bully, attacking a fellow who is -unarmed and who has done nothing to you. Now, if you want to stay on -this boat you've got to quit that kind of talk about Yankees or I'll see -that you are put off. It's very plain you are a rebel and you've no -business getting your living under the protection of the Union as long -as you feel that way. Next time you want to try anything with me I shall -be ready for you, and I warn you, you won't get off so easily again." - -He threw down the stoking iron and, turning his back on the crest-fallen -rowdy, deliberately walked away, followed by ejaculations from the -group of onlookers such as, - -"Bully boy!" "Served him right." "You're all right, kid!" - -Later in the day he mentioned the occurrence to Lieutenant Dale and -Captain Feilner, who promptly wished to have the deck hand put ashore. - -"Not on my account, unless he does some more secesh talking," said Al. -"I can take care of myself with him. Besides, it may be a good lesson -for him and teach him to be decent after this." - -The fellow, as it turned out, had been pretty thoroughly beaten and he -made no more trouble for Al during the voyage, though he always gave him -an ugly look when they chanced to meet. - -Lieutenant Dale decided from the incident that Al ought to learn the art -of boxing, in which he himself was quite expert, having learned it in -college. So thereafter they spent an hour or so every day in sparring. -By the time the voyage was over, Al had become as skilful as his -instructor, and General Sully, Captain Feilner and the other officers -often gathered to watch their bouts and to encourage them to greater -efforts. - -At Glasgow, his old home, Al had an opportunity to go ashore for a short -time and he was astonished and grieved to note the changes which three -short years had wrought in the familiar old town. The levee was deserted -save by a few indolent loafers who, without recognizing him, stared at -him suspiciously as he went past; for in that terror-haunted country, -fear and suspicion of everybody and everything had become the habit of -the people. Climbing the hill to the main part of town, he found grass -growing in the once bustling business streets and many buildings locked -and vacant. His father's old store was among them, closed as he had left -it. He saw no familiar faces; most of the men and boys he had known were -off in one of the armies, Confederate or Union, and the women were not -often venturing from their houses in such times. In the residence -section the scene was still worse. House after house stood deserted and -going to decay. With slow steps Al went on to the place which had been -the home of his family in the dear old days when they were happy and -prosperous. The gate was fallen from the hinges, weeds were growing -thickly over the gravel walks, several panes of glass were broken out of -the windows, and a loose shutter creaked dolefully in the wind. He -rested his hand on a weather-beaten fence picket and gazed out into the -garden he remembered so well, where he and Tommy and Annie had played; -and beyond that into the orchard, where the summer apples used to grow -so large and red and juicy. The cords of his throat tightened and a mist -swam before his eyes. Weeds and grass and broken limbs strewed the -ground; silence and desolation were everywhere. He turned away abruptly -and hastened back to the levee, never stopping until he was once more on -the boiler deck of the _Island City_, where General Sully and several -other officers were smoking and playing cards. It seemed to him as if a -ghost were following him, the ghost of dead days, so tenderly remembered -that the thought of them was unendurable, and for the time being he -wanted only to plunge into the present and forget. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -PRAIRIE MARCHING - - -It would take a volume to recount all the interesting experiences which -befell Al and his companions on the long trip to Fort Sully, Dakota, -where the greater part of General Sully's troops had wintered; but, as -they contributed nothing of moment to the narrative which we are -following, they must be passed by. The fleet reached Kansas City, then a -small but rapidly growing frontier town, nearly three weeks after -leaving St. Louis, a journey which is now accomplished by rail in seven -or eight hours. At Omaha the _Island City_ left the barge which had been -dragging at her stern all the way from St. Louis, as it was such an -impediment that she could no longer handle it in the extremely low stage -of the water. On May 30 the fleet reached Sioux City, where some troops -were taken on board, as were still more at Fort Randall, twelve days -later. About June 20 they arrived at Fort Sully and here the long -steamboat journey came to an end so far as the General and his staff -were concerned, as here they left the boat to march with the column of -troops up the eastern side of the Missouri. Though he expected to see -them frequently again during the Summer, Al regretted leaving the -officers and pilots of the _Island City_, especially Captain Lamont, to -whom he had become quite attached. After his encounter with the deck -hand, Jim, the Captain had shown a liking for him and during many idle -hours had done much toward initiating him into the fascinating mysteries -of steamboating. The fleet itself was going on up the river with the -cargoes, keeping as nearly as possible abreast of the column. - -It was a great relief to be on shore again and able to ride a galloping -horse and to move about freely, after the long confinement to the narrow -limits of the boat. For two or three days after the arrival of the -fleet, Fort Sully presented a very animated appearance. Here were -assembled about half of the troops which were to make up the expedition -into the hostile country: the Sixth Iowa Cavalry under Colonel Pollock; -three companies of the Seventh Iowa Cavalry under Lieutenant-Colonel -Pattee; Brackett's Battalion of Minnesota Cavalry under Major Brackett, -which had marched overland from Fort Snelling to Sioux City and thence -to Fort Sully; and two companies of Dakota Cavalry under Captain Miner. - -All these soldiers, over one thousand in number, constituting the First -Brigade of General Sully's army, were quartered in the barracks of the -fort or encamped close around the stockade. The buildings of the fort, -which were similar to most of those built on the Northwestern frontier, -were of large, unhewn cottonwood logs; and the stockade, about two -hundred and seventy feet square, was made of cedar pickets rising twelve -feet above the ground, loop-holed for musketry and flanked by two -bastions, one on the northeastern and one on the southwestern corner, -containing cannon to sweep the faces of the stockade. It had been built -by General Sully's troops, many of whom were still there, at the close -of the campaign in 1863. A short distance out from the fort were several -hundred lodges of Indians, recently hostile, but who, wearying of the -struggle, had come in to tender their submission to General Sully. Al, -through interpreters, made eager inquiry among them for news of Tommy, -but could learn nothing. The Indians, who were of several different -tribes of the Sioux Nation: Yanktonais, Brules, Two Kettles, -Minneconjoux, Sans Arcs, Uncpapas, and also Blackfeet, reported that the -hostiles were gathered in one immense camp of some eighteen hundred -lodges, or about six thousand warriors, three days' march west of the -Missouri on the headwaters of Heart River, and that they were eager for -a fight. - -After a few days spent at the fort in organizing and refitting the -troops, shoeing the horses and mules, repairing harness, and loading -supplies for immediate use into the train of nearly one hundred wagons -which was to accompany the column, the latter moved out on its northward -march on the twenty-third of June. - -Now began days which were full of novel experiences for Al. Though he -had to spend a good deal of time with the wagon train, aiding Lieutenant -Bacon, the acting assistant quartermaster, in issuing and caring for -the supplies, he found many hours each day to ride at the head of the -column with the General and his staff, who usually marched there. The -weather was generally warm, and the vast, seemingly boundless prairie -was parched with drought. The new grass was sparse and dry and hidden -under the dead, brown bunches of last year's blue joint and buffalo -grass, so that the troops and wagon train usually marched in a cloud of -dust which, rising from the feet of the hundreds of trampling animals, -was visible for many miles through the clear air of that high plateau -country. They knew that Indian scouts were all about them, closely -observing their progress, but the red men seldom showed themselves, and -one unfamiliar with their ways might easily have believed that there -were no enemies near. Game, such as buffalo and antelope, could often be -seen in the distance and it was a sore temptation to many of the men to -see them and not give pursuit. Indeed, sometimes a party would sally out -after a buffalo; but unless the party was strong, it was always against -the advice of the old campaigners, especially the officers and men of -the Dakota Cavalry, who had been hunting and fighting Indians all over -the southern part of their vast territory ever since the Summer of 1862. -These men, recruited among the fearless and adventurous pioneers who had -first settled in Dakota a few years before, had been dubbed "the -Coyotes" by their companions in arms because of the speed and skill with -which they could march and manoeuvre against their wily foes; and it was -from them that South Dakota in later years derived its familiar -nickname, "the Coyote State." - -General Sully had such confidence in the Coyotes that he treated them in -some degree as his headquarters escort. Their place on the march was -usually near him, and if any piece of work was to be done of an -especially important or daring character, he generally called upon the -Coyotes to perform it. Lieutenant Bacon, whom General Sully had -appointed acting assistant quartermaster, was an officer of the Dakota -Cavalry; and as his assistant Al soon found himself on terms of easy -familiarity with the entire gallant command. This was especially true -after he had one day dashed out with a party of them after a small herd -of buffalo which came in view as they topped a rise, a little more than -a mile in advance. A dozen of the Dakota cavalrymen put spurs to their -horses and galloped after the enticing game, and Al and Captain Feilner -joined them. - -Al's horse was a sturdy animal, smaller than Captain Feilner's but -long-winded. When they had ridden two or three miles, gradually gaining -on their game, the herd suddenly divided at a dry slough bed in the -prairie, part keeping on north and part turning east. Most of the -cavalrymen turned to follow the buffalo which had swung east, but two or -three, with Captain Feilner and Al, galloped on after the others. One of -the troopers, a tall, slim young fellow wearing the chevrons of a -corporal, who rode his long-legged black horse like an Indian, gradually -drew ahead of the rest as they came nearer and nearer to the game, until -finally he brought himself abreast of the herd. Handling his horse with -the greatest skill, he worked in alongside of the largest buffalo bull. -Then, drawing his short Sharp's carbine, he leaned over, brought the -muzzle near to the animal's fore shoulder and fired. The buffalo ran on -for thirty or forty feet, then stumbled, fell, rose again and, after -staggering a short distance, fell once more and for the last time. The -corporal, calmly slipping his carbine back into its boot, rode up to the -dead buffalo and began cutting away the choicest portions of it to carry -back to the command. - -Meantime Al and Captain Feilner galloped on, some distance behind the -corporal. But the Captain's horse was becoming badly winded and at last -he swung off to one side and took a long distance shot, without result. -Al, though his horse, too, was beginning to show some signs of -weariness, kept on until about fifty yards from the flank and rear of -the herd when, not wishing to exhaust his horse, he decided to take his -chance on a long shot. He accordingly pulled up and, taking hasty aim -with the long Spencer rifle he was carrying, fired at the nearest animal -he could see through the dust. Then he lowered his rifle and looked, but -the buffalo seemed to be running as fast and as steadily as ever. He was -about to turn back, disappointed, to join Captain Feilner, when he -heard the corporal, a little way behind, shouting at him, - -"You hit her! You hit her! Keep going; use your revolver!" - -Somewhat doubtful, Al urged his horse again to a gallop and kept on -after the herd, Captain Feilner and the corporal following him. But, -true enough, before he had covered a quarter of a mile he saw the animal -he had fired at begin to drop behind the others. In another quarter of a -mile he had overtaken it. It proved to be a good sized cow, which, as he -approached, stopped and turned upon him with lowered head, frothing -mouth and angry eyes. He drew his revolver, the one that had belonged to -his father and that he had used at Fort Ridgely, and cautiously urged -his frightened horse toward the cow. As he came within twenty-five or -thirty feet, she charged at him, but he spurred his horse forward and as -she passed behind him, he fired at her eye. It was a lucky shot, for she -rolled over like a log and lay still. In a moment Captain Feilner and -the corporal rode up, the latter's saddle already loaded with thirty or -forty pounds of choice meat cut from his own quarry. He dismounted and -walked up to Al. - -[Illustration: She charged at him as he fired] - -"That was a fine shot at the distance," said he. "I didn't think you -would make a hit. And you finished her in good shape. Do you know where -to cut off the best pieces for eating?" - -"No, I don't," replied Al. "I never killed one before." - -"Let me show you," said the other, drawing out his knife, "so that -you'll know next time." - -"What is your name?" asked Al, as they worked, handing up the pieces to -the Captain, who tied them to his own and Al's saddles. "You must be a -veteran at it, the way you knocked over that big fellow." - -"Oh, I've killed a few of them," answered the cavalryman, modestly. "It -isn't much of a trick when you know how. My name is Charles Wright, -corporal in Company A, First Dakota Cavalry." - -They were soon riding back to the column with the welcome supply of -fresh meat, joining on the way the members of the other party, who had -killed three buffalo of the bunch they had followed. On arriving at the -column they were soundly berated by General Sully for their temerity in -venturing so far; for if a party of Indians of any size had cut in -between them and the main body they might easily have all been killed. -Captain Feilner, who, being an engineer and also, incidentally, a -naturalist, was fond of wandering aside from the line of march to -examine the country, laughed incredulously at the General's misgivings. - -"General, I do not believe there are enough Indians within one hundred -miles to endanger the number of us who went out there," said he. - -"Well, there are," replied General Sully, positively, "don't make any -mistake about that. And if you're not more careful, Feilner, you'll get -your scalp lifted some day on one of your foolhardy side trips after -buffalo or rocks or petrified beetles. As for you, Briscoe," he -continued, addressing Al, "if you want to die young, just keep on -following those Coyotes wherever they lead." With a grim smile, he -jerked his thumb over his shoulder toward the dusty squadron just behind -them, who at the moment were welcoming Corporal Wright and his -meat-laden companions with yells and whoops of delight. "Those fellows -are the most reckless devils in the Northwest and they'll get you into -more tight holes than you can get out of unless you're as bad as they -are." - -Al felt that this was the highest compliment possible to the Dakota boys -and so, indeed, General Sully meant it to be. That night at supper in -the bivouac the staff and the Coyotes, at least, fared sumptuously, with -hot and tender buffalo steaks to go with their hardtack, fried potatoes -and coffee. - -It was several days after the buffalo hunt, on June 28, to be exact, -that the command broke camp at daylight and marched forward toward the -crossing of the Little Cheyenne River. The troops marched in two -columns, as usual, the supply train being in the centre between them, -while the Dakota Cavalry rode a short distance in advance. Their -commander, Captain Nelson Miner, was that day acting field officer of -the day, having charge of the guard details. As the day wore on it -became hot and sultry and the dust suffocating. Every one was suffering -with thirst and finally, as they approached within a few miles of the -Cheyenne, Captain Feilner decided to ride ahead to that stream in search -of water. Two soldiers from one of the commands in the main column -volunteered to accompany him. Al was working over his books in one of -the wagons of the train when the Captain rode past and called out to -him, - -"I am going on to the Little Cheyenne to get a drink. Do you want to go -with me?" - -"I should like to," Al called back, "but I'm busy now. Look out for -Indians." - -"Oh, yes," replied the Captain, smiling, "There are three of us. I guess -we can force a passage against all the Indians we shall see." - -He waved his hand and disappeared through the dust up the column, the -two soldiers trotting hard after him. Al resumed his work and in a -moment forgot all about Captain Feilner. When he had finished he mounted -his horse and rode up to the head of the column where he fell in with -the rest of the staff around General Sully. They had been riding along -in leisurely fashion for some time, their weary horses walking with -drooping heads, the riders lolling in their saddles, when Al's glance, -wandering aimlessly over the desolate landscape ahead, was arrested by -two small dots which suddenly appeared on the top of a prairie ridge far -in front and came racing down the exposed slope in the direction of the -column. Something in their appearance made his heart jump into his -throat. Instinctively he reached out and touched the arm of General -Sully, who was talking to Lieutenant Dale. - -"General," he cried, pointing ahead. "Look there! What are those -specks?" - -The general, startled, glanced in the direction indicated. His -expression changed to one of dismay. - -"By God," he exclaimed, snatching out his field-glasses, "something's -happened over there; there are only two of them. Feilner's got in -trouble; I knew he would." - -He touched his horse and started forward at a trot, his staff following. -The riders, coming at a furious pace, soon reached them. They were the -two soldiers who had ridden ahead with the Captain, hatless and without -arms, their horses panting with the frantic pace they had been making. -The leading trooper jerked up in front of the General and, saluting, -cried breathlessly, - -"Captain Feilner is killed, General!" - -General Sully slapped his field-glasses back into their case and -clenched his fist with an enraged gesture. - -"I knew it," he growled, savagely. "The best officer I had. Curse these -infernal redskins!" It must be admitted that at such moments General -Sully did not hesitate to use stronger language than is allowable in -print. "Where was he killed?" - -"At the crossing of the Cheyenne, sir. He's lying there now." - -"How did it happen?" - -"Why, when we reached there, sir, the Captain got off his horse and went -down the bank,--it's steep where we were,--and got a drink, while we -held his horse. Then we dismounted and went down, leaving our horses and -carbines with him. He was sitting under a little tree. While we were -down by the creek we heard a rifle shot and looked up and saw three -Injuns riding up toward our horses. There is good grass in the bottom -and we'd picketed them, but they got scared and pulled the picket-pins -and ran off before the redskins got them. We could see the Captain lying -there but we didn't have our guns so all we could do was to hide out -till the Injuns rode off north across the creek. Then we ran after our -horses and came back." - -"Three Indians, you say? And they rode north?" questioned the General, -sharply. - -"Yes, sir." - -Sully put his horse to the gallop and rode swiftly toward the head of -the approaching column. As he reached Captain Miner, he pulled up. - -"Captain," he cried, "three Indians have killed Captain Feilner at the -crossing of the Little Cheyenne, just ahead of us here. They rode north, -across the creek. Take Company A and follow the cowardly assassins and -bring them to me, dead or alive; mind you, dead or alive!" - -"Feilner killed!" exclaimed Captain Miner. "The dirty scoundrels!" - -He swung his horse so sharply that it reared, and dashed back along the -column of Company A until he reached First Sergeant A. M. English, who -was in command. - -"Sergeant," he cried, in ringing tones which every eagerly listening man -in the company could hear, "Captain Feilner has been killed, and we are -ordered to pursue the Indians!" - -Then he galloped back to the head of the column and, rising in his -stirrups, shouted, - -"Column left, march! Company, trot! Gallop! Follow me, boys!" - -With a rising thunder of hoofs and a swirling dust cloud behind them, -through which the glint of carbines, sabres, and accoutrements flashed -in the sunshine, the cavalry swept over the hill in front and away. The -General rode hotly after them to the crest and watched them streaming -through the depression and up the slopes beyond. Then he laughed grimly. - -"See the d--n Coyotes," he exclaimed. "They go like a flock of sheep! -They'll kill their horses before they catch the redskins. Ride after -them and tell Miner to take it easy." - -Al, who ever since hearing the distressing news had been quivering with -impotent rage over the cruel fate of his good friend, Captain Feilner, -caught the General's last words. He turned with a swift salute, even as -he put spurs to his horse. - -"I'll tell him, General!" he cried, and rode away like the wind. - -"Here, you!" cried the General, "Come back!" - -But Al did not want to hear. - -"Oh, let him go," Sully added, in a lower tone, "I reckon he's a Coyote -himself," and he chuckled as he saw Al put his horse over a gully at the -bottom of the hill and tear up the opposite rise close on the heels of -the last ragged end of the racing Dakota Cavalry. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -THE REVENGE OF THE COYOTES - - -As he gained the top of the rise, Al saw a confused and scattered array -of horsemen just ahead of him, all going at a sharp gallop with no -attempt at formation, the men leaning forward in their saddles as if -riding to the finish of a hard race. He understood that it was a foolish -pace for what would probably prove a long pursuit, but nothing could be -done to slacken it until he could overtake Captain Miner, who was at the -very head of the company. Al and every one else had been very much -surprised at the impetuous manner in which Captain Miner had started -out, for though brave as a lion, he was usually very deliberate in -movement and gentle of speech and his voice had a plaintive, appealing -tone which often contrasted oddly with the orders he was giving. -Altogether, his dashing and devoted followers often found much to amuse -them in the ways of their mild commander. That he had been profoundly -moved by the death of Captain Feilner was evident; otherwise he would -never have urged his little roan mare to a gallop, for his habit was to -ride her at an ambling trot, even in the most exciting and dangerous -situations. - -Al hurried his own wiry little horse to greater exertions and began -forging to the front. Before long he left all except the leaders behind -and as they went over the hill and down into the valley of the Cheyenne, -he was almost up to Captain Miner. The latter's face was set steadily to -the front, however, as he scanned the country ahead for sight of the -fugitive Indians, and Al could not attract his attention until he had -overtaken him, almost on the bank of the creek. Then he shouted, - -"Captain Miner! Captain Miner!" - -The Captain turned and drew in his horse. - -"Well?" he inquired, lifting his eyebrows slightly, "What is it?" It was -plain he had recovered his composure, for his voice was placid. - -"General Sully's compliments, sir, and he suggests that you take it a -little slower, as the horses may be exhausted before you can catch the -Indians," answered Al. - -Captain Miner pulled at his beard thoughtfully. - -"Oh, pshaw!" he said, a disapproving note in his voice, "I wonder how we -are to catch them if we don't keep going?" - -"I don't know, sir," replied Al, as side by side they rode their horses -into the creek, "but that was what the General told me to say to you." - -The stream was shallow and narrow but its banks were composed of deep, -swampy mud through which their horses floundered and plunged, knee deep. -Above and below them soldiers of the Coyotes were coming at the stream, -some clearing it in a bound, where the banks were solid enough for a -jump, while others became so deeply mired that they could not get out -again until the rest of the command had passed from sight beyond. Just -as Al's and the Captain's horses waded out of the creek and came up, -snorting, on the opposite bank, they heard some of the men already -across, shouting, - -"There are the Indians! Over there!" - -At this moment a headquarters orderly galloped into sight and halted -beside the Captain. - -"The General is afraid you will ruin your horses," he cried. "He thinks -you had better come back." - -Again Captain Miner tugged at his beard, a habit of his when annoyed or -perplexed. - -"Is that an order?" he inquired. - -"No, sir, I think not," the orderly replied, hesitatingly. "It's a -suggestion." - -"Well," directed the Captain, gently, "will you, then, please report to -the General that we are in sight of the Indians and without I have a -positive order to return, I propose to take them." - -He turned to the front again and put his little roan into her accustomed -trot, calling out to the men nearest him, as he waved his hand at them, - -"Take it a bit slower, boys; don't run your horses. We'll catch the -Indians all right." - -Al's ambitious little sorrel, seeing other horses ahead of him, was -tugging at the bit and Al gradually let him have his head, leaving the -Captain a short distance behind while the rest of the company was -strung out for a mile or more in the rear. Al soon found himself among -the leaders, riding neck and neck with Sergeant English and Corporal -Wright, while Troopers Tom Frick, George Pike, George McClellan, and -others whose names he did not know were near to them. The country was -almost level where they were riding and they could now see the three -Indians plainly, though still a long way ahead. The fugitives were -pushing with all the speed they could make for a group of rough hills in -advance, evidently hoping to escape pursuit in the ravines. To reach the -hills, their course must be at a slight angle across that of the -soldiers. - -"Let's try to head them off," suggested Sergeant English. "Bear a little -to the right." - -The change of direction was made and as they continued to creep up on -the Indians, whose ponies were evidently wearing out, they could see the -latter look around anxiously every minute or two. The savages were -urging their animals with quirt and heel, and though they responded but -feebly, their strength lasted long enough to take them to the base of -the hills before the pursuers had come within carbine range. As they -reached the first steep slope, the Indians suddenly threw themselves -from their ponies' backs and, clinging to their guns, ran up to the top -of the hill on foot and disappeared. As they came nearer to the hill, -the soldiers were startled to see on its crest, just where the fugitives -had disappeared, a very large body of warriors with war-bonnets and -robes waving in the breeze. - -"Well, say, what do you think of that?" exclaimed Corporal Wright. -"There must be two or three hundred of them." - -The advance party reluctantly slowed down until Captain Miner and some -of the other men had come up to them. The Captain examined for a moment -the ominous looking group ahead. Then he turned a wistful glance on the -thirty or forty men behind him and said, plaintively, - -"There seem to be a good many of them, but I think we'd better charge, -boys." He touched his mare and trotted forward, calling in a soothing -tone, "Yes, that's what we'll do. Charge, boys, charge." - -Some of the men laughed explosively, partly with nervousness, partly -with amusement at their commander's quaint orders, but not one -hesitated. Spreading out in a long, irregular line, they dashed at the -hill, shouting, - -"Death to the murderers!" - -But as they approached the crest, again laughter broke out, rolling from -one flank of the line to the other and back again, in boisterous waves. -The supposed Indians were nothing more than a patch of mullen stalks, -transformed by distance and the peculiar condition of the air into a -resemblance to human beings. The men looked at each other sheepishly, -but as they reached the top of the hill, they sobered again. The three -real Indians were just disappearing down a ravine on the other side. -Pell-mell the cavalry rushed after them, Captain Miner and Sergeant -English now in the lead. The horses slid and stumbled down through the -ravine, but the wily savages were still ahead, dodging about among -obstructions to the view which none but Indians could have found. -Presently the ravine widened out into a valley in which no sign of life -was to be seen. The whole body of cavalry was going on into the valley -when suddenly the Indians rose as if from the ground, a little way to -one side of the course the soldiers were taking, and fired at the -Captain and the Sergeant, behind whom Al was closely following. - -The fugitives had taken refuge in an old buffalo wallow, forming a -perfect natural rifle-pit; and if they had not mistakenly thought -themselves discovered and risen to fire, their pursuers would probably -have swept by without finding them. But now they were brought to bay and -with cheers and yells of delight a number of troopers sprang from their -saddles and encircling the buffalo wallow, though at some distance from -it, threw themselves flat on the ground with carbines cocked, waiting -for an Indian to show himself. It was like a pack of wolves surrounding -their quarry. Fortunately, neither the Captain nor Sergeant English had -been injured by the first fire and they joined the circle of besiegers, -while the men who were holding the horses formed a wider circle back on -the prairie out of range. - -Al's horse, though of course new to him, was an old campaigner which -had gone out from Fort Randall on more than one forced march. His name, -Cottontail, had doubtless been bestowed upon him by some former soldier -rider in humorous reference to his fluffy tail, which was almost white. -He could be trusted to stand through any amount of noise or excitement -if his reins were, thrown over his head so that they hung on the ground -at his feet. Al left him thus, standing alone, and running forward, -dropped down in the ring of dismounted men beside Corporal Wright. For a -few moments the Indians kept out of sight. Then something rose above the -rim of the buffalo wallow and Al, who was watching that spot with -intense eagerness as he lay sprawled in the short prairie grass, raised -his rifle to fire. But the corporal slapped down the barrel. - -"Don't shoot at that," said he, "or the boys'll laugh at you. It isn't a -redskin; it's just a breech cloth they're sticking up to draw our fire. -Look closer." - -Al looked as directed and saw, on more careful scrutiny, that it was, -indeed, only a piece of cloth. None of the men fired at it, but some of -them hooted derisively, for they knew that the Indians' scheme was to -draw a volley, when they could safely spring up and fire at their -besiegers before the latter could reload. Al lowered his rifle in -disgust. - -"How are we going to get them if they never stick their heads up?" he -inquired, impatiently. - -"Well, they can stay and starve to death," answered Wright, grinning. -"We're able to hold out longer at that game than they are. But -Captain'll order us to charge pretty soon if they don't do something." - -However, the Indians could not stand the suspense. Their ruse having -failed, one of them soon raised his gun and then his head above the edge -of the hole and fired quickly at the first soldier he sighted. His aim -was bad and he had misjudged the alertness of his foes. Almost before he -had shot, a dozen carbines cracked and he dropped back more suddenly -than he had risen. All those in the encircling line heard, or thought -they heard, the dull thud of the bullets as they struck him. A -disjointed cheer ran round among the men. - -"There goes one of the murderers!" they shouted. "Now for the next." - -The circle began to contract, the men crawling and hitching forward, a -few inches at a time. For some minutes this was kept up on all sides of -the hole, until they had approached within a few rods of it. Still the -Indians gave no sign. Then again the soldiers heard, plainly audible in -the silence, the persuasive voice of Captain Miner, raised slightly -above its ordinary tone; - -"Charge, boys, charge!" - -As if released by a spring, at those welcome words the Coyotes leaped to -their feet as one man and with a fierce shout rushed forward. The -Indians heard them coming and as the soldiers approached within twenty -feet of their refuge they arose and with a blood-curdling yell fired -their guns straight into the faces of their assailants. Good fortune was -surely with the Dakota boys that day, for the bullets, even at that -deadly range, whistled by harmlessly, and in less time than it takes to -tell it, a score of carbines flashed and the savage assassins, riddled -with bullets, fell back across the body of their already dead companion. -Thus speedily had the cold-blooded murder of Captain Feilner been -avenged. - -The soldiers, talking together excitedly, gathered around the edge of -the buffalo wallow; and two or three, including Corporal Wright, sprang -down into it to take trophies, such as beads or feathers, from the dead -warriors. Al was standing on the brink of the hole watching the Corporal -bend over one of the bodies, when, to his amazement, he saw another of -the supposedly dead Indians raise the muzzle of his musket toward the -Corporal's back. - -[Illustration: The Indian raised his rifle to shoot Corporal Wright] - -"Look out, Corporal!" shouted Al, at the same instant shooting into the -Indian. The Corporal leaped high in air and turned round just in time to -see the musket drop from the hands of the warrior as he fell back and -expired. - -"Why, he wasn't dead at all!" exclaimed Al, aghast at the suddenness of -the thing. "He was playing possum and he almost had you, Corporal." - -Wright, a little pale, scrambled out of the hole and grasped Al's hand -warmly. - -"You've saved my life, sure enough," said he, earnestly. "I hope I can -do as much for you sometime." - -"I hope there won't be any need," answered Al, smiling, "but I'm very -glad I saw him in time." - -"It's lucky for Charlie that you did," cried Sergeant English, "it looks -so mighty suspicious to be shot in the back." - -Wright, laughing, wheeled like lightning on the joker and made a clutch -at him; but the Sergeant sprang out of the way and raced off, with -Wright close on his heels, shouting, - -"Here, come back, while I thrash you for that!" - -With their sabres catching between their legs, the two brave fellows, -playing like boys, looked comical enough; and the rest of the men, all -of them in high spirits over their success, yelled and applauded loudly -as they dodged about over the prairie until so completely out of breath -that they sunk to the ground, still laughing, and lay there panting. - -As soon as they had caught their breath they arose again and returned to -the buffalo wallow. Captain Miner was standing thoughtfully beside it, -looking down at the dead Indians. - -"I don't see what we are going to do with these fellows," he said, -doubtfully, glancing around at his men. "The General ordered me to bring -them to him, dead or alive, and of course we've got to do it. But we -must be fifteen miles from the column and they'll be kind of awkward to -take that far." - -"Strip off some of their ornaments," suggested somebody, "and take them -to the General." - -The Captain, interested, peered in the direction of the speaker. - -"Why, that isn't a bad idea," he answered, gratefully. "Yes, I think -that will do, boys." - -A score of men jumped into the hole while one man ran and brought a sack -in which he had been carrying oats for his horse. In less time than it -takes to tell it the trophies, stripped from the trappings of the -Indians with sabres and knives, were deposited in the sack, which -Captain Miner fastened to the pommel of his saddle. - -The company were soon mounted and riding back toward the Cheyenne, where -the main command had bivouacked for the night, gathering in on the way -the stragglers who had been unable to keep up during the chase. About -midway of their march they were met by Lieutenant Bacon, whom General -Sully had sent out with an ambulance carrying water and commissaries to -the Coyotes, knowing that they would be both hungry and thirsty. Bacon -was jubilant over the success of Company A, for he was its First -Lieutenant, and he gave out the supplies liberally, assisted by Al. - -"Young fellow," said he to the latter, with a twinkle in his eye, "what -do you mean by running off to play with these boys here and leaving me -to attend to all the work of feeding the army?" - -"Cottontail ran away with me, sir," answered Al, unabashed. - -"That'll do," exclaimed the Lieutenant. "It's evident you're not a -descendant of George Washington. But I don't blame you for going; wish I -had gone myself and let the army wait for its supper." - -The command marched into camp about sunset. Fires were burning brightly -here and there, and as they approached, the soldiers gathered in crowds -to see and cheer them. Captain Miner led his men directly to the -headquarters tents, before which General Sully and a group of staff and -other officers collected as the dusty men on their tired horses marched -up and halted before them. Without dismounting, Captain Miner rode -straight to the General, saluted, and loosing the sack, dropped it on -the ground at Sully's feet. - -"We got them, General," he murmured, absently. - -As the sack fell, the trophies rolled from it and lay in plain view. - -"Well," said the General, "Captain, this is certainly pretty good -evidence that you got them. I thank you and your men for the vigor and -gallantry and success of your pursuit. Please keep these till to-morrow -morning. I will give you further orders concerning them." - - - - -CHAPTER X - -THE FORT ON THE RIVER - - -Another day of easy marching brought the column to Swan Lake Creek, -about fifteen miles due north of the Little Cheyenne, where camp was -made to await the arrival of the Second Brigade, from Minnesota, which, -according to the arrangement between Generals Sibley and Sully, was to -join the expedition there. Scouting parties were sent on north toward -Bois Cache Creek to look for the expected troops; and while awaiting -their return Al had an opportunity to see illustrated in rather an -amusing way one phase of General Sully's bluff, soldierly character. - -Some of the regiments which had marched from Fort Sully were quite -recently organized, and the General had not yet made the acquaintance of -all their officers; so at Swan Lake Creek, having a little leisure time, -he asked the commanders of these regiments to bring to headquarters -such of their officers as he had not met. Among them appeared a young -lieutenant of the Sixth Iowa Cavalry, dressed in a spotless new uniform -of the latest regulation cut, set off by a red silk sash and a -resplendent sabre-belt, and very strongly perfumed with musk. General -Sully, like General Grant, was very modest in his dress, and his -uniform, except for the shoulder-straps, differed little from that of a -private, while sometimes in the field he even wore civilian garments, -such as corduroy trousers and white felt hat. He detested gorgeous -uniforms, especially when the wearer had no particular claim to -soldierly eminence or ability. When his eye fell upon this particular -military dandy, he looked the young man over contemptuously and his lip -curled as he sniffed the odor of musk. Al, who was standing by, saw that -something was coming, and listened in amused silence. - -"General Sully," said Major Ten Broeck, who had brought the fledgeling -officer for presentation, "allow me to introduce Lieutenant C----, of -Company ----, Sixth Iowa Cavalry." - -"Lieutenant C----, eh?" grunted the General. "Well, Lieutenant, how -long have you been in the volunteer service?" - -"About six months," replied the other, seeming to feel conscious that -such a lengthy period had made him a model military man in every -particular. - -"Six months?" cried the General, striking his fist down on his knee. -"Why, great Heavens, man, I've been in the regular service for twenty -years, and don't smell half as bad as you do!" - -With that he waved his hand impatiently to Major Ten Broeck to indicate -that the interview was ended, and the crestfallen young officer withdrew -hastily. - -On the morning of June 30 the men, idling about the camp, descried the -columns of the Second Brigade, long, narrow ribbons in the distance, -crawling toward them across the limitless, gently rolling plain. -Rejoicing and excitement broke out on every hand, for it meant that -there would be no delay in the progress of the campaign, as many had -feared there might be, since the Minnesota troops had been obliged to -make a march of nearly three hundred and fifty miles from Fort Ridgely -to the rendezvous. That the junction of the two brigades was effected -so promptly in that vast wilderness was a matter for congratulation, and -General Sully seemed to feel that he could not too highly praise Colonel -Minor T. Thomas, the commanding officer of the Minnesota column, for the -promptness and skill with which he had conducted his march. The -newcomers went into camp beside the First Brigade, and the men of the -two commands were soon mingled, telling one another of their respective -experiences. - -That evening, as soon as he had finished his duties for the day and -eaten his supper, Al strolled into the camp of the Second, or, as it was -generally called, the Minnesota Brigade, to see if he could find there -any old acquaintances, particularly any who might have been at Fort -Ridgely. Here and there fires were burning and the men were lounging -about in groups, talking, playing cards, or otherwise amusing -themselves. Long lines of cavalry horses extended between the company -streets, securely tied to picket lines; and near the creek a large train -of wagons was corralled, its outspanned mule teams, crowded within the -great circle of wagons, seeming almost countless. As he walked along -through the haze of dust made golden by the setting sun, Al noticed a -cavalryman sitting cross-legged by one of the fires, engaged in the -unmilitary task of sewing a button on his coat. The soldier's back was -toward him, but that back had an oddly familiar look. Al walked around -until he could see the trooper's profile, then, with an exclamation of -surprise and pleasure, he sprang forward and slapped the amateur tailor -on the shoulder. - -"Wallace Smith!" he exclaimed. "Say, but I'm glad to see you, old -fellow." - -Wallace looked up, startled, then sprang to his feet and gripped Al's -hand. - -"Why, Al Briscoe!" he cried, "what on earth are you doing here? I had no -idea you were within a thousand miles." - -"I came up with General Sully from St. Louis to help look for my brother -Tommy," Al answered. "And you?" - -"I am a private in the Eighth Minnesota," explained Wallace. "I became -eighteen just before the column left Minnesota, and as soon as I did, I -enlisted." He looked inquiringly at Al's civilian clothes. "Aren't you -in the service?" he asked. - -"No; not old enough," Al replied. "But I'm serving just about the same -as a soldier. Practically I am on General Sully's staff." - -"Whew-w!" whistled Wallace. "Lucky boy. That must be great. How did it -happen?" - -Mutual explanations followed and before long each of the boys knew the -main facts of the other's history since they parted, nearly two years -before. - -"There are other old acquaintances of yours with us," said Wallace, -presently. "You remember Sergeant Jones, who commanded the artillery at -Fort Ridgely?" - -"Indeed I do," Al replied, recalling with quickened pulses the -Sergeant's gallantry. "Is he here?" - -"Yes. He is now Captain Jones, of the Third Minnesota Battery and he is -in command of our artillery; two six-pounder field guns and two -twelve-pounder mountain howitzers, of his battery." - -"He certainly deserved promotion for his work at Fort Ridgely," -exclaimed Al, enthusiastically. - -"Yes, he did," agreed Wallace, "and his men say he is a fine officer." - -"Is Lieutenant Sheehan along?" asked Al. - -"No, the Fifth has been down South for nearly two years, and he with -them. But you remember Major Brown? He is chief of scouts with us, and -has a company of about fifty Indians. Then there are several men among -our different regiments who were at Fort Ridgely as refugees and who -have since enlisted." - -"How many men are in your brigade?" Al asked. - -"I believe between fifteen and sixteen hundred," Wallace replied, "not, -of course, including the teamsters with the wagon train. Let me see. -There is our entire regiment, the Eighth Infantry; we are all mounted -for this campaign. Minor T. Thomas is our Colonel, but as he is in -command of the brigade, Lieutenant-Colonel Rogers is actually commanding -the regiment. Then there are four companies of the Thirtieth Wisconsin, -under Colonel Dill, and six companies of the Second Minnesota Cavalry -under Colonel McLaren, besides the artillery and a train of -ninety-three wagons and twelve ambulances, each drawn by a six-mule -team. We have quite a herd of beef cattle, too. So you see there are -enough animals with us alone to eat up all the grass in this country for -miles around in short order; and I suppose there are about as many with -your brigade." - -"Yes, there are a lot of them," agreed Al. "We can't stay very long in -one place and find forage enough, unless rain comes to make the grass -grow." - -The boys, very happy to meet one another again, talked for several hours -and then at last they separated for the night, each promising to see the -other as often as possible. The camp had quieted down, and most of the -men of both brigades, weary with the marching and other work of the past -few days, were wrapped in deep slumber; but all around the camps were -heavy guards, and the sentries, alert and watchful, were pacing their -beats. They looked shadowy and ghost-like under the starlight as Al -passed along, making his way through the company streets of little white -dog-tents, each backed by its long picket-line of horses, standing or -lying almost motionless in the gloom. It was not many minutes after he -had reached his own cot in one of the big Sibley tents of headquarters -before Al, too, was sleeping the profound and dreamless sleep of youth -and health. - -General Sully's orders from General Pope were to establish a fort on the -Missouri River somewhere near the point where the Long Lake River -entered the stream. The plan of the Government at this time was to erect -and maintain a chain of military posts, of which the new fort should be -one, extending from Minnesota to central Montana, which should serve not -only to hold the Indians in check but also to protect emigrants going -through the Sioux country from the East, across Dakota, to the new -Montana gold-mining districts. A well marked trail had become -established through this section since 1862, but the hostility of the -Indians was such that none but very strong parties of emigrants could -make use of it. The Government wished to render the route more safe; and -the new fort on the Missouri, as well as the one General Sully was -expected to build on the Yellowstone, was part of the chain, which -began at Fort Abercrombie, Minnesota, on the Red River of the North. - -For four days after the junction of the two brigades, the entire command -lay in camp for the purpose of resting both men and animals. The time -passed quietly and not unpleasantly, but with no unusual incidents. -Several summer thunder showers came, greatly improving the grass and -relieving the discomfort which the expedition had previously suffered -from the dust. Though nearly every one was idle most of the time, Al -found plenty to keep him busy. The camp was seven miles from the -Missouri, where the steamboats lay, and the Dakota Cavalry was ordered -to the river as a guard for them. Then the wagon-train, in sections, -went down to reload from the reserve supplies on the boats. Thus Al was -frequently obliged to go back and forth on Cottontail between the -encampment and the river, sometimes finding a chance while at the latter -point to spend a little time with his friends of the Dakota Cavalry or -with those acquaintances among the steamboat men whom he had come to -know during the long trip from St. Louis to Fort Sully. - -At length, on the third of July, General Sully put the First Brigade in -motion for the mouth of Long Lake River, distant about one hundred -miles, and, after instructing the Second Brigade to proceed thither also -on the next day, he set out himself on the _Island City_ to examine the -river banks for a suitable site on which to build the new fort. As an -escort for the boat he took a company of troops, and most of the members -of his staff also went with him; but Al remained with the column, as his -duties demanded his presence there. The marches were long but not -exhausting, and by the eighth of July all the forces were assembled on -the Missouri a short distance above the mouth of Long Lake River. -Directly opposite, on the west bank of the Missouri, was the site on -which the General had decided to build Fort Rice, as the new post was to -be called. - -The location was an ideal one. It was a level tableland with a permanent -bank along the river nearly one hundred feet high, and behind it rose a -majestic range of sandstone bluffs, which, just below the post swept out -boldly to the brink of the Missouri and followed it down to the mouth of -the Cannonball River, eight miles south. Along the base of the bluffs -extended a long, narrow belt of heavy timber, and another and much -larger forest covered the wide valley above the post. Immediately in -front of the latter the river was narrow, insuring a good crossing at -nearly all seasons, its only disadvantage being that, owing to the high -bank on which the fort stood, the ferry and steamboat landing had to be -made about half a mile down stream. - -On the arrival of the army, a ferry, consisting of a long cable -stretched from bank to bank across the Missouri, on which a flatboat was -guided back and forth, was immediately put in operation. Some of the -troops, including the Dakota Cavalry, crossed on it and went into camp -near the site of the fort. The steamers were then unloaded and put to -work crossing the rest of the troops and the wagon-train, and the army -was soon all assembled on the west bank. Two sawmills, one operated by -a steam-engine and the other by horse-power, the entire equipment for -which had been brought along, were now started and began rapidly getting -out building materials, the timber being brought from the near-by -forests. Great cottonwood logs for the walls were squared to dimensions -of six by eight inches, and planks and boards were sawed for the -interior work. The stockade, with bastions on the northeast and -southwest corners, was also built of cottonwood. - -The four companies of the Thirteenth Wisconsin, under Colonel Dill, -which were to be left to garrison the completed work, also constructed -it. They were composed of men from the Wisconsin lumbering districts, -who knew their business thoroughly; and with so many hands to do the -work it proceeded rapidly. In an incredibly short time barracks for -eight companies, officers' quarters, hospital, and storehouses, began to -take on an appearance of permanency which must have filled the scouts of -the hostile Indians with anger and dread, as they lay watching day by -day from distant ridges and buttes. - -A short time after camp was pitched at Fort Rice a long line of wagons -made its appearance on the hills across the river and came dragging -slowly down the trail made by the army, until it reached the river bank. -It was a large party of emigrants from Minnesota, which had followed the -Second Brigade for the purpose of having the protection of the army in -crossing the country between the Missouri and the Yellowstone. There -were about a hundred and twenty-five wagons in the train and several -hundred people, including many women and children, and they were bound -for the gold fields. Their wagons were drawn by ox-teams. Their arrival -drew forth an explosion from General Sully. - -"The idea of bringing women and children into such a country as this," -he exclaimed. "I've got to protect them because the Government has -guaranteed them safe conduct through the Sioux lands and told them that -I will look after them. And so here they are, with a lot of lumbering -ox-teams, good for about six miles a day. How in the name of sense do -they expect to keep up with cavalry?" - -"You can detach an escort to stay with them," suggested one of the staff -officers. - -"Yes, of course I can," returned the General. "That's one of the worst -features of the business. We'll have to cut down our fighting force in -order to look after this travelling nursery, and the whole army'll have -to potter along and mark time when the Indians are just ahead, so that -the ladies can have their noontime nap. They will be everlastingly -hindering us in one way or another. I wish I could send them back where -they came from." - -"Why don't you?" asked some one. - -The General looked at the speaker disgustedly. - -"Do you know what would happen if I sent them back?" he asked. "I should -be reprimanded by the Secretary of War, at the very least. It seems as -though the petting and protection of a handful of emigrants, most of -them runaways from the draft, is regarded as of more importance than the -success of military operations; at least, that has usually been my -experience in the past. Also, a howl would go up all over the country -about the cruelty of that hard-hearted military dictator, Sully, who -refused to lend to a few poor struggling emigrants the assistance of his -mighty army. Oh, no, I must take them along; that's all there is to -it." - -A day or two after this, Al was in one of the supply wagons, when a -shadow came across the rear opening of the canvas top, whose back-flaps -he had drawn aside in order to see better as he worked. He looked up to -see peering in at him two bearded individuals wearing wide-brimmed felt -hats, checked shirts, and blue overalls, the latter tucked into the tops -of their cowhide boots. They were evidently members of the emigrant -party. - -"We want to buy some grub from you," said one of the men, looking over -the contents of the wagon as if he were inspecting the shelves of a -grocery store. "Gimme a box o' that hardtack and a couple o' slabs o' -bacon and about ten pounds o' sugar, and,--" - -"Why, I can't sell you anything," interrupted Al, taken very much by -surprise. - -"Sure you kin," persisted the man, jingling some coins in his hand. -"I've got money; I'll pay cash." - -"But these are Government stores," Al answered. "I'm not authorized to -sell them." - -"Oh, well, that'll be all right," the would-be customer dismissed the -objection with a wave of the hand. "We're gettin' low on grub over in -our camp, and we want to hang on to what we've got till we git acrost -the Yellowstone. O' course we've got to eat, and the army's got to -supply us, 'specially when we're willin' to pay fer stuff. Old Sully -knows that." He spoke as if he considered the idea of paying as a great -concession, for which the Government ought to be very grateful. - -"I do not think that _General_ Sully brought supplies along for more -than his own men," replied Al, putting emphasis upon the title, for he -resented the disrespectful tone used by the emigrant. "However," he -added, "I will ask the quartermaster." - -He jumped from the wagon and, followed by the two emigrants, sought -Lieutenant Bacon. - -"Why, I never heard of such brass," exclaimed the latter in an undertone -when Al had found him and explained the demands of the emigrants. "Of -course we haven't any supplies for these fellows. Why didn't they bring -along enough to last them?" - -He turned to the men and repeated what Al had already told them. But -they were stubborn and declined to accept the quartermaster's refusal. -Indeed, they became angry and began condemning the General, the -Northwestern Indian Expedition, and the army, in unmeasured terms. - -"Now, that will do," at last exclaimed Lieutenant Bacon, sharply, tired -of their insolence. "I'll take you to General Sully and he can decide -the matter." - -When the question had been explained to him, the General was plainly -irritated but he held his temper in check. - -"I have not enough supplies here now to outfit this post until next -Spring and to carry my army through the coming campaign," said he. "Some -of my boats are now busy bringing up supplies which were left at Farm -Island, that there may be sufficient to take us through. Why didn't you -bring enough yourselves to last you?" - -"Because we was told we could get 'em from you," replied one of the men. - -"Who told you that?" - -"Well, them that ought to know," answered the other, evasively. - -"They were mistaken," said the General. "I simply cannot let you have -supplies." - -"Well, it's a blamed funny thing," exclaimed one of the emigrants, -assuming a tone of outraged virtue, "if a General and a great big army -can let poor emigrants starve to death; folks that are goin' out, -riskin' their lives and everything to settle up wild land and make this -here country great." - -"You're going out from motives of pure patriotism alone, I suppose?" -asked the General, sarcastically. "You're not going because there's gold -out there and you want to make your fortunes?" - -"Well, maybe we can make a livin'," answered the emigrant who had done -most of the talking, a little abashed, "but we'll build up the country, -just the same." - -"That's very true," the General replied, earnestly, "and I'm willing to -do all that I can to help you through, so long as it does not seriously -interfere with the objects of the campaign I am here to make against -the Indians. You can certainly understand that I must and will obey my -orders from the Government, regardless of any other considerations. I -will afford protection to your train as far as my army is going, but -more than that I cannot promise. As for supplies, I am satisfied that -you have enough with you to carry you through if you exercise care in -their use. I do not believe that men would start out on such an -expedition as yours with insufficient food. Am I not right?" He leaned -forward in his camp chair and gave the men a searching look. Their eyes -fell and they moved their feet uneasily. But the General's glance -demanded an answer to his question. - -"Mebbe we could scratch along," admitted one of them, reluctantly. - -"So I thought," said the General. "You merely figured that by getting -army supplies while you were with the troops you could be less sparing -with your own. But I can't accommodate you. Good-day." - -He turned to other matters, and his disappointed visitors took -themselves away, still grumbling. - -Ten days after the troops had arrived on the site of the new fort, a -mere naked tract of virgin land perhaps never before trodden by the feet -of white men, they were ready to leave it behind them, covered with an -extensive and well-built military post which was destined to be occupied -by United States soldiers for many years to come. A few lodges of -Indians which had come in and surrendered at Fort Rice had confirmed the -reports of those at Fort Sully concerning the great encampment of -sixteen hundred lodges of hostiles assembled in a strong position -somewhere near the head of Heart River or on the Little Missouri. They -claimed that they had experienced the greatest difficulty in getting -away from the hostile camp, and had finally been able to do so only on -the plea of buffalo-hunting. They further declared that the hostiles -were confident in their strength and were boasting that they would -utterly destroy the army of white soldiers if the latter should venture -to attack them. So there was a prospect of plenty of excitement in store -when, on the morning of July 18, General Sully, unalarmed by such -reports, started westward with his army with wagons loaded, troops -fully equipped and liberally supplied with ammunition, and horses and -mules freshly shod. - -Just before starting, the General went on board the _Island City_ to -give some parting instructions to Captain Lamont, who was under orders -to proceed up the Missouri and the Yellowstone, in company with the -_Chippewa Falls_, under Captain Hutchison, and the _Alone_, under -Captain Rea, to meet the column with fresh supplies when it should reach -the Yellowstone. The _Island City_ was loaded chiefly with corn for the -horses, but she carried also a considerable quantity of barrelled pork -for the troops, and most of the building materials for the intended post -on the Yellowstone; while the _Chippewa Falls_ and the _Alone_ carried -chiefly rations. - -"Now, don't fail me, Captain," said the General, as he turned to leave -the _Island City's_ deck and follow his troops, already winding out of -sight across the plateau and up through a break in the westward bluffs. -"My animals will probably find poor picking out in that rough country -we are going through, and they'll need corn." - -"We'll be there waiting for you, General, if human exertions can do it," -replied Captain Lamont. "But you must remember that the Yellowstone has -never been navigated before, and I don't know what snags or rocks we may -run into." - -"You can make it, and you must," said the General, "and don't forget the -place you are to meet me,--the Brasseau Trading House, about sixty miles -above the mouth." - -"I'll be on the watch for you," answered the Captain. - -"That's right; be on the watch," the General assented. Then suddenly he -opened his field-glass case and took out the glasses. "Here's something -for you to keep watch with," he continued, handing them to the Captain. -"I have another pair and you may find these useful. I have carried them -for a long time, and they are good glasses." - -The Captain thanked him warmly, and the General walked ashore -accompanied by his officers, and they mounted their horses. - -"Good-bye, Captain," said Al, as he started to follow them. "I hope you -will have a good trip, and that I shall see you soon again." - -He little knew, as he spoke, when and under what unforeseen -circumstances the last part of his wish was to be fulfilled. - -"Thank you, Al," returned the steamboat officer, giving his hand a -kindly grip. "The same to you. Don't get yourself shot to pieces; and I -hope next time I see you, you will have your brother with you." - -"Oh, I hope so," returned Al, earnestly. "We're sure to find him up -there in the Bad Lands." - -As he crossed the landing-stage and walked out to where Cottontail was -standing, he saw the deckhand, Jim, leaning against the companion -stairs, regarding him with a scowl of hatred, but he gave the fellow -hardly a passing thought. He followed the staff at a gallop, and as they -passed up the bluffs in the wake of the rear-guard the hills were -re-echoing to the bellowing whistle of the steamboats, blowing them a -parting salute and Godspeed. - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -TRAILING THE HOSTILES - - -"I wish I knew where I could get two or three more well-mounted -orderlies, with courage and common sense," said General Sully the next -day, as the army was wending its way through the rough, picturesque hill -country along the Cannonball. "I haven't enough, and it's hard to tell -whether a man can be depended upon until he has been tried." - -The remark caused Al to prick up his ears. - -"I know a man I think would suit you, General," said he. - -"Who?" asked Sully. - -"He is a private named Wallace Smith, in the Eighth Minnesota. I knew -him at Fort Ridgely. I'm sure he has plenty of courage and common sense, -and his horse is a good one." - -Al knew that Wallace was riding Frank, the horse that had so nearly -lost their scalps for them on the afternoon of the first attack on Fort -Ridgely. - -"He is a friend of yours, is he?" asked the General. - -"Yes, sir, he is," answered Al. - -"He ought to be all right, then," the General said. He scribbled -something on the paper pad he always carried in his pocket, folded the -sheet and handed it to Al. - -"Take that to Colonel Thomas," said he. - -Al obeyed joyfully, for he suspected, as proved to be the case, that the -paper was an order to Colonel Thomas to detach Wallace from his regiment -for orderly service with the commanding general. Wallace was promptly -instructed to fall out from the ranks of his company, where he was -marching, and he and Al were soon riding forward to join General Sully, -who, as usual, was near the head of the column. - -"It was certainly very kind of you to think of me, Al," said Wallace, -"and I appreciate it." - -"Perhaps you won't feel so grateful after a while," returned Al, with a -laugh. "It may be that when we strike the Indians you will have to get -into some dangerous places in carrying orders." - -"That's all right; so much the better chance for promotion," declared -Wallace, lightly. "Besides, I'm sure that service at headquarters must -be much more interesting and pleasant than it is in the ranks, where one -has to march all day in one place, and sleep and eat and wash and brush -his teeth and almost breathe, by word of command." - -"Yes, I think you will find it more pleasant in that way," agreed Al. -"All you need do is to keep up a neat and soldierly appearance, always -be on hand in case you should be wanted, and always obey orders promptly -and thoroughly." - -The army was now entering regions where it might expect to encounter -Indians in heavy force at any time, and General Sully was taking all -necessary measures to guard his forces against surprise and also to -reconnoitre the country thoroughly for signs of the red foe. The company -of Winnebago Indian scouts from Nebraska, and the friendly Sioux -employed by General Sully, were constantly spread out far in front and -on the flanks of the column, scouring the ravines and hills and clumps -of timber, while a heavy advance guard preceded the main body on the -march. Every night the wagon train was corralled, with its mules herded -in the centre. An escort of four hundred men was detailed to remain -always with the Montana emigrant train; for the latter, though it -usually marched close behind the army, sometimes met with delays because -its wagons were very heavily loaded. Major Brown's company of Indian -scouts from Minnesota had remained at Fort Rice, under orders to return -as speedily as possible to Fort Wadsworth; so that General Sully had -none too many scouts with him to properly cover his advance. - -One afternoon, camp was made for the night on a level plateau covered -with fine grass not far from the bank of the Cannonball and overlooking -the lower valley of that stream. Several small buttes, with steep sides -and round tops, rose abruptly from the valley close to the river, and -between them glimpses could be caught from the camp of the narrow stream -beyond, its waters sparkling in the late afternoon sunshine. After a hot -day's march the river looked very inviting, and Lieutenant Dale -proposed to Al that they go down and take a swim, which would also give -them a chance to examine more closely the river and the curious rock -formations along its banks. Al readily agreed and also obtained -permission from the General for Wallace to accompany them. - -Mounting their horses, they picked their way down the steep face of the -plateau and rode out across the bottom heading somewhat up stream until -they came out on the river bank, where a little rocky beach shelving -down into the water seemed to offer a pleasant spot for swimming. A few -yards downstream rose the abrupt walls of one of the buttes, which -looked as if it had been built up of many thin horizontal layers of -sandstone. Its base was fringed with small brush and willow saplings and -here and there a choke-cherry tree, well loaded with ripe fruit, of -which the party decided to eat their fill when their swim was over. -After their horses had drunk greedily of the fresh, sparkling water, -their riders tied them among the saplings, threw off their clothes, and -in a moment were laughing and splashing in the cold, clear stream, -which, though too shallow to afford much swimming, was delightfully -refreshing. They amused themselves for some minutes in picking up and -throwing about the curious pebbles and larger stones, worn perfectly -smooth and round by the water, which, owing to their resemblance to -cannonballs, had given the stream its name. Presently Wallace waded out -nearly to mid-channel,--not an easy feat, for the current was quite -strong,--and there he found a hole six or seven feet deep. - -"Hello!" he shouted to his companions. "Watch me duck under and see how -long I stay down." - -Lieutenant Dale and Al stopped motionless to watch him. Wallace crouched -down in the water, then sprang erect as high as possible and, jumping -forward, disappeared head first into the deeper pool. At the very -instant when he turned over in the air his companions were electrified -to hear the report of a musket from the base of the butte just below -them, and as Wallace went out of sight they saw the bullet kick up a jet -of spray apparently not two inches above his back. Wheeling round they -saw a feather of smoke rise from the bushes at the further end of the -butte, and without a word both of them dashed out of the river to the -spot where their clothes lay. Each one of the three had his revolver -with him, as always, and in less time than it takes to tell it Al and -the Lieutenant, stark naked, had their weapons in their hands. Al heard -a splash in the river below them. He sprang down to the water's edge and -peered through the bushes. Not thirty yards away an Indian was riding -his pony into the stream and Al raised his revolver and fired. The pony -sunk to its knees and toppled over, flinging its rider into the water, -but the warrior was up again in an instant and waded quickly back to the -shore, where he disappeared behind the butte. At this moment Wallace -rushed up and caught his revolver from its holster. - -"He's back of the butte," cried Lieutenant Dale. "We can head him off. -You stay here and watch the river, Smith. Come on, Briscoe." - -He and Al hastened off around the landward side of the butte, while -Wallace crouched down by the river bank to shoot at the Indian if he -should attempt to cross. As Al and his companion cautiously made their -way to a point where they could look down the valley they saw that the -wide interval extending from their position to the next detached butte -down river was quite open and covered only with short grass, which -afforded little or no cover. Nevertheless, even as they looked they saw -the Indian run out from the bushes upon the open space and start on a -run across it. The Lieutenant and Al both fired at him and the bullets -must have come very close, for he immediately veered and ran again into -the river. But the hunted warrior had no sooner reached it than they -heard the crack of Wallace's revolver, around on the other side of the -butte, and a moment later the Indian, evidently despairing of being able -to escape alive, walked up on the bank once more with his rifle held -aloft in sign of surrender. - -Al and the Lieutenant emerged from the bushes and advanced toward him, -taking the precaution, however, to keep him covered with their -revolvers. Neither of them was struck at the moment by the ridiculous -appearance they presented, "clad only with revolvers," as Lieutenant -Dale expressed it, but they often laughed about it afterward. The -Indian, an ugly, low-browed, flat-nosed specimen of his race, came up to -them and Lieutenant Dale disarmed him, taking his musket and a knife -concealed in his blanket. Then, keeping him ahead of them, they marched -him back to the place where Wallace had remained, by the horses. Here -they bound his hands with a saddle strap and, after dressing, started -back to camp, making the prisoner walk in front of them. - -Their appearance created an uproar of excitement, and questions and -congratulations poured upon them from every side, but they pushed their -way steadily through the crowd until they reached headquarters and -presented their prisoner to General Sully. The latter immediately sent -for an interpreter, and then began a severe cross-examination of the -captive. He proved surly, and his answers were short and most of them -plainly false, until the General sharply informed him that he would be -hanged immediately if he did not answer fully, and that he would be -hanged later if his answers proved to be untruthful. He then suddenly -found his tongue and became a model witness. - -According to his statement, he was an Upper Yanktonais, and was simply -watching the army as a scout when he saw Lieutenant Dale and his -companions go in swimming; and, thinking that he could escape across the -river, had decided to try and pick one or more of them off. He admitted -that there were many scouts of the hostiles in the vicinity, but said -that most of them were held far back from the army by the presence of -General Sully's scouts. Asked as to the hostile army and its location, -he hesitated, but finally replied that the camps were very great and -were in a very strong position on the headwaters of the Knife River, a -considerable distance north of the Cannonball. He declared the camps -contained so many warriors that the Indians were sure of easily -defeating the white army, and proposed to stand and fight before their -encampment. - -Having extracted all the information from the prisoner which seemed -possible, General Sully was about to dismiss him with instructions that -he be kept under close guard until further orders, when Al stepped up -and said in a low tone, - -"General, he says he is an Upper Yanktonais. Would you mind asking him -whether he knows anything about my brother or about the Indian who holds -him?" - -"Why, certainly I will," replied the General. "I ought to have thought -of that myself." - -He held up his hand to the interpreter, who was retiring, and then, -fixing his eyes on the captive, asked, - -"Do you know a member of your tribe named Te-o-kun-ko?" - -The interpreter translated the question into Sioux. The prisoner -remained stolidly silent a moment, then answered in the low, guttural -tone he had used all through the interview, - -"Tush." - -"He says, 'yes,'" said the interpreter. - -Al started. Was some real news coming at last? - -"Is he in your camps now?" pursued the General. - -"Tush," replied the savage. - -"Has Te-o-kun-ko a white boy prisoner with him?" the General went on. - -As soon as the question was interpreted, the Indian shot one swift -glance at the faces of the General and those around him, then his eyes -half closed again to their former expression of passive indifference. - -"Nea," he replied. - -"He says, 'no,'" interjected the interpreter. - -"No?" exclaimed Sully. "You know that he has had such a prisoner, don't -you?" - -"Tush." - -"Well, where is he now?" - -"I don't know," the Indian answered. - -The General thought a moment. Then he inquired, - -"How long has Te-o-kun-ko been in the camp?" - -The prisoner made quite a lengthy reply and the interpreter struggled a -moment arranging it into English speech. - -"He says, 'He has been in camp only a few days. I saw him just before I -came out to scout.'" - -"Where did he come from?" - -"He came from the south." - -"But where in the south?" - -Again the reply was long and was translated, - -"I don't know. I didn't talk with him, but some one told me he came from -the south." - -"When did you see Te-o-kun-ko last,--that is, previous to his coming -into the big camp?" the General inquired. - -"I saw him two moons ago on the Assouri River, in the country of the -Hudson's Bay Company." - -"Did he have the white child with him then?" - -"Tush." - -"But you are sure he has not the white child with him now?" - -"No, he has not." - -"Well, that will do," said General Sully, rising from his camp-stool. -"We can't get any more out of him. He's probably lying, anyway," he -added, turning to Al. "He doesn't want us to think they have any white -prisoners. My belief is that your brother is undoubtedly there." - -Al tried to believe so too, but the interview, nevertheless, made him -feel uneasy and depressed. He had known little about his brother's -whereabouts and condition before, but now, if the Indian's statements -were true, he knew less than ever. The search seemed to become more -vague and hopeless the further he pursued it and he began almost to -despair of ever seeing Tommy again. Had it not been for the many duties -he had to perform and the increasing interest in events before them as -they approached nearer to the hostile army, he would have lost heart -altogether. But matters crowding fast upon each other forced him largely -to forget himself and his private problems. - -The second day out from Fort Rice the column passed a deserted Indian -camp which had evidently been abandoned only recently, and on succeeding -days several similar ones were found. It was clear that they could not -be far from the enemy's stronghold; and on July 23, General Sully, owing -to the statements made by the Indian whom the boys had captured and -other information received from his scouts, left the Cannonball and -turned north toward Heart River, which the army reached next day. The -scouts went out in every direction and on the twenty-sixth unexpectedly -encountered a hostile war party of half a hundred braves, who fled north -toward the Knife River. - -General Sully, being now convinced that the enemy's camp must be within -a comparatively short distance, decided to make a forced march on the -trail of the war party, and preparations were quickly begun. The main -wagon train, as well as the Montana emigrant train, was securely -corralled in a good camping place by the Heart River and a sufficient -guard to protect them was detailed to remain behind, under Captain -William Tripp, Company B, Dakota Cavalry. Sufficient rations were cooked -to last the troops in the field for six days, the General intending to -carry all supplies on pack mules taken from the train. Nothing but -absolutely necessary food and ammunition was to be carried, all articles -such as tents and company mess kits being left behind. But when the -boxes containing the pack saddles were opened it was found, to every -one's dismay, that the cincha straps of the saddles, by which they were -to be secured to the mules' backs, were made of leather, about three -inches wide, instead of canvas or webbing six or eight inches wide, as -they should have been. When the men tried to tighten up these leather -straps, they cut so cruelly into the flesh of the mules that the latter -began kicking and bucking frantically and could not be quieted until -they had rid themselves of their loads. General Sully, very much -disgusted, was obliged to give up the plan of using a pack train, though -it would have been much the easiest and quickest way to carry supplies -in the rough country. Instead, he impressed into service about -thirty-five of the lightest private wagons in the train, belonging to -sutlers and to different companies among the troops, which had them for -carrying their tents and private belongings. Each of these wagons was -loaded with about one thousand pounds of food or small arms ammunition. -Each soldier was supplied with all the cartridges he could carry on his -person, and the limber chests of the batteries were filled with -artillery ammunition. - -Thus equipped, the fighting forces were ready to start at three o'clock -in the afternoon. The bugles blew "mount," the soldiers, teamsters, and -emigrants who were being left behind cheered and waved their hats, and -in a little while the long column had wound out of sight among the hills -and ravines, headed north toward the Knife River. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -THE BATTLE OF TAHKAHOKUTY - - -As the troops pressed onward the marching became harder. They were -nearing the hill country lying between the Knife and the Little -Missouri, full of precipices and deep ravines. That night they camped in -the hills, with pickets and camp guards out. Each man slept with his -sabre and revolver buckled to his waist and the bridle of his saddled -horse in his hand. The next night they camped on the Knife River under -similar conditions, after a hard march of twenty-seven miles, and as no -fires were allowed, the weary men sorely missed their strong, hot -coffee. As soon as he could do so, Al rolled himself in his blanket and -stretched out on the ground. It seemed to him that he had but just -closed his eyes when he heard the bugles ringing out reveille in the -chill darkness. He sat up and rubbed his eyes, hearing a confusion of -voices around him, the trampling of horses and jingle of accoutrements. -Then he felt Cottontail's nose push against his cheek and, slowly -unbending his stiffened limbs, he rose to his feet. - -"Well, old boy," said he, putting his arm around his horse's neck, "I -wonder what's in store for us to-day?" - -"Plenty, probably," said Lieutenant Dale's voice, close beside him. -"I've an idea we'll strike the redskins to-day." - -It was three o'clock, and in the black darkness the lines were formed, -not by sight but by hearing. For an hour they stumbled onward through -the darkness before the first streaks of dawn began to give the men -vague glimpses of their comrades and of other objects around. A little -after sunrise a halt was made on a small branch of the Knife River for a -quick breakfast of hardtack and coffee, and then the army pushed on -again. The hour approached noon and the sun beat down hot on the long -columns of horsemen toiling over the hills on each side of the small -train of wagons and artillery. - -General Sully, with one or two officers, was riding in an ambulance at -the head of the train and others were on their horses near by, Al being -with them, when they saw a party of several of the Indian scouts come -galloping back through the advance guard. They did not slacken pace -until they reached the General's ambulance, when their leader, much -excited, began gesticulating and talking rapidly in his own tongue. - -"Halt the advance guard! Tell Colonel Pollock to halt the First Brigade! -Tell Colonel Thomas to halt his brigade!" cried the General to three -different orderlies, who dashed away in as many different directions. - -The moving columns became stationary, every eye turning in excited -speculation on the General's ambulance, toward which the field officers -of the different organizations were galloping from every direction. They -found the staff eagerly gathered around the interpreter, who, catching -the words from the lips of the chief scout, repeated to the General, - -"He says, 'We have found the hostiles. They are just ahead, in great -numbers, waiting us. We have seen their camps. They are in big hills a -few miles from here. It is a very strong place.'" - -"How far are the Indians ahead?" asked the General. - -"A mile, maybe two miles. They keep moving." - -"Gentlemen," said the General, turning to the field officers around him, -"the enemy is found. Return to your commands and prepare for action. I -will send you orders for battle formation in a few moments." - -The officers went flying back to their regiments, and as they reached -them and gave the stirring news to their men, volleys of cheers broke -forth and went rolling up and down the long lines. There could be no -doubt of the anxiety of the troops to come to blows with the foe they -had been so long hunting. The men dismounted and began tightening up -saddle cinchas and sabre belts, arranging their ammunition conveniently -and giving a last inspection to carbines, sabres, and revolvers, all the -while keeping up an energetic buzz of conversation. - -In a few moments orderlies and staff officers began to fly along the -lines with oral or written orders. Al went galloping over to Colonel -Pattee with instructions to dismount his battalion of the Seventh Iowa -and deploy it forward into line of battle on the left of the Sixth Iowa, -of which six dismounted companies were already deploying on the right -wing. Lieutenant Dale carried word to Colonel Rogers to deploy six -companies of the Eighth Minnesota forward by the right, thus forming the -left wing. Another officer instructed Captain Pope to throw his battery -into the interval between the Seventh Iowa and the Eighth Minnesota; -while Wallace Smith was intrusted with the order to Major Brackett to -close in column upon the right flank, in rear of the Sixth Iowa, to -cover the train and to be prepared to charge when ordered. Of the -remaining commands, the Second Minnesota was formed on the left flank, -in rear of the Eighth Minnesota; the Dakota Cavalry and a company of the -Sixth Iowa were placed as supports for Pope's battery; Jones's battery -was held in reserve with an escort of four companies of the Sixth Iowa; -the wagon train was massed and closed up on the artillery reserve; and -behind the train was placed a rear guard of two companies of the Eighth -and one of the Second Minnesota. Several companies of skirmishers ran -out and deployed in front of the main line of battle; and then the -General, surveying his dispositions and finding them complete, gave the -order to advance. - -With flags and guidons flaunting proudly in the breeze, the sunlight -dancing on sabre scabbards and carbine barrels, men cheering and horses -prancing under the impulse of excitement on all sides of the great -martial square, the army rolled forward across the swelling, verdant -hills, a huge living engine of destruction moving onward to crush, or to -be crushed by, the barbaric host in its front. Al, riding in the centre, -behind the General, looked around him with flashing eyes, for never -before had he viewed so inspiring and majestic a scene. It was, in fact, -by far the largest and best appointed army which ever went into battle -against the hordes of the great Sioux Nation, not even excepting the -columns that followed Terry and Crook and Gibbon twelve years later -when, in 1876, the gallant Custer and five troops of the Seventh United -States Cavalry lost their lives in the battle of the Little Big Horn. -More than twenty-two hundred men were in battle formation on that -twenty-eighth day of July, 1864. As Wallace Smith exclaimed to Al, -riding along beside him, - -"By George, Al, isn't this a sight worth seeing and worth remembering, -too? I'm glad I'm here." - -"See!" cried Al, too startled to reply, suddenly pointing ahead. "There -they are!" - -Over the crest of a hill which the skirmish line was ascending, a dense, -confused mass of mounted warriors came pouring like a torrent. Farther -and farther to the right and left its flanks spread with lightning -rapidity, breaking over the hill as an ocean roller curls and breaks -upon a beach; farther and farther, till it stretched far beyond the -utmost extremes of the line of battle. The hundreds of ponies were -running at topmost speed, heads down and necks outstretched, the ground -shaking beneath their thundering hoof-beats; the hundreds of warriors -were brandishing guns and revolvers and plumed lances above their heads, -their many-colored war bonnets streaming behind them in the hurricane -of the charge, their voices upraised in a tempest of terrific, -blood-curdling yells. So the savage host came on, straight for the thin -thread of skirmishers and the solid line of battle behind it, as if they -would sweep over them both and engulf the whole army at once in utter -destruction. It seemed that nothing could stand before them, and they -towered above the skirmish line like a wall. - -Wallace clutched Al's arm, exclaiming, hoarsely, - -"My God, what will the skirmishers do?" - -"Watch them! Watch them!" answered Al, his whole mind centred on the -impending collision. - -The skirmish line came to a halt. Here and there it receded a little, -then swung forward again, like a rope whipping back and forth. At one -point and then at another a white puff of smoke spurted out, and in an -instant they rippled all along the line, plain to the eye even before -the spattering pop of the carbines reached the ear. It seemed a puny -challenge to be flung in the face of that imposing mass of horsemen, but -it was enough. They checked in their ponies, broke into fragments and -either galloped back as they had come or else swung off to right and -left and, running along in front of the line of battle, swept away -beyond its flanks. - -Al's pulses were pounding with excitement as he glanced at the General, -riding now on his horse. Sully's face was as calm as if he were -reviewing a dress parade. He stroked his beard slowly as he looked at -the skirmish line and remarked, - -"That was well done." Then, turning to one of his aides, he said, in his -usual tone, "Tell Colonel Rogers to incline a little more to the left. -He is crowding Pope's battery." - -On up the hill just vacated by the Indians moved the main body of the -army and down into the valley in front of it hurried the skirmishers. As -the General and his staff reached the crest, a wonderful scene lay -spread before them. It was a great plain, much cut up by ravines and -hillocks but appearing from their position to be almost level, and it -extended from the hill they were on to the base of another range, -several miles away, which rose sheer from the valley in a mighty mass of -abrupt ridges and rocky peaks from four hundred to eight hundred feet -high. It was Tahkahokuty, or Kill-deer, Mountain. From base to summit it -was covered with brush and timber; and among the trees on its top as -well as on the low ridge along its base could be seen hundreds upon -hundreds of Indian lodges, the women and children, the horses and dogs, -running about among them, mere specks in the distance. To the left of -the advancing army, a sharp upheaval of hills fell away from the flank -of Tahkahokuty, lower than the main ridge but still formidable; and in -front of this, in front of the mountain itself and of the camps at its -base and extending far away to the right, the plain was covered with -thousands of mounted warriors, some scattered and some in masses, but -nearly all of them in rapid motion toward the small, compact army -marching steadily forward upon their stronghold. - -Again and again as the line of battle pressed on, the masses of warriors -hurled themselves upon its front, only to break and retire before the -deadly fire poured into them. But ever farther the red horsemen -overlapped the flanks; in spite of the fact that the line of battle was -being constantly extended to meet them. The soldiers, parched with the -heat of the day and the exertion of marching and fighting over the rough -ground, often at the double-quick, were suffering with thirst, but no -water was to be found. As the army approached nearer and nearer to -Tahkahokuty, the Indians began to fight with more stubbornness. They -galloped up close to the lines, halted and fired, then dashed away -again. Now and then a soldier fell and was lifted by some of his -comrades and carried back to an ambulance. - -At length two great masses of Indians began gathering, one out beyond -the left flank, the other, beyond the right, and both near the front of -the camps along the mountain's base. General Sully, as calm as ever, -surveyed them deliberately through his glasses. Then suddenly he lowered -his hand, straightened up in his saddle and spoke to an aide with a ring -in his voice which had not been there before. The decisive moment had -come. Pointing a steady finger at the crowd of Indians on the right, he -cried, - -"Tell Major Brackett to charge those fellows with the sabre! Tell him -to drive it home; clear the valley and force them up the ridge." - -Like a flash he turned to another officer and, pointing to the mass on -the left, said, - -"Order Colonel McLaren to charge that party and drive them to the ridge, -and not to stop till he has forced them clear away from their camps." - -Once more his words flashed out like a whip-lash, and Wallace Smith, -quivering to be off, caught them as they came from his lips, - -"Tell Captain Pope to advance at a gallop through the skirmish line and -give them shell. Tell him to clear the valley and sweep the ridge in -front of Brackett and McLaren." - -Wallace dashed away and the General relapsed into his former attitude of -silent, intent watchfulness. All his officers and orderlies were now -gone somewhere with orders, excepting Al and Lieutenant Dale, who still -rode behind him. But he paid no more heed to them than to the grass -under his horse's feet. His whole attention was concentrated on the -great game he was playing with living men for pawns, as the skilful -chess player centres his thought upon the board before him at the crisis -of the game. - -Far to the right and left fronts, beginning in a low rumble and rising -rapidly to a steady, pounding thunder above the crackle of the musketry, -sounded the hoof-beats of McLaren's and Brackett's squadrons as they -passed from the trot to the gallop and from the gallop to the charge -and, a forest of flashing sabres circling above their heads, bore down -with fierce cheers upon the foe. Straight ahead, through the gap in the -battle line, could be seen the guns of the Prairie Battery, going -forward, the cannoneers clinging to the limbers, the cavalry escort -galloping furiously on either side. A moment more, and the boom of a -howitzer rose above the lesser noises of battle, followed by another and -another, and the shells, circling high, burst like great, white flowers -against the rugged, dark green front of Tahkahokuty. A terrified -commotion could be seen among the people in the camps on its crest. Here -and there fires burst out among the lodges and smoke began to pour -aloft through the foliage. - - - "'But see! Look up! On Flodden bent - The Scottish foe has fired his tent!'" - - -quoted Lieutenant Dale, pointing upward, and Al, catching the -inspiration of the great poet of border warfare, who had thrilled him -since childhood, went on, - - - "'And sudden, as he spoke, - From the sharp ridges of the hill - All downward to the banks of Till - Was wreathed in sable smoke!'" - - -Before the resistless rush of the Minnesotans, the savages on either -flank broke and fled wildly back to the higher ground, the cavalry hard -on their heels. Here, backed literally against their camps, they turned -amid the rocks and trees and ravines, like wolves at bay, to protect for -a few minutes the squaws and children, who were frantically striking the -tepees and running or driving their travois up the ravines and into the -impenetrable mountain fastnesses beyond. Farther and still farther -along the crest of the lower ridge puffed out the little, cotton-like -jets of carbine and rifle smoke. At length, nearly at the foot of the -mountain on the right they began to increase in rapidity until they were -floating off in a mass of thin vapors, while the sound of the fire -became a shrill, continuous rattle. Above it rose the yells of the -Indians, answered now and then by a disjointed cheer. General Sully's -eyes narrowed, and his jaws set hard. - -"Brackett's struck a hornet's nest," he ejaculated. "By George, that -begins to sound like Fair Oaks!" - -He wheeled his horse and galloped back to Captain Jones, whose battery -was a short distance behind him. - -"Captain," he cried, pointing to the spot where the heaviest fight -seemed to be raging, "get out there as quick as the Lord'll let you, -close to the base of the mountain, and shell out those redskins in front -of Brackett." - -The Captain saluted and spurred his horse around to the flank of his -command. - -"On right sections;--to twenty-five yards, extend intervals;--" he -shouted. "Trot;--march!" Then, as the battery resolved itself into the -new formation, he continued, "Right oblique,--march! Trot! Gallop!" - -The guns went racing away, swung into battery, and in a moment their -shells were searching the ravines in Brackett's front. They had scarcely -opened when a great hubbub and popping of carbines broke out behind the -wagon train, and a large body of Indians made their appearance, as if -springing out of the ground, and bore down upon the rear guard. -Immediately one of Jones' guns limbered up and came galloping back to -reinforce the hard-pressed companies covering the train. - -At this moment the General raised his glasses with a frown and looked -toward the bluffs where McLaren was advancing, then swept his glasses -around to Pope's battery and the Dakota Cavalry, which had charged ahead -of the guns and become heavily engaged among the rocks in a ravine -running back through the centre of the enemy's lower camps. The General -turned to Lieutenant Dale. - -"Warn Pope not to fire so far to the left," he said. "He's endangering -McLaren's advance." - -Then he called to Al, - -"Ride up there to those Coyotes and scouts and tell Miner not to push -too far ahead of the flanks. He'll be surrounded." - -The two couriers galloped off together, leaving the General for the -moment alone. As they pushed through the gap in the centre of the main -battle line, Lieutenant Dale exclaimed, - -"Don't these fellows fight splendidly considering most of them have -never been under fire before?" Then he laughed. "Look at Pattee over -there! His coat's off and he's fanning himself with his hat. It's a hot -day for a fat man to fight." - -The line of sweating, panting soldiers, closely followed by their -comrades who were holding the horses, was plodding steadily ahead, -firing at intervals upon the scattered warriors still circling in their -front, as yet unrouted by the movements which had swept back their -extreme flanks. Having passed the line of battle and the skirmishers -ahead of it, the Lieutenant changed his course toward the left, where -Pope's men were working methodically around their guns, while Al -galloped straight on. He passed a small, detached butte from whose crest -the shells of Pope's guns had just driven a crowd of squaws and children -who were watching the battle from that elevation. He encountered no -warriors, though some were so near that he drew his revolver before -entering the rocky, timbered mouth of the ravine where the Coyotes were -engaged. - -Few soldiers were to be seen at first, but sounds were arising from -among the rocks resembling those of a small volcano in eruption, and as -Al pushed on into the broken ground he began to meet here and there -troopers of the Dakota Cavalry, each holding four or more horses of the -men on the firing line, which was still farther ahead. He soon found -that he could not continue mounted, so, hooking up the sabre he had worn -ever since leaving Fort Rice, he dropped Cottontail's reins over his -head and hurried forward on foot, stumbling over roots and dodging -rocks, in search of Captain Miner. Bullets and occasionally arrows -whistled by him and the yells of the Indians seemed not fifty feet away. -In a moment he came upon Corporal Wright and two men of his squad, -crouching behind a broad rock and firing whenever they saw a target. -Just as Al reached them the Corporal cried to his men, - -"Now!" - -They leaped from their concealment and ran forward with a shout to -another rock, some thirty feet ahead, while four Indians, who had been -hidden on its further side, jumped back and bolted for other cover -higher up the ravine. The troopers fired and one warrior fell, but was -snatched up by his companions and dragged along. Al followed the -soldiers and cried in the Corporal's ear, - -"Charlie, where is Captain Miner?" - -"Captain Miner?" said Wright. "I don't know. He's somewhere around but -we're all scattered out here." - -Al could see other soldiers behind trees and rocks off to the right -across the ravine, and, dodging from one cover to another, he started -in that direction. After going a few yards he nearly fell over a man -lying flat on the ground, peering ahead around the corner of a stone -with his cocked carbine at his shoulder. - -"Hi, Wallace!" exclaimed Al. "What are you doing here? Why don't you go -back to the General?" - -Wallace shot a resentful glance at him. - -"How can I go back?" he asked. "We're cut off. There's redskins all -along the rear." - -"But I just came through," objected Al. - -"Oh, don't bother me!" cried Wallace, impatiently, quite beside himself -with the fascination of the struggle. "Can't you let a fellow alone? -There!" - -At the last word his carbine cracked and an Indian, his arm dangling at -his side, darted away from a tree ahead. Wallace sprang up and followed, -taking possession of the nearer side of the tree. - -"Say, Wallace, where's Captain Miner?" shouted Al after him. - -"Aw, how do I know?" replied Wallace, without looking around. Then he -added, "Oh, yes; he was just over there a minute ago." He jerked his -head vaguely to the right. - -Al went on and almost immediately encountered the Captain, accompanied -by eight or ten men, in a little gully where they had stopped to -breathe. Though panting and soaked with perspiration, the men were -firing up at the rocks above them but, at the moment when Al arrived, -the Captain's revolver lay on the ground at his feet and his drawn sabre -was thrust under one arm while he was picking with his right thumb and -forefinger at a tiny splinter in the palm of his left hand. His face -wore an absorbed expression and he moved his head slowly from side to -side as he worked. He seemed entirely unconscious that anything was -happening around him. - -"Captain Miner," said Al, hardly able to repress a laugh as he saluted, -"General Sully says for you not to get too far ahead of the flanks. He -is afraid you will be surrounded." - -The Captain looked up at him with a glance of pathetic helplessness. - -"Why, my boy," said he, "how can I help it? We are already surrounded. -We must keep going ahead or we shall be cleaned out. I'm sorry. I wish -the General understood the situation." - -Having extracted the splinter, he picked up his revolver again, stepped -to a rock and peered around it. - -"They seem to be afraid to go out of there, don't they?" he said to his -men, thoughtfully, after a moment's inspection of the enemy's position. -"I believe perhaps we'd better drive them. Yes, let's do that. Come on, -boys. Charge!" - -The soldiers gave a yell and scrambled out of the gully, Al with them, -and the Captain climbing and jumping over the rocks just ahead. On -either side of them other men of the Coyotes sprang up to join the -advance; and farther to the right, up the side of the ravine, the -Winnebago scouts of Captain Stufft, and Captain Williams's company of -the Sixth Iowa, surged forward also. A hundred or more Indians sprang -away from their hiding-places beyond and hurried higher up the ravine, -some of them pausing to fire at their pursuers. - -Al, being strong and quick, was soon abreast of the Captain. He was just -pulling himself up on hands and knees over a ledge when he saw a tall, -broad-shouldered Indian step into view from behind a rock not thirty -feet ahead and raise his rifle to fire. As he stood, his left side was -turned slightly toward Al, and what the latter saw as he looked made him -gasp as though he had been struck in the face. A long, livid scar ran -down the cheek and neck of the savage and out upon his shoulder. - -[Illustration: He was just pulling himself up] - -For an instant Al's head swam, as he realized that before him stood -Te-o-kun-ko, the captor of his brother Tommy. Then, with no thought in -his mind other than that he must catch up with the Yanktonais and demand -his brother, he began running and climbing ahead again with frantic -energy. The Indian had fired and disappeared; but to Al's excited -imagination it seemed almost as if in overtaking him he would overtake -Tommy himself. He paid no heed to Captain Miner and his men nor to -Wallace Smith, who had joined them, all of whom were shouting to him to -come back. He leaped over the rock where Te-o-kun-ko had stood but the -warrior was not in sight. He ran up a little, steep depression beyond -and swung around a tree-trunk at its head. An Indian behind a stone a -few feet to one side, who had not noticed him so far in front of the -line, gave him a terrified glance and fled like a rabbit. Al did not -pause to fire at him; but another warrior on his opposite side sent a -bullet so close that the wind of it brushed his face sharply, and he -stopped long enough to reply with his revolver; whereupon the savage -dived between two boulders and vanished. Al rushed on, totally oblivious -of the fact that he was getting far within the retreating Indian lines. - -Just then, in climbing over a boulder, his foot slipped and he pitched -forward and rolled into the narrow crevice between two rocks beyond, -where, for a moment, he was held securely, despite his struggles. He -twisted himself around in an effort to grasp a point of the stone above -him, and found himself staring into the face of Te-o-kun-ko, hardly -fifteen feet away, looking at him down the barrel of his rifle. - -"Te-o-kun-ko! Wait!" shouted Al. "Te-o-kun-ko, where is Tommy,--Tommy -Briscoe?" - -The tense muscles of the Indian's features relaxed. His finger did not -press the trigger which would have forever ended Al's search. Across his -face came an expression of intense bewilderment, mixed, it seemed to -Al's fascinated gaze, with grief or remorse. The levelled rifle barrel -wavered and then sunk. He half turned away, hesitatingly, then looked -again at Al with a keen, searching glance, as the latter lay helpless -between the rocks. Finally, with a gesture half defiant and half -despairing, he made a few quick, cat-like springs across the rocks and -disappeared once more. - -With a mighty effort Al succeeded in grasping the jutting point of the -stone and drew himself up from the crevice. He was none too soon, for -two Indians, whom he had distanced in his rapid climb, coming along the -slope near him with guns evidently empty, saw him and leaped at him with -clubbed muskets. He fired his revolver at one of them and missed, then -jerked out his sabre and swung it in a left parry just in time to save -his head from the blow of a musket butt. Three more warriors coming -behind and afraid to shoot lest they hit their friends, came bounding -down to join the hand-to-hand struggle. - -In a few seconds more all would have been over but at this crucial -instant the four men leading the wild scramble of the Coyotes after Al, -caught up with him. They were Wallace, and Troopers Will Van Osdel, Lank -Hoyt, and George Pike. Van Osdel leaped in beside Al, his sabre knocking -the gun clear from the hands of one of the Indians, Hoyt crouched and -fired his carbine at another, who sunk to the ground with a grunt, and -Pike and Wallace, giving as loud a shout as they had breath for, climbed -on after the remaining warriors, who had taken to their heels. - -No sooner had the Indians fled than Van Osdel turned on Al. - -"You crazy jack-rabbit," he cried, "what are you trying to do? Have you -gone plumb out of your head? It's the biggest wonder ever happened -you're not dead." - -"I saw the Indian that captured my brother," returned Al, dejectedly. -"But he's gone now." - -"Well," interjected Hoyt, mopping his streaming face, "he came near -getting two brothers, instead of one. Anyhow, you've led a lovely -charge. We've nearly cleared the ravine." - -They looked ahead. It was true. The crest of the mountain was towering -above them through the trees and they were actually ascending its base, -for, though Al's foolhardy pursuit of Te-o-kun-ko had taken hardly five -minutes from the time he started until he was overtaken by his comrades, -he had climbed so fast and so far that the Dakota and Iowa Cavalry and -the Indian scouts, in following him had penetrated clear through the -Sioux camps lying above the ravine on either side. - -His right senses came back to Al the moment he realized that he had -failed in his purpose of capturing or killing Te-o-kun-ko, and he knew -that he ought to return at once to General Sully. But he could not -resist the temptation to go on now to the top of the ravine and see what -was there, and he had, moreover, a lingering hope of catching another -sight of Te-o-kun-ko. The stragglers of the cavalry were now closing up -on those who had gained the advance, and, the Indians having practically -given up the contest, a few moments of hard climbing brought them to the -top of the ravine. - -An astonishing sight met their eyes. As far as they could see over the -sloping ridge, the ground was covered with a city of lodges. A few had -been struck and dragged away for a distance, but most of them were still -standing, though deserted. Over at the farther side of the camp could be -seen the last of the squaws and children, flying into the bewildering -maze of ravines leading up the rugged face of Tahkahokuty, protected by -the scattered fire of the warriors who had just been routed by the -cavalry. Off to the right and left, where the shells of Jones and Pope -had but just ceased to burst, the little group of soldiers could see the -columns of Brackett and McLaren pouring with exultant shouts into other -parts of the immense, abandoned Sioux camps, while, in their own rear, -the main line of battle was approaching up the ridge. Though the -mountain had not yet been ascended, plainly the field itself had been -completely conquered, and the battle of Tahkahokuty Mountain, the -greatest and most picturesque conflict of the American Northwest, had -become a part of history. Al and Wallace, tardily recollecting their -duties, made haste in descending the ravine to find their horses and -return to General Sully, with such explanations as they could devise for -their long absence while carrying orders to the firing line. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -BESET IN THE BAD LANDS - - -On regaining the prairie, the boys found that General Sully had already -gone up to the Sioux camps at one side of the ravine by which they had -ascended. They at once followed, passing the artillery and the wagon -train on the way. When they arrived they found most of the army already -assembling on the farther side of the hostile camps, at the base of -Tahkahokuty. Far up on the top of the mountain a number of Indians had -gathered and were firing upon the troops at very long range. Although -the soldiers were very much exhausted by their efforts of the afternoon -and were sorely in need of food and rest, it was evident that these -annoying neighbors must be dispersed before nightfall. Moreover, it was -known that good water was to be found somewhere near the mountain top, -at the Falling Spring of Tahkahokuty, as the Indians called the spot, -and since the troops were suffering for water, an advance was -imperative. General Sully inspected the enemy's position, then said to -Colonel Thomas, who was with him, - -"Colonel, do you think some of the Eighth Minnesota could clear those -fellows out and get possession of the spring, if Captain Jones shells -ahead of them?" - -"They certainly can and will, General," responded Thomas. - -"Four companies ought to be enough," continued Sully. "The rest of the -troops can be having mess while they are gone." - -"I will instruct Major Camp to make the advance," replied the Colonel, -riding away. - -Al stepped to the General's side. - -"May I have permission to accompany Major Camp, General?" he asked. -"This afternoon I came face to face with the Indian who has my brother a -prisoner,--Te-o-kun-ko,--but he got away. I might possibly see him again -up there." - -"The Indian who has your brother?" exclaimed the General, much -surprised. "How do you know?" - -"By the scar on his cheek and neck and by the way he looked when I -called him by name," answered Al. - -"Why, in that case, of course you can go," the General replied. "But be -careful; he is undoubtedly a desperate fellow. However, it isn't likely -you will see him again. Most of them have gotten as far away as they can -by this time." Then he added, "By the way, since you are going, watch -for a practical path to the top for cavalry and wagons. The army may -have to go up there, and I certainly shall to-morrow." - -Al mounted Cottontail and rode away. He had hardly reached Major Camp's -detachment, which had dismounted and was deploying to the right as -skirmishers, when the guns of the Third Minnesota Battery began once -more to boom. Their elevating-screws had been run down to the last -thread in order that the muzzles might be raised enough to throw their -shells upon the overhanging mountain crest. The projectiles carried to -their mark, bursting in sprays of pale, orange flame high above the -topmost rocks. But they did not entirely dislodge the enemy, and after a -few rounds the battery was obliged to cease firing owing to the advance -of the skirmish line. - -Up along the steep, boulder-strewn breast of Tahkahokuty, through timber -and underbrush, went the thin, irregular line, eagerly watched by the -troops below and but feebly opposed by the warriors above. It was hard -climbing, and more than once Al and others in the detachment stumbled -and fell over stones or tree roots. As they neared the top and came into -clear view from the crest, the fire of the Indians increased in -intensity, though the savages continued to shoot high so that very few -of the soldiers suffered. At length the cavalrymen scrambled over the -last ledge, too breathless to shout in response to the hearty cheers of -their comrades far below, but not too breathless to follow on a run -after the Sioux who had been bold enough to await their coming and still -showed fight around the ravine of the Falling Spring. The struggle was -sharp and decisive but it lasted only for a moment. A few carbines and -sabres clashed with lances and muskets, then the rear guard of the -Sioux, unable, as always, to stand the test of hand-to-hand conflict, -broke for the nearest cover behind them and disappeared in the tumbled -wilderness of mountains beyond, whither their families and the bulk of -their army had already gone. - -Some deserted lodges stood around the triumphant Minnesotans on the -lofty eminence, but they were few in number compared to those in the -vast camp below. Al saw nothing of Te-o-kun-ko in the handful of -warriors who fled before them; and while the men were filling their -canteens at the spring of cool, crystal water which burst from the rocks -near at hand, he walked along the crest of the ridge, looking for a less -abrupt ascent than the one they had followed. From his position, the -view spread before him in the golden glow of early twilight was -magnificent. Far below and seemingly almost at his feet, lay the bivouac -of the army. He could see the soldiers moving about, some of them still -tossing their hats in enthusiasm over the success of the charge. They -looked like pygmies, and the sound of their cheers came up to him faint -and far away. Farther out from the ridge lay the myriad dots of the -Sioux lodges, and beyond them, extending for miles upon miles until -lost in the haze of the horizon, stretched the countless rough ranges of -hills over which the army had passed in the morning. The treeless -expanse of crests and slopes, lying like a tumbled green counterpane in -the distance, was now as still and peaceful as if it had never known the -turmoil of battle or the trample of armed men. - -At length Al retraced his steps and joined Major Camp, whose men were -now ready to descend to the main body, with the exception of a strong -picket left to hold and patrol the mountain top. Once more back at -headquarters, Al was not long in finishing his supper and rolling -himself in his blanket. But, though weary with the exertions and -excitement through which he had passed since daybreak, he lay for a -while thinking over the events of the past nine hours, while one by one -the sounds of the camp died away around him, and the soldiers lay down -to rest. Most of his thoughts were naturally of his encounter with -Te-o-kun-ko and the mystifying conduct of the latter. Why had the -Yanktonais failed to shoot him when he lay there between the rocks, -utterly helpless? It would have been the most natural thing in the world -for an Indian to do, for they seldom show mercy, especially in the heat -of battle. Why had that strange, bewildered expression come over the -Indian's face when Al called him by name? And, most perplexing of all, -where was Tommy now? Among the women and children who had fled away -before the army could overtake them, or in some distant, secluded place -where Te-o-kun-ko had left him for safe-keeping? All these questions -were utterly baffling; no amount of thinking could bring a satisfactory -answer to a single one of them; and at length Al, weary in body and -mind, sunk into the dreamless slumber which had already enveloped his -comrades on every side. - -The bugles were blaring out the reveille long before daylight next -morning, and in a short time the army had eaten its breakfast, formed in -column and was marching away by the left flank along the base of -Tahkahokuty, seeking a passage around or through the mountain into the -country beyond, whither the enemy had fled. General Sully himself went -straight up to the crest by a pathway which had been discovered by Al -and others the previous evening, but what he saw there was extremely -discouraging. As far as the eye could look to the northward the country -was intersected by precipitous hills and steep ravines, some of the -latter one hundred feet deep, entirely impracticable for either cavalry -or wagons. The army marched for six or seven miles along the foot of the -mountain without finding a route by which it could be ascended or -turned, and at last the General, bearing in mind that he had rations -left for only two more days, reluctantly gave the order to halt and -countermarch to the abandoned Sioux camps, in order that these might be -destroyed before the army returned to Heart River. - -Large detachments from the Second and Eighth Minnesota, the Sixth Iowa, -and the Dakota Cavalry were at once detailed as fatigue parties and -placed under command of Colonel McLaren to collect and burn the lodge -poles and lodge skins, the vast accumulations of dried buffalo meat and -dried berries,--food which, though great in quantity, was utterly unfit -for white men,--the tanned robes, clothing, cooking utensils, saddles, -travois poles, and countless other articles left in the camps and the -near-by ravines. Thirteen companies were engaged in the task, and they -spent half a day of hard work at it, when, finding that they would be -unable to finish by evening, they set the woods and prairie on fire, and -burned the remainder of the captured property in one great -conflagration. The poles and coverings of between fourteen and sixteen -hundred lodges were destroyed, being the camp equipment, so General -Sully estimated, of between five and six thousand warriors and their -families. If correct, this meant that at Tahkahokuty the Sioux had -assembled a greater army than they ever brought together on any other -field, before or since. - -A little while after noon the troops began their return march, -bivouacking that night about six miles from the battlefield, where they -were assailed by a body of Indians about dusk, but repulsed the attack -easily. Next day they reached Knife River, and on July 31, by a march of -thirty-five miles, regained Captain Tripp's camp on the Heart. They -found every one there safe and well; but, though no Indians had been -seen during the absence of the main column, both the emigrants and the -camp guard were exceedingly glad to see the army back again, as it -relieved them from their enforced idleness and assured the early renewal -of the westward march. While the army was away, Captain Tripp had -employed his men in digging a strong line of rifle-pits around the camp, -which was now in a condition to withstand the attacks of any number of -Indians. - -The next two days were spent by the troops in resting themselves and -their animals, for all were very weary from the hard marching and -fighting of the past week; and by General Sully in trying to determine -upon the best route to follow in his further march toward the -Yellowstone. Al was absent from headquarters during most of the time, -making out commissary requisitions and returns in the wagon train, -though once, on the second day, he saw General Sully as the latter -passed through the train with Lieutenant Bacon, closely inspecting the -contents of each wagon. When, toward evening, he returned to -headquarters, he at once asked Wallace Smith, who had been there -continuously, what had happened during the day. - -"Oh, the General seems to be having a lively time deciding what to do," -answered Wallace. "It must be a hard question. He had all the Indian and -half-breed scouts in here for hours to-day, questioning them about the -routes to the Yellowstone. All of them, excepting one, told him they -knew nothing of the country due west of us, which must be terribly rough -bad lands, from what they say. They declare they have never ventured -into it and advised the General to return to the Cannonball and then -move west to the mouth of Powder River and down the Yellowstone to where -the boats are to meet us. But that means a long, roundabout march of -probably two or three weeks; so the General went and inspected the -wagons to see if there were supplies enough to make it." - -"Yes, I saw him," interrupted Al. "There are just six days' full rations -left now." - -"That's what he said when he came back," Wallace continued. "He was a -good deal worked up, and told the guides they must find a way for the -army to march straight west from here across the Little Missouri. But -all of them said it was impossible, except one Yanktonais. He declared -he had been back and forth across the Bad Lands of the Little Missouri a -number of times on hunting expeditions, and he is sure he can lead the -army through if some digging is done in the worst places to make a road -for the wagons and artillery." - -"Just one man?" exclaimed Al. "My gracious! suppose he should lead us -into a trap?" - -Wallace shrugged his shoulders. - -"Well, of course, he might," he agreed. "But what else can be done? -There are not rations enough to last over the other route, nor even -enough to take us back to Fort Rice. Anyway, the General has decided to -trust this chap and make the attempt and we shall start up Heart River -to-morrow morning. You know our rations are to be cut down from one-half -to one-third, so as to make them last." - -"Yes, I know," answered Al. "We were issuing reduced rations this -evening. I hope we are not going to run into an ambush," he added. "But -there is no doubt General Sully knows what he is doing; he always does." - -That evening the troops were paraded and heard the General's -congratulatory orders on their conduct in the recent battle. Soon after, -they retired to rest, and it seemed that but a few moments had passed in -this refreshing occupation when reveille called them up to their labors -again. The advance guard soon moved out, followed by the military wagon -train with strong columns of troops of the Second Brigade on each flank, -the First Brigade bringing up the rear. Then with much confusion and -shouting, the Montana emigrant train finally got under way and moved out -of the intrenched camp, leaving the latter to lie, with parapets slowly -crumbling under the rains of summer and the blizzards of winter, an -object of curiosity and vague uneasiness to straggling Indians and -prowling wolves. - -For three days the army pushed steadily westward up the valley of the -Heart, through a pleasant country whose hills often showed the -outcroppings of large veins of coal. Each night's camp was made in a -spot well supplied with water, grass, and wood, and the men began to -believe that the terrors of the country ahead, so vividly described by -the Indian guides, had no existence save in the imaginations of the -latter. No hostiles were seen, but the column passed one camp ground, -recently abandoned, which showed the sites of several hundred lodges; so -no one could doubt that the stealthy enemy was still in the neighborhood -and probably watching the progress of the column closely. - -Toward evening on August 5, the third day of the march, the advance -guard on arriving at the crest of a hill, similar to dozens of other -hills they had crossed that day, suddenly came to a halt. The troops -behind them could see by their gestures of excitement that they had -discovered something unusual ahead. The army and the trains were halted -and the General rode forward to the advance guard, accompanied by his -staff. - -When they reached the crest of the hill and looked out beyond it, not a -man spoke for a moment, though at the first glance a few uttered -ejaculations of astonishment or dismay and then became silent. Before -them in the brilliant sunlight and lengthening shadows of late afternoon -spread a scene of such weird and desolate grandeur as has few parallels -in the world. Six hundred feet below lay the bottom of a vast basin, -apparently twenty-five or thirty miles in diameter. From rim to rim it -was piled with cones and pyramids of volcanic rock or baked clay and -other hills of every imaginable fantastic shape, some of the peaks -rising to a level with the surrounding country and some lower, but all -glowing with confused and varied color, from gray and yellow to blue and -brick red. Over all this huge, extinct oven of what had doubtless been, -sometime in ages gone, a great coal bed which had burned out, hardly a -sign of vegetation was visible save here and there a few small, -straggling cedars or bushes on the barren hillsides. The place resembled -strongly the ruins of some mighty, prehistoric city, but more strongly -still it reminded the beholder of some of Dante's vivid descriptions of -the infernal regions. - -They bivouacked that night on the prairie and early next morning -marched down into the forbidding basin, knowing not whether they would -ever emerge from it alive. - -All day long in suffocating heat and under the glare of an almost -intolerable sun they toiled forward, winding in and out through gorges -with high, perpendicular walls and yawning ravines so narrow that only -one wagon could pass at a time. No water could be found save a little -which was bitter with alkali. A large pioneer party was in advance, -grading along hillsides and filling gullies so that the wagons might -pass; by nightfall the army had succeeded in covering twelve miles and -found itself on the bank of the Little Missouri, where at least water -and grass were abundant. But the expedition was literally buried in the -Bad Lands, which, on the western side of the stream, still stretched -before them in a wilderness of mountains and gorges even more forbidding -than those they had already passed. Fortunately no Indians had yet -opposed them, and many of the men, especially those in the advance and -on the flanks, had found some pleasure mixed with their labor in -viewing the strange and beautiful rock formations through which they -passed. Here were many petrified stumps and fallen trunks of trees on -the tops and sides of the hills. Some of them were of immense size and -wonderfully preserved, showing the bark, the stumps of branches, and the -age rings of the interior wood. At one place was seen what the men -called a "petrified sawmill", consisting of what appeared like a pile of -lumber and slabs under the edge of a hill and, close by it, a large -tree, cut up into logs of exact length, such as might be found around -any sawmill, but all of stone as hard as granite. In addition to the -trees, many of the men found impressions of leaves in the rocks of sizes -and shapes belonging to no vegetation of the present age, while others -discovered the footprints of unknown animals which had once inhabited -this ancient land. - -Colonel Pattee with his detachment of the Seventh Iowa crossed the -Little Missouri the following morning to trace out, if possible, with -the Yanktonais guide, a route leading westward from the river. He was -gone for some hours and, meanwhile, a few of the men seized the -opportunity to take their horses outside the lines in search of better -grazing. They had not been out very long when they saw a party of thirty -or forty Indians bearing down upon them, intent on cutting them off from -camp. The soldiers were too few to think of fighting, so they fled at -utmost speed, and all succeeded in getting in, though several escaped -very narrowly. The attempted surprise seemed to be the signal of the -Indians for the beginning of a general attack on the army, for in a -moment the bluffs across the river were swarming with warriors, who -opened a hot fire on the camp, though at such long range that their -bullets could not reach half the distance. Just after they began firing, -a horseman dashed out of the ravine directly beneath their position, -which Colonel Pattee's detachment had ascended, and plunging into the -river, trotted and galloped his horse across amid a great splashing of -water. It was Lieutenant Dale, who had followed Colonel Pattee with an -order an hour or two before. General Sully met him at the river bank. - -"What's the matter?" he demanded, the moment the Lieutenant reached -him. - -"The Seventh Iowa is attacked back there two or three miles, in the -hills," replied Dale. "Colonel Pattee wants reinforcements." - -He had scarcely finished speaking when there arose the sound of many -hurried hoof beats in the ravine from which he had just emerged. The -General looked toward it with a growing smile which presently broke into -a laugh as a confused crowd of cavalry rushed from the ravine and -galloped furiously down to and through the river. - -"The Seventh has evidently come after its own reinforcements, -Lieutenant," said he. "They must be in a hurry for them." - -"It looks like it," answered Dale, grinning. - -He retired, while the leading officer of the frightened cavalry hastily -explained to the General that the Indians had come upon them in such a -position and in such numbers that the only way they could save -themselves was by instant flight. - -"Is that so?" asked Al of the Lieutenant, after hearing this -explanation. - -"No," returned Dale, laughing, as he dismounted and sat down -cross-legged on the ground for a moment's rest. "They were just scared, -but it's no wonder. There are enough redskins around to have made it -true. I believe the whole Sioux Nation is out in front of us there. They -pretty nearly got me; tumbled a couple of ton rock down when I was -coming through that ravine and just missed my horse by about six inches, -and they fairly singed my hair with bullets. I guess the ball has -started again." - -The ball had started again, sure enough, for when the army crossed the -river next morning and began threading the succession of ravines and -canyons which Colonel Pattee had traced and partially dug out the day -before, it was instantly attacked by the Sioux on all sides, in numbers -seemingly as great as had fought at Tahkahokuty. On this day detachments -from the Second Brigade formed the advance guard, under Major Robert H. -Rose, of the Second Minnesota, supported by Jones's battery. The rest of -the Second Brigade guarded the army wagon train, with strong flanking -parties out on each side to hold the hills and transverse valleys from -which the enemy might fire upon or charge the train. Behind the Second -Brigade came the First, similarly protecting the Montana emigrant train, -the Coyotes and two companies of the Sixth Iowa bringing up the rear, -while Pope's battery held itself ready to shell the hills or ravines -whenever the enemy appeared in sufficient force to justify unlimbering -the guns. - -The march was slow and fatiguing in the extreme. The Indians, holding -the tops and sides of the long succession of narrow passes or canyons -through which the army must go, poured their fire down upon the troops -until dislodged by the fire of the artillery or the approach of the -flankers, when they would fall back to another position of like strength -and repeat their tactics. The wagons, after advancing about three miles, -were parked in a space where the pass opened to a somewhat greater -width; while the troops, pushing on, cleared the hills to allow the -fatigue parties to dig out and level some three miles more of road. Then -once more the unwieldy train unwound into column and crept carefully -forward along the trail. The latter, in spite of the efforts of the -pioneers, was often so narrow and slanting that it was all several men -could do to keep the wagons from overturning and blocking the road -permanently. Officers and men were working together on the firing line -and among the trains, coatless and dripping with sweat in a temperature -of one hundred and ten degrees in the shade. Their throats were parched -with thirst, for the water brought from the Little Missouri was soon -exhausted, and no more could be obtained throughout the day except at -one tiny spring, to which the Indians clung so stubbornly that they were -only dislodged by the Second Minnesota after a sharp fight. - -Attack after attack was launched on the advance guard; and when repulsed -there by the steady volleys of the cavalry carbines and shells of the -Third Minnesota Battery, the warriors would concentrate and rush upon -one or the other flank, if the ground was open, or else lie in -concealment and fire upon it as it approached. Up and down the hills in -every direction the braves could be seen, riding their nimble-footed -ponies along slopes so steep that it seemed even a dismounted man could -not keep his footing there. - -Toward noon a serious misfortune fell on the army in the loss of the -Yanktonais guide, the only man who knew the country through which they -were passing. He had proved very faithful to his trust, and in his zeal -to lead the march correctly, he had ventured too far to the front, where -he was severely wounded in the breast, the bullet coming out under his -shoulder blade. - -All day long the members of the General's staff were on the run, -carrying orders, suggestions or cautions to the commanders of the -various organizations, hurrying forward the lagging wagons and sometimes -themselves becoming involved in one or another of the many skirmishes -constantly blazing up among the tumbled hills. Once Lieutenant Dale rode -back to the General's position near the head of the column, with the -blood running over his face from a wound in the cheek. - -"Oh, are you badly hurt?" asked Al, who happened to be there, startled -and anxious. - -"No," the Lieutenant returned, lightly, dabbing some of the blood from -his cheek. "I've been back to the rear guard to tell Captain Miner that -the redskins were getting ready to swing around on him. They did, just -about as I got there, and stirred him up pretty lively, but the boys -repulsed them. One fellow grazed my cheek, that's all. Just look at -them!" His glance swept the surrounding hills, on every one of which -groups or masses of Indians were to be seen. "They seem to be -everywhere, and for every one killed it looks as though ten new ones -sprang out of the ground." He looked at Al and an ominous expression -passed over his face. "Have you ever heard of Kabul Pass?" he inquired, -in a low tone. - -Al returned his glance steadily. - -"Yes, I have," he admitted, slowly. - -"It looks something like that around here, doesn't it?" the Lieutenant -continued. "Only one man came out of Kabul Pass alive, you remember." - -"Why, you're right," answered Al, feeling a passing throb of foreboding. -"But I think we shall do better than that," he added, hopefully. - -"Oh, no doubt," agreed Dale. "I was just thinking of the similarity of -positions, that's all." - -In an instant his mood changed and he laughed at a sudden recollection. - -"I saw a funny thing back there," he chuckled. "You know the oxen those -emigrants are driving are pretty well fagged out; every now and then one -of them lies down and has to be exchanged for a fresh one from the herd. -The rear guard has orders to shoot all the exhausted animals, so the -Indians won't get them. While I was back there one big ox fell over, and -he was unyoked and left on the ground, looking as good as dead. But as -the rear guard passed him, he heard their shots and then the yells of -the redskins close behind, and he raised his head and looked at the -Indians. They were pushing up, hoping to catch him alive. I guess he -didn't like their looks, for all at once he scrambled to his feet and -made a bolt for the herd, charging right through the rear guard with his -tail sticking straight out and his eyes bulging with fright. Now he's -travelling with the rest of the cattle and seems as well as any of -them." - -Al laughed heartily. "He ought to have a medal," he declared. - -"Yes, he had," agreed Lieutenant Dale, "a leather one, anyway." - -A long time after noon, the walls of the canyon through which the column -was marching became gradually lower, and after a while the hard-pressed -troops and trains found themselves passing out of the dangerous defile -upon a comparatively level plateau, higher than most of the surrounding -Bad Lands, though it was girt on all sides by the characteristic peaks -and gulches of the region. Here General Sully decided to make camp for -the night, though he had marched only ten miles, for here had been found -a little grass and a large pool of stagnant, muddy rain water, which, -however, was better than none at all, and no one could tell whether any -existed farther on. The troops were placed in very compact formation and -the trains corralled, the emigrants a little to the east of the military -camp. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -TE-O-KUN-KO - - -After supper had been eaten and rations distributed for the next day, it -was nearly sunset, and Al and Wallace sat down on the ground near -General Sully's tent to clean their weapons and enjoy a few minutes of -welcome rest. - -"I never saw anything like that canyon we were in to-day," said Wallace. -"More than once I thought we were going to be cleaned out there, and we -would have been if we'd had civilized troops to deal with." - -"Why, of course," Al answered. "Civilized troops one-tenth as strong as -we could have held it against us for a year. Yet we've lost only eight -or ten men wounded all day. The Indians haven't enough staying -qualities, though they have plenty of dash and are magnificent -horsemen." - -"Yes, that's true," agreed Wallace. Then suddenly he dropped his -ram-rod and sprang to his feet. "Look there!" he exclaimed. "Are they -going to try some more of their dash this evening, after all they've -done to-day?" - -The dry expanse of prairie where the camp lay, sloped gradually up to -the eastward, terminating in a ridge at a distance of about a mile from -the camp. Over the crest of this ridge a throng of Sioux warriors was -now galloping, much as they had come over that other ridge at the -opening of the battle of Tahkahokuty. The emigrant camp lay nearest to -them, and here a great confusion and panic immediately arose, and women -and children began to emerge from the corral and run toward the military -camp, shrieking and calling piteously for help. Without waiting for -orders scores of soldiers seized their weapons and rushed out across the -prairie toward the fugitives, many of whom, as soon as they were within -the lines, fell to the ground exhausted or weeping hysterically. The -soldiers, once started, continued their advance on the enemy, the -swiftest runners distancing the rest. The Indians halted and fired, then -seeing that their antagonists were not checked, began sullenly to -retire, not even hastening much from the shells of the cannon, which had -opened along the eastern edge of the camp. So the retreat and pursuit -continued to the crest of the ridge, where the Indians went out of sight -into the Bad Lands just beyond. - -Al and Wallace, who had run out at the first alarm, presently found -themselves, in company with one of the Sioux guides and a couple of -soldiers of the Sixth Iowa, on the edge of the ridge with a deep, narrow -valley before them, bounded on its farther side by four hillocks, or -small buttes, shaped like sugar loaves and each separated from the next -by crooked gullies, washed deep by rains. At the left end of this series -of buttes lay a long, open space, entirely bare of vegetation, -apparently extending around behind them. Not an Indian was in sight, but -Wallace suggested, - -"I believe some of the redskins are hiding behind those buttes. Let's -surprise them. I'll tell you what we can do. You fellows," he addressed -the two cavalrymen, "stay here and the rest of us will go back a little -way and then sneak around and down across that open space and get in -behind the flank of the buttes. If there are any Indians there, we can -shoot them before they can get away." - -"But there may be a lot of them," objected one of the troopers, "and -they'll clean you out." - -"No," declared Wallace, with conviction. "It's only a little way across, -and if there are too many of them we can run back while you cover us -with your fire. Besides, lots of the boys are near by." - -This was true; a number of soldiers were still a short distance back on -the plateau. - -"What do you think of it?" asked Al, turning to the Sioux guide, who -happened to be one who could speak English, as well as his own tongue. - -"Good," said the Indian. "I go." - -"Come on, then," urged Wallace, who seemed determined to have an -adventure if possible. - -Followed by Al and the guide he walked back across the prairie until the -ridge hid them from view of any watchers who might be on the buttes. The -two troopers, meanwhile, lay down on the edge of the ridge to wait -developments. As soon as they were out of sight of the buttes, the boys -turned north and ran for some distance, then swinging east again -regained the edge of the ridge opposite the open ground below. Here they -could not be seen from any except the northernmost butte and, hastening -down the slope, they ran across to the base of this butte and around to -its farther side. Looking up, they saw two Indians lying behind the top -of the next adjoining eminence, peeping over at the two soldiers across -the valley. Simultaneously the three adventurers fired. The head of one -of the warriors dropped between his outstretched arms and he lay still -without a struggle. His companion sprang to his feet, cast one terrified -glance at the unexpected assailants below him and leaped with a few long -bounds down the steep slope into the ravine at its base and around the -third butte, where he disappeared. Al and Wallace gave a shout, in which -the Indian scout joined, and Al ran on in the direction taken by the -warrior, followed by Wallace. But the scout hesitated. - -"Maybe better go back now, eh?" he called. - -"Oh, no; come on!" Al shouted back. "We can get out anywhere and we've -got him on the run." - -The scout said no more, but followed. They passed the ravine and the -base of the next butte, and came to the gully between that and the -fourth and last eminence to the south. From this eminence a little ridge -ran eastward out across the open ground. As they came toward it an -Indian rose half his height behind it, then, seeing them, dropped down -again. Al ran to the left to get around behind him, and, as he did so, -Wallace and the scout both saw another warrior, farther up on the fourth -butte, stand erect and aim at him. - -"Look out, Al!" shouted Wallace. - -"Drop, Briscoe!" cried the guide at the same instant, and Al -instinctively flung himself full length upon the ground just as the -Indian fired. The bullet passed over him; but at this moment Wallace -noticed still another hostile raise his head above the ridge and look -eagerly toward Al. He had no time to interpret the glance, but the -thought came to him that more Indians were showing themselves than he -had expected, and he cried, - -"Come on out, boys! They're getting too thick." - -Followed by his companions, he sprang into the gully close at hand, -expecting to see the valley beyond and the prairie ridge where the two -Iowa soldiers were lying. But, instead, a few yards up the trench-like -gulch he came to a sharp turn. As he rounded it, he caught a glimpse of -several Indians crouching down a little farther on, their guns cocked -and ready, and he dodged back again, almost colliding with Al and the -scout, behind him. - -"I guess we're goners," he exclaimed, as he heard the swift patter of -moccasined feet behind and on the edges of the gully above them. "Oh, -what an idiot I was to get you fellows and myself into this. It's my -fault." - -"No, it isn't, Wallace," declared Al. "It's mine. If I'd minded this -scout, we'd have gotten back all right." - -But at this moment, which it seemed evident must be their last, they -heard a deep, commanding voice speak a few rapid words in the Sioux -tongue, and the sound of footsteps ceased. - -"They're going to rush us," whispered Al, his voice shaking but his -eyes still courageous. "Let's give them all the shots we can and then -kill ourselves. Good-bye, Wallace, old man,--and good-bye, mother, and -Annie, and Tommy," he added, to himself. - -Thoroughly expecting death within a few seconds, he could hardly believe -his ears when he heard the same deep, masterful voice which had halted -their pursuers, say, loudly, - -"Al Briscoe! Al Briscoe!" - -Al, shaking and pale, looked at his companions, too amazed and -bewildered even to hear the Sioux words, unintelligible to him, which -followed his name. The mere utterance of the latter, in such a place and -under such circumstances, was of itself ominous and terrifying enough to -chill his blood, for it seemed to single him out from his companions for -some special and horrible fate. But the Sioux scout looked at him -solemnly. - -"You understand?" he asked. - -"No," answered Al, shuddering. - -"He say, 'Al Briscoe, I, Te-o-kun-ko, want talk with you.'" - -"Te-o-kun-ko?" exclaimed Al, his strength coming back to him at that -familiar name. "Indeed, yes. If he does kill me, I shall at least find -out first." - -He prepared to scramble up the side of the gully, but the scout -restrained him. - -"No go till he say he not kill," said he. - -"Ask him," Al replied. - -The scout called out the question in Sioux and Te-o-kun-ko answered, a -note of surprise and satisfaction in his voice. The scout himself looked -relieved. - -"He say, 'you got interpreter. Good!'" he repeated. "He say, 'come up -and bring him. We no kill.'" - -There was nothing else to do, so the three scrambled to the top of the -gully, Wallace bringing up the rear. When he had regained his feet, Al -saw confronting him the superbly handsome figure of his brother's -captor, the muscles of his arms, the curve of his deep chest, his -proudly poised head, and eagle-like features, all mellowed and -harmonized in the soft glow of early twilight, until he looked more like -a bronze statue than a human being. The Indian was leaning on a long -rifle and he wore a short tunic, buckskin leggings, and moccasins, all -heavily embroidered with brilliant bead work, while a splendid war -bonnet of brightly colored feathers hung from his head nearly to the -ground. A handsome necklace of bears' claws, fastened around his neck -and depending over his massive chest, completed a costume of savage -magnificence strikingly becoming to this lord of the prairies. A few -feet behind him stood a dozen or more warriors, their guns lying across -their arms. They were as silent and motionless as Te-o-kun-ko, but the -glances of sullen animosity which they flashed at Al and his companions -showed clearly enough that it was only the strong hand of their leader -which restrained them from instantly slaying the white boys and their -Indian comrade. - -Te-o-kun-ko did not move as his three involuntary guests came up before -him but, leaning on his rifle, he regarded Al with a gaze so keen and -steadfast that the latter's eyes wavered, and to break the silence he -said, - -"How." - -"How, Al Briscoe," replied the Indian, still without moving. - -A rush of indignation suddenly swept over Al as he remembered who this -man was. - -"Ask him," said he, sharply, to the scout, "where my brother is." - -He was determined to learn at least this much before anything could -happen to prevent. - -The question was repeated, but Te-o-kun-ko did not reply immediately. At -length he said, through the interpreter, - -"You are bold for a boy, Al Briscoe. Do you hold your life of no value -that you demand your brother now, when you are in my power?" - -"I hold his life of more value than my own, Te-o-kun-ko," replied Al, -stoutly. "Would you not feel the same for your brother?" - -The Indian flashed a look at him which seemed almost one of sympathy. - -"Yes," said he, and paused. Presently he went on, "If you were not brave -you would not be worthy of such a brother. But I knew that you were -brave the day I took him from you beyond the Yellow Medicine, and I -knew it better eleven suns ago when you came after me like a hungry wolf -under the shadow of Tahkahokuty. So I will tell you." - -He paused again, as if reflecting, then continued in the following -words, uttering them deliberately, and they were interpreted, phrase -after phrase, by the Sioux scout: - -"Your brother was such a one as should have been an Indian, and so I -thought to make him. He fears neither the darkness nor the flood nor the -lightning, the buffalo stampede nor the rush and shouting of armed men. -No lad of my tribe can shoot straighter than he and he rides a horse as -the gray goose rides the north wind. He learned our speech more quickly -than a Cheyenne, of our own race, could have learned it, and he came to -love our life; I know, for he told me so, often. And he loved me, who -sought to be as his father, and my squaw, Techon-su-mons-ka (The -Sandbar), and his foster brothers and sisters, Mah-to-che-ga (The Little -Bear), Ka-pes-ka-da (The Shell), and Mong-shong-sha (The Bending -Willow). Your brother himself I called Pah-ta-ustah (Fire Eyes), and so -the tribe will ever know him. - -"But even after I came to be chief of my band, twelve moons ago, when -the old chief was killed in battle with the Crows beyond the river where -the elks drink (the Yellowstone), he would talk to me of his own people. -He would talk of his father and mother and you, Al Briscoe, and of a -girl papoose he called Annie, and of the place where he once lived, far -in the South, where there is more forest than prairie, and where many -trees bear upon their branches red and yellow fruit larger than the -largest plums we know. Many and many a time I have talked with him of -those things in the hours when the sun has gone to sleep and the tepee -fires wink back at the stars. And since he grieved always for those who -had been his family, and since I knew that I had been one to stand by -while his father was killed (which was a bad deed and hurt my heart) it -came to me at last that I must put him in the way to go back to his own -people. It is true, too, that the life of the Indian is not now, and -never will be any more, what it was in the past. Our days are numbered -in the land of our fathers, and those who are young among us have little -to look forward to." - -Te-o-kun-ko spoke the last sentences sadly, looking far off into the -yellow western sky as if he saw there visions of the last refuge of his -race. Then he threw back his head and concluded, abruptly, - -"So I took him southward and one moon ago I left him at the trading post -above the mouth of the Wak-pah-shika (Bad River), which is called Fort -La Framboise. Then I sped back to bear my part in the battle against -your army." - -"What?" exclaimed Al, in great excitement, stepping close to Te-o-kun-ko -as the scout interpreted his last sentences, "You took him to Fort La -Framboise? He is there now?" - -The Indian inclined his head slowly. - -"Yes," he replied, "if he has not already gone to the southward." - -Al pressed his hand to his brow. His mind was in a whirl of -bewilderment. - -"Tommy at Fort La Framboise, and I here!" he exclaimed aloud, but -speaking only to himself. "What shall I do now?" Then another idea -occurred to him. "How do I know this is true?" he demanded, bold beyond -discretion in his anxiety and satisfied, anyway, that he and his -companions would be killed at the end of the interview. "Perhaps you -still have him; perhaps he is dead." - -But the Indian ignored the reflection upon his honesty. - -"I tell you the truth, Al Briscoe," he asserted, solemnly. - -He spoke Al's full name always, as if it were one word, as he doubtless -thought it was. Then he lifted the necklace of bear's claws hanging -around his neck and held it toward Al. At the bottom of it, between the -two largest claws, was fastened a small ring of chased gold, its surface -much worn, which Al instantly recognized as Tommy's. - -"This he gave to me when I left him at Fort La Framboise," said he, "as -a keepsake and a promise. And the promise was that he would come back -some day, either to stay or to visit us, who are his Sioux kindred." - -"So?" replied Al. He was beginning to realize dimly that Tommy must -have had some very good reasons for his attachment to this magnificent -warrior and his family, for he could hardly doubt longer the truth of -what Te-o-kun-ko was telling him. The circumstances under which they -were speaking together were not such as to tempt the Indian to deceit or -apologies; for he was certainly master of the situation, and could -either seize or kill Al and those with him whenever he wished. There was -a moment's silence. Then Te-o-kun-ko stepped back and laid his rifle -across his arm. - -"You may go now, Al Briscoe," he said; "you and those with you." - -"What?" cried Al, who had dared expect nothing but death. "You are going -to spare our lives?" - -"You may go in peace," responded the Sioux. "I do it for the sake of -Pah-ta-ustah. Tell him so when you see him." - -He stopped a moment, as if seeking words in which to express some -oppressive thought. Then he went on, - -"Your brother, Al Briscoe, knows not that his father is dead. I lacked -ever the heart to tell him. But when you do so, tell him, likewise, -that I, Te-o-kun-ko, have none of his blood on my hands. I fired no shot -on that day at the place where you lived, though I did enough in all the -time we were killing and burning along the Minnesota. My thoughts were -on fire with the madness of slaughter, as were those of all who were -there. Since then my mind has cleared and I know that the things which -we did to the whites in Minnesota were bad; bad clear through. But we -have been paying for them ever since; we are paying now, and is not the -price even yet great enough? You have killed two, yes, four, of our men -and women and children, for every one that we slew over there. You have -burned our lodges and our robes and our winter meat; we shall starve and -freeze in the time of snows which is soon to come. But it is the price, -and we are paying." - -A sudden impulse, mingled of admiration, gratitude and pity, seized Al -toward this strange savage, so proud and yet so humble; so cold and yet -so generous. He stepped forward and held out his hand. - -"Will you not come in with us, Te-o-kun-ko?" he asked, "and make your -peace with the Great Father? Why fight any longer? Can you not see that -it is hopeless; that the red men can never prevail against the power and -the numbers of the whites?" - -The chief ignored the friendly, outstretched hand, but he looked at Al -frankly, even though defiantly. "No, Al Briscoe," he made answer, -firmly. "You and I are enemies. And while my people have strength left -to fight the white men, we will be enemies. I know that what you say is -true, though many of my people will not yet believe it. The whites will -conquer in the end and take from us the last of this, our great, free, -beautiful land to which they have no right except the right of being -strong enough. But at least the Indian can fight to the end and die as a -warrior should, with his face toward his foes, while his soul goes up in -the battle smoke to the Happy Hunting Grounds of Wakon Tonka (the Great -Spirit). No, Al Briscoe, I have no friend among the white men save only -Pah-ta-ustah, your brother. Go quickly, for when you are on the prairie -once more, I shall hold back my braves no longer, and you will be -killed if you delay or come back. Go!" - -"Come on," said Al in a low tone to his companions. They turned and -walked rapidly along the base of the butte toward the narrow valley west -of it. As they passed its farther side, Al looked back. Te-o-kun-ko -still stood as they had left him, a shadowy figure in the gathering -dusk, regarding them with haughty attention, his rifle across his left -arm. Only now his right hand was raised in a restraining gesture against -his followers, who were crowding up behind him, cocking their guns and -cursing in tones which grew rapidly louder and more threatening as they -looked after their escaping victims. - -Passing behind an angle of rock, Al exclaimed, - -"Run! He can't hold them much longer!" - -The three dashed across the narrow valley at top speed and almost as -rapidly scrambled up the steep slope to the prairie, where they -encountered the two cavalrymen, pale and excited. - -"Good God, where have you been?" ejaculated one of the soldiers. "We -thought you were killed or captured. There hasn't been a shot for -twenty minutes." - -"No, but there will be in about twenty seconds," Al responded. "Come, -come! Keep running." - -Away they went toward the camp, hastened by a chorus of fierce war -whoops from the valley and then by the patter of shots as a number of -Te-o-kun-ko's warriors came over the edge of the prairie a hundred yards -behind and raced after them. The bullets, however, sang harmlessly by -and in a moment half a hundred of their own men, hearing the firing, -came running to their rescue; whereupon the Sioux gave up the chase and -fell back into the Bad Lands as night descended. - -The three self-appointed raiders returned to camp, Wallace and the -Indian scout with feelings of unmixed delight and thanksgiving over -their escape, Al with several new problems to perplex him. He had been -greatly relieved by Te-o-kun-ko's statements concerning Tommy's devotion -to the memory of his family, which showed that the little boy's strength -of affection had prevailed over what must have been a very great liking -for the life of the Indians. But, though the persistence of this -affection on Tommy's part had finally induced his captor to give him his -liberty, Al could by no means feel sure that such liberty might not be -more dangerous for his brother than captivity had been. Had he been -surrendered to the army, or at an army post, Al would have felt no -anxiety, for he would have known that the boy would receive the best of -care and be sent to his home safe and as promptly as possible. But what -would such a mere child do among the hardened trappers and frontiersmen -of Fort La Framboise, which Al knew was nothing more than a small -trading-post of La Barge, Harkness and Company, fur traders of St. -Louis? Tommy could have no idea of where his relatives were now and -would be more likely to try to reach Minnesota than any other place. -Moreover, if started off by the traders in that direction or even on a -steamboat toward St. Louis, he knew nothing of travelling and might -easily go astray or fall into dangerous company. - -Al lay awake for a long time that night thinking over these problems and -decided that next day he would talk them over with General Sully and ask -his advice. But at daylight the movement of the army into column -brought on an immediate renewal of the enemy's resistance; and for many -hours, until the middle of the afternoon, the battle continued as hotly -contested as on the previous day. Neither the General nor Al himself had -a moment to think of anything except the gigantic task of repelling the -Indian attacks. - -Just before noon, Wallace was riding in from the left flank, where he -had delivered a message to Major Brackett, when he was struck in the -left arm, between shoulder and elbow, by a stray bullet. The wound soon -became very painful and Wallace was obliged to dismount and go into an -ambulance, where a surgeon extracted the bullet and made him as -comfortable as possible. But Al, much as he was grieved over his -friend's misfortune, could barely find time to spend a moment with him -before hurrying back to his own pressing duties. - -About mid-afternoon the country began to grow more level and the -marching easier. The Indians, apparently discouraged, gradually ceased -their attacks and at length the advance guard, mounting a rise from -which a wide extent of country was visible in front, saw the last of the -hostile army, several miles away to the southward, disappearing in a -cloud of dust. - -Hearty cheers arose from the whole army as the good news spread, for it -was clear the final victory was won. A short halt was ordered and while -it lasted the two bands with the Minnesota Brigade, one silver and the -other brass, vied with each other in playing triumphant and patriotic -airs, to the great delight of the men, who fully believed that the worst -of their hardships were now over. But, unfortunately, experiences were -yet in store for them not less distressing than those they had already -passed through, though somewhat different in character. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -IN THE WAKE OF THE GRASSHOPPERS - - -After the halt, the march was resumed, as the General wished to push on -to the Yellowstone as fast as possible and three or four hours of -daylight could not be wasted lying in camp. The trains were now able to -straighten out and move with less confusion and delay; and the troops, -though still retaining their defensive formation, ready to repel any -sudden attack, found it possible to draw in the flanks and advance more -rapidly. Presently, as all the different elements of the army settled -into a steady, methodical march, Al found a chance to speak to General -Sully of the news he had heard of Tommy, so adventurously gained and so -surprising in itself. The General listened with lively interest. - -"Well," said he, when Al had concluded his account of his encounter with -Te-o-kun-ko, "you certainly had a very unusual experience. This -Te-o-kun-ko must be a remarkable Indian to have let you go, once he had -you. Almost any Indian, particularly a Sioux, would have shot all of you -at such a time, or else have tied you to stakes and tortured you. I wish -he could be induced to come in. Such a man could be made very useful in -bringing the rest of the nation to peace. As for your brother, assuming -that this Indian has given you a straight story, it is hard to tell -whether he may still be at Fort La Framboise or not. You know that -trading post is only a short distance above Fort Sully and the traders -may have taken him down and turned him over to Colonel Bartlett. Again, -they may have placed him on some downward bound boat for St. Louis. But -my guess would be that he is still at Fort La Framboise and that the -traders are waiting for the return of my expedition so that the -Minnesota troops can take him with them to Fort Ridgely." - -"Then what do you think I had better do, General Sully?" inquired Al. - -His commander meditated a moment. "Well, my boy," he began, "I am not -anxious that you should leave me; I have enjoyed having you with us -through this expedition, and I don't exaggerate when I say that you have -made yourself as useful as any of my regular staff officers, and have -been as courageous in conduct and as uncomplaining under hardships as -any soldier could be,--probably more courageous than necessary, though -that is never a condemnable fault. But my judgment is that, since you -are in this country primarily to find your brother, your proper course -will be to get to Fort La Framboise as soon as possible. When we reach -the Yellowstone you will probably be able to go on ahead of the army to -Fort Union, on the Missouri, where, no doubt, you can soon catch a boat -downward bound from Fort Benton which will take you to Fort La Framboise -in a few days." - -Al was deeply gratified by his commander's words of praise, the more so -since General Sully was not a man given to flattery nor to the bestowal -of undue praise upon his subordinates. He very much disliked the idea of -leaving the army and his many friends in it before the conclusion of the -campaign, but he felt that the General was right. Indeed, it had been -his opinion ever since his conversation with Te-o-kun-ko that he ought -to get to Fort La Framboise as soon as he could, but he had also felt -that he owed it to General Sully to await the latter's opinion and be -governed by it, and he was glad to find that this opinion agreed with -his own. - -As the army advanced westward, the country became more sterile rather -than less so. It was evident that there had been no rain in this region -for a long time and whatever grass had ever grown there had, moreover, -been eaten off right down to the roots by a plague of grasshoppers. -These insects, moving across the country in vast multitudes, often -caused widespread devastation all over the West in early days, and many -a pioneer farmer saw his entire crop of corn, small grain, and -vegetables utterly destroyed in a single day by the ravenous pests while -he stood by, helpless to protect or save the fruits of his year of hard -work. In the case of the Northwestern Indian Expedition, the visitation -of the grasshoppers, together with lack of water, entailed untold -suffering upon the thousands of animals with the column. Hardly any -corn or grain was left; and the poor beasts, enfeebled by their weeks of -hard, hot marching, generally with insufficient food and water, were -becoming mere skeletons, hardly able to keep moving. - -The night of August 9, which had witnessed the end of the battle of the -Little Missouri, as the fight in the Bad Lands came to be called, found -the army camping beside the bed of a dry creek; and each man lay down to -sleep after a supper consisting of one cracker and a bit of bacon, with -nothing to drink, while the horses had neither food nor water. The two -following days were more like nightmares than realities. Most of the -mules and oxen of the two wagon trains contrived to stagger along -somehow. But one by one the worn-out cavalry horses began to succumb. -When they could keep up no longer, their riders would shoot them to end -their sufferings; and all along the dreary miles of white, dusty alkali -plains, sprinkled here and there with sparse growths of sage brush or -cactus, the wake of the army was dotted with the bodies of scores of the -poor, dumb victims of starvation and thirst. By this time nearly all -the men were walking and leading their horses, in order to save the -latter as much as possible. So passed the first heart-sickening day -after the close of the Indian attacks; and as darkness fell at the end -of a torturing march of thirty-two miles, the troops sunk down upon the -brink of a lake of clear, sparkling water, so bitter with alkali that -neither man nor beast could do more than taste it and then feast his -aching eyes on its delusive, poisonous beauty. The victorious army, -which had conquered all its human foes, seemed like to perish miserably -under the rigors of inhospitable Nature. - -Despite his own sufferings, Al had one satisfaction, which was that -Cottontail kept up much better than most of the horses of the -expedition. The fact that he was a tough, sturdy little animal by nature -had something to do with his good condition; yet Al knew that the care -he had given the horse throughout the campaign had been chiefly -responsible for bringing him into the present crisis in a state to -withstand its hardships; for he had never failed to supply Cottontail -with water and grass whenever opportunity offered, even at the cost of -his own rest or comfort. Yet even Cottontail had become so desperate -with thirst by the second night of the desert march that he pawed and -neighed and stamped the whole night through. As every other animal was -doing the same thing, the camp was in an uproar of misery, and few of -the men could sleep for sympathy with their suffering four-footed -comrades. - -Dawn came at last, after hours of darkness which seemed long as -eternity, and the suffering caravan crept on. The guides had assured -General Sully that he could reach the Yellowstone that day, and about -four o'clock in the afternoon the advance guard suddenly broke into -confusion, and those behind them saw the men toss their hats in the air, -while the sound of cheers and carbine shots came back to their ears. The -Yellowstone was in sight, though still several miles off, and across the -wide, flat valley could be seen the groves of green cottonwoods along -its banks with the strong, swift current of the river beyond, shining -bright and beckoning in the sunlight. With an inrush of new vitality -the whole column surged forward, and the drivers of the mule teams were -hardly able to restrain the poor animals as they struggled to run -forward into the stream. The General and his officers, declining, as -they always did, to accept any advantage over the men afforded by their -position, held back their own horses and allowed the trains and the -troops to reach the river first. Al, mounting Cottontail for the first -time in two days, rode back to the ambulance in which Wallace lay, and -secured his canteen, as well as those of the driver and of two other -wounded men who were riding with him. Hurrying, then, to the river he -threw Cottontail's reins over his head and left him to drink, filled the -canteens, and ran back to meet the ambulance. Then, after Wallace had -drunk, he took from the latter's canteen his own first deep swallow of -the cool, life-restoring water. - -There was no more marching for that day. Men and animals had indulged -too freely in the luxury of water to be fit for any more immediate -exertion. The army went into camp and every one took a bath, for the -first time in weeks, and washed out his clothing, soiled and stiffened -with perspiration and dirt. But the arrival at the river had not -relieved the situation with regard to forage, for the grasshoppers had -cleaned off the grass right up to the banks of the Yellowstone. The -soldiers, however, went in crowds into the cottonwood groves where they -cut armfuls of branches and leaves and brought to their horses, who ate -ravenously of these not unpalatable substitutes for grass. The expected -steamboats were not in sight, but the cannon soon began to boom at -intervals, signalling the army's arrival to the steamers, if the latter -were anywhere near. - -And then, just before sunset, a heavy column of smoke appeared, rising -above the tree tops up river. It could come from nothing but steamboats. - -"They evidently expected us to strike the river farther up," said -General Sully, as he and a number of other officers assembled on the -bank, anxiously watching the bend above for the first sight of the -boats. "It's fortunate they were within sound of the guns or I should -have had to send scouts to look for them." - -In a few moments the bow of the first steamer emerged from behind the -timber point, and then appeared her tall smoke stacks, with the little -pilot-house between them, towering above the dazzling white woodwork of -her cabins. - -"The _Chippewa Falls_!" exclaimed every one in a breath, as she steamed -majestically into full view. - -Close behind her came the Alone and then the spectators watched the bend -for the third steamer, the old _Island City_, so pleasantly remembered -by the staff officers. But she did not appear; and shortly the _Chippewa -Falls_ glided up to the bank and a landing plank was thrown out. General -Sully stepped aboard and heartily grasped the hand of Captain Hutchison, -saying, - -"I am delighted to see you, Captain. We are badly in need of you. How -long have you been waiting for us?" - -"Ten days," replied Captain Hutchison, broadly smiling his pleasure at -seeing the army after his tedious days of expectation. - -"So long? I congratulate you on your quick trip up this unknown river," -said the General. - -"Rea, back here with the _Alone_, and I, have been the first to -navigate it," replied the Captain, with a little pardonable pride. - -"Rea and you?" exclaimed the General, anxiously. "Where is Lamont with -the _Island City_?" - -"I'm sorry to tell you, General Sully," returned Captain Hutchison, -"that the _Island City_ struck a snag a couple of miles below the mouth -of the Yellowstone on the evening we were entering. She sank very -quickly and boat and cargo are a total loss, though Lamont is trying to -get the engines out of her and hopes that one of the boats coming down -from Fort Benton will take them on board and carry them to St. Louis for -him." - -General Sully and his officers stood aghast at this disastrous piece of -news. Finally the Assistant Adjutant General, Captain Pell, spoke up. - -"That puts us in fine shape," he lamented. "She had nearly all the corn, -didn't she?" - -"Fifty thousand pounds," replied General Sully, looking very much -chagrined. "And most of the barrelled pork, and the building materials -for the post on the Yellowstone. We shall have to give up building that -this year. How much corn have you aboard, Captain?" he asked, addressing -Captain Hutchison. - -"Very little; three or four thousand pounds," the other replied. "The -_Alone_ has about the same." - -"Enough for about one feed for all the stock in the command," said the -General. "We shall have to pull out for Fort Union as quickly as -possible." - -"Yes, sir," Captain Hutchison interrupted; "and not only on account of -your troops and animals, but on account of the boats. The river is -falling very fast and I doubt if we can get over the shoals below here -now without lightening the boats and double-tripping, or else using the -army wagons to haul cargo around the shallow places." - -"Well, we shall have to cross the river in the morning and march down at -once," said the General, with a sigh as he thought of the plans he would -have to forego on account of this unexpected misfortune. "Meanwhile my -commissary and his assistant--" he indicated Lieutenant Bacon and -Al,--"will issue rations to the troops for to-morrow's use from your -boat." - -The General went ashore to greet Captain Rea, whose boat had now tied -up to the bank, and the Lieutenant and Al went to work checking out -provisions. It was Al's last experience as commissary's assistant, for -when he returned to camp the General said to him: - -"I think now will be your best opportunity for getting to Fort La -Framboise promptly. You can go down with Captain Lamont if he takes a -Fort Benton boat; and you had better start early in the morning so as -not to miss him. The distance is about fifty miles and you can probably -reach Fort Union to-morrow night. The fort is directly opposite the -mouth of the Yellowstone, you know. I will give you a letter to the -commanding officer advising him that the army will arrive there in the -course of the next three or four days, and I will send an escort with -you in case you should encounter Indians." - -Al spent the evening in going about the camp and bidding good-bye to his -many friends in the various commands, especially in the Dakota Cavalry, -the Eighth Minnesota, and the Sixth Iowa. The Coyotes crowded around -him as if he were one of their own number, and Captain Miner said to -him, - -"When you reach eighteen, come back to Dakota and enlist with us. I want -such recruits as you." - -And Corporal Wright added, - -"Don't go after any more redskins the way you did at Tahkahokuty; for if -the Coyotes aren't around, you'll lose your hair." - -"I'll try to keep it on, Charlie," replied Al, laughing. "And, meantime, -you fellows want to remember when you go into action that you're not the -whole line of battle, or some of you may suddenly get bald, too." - -His last visit was to Wallace Smith and it had a result both surprising -and pleasant. - -"I wish I could go with you, Al," said Wallace, feeling of his stiff, -bandaged arm disgustedly. "It's awfully tiresome dragging around in an -ambulance, away from the boys and not able to do anything. And Doctor -Freeman tells me I shall not be fit for duty for at least three months; -so, though I can use my right arm perfectly and feel as well as I ever -did in my life, I suppose I'll have to be on the sick list all the time -until the Second Brigade gets back to Minnesota." - -Al looked at his friend steadily for a moment while an idea rapidly -evolved itself in his mind. - -"Well, why not go with me?" he asked at length. "If you're to be laid up -for three months, anyway, you're entitled to sick furlough for that -long. Yet you can ride, and shoot a revolver, and get around all right, -and you can reach Minnesota in ninety days more comfortably for yourself -and with less trouble to the army and the hospital corps by going on a -boat to St. Louis and then up the Mississippi to St. Paul, than you can -by marching overland with the column." - -Wallace's eyes and mouth opened wide with sheer astonishment at the -brilliance of this plan. - -"You're a genius, Al," he exclaimed. "I believe it can be done, too. -It's against my principles to play off and I wouldn't think of trying to -get away if it wasn't plain that I'm perfectly useless here for the rest -of the season. But it will be bully if I can go down with you. Let's -hunt up Doctor Freeman." - -They found the Doctor, who was Medical Director of the army, at -headquarters. He at once gave his approval to the plan and wrote a -recommendation to Colonel Thomas that Private Wallace Smith, of the -Eighth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, be given a ninety-day furlough. -Colonel Thomas was quickly found, and in five minutes the furlough was -issued, authorizing Wallace to be absent from his regiment until -November 12, and to report for duty on or before that date at Fort -Ridgely, Minnesota. - -Next morning just after daybreak Al and Wallace, accompanied by twelve -cavalrymen under a sergeant, boarded one of the steamers, which were -already busy ferrying troops and wagons across the river. Here Al bade -farewell to Lieutenant Dale and the other staff officers who had been -his closest companions for so long. General Sully, as always devoting -his personal attention to the care of his troops, was on the bank, -directing the passage of the river. He handed Al the letter to the -Captain of Company I, Thirtieth Wisconsin Infantry, commanding at Fort -Union, and shook hands with him heartily. - -"I am sorry to be leaving the expedition so abruptly, General," said -Al. "I wish I could stay with you until the campaign is finished." - -"You won't miss much," returned the General. "The campaign is virtually -over now and we shall be getting down to Fort Rice as rapidly as -possible. We will march for Fort Union from here as soon as we are rid -of these emigrants, who will go on alone to the gold fields after we -have taken them across the river on the boats." Then he continued, -kindly, "I wish you the best of success in finding your brother, my boy. -I hope we shall meet again, and if you decide to try for West Point and -I can help you in any way, let me know. Take care of yourself, now, and -don't indulge too much in your weakness for getting into ticklish -places. Good-bye!" - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -ADRIFT IN A BARGE - - -Once across the Yellowstone, the little party set out at a good pace, -for they had a long, hard day's journey before them. They found the -country as destitute of grass as it had been west of the Little -Missouri, and the ground seemed to have been fairly burned to powdery -dust by the sun. As they travelled over the desolate country, they often -thought pityingly of the troops behind them, who would have to traverse -it much more slowly than they were doing and would, therefore, feel its -discomforts more keenly. But, at least, the army would be near the -river, so there would be no more such suffering from thirst as had been -experienced in the terrible march out of the Bad Lands. Not an Indian -was seen during the day; and the party, dusty and weary, rode up to the -bank of the Missouri after nightfall. It was too wide and dangerous a -stream to cross in the darkness; so bivouac was made until morning, and -then, in response to signals, several skiffs put off from Fort Union and -came over. Some of the soldiers stripped and, putting their clothing and -equipments in the boats, swam across the river on their horses, but Al -and Wallace, as well as most of the men, rode over in the boats, holding -the bridles of their horses and letting them swim behind. - -On entering Fort Union, Al delivered his letter and then inquired for -Captain Lamont. - -"He is still down at the wreck of his steamer, about two miles below -here," the commanding officer informed him. "But if you are going down -with him, you have arrived just in the nick of time. The steamer _Belle -Peoria_ came down yesterday from Benton, and she is taking on the -engines of the _Island City_ now. You had better get right down there or -they may leave without you." - -Al and Wallace galloped off down river at once, accompanied by two -cavalrymen of their late escort to bring back their horses. Leaving so -hastily gave them time for only a glance at Fort Union, though they -sincerely wished for an opportunity to examine it more closely, for it -was an interesting, and in that wilderness land, even an imposing -structure. Built in 1829 as the then most advanced trading post of the -American Fur Company, it had become in later years the centre of the fur -trade of a vast territory, extending from the Rocky Mountains to the -British line. It was larger and more substantially built than any other -trading fort in the American West, and those who had seen them declared -that no post of the Hudson's Bay Company in the British Possessions -compared with it. Its stockade was two hundred and forty by two hundred -and twenty feet in size, built of massive timbers and flanked by two -large stone bastions, well armed with cannon, while several of its -numerous interior buildings were also of stone. George Catlin, the -distinguished artist who travelled all over the New World in making up -his great collection of paintings of the American Indians, had visited -the fort in 1832; Maximilian, Prince of Neuwied, the distinguished -Austrian naturalist, had been there in 1833; and in 1843 the equally -famous American naturalist, John James Audubon, had made the post his -headquarters for some time. But when Al and Wallace passed through it, -the days of the old establishment were numbered; two years later it was -to be dismantled, the new army post of Fort Buford, two miles below and -nearly opposite the spot where the _Island City_ had sunk, taking its -place as a military establishment. - -The boys had not ridden far across the bottom, which was partly timbered -and partly open grass land, when they saw the wreck of the steamer, -lying out beyond a shore bar, her smoke stacks and upper works -protruding above the water. The _Belle Peoria_ was moored beside her and -men could be seen working on both vessels. Al breathed a sigh of relief -when he saw that they were not too late. Riding on across the bar, the -boys were soon at the water's edge and about one hundred feet from the -steamers. In answer to their shouts a small boat immediately put off -from the _Belle Peoria_ and came over for them. It was with the regret -of parting from an old friend that Al for the last time caressed the -rough neck and soft nose of Cottontail, who had borne him so faithfully -through many perils and privations. The little horse nuzzled Al's cheek -affectionately, as if he realized that they were bidding each other -good-bye; then, with a strong hand-clasp from each of the soldiers, the -boys stepped into the yawl and were rowed to the _Belle Peoria_. - -It did not take long to explain to Captain Lamont their object in -coming, and he seemed heartily glad of their company. - -"You didn't get here any too soon," said he. "We shall be off in an -hour. When we get to Fort La Framboise I have no doubt the captain of -the _Belle_ will stop long enough for you to find out if your brother is -there, Al, and if he is, we can all go on together to St. Louis." - -The _Belle Peoria_ was under way at the expected time. Though the water -was quite low, her pilots were skilful and knew the river so thoroughly -that for some time she met with no unusual delays. After their months of -strenuous campaigning it was pleasant for the boys to lounge about on -the steamer's decks with nothing to do except watch the interweaving -ripples of the river's surface, the occasional bitterns and cranes which -flopped up from the lonely sandbars and sailed slowly away as the boat -approached, and the rise and fall of the endless succession of bluffs -along the shores. In a few weeks the Northwestern Indian Expedition -would be following the crests of the northward bluffs on its way to Fort -Rice, where it would break up; the Second Brigade, with the exceptions -of garrisons left at Fort Rice and Fort Berthold, returning to -Minnesota; while the First Brigade would go on down to Fort Sully, Fort -Randall, and Sioux City. - -After the crushing defeats which had been administered to the Indians at -Tahkahokuty and the Little Missouri, it did not seem that steamboats on -the Missouri ought to be in much danger from them; but the people on the -_Belle Peoria_--both the members of her own crew and those of the -_Island City_--knew that undoubtedly many hostiles had scattered from -the broken Sioux camps who might be encountered anywhere along the -river, eager for a chance to waylay a steamboat and slaughter a few of -her crew in revenge for their own recent losses in battle. So, in -laying the steamer up for the night, the men always "sparred her off" -from the bank by setting long poles between the gunwale and the shore, -so that she could not be boarded; or, if a mid-channel sandbar was -convenient, with water on both sides of it, she would be moored there. -Such precautions served well enough for night, but in the daytime the -boat had to take her chances in following the channel close in against -one shore or the other. - -On the third day out from the Yellowstone the boat passed Fort Berthold, -a fur trading post and the agency of the Arickaree and Mandan Indians, -about midway between Fort Union and Fort Rice. For some hours afterward -she continued running at a good speed, and at length passed a little -below a beautiful forest on the left shore, called the Painted Woods. At -this point there was a large sandbar in the middle of the river, while -on the bank opposite to the woods the bluffs came sheer up to the river, -and the pilot naturally chose the branch of the stream along their base, -as the main channel will usually follow along a bluff bank. But in this -case he soon found he had made a mistake, for he ran the boat into a -pocket and could go no farther. There remained nothing to do but send -out the yawl to sound through the other branch and find out if there was -enough water there to carry the boat. - -It occurred to Al that it would be a pleasant diversion to accompany the -yawl, so he volunteered to pull one of the oars, and was accepted. The -mate of the _Belle Peoria_, who was in charge of the yawl, ran into the -other chute and soon found the channel; whereupon he signalled across -the bar to the steamer, and while she was backing out and coming around, -the crew of the yawl rowed over to the lower end of the Painted Woods -and landed. The men pulled the boat's bow a little way out on the bank -and then strolled away a few yards into the woods, where it was cool and -shady. One man only remained in the yawl, and he, like Al, was a -volunteer. He was Jim, the _Island City's_ deck hand who had quarrelled -with Al on the up trip. In spite of several attempts to escape while -near Fort Union, Jim had been unable to jump his round-trip contract -with Captain Lamont, and was now reluctantly returning toward St. Louis -and that Southern Confederacy which he supported so loudly in words and -so feebly in deeds. - -The men who had landed, namely, the mate and Al, four other oarsmen and -the leadsman, had been in the woods but a minute or two when, without -the least warning, a dozen musket shots rang out from the bushes around -them, instantly followed by a chorus of terrifying Indian war whoops. -Two of the oarsman fell dead at the first fire; the rest of the party -turned and dashed for the boat. But several Indians had crept between -them and the landing and a moment elapsed before the mate and Al, who -had their revolvers, could drive them back far enough to reach the -shore. When they did so, to their horror they discovered the yawl out in -mid-stream and some little distance down, rapidly drifting toward the -bar. Jim was not to be seen, for he was lying flat in the bottom of the -boat to escape the Indian bullets, but he was evidently pulling the -rudder ropes to guide the yawl as nearly as possible to the bar. The -_Belle Peoria_ had caught the alarm, and her decks were swarming with -armed men; but she was just rounding the head of the bar and was still -farther away than the yawl, so that her people dared not fire on the -Indians for fear of hitting their own men on the bank. - -"We'll have to swim for it, boys!" shouted the mate, and flinging off -his coat he dived into the river like a duck and struck out for the bar, -keeping beneath the surface except when he had to come up for a second -to breathe. - -Al and the other men followed his example. It was not more than fifty -yards to the bar but every inch of the way was fraught with deadly -peril. Whenever he came to the surface to breathe, as he had to several -times, Al heard the bullets whistling about his head. Once he heard -another oarsman, a few feet from him, give a gurgling cry and saw his -hands thrust up and clutch the air as he sank, struck by one of the -merciless bullets. Before the survivors reached the bar, the fire of -those on the steamer had driven the Indians back into the Painted -Woods, with probably a greater loss than they had inflicted upon the -crew of the yawl, though of the latter, one had drowned and one been -shot in the water, besides the two killed on shore at the first fire. - -When the survivors were safely back on the _Belle Peoria_, the mate -stepped up to Jim, who had landed in the yawl at the lower end of the -bar, and shouted, - -"You scoundrel, you ran away and left us to shift for ourselves, didn't -you? I've a mind to throw you overboard." - -"I didn't run away," snarled Jim. "The yawl slipped off the bank and I -couldn't get it back." - -Backing up against a stanchion he faced the angry mate and the crowd -behind him like a desperate animal at bay and cast one swift, venomous -glance at Al which caused the latter to feel a sudden suspicion. - -"Did you think you'd get rid of me that way?" he demanded, confronting -the deck hand. "Were you willing to see six other men murdered just to -get even with me?" - -Jim dared not look at him again. - -"I didn't think anything," he muttered. "I tell you, the boat slipped -off." - -"It slipped off infernally quick after we landed, then," cut in the -mate. "You were a quarter of a mile down river when we reached the -bank." - -"I couldn't help it; it slipped," Jim reiterated, as if he could think -of no other defence. - -"Well, I think you're a liar," bluntly stated the mate, "but I can't -prove it, so you'll save your skin this time. But if I ever catch you at -any more of your scaly, rattlesnake tricks, you'll go to kingdom come -mighty quick, and I'll be the man that'll send you there." - -He turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Jim to settle as best he -could with the other deck hands, all of whom were now feeling very -bitter toward him. A strong party went ashore and found and buried the -bodies of the unfortunate men who had been killed there, victims of an -attack such as brought death to scores of gallant steamboat men during -the years of the Sioux wars. - -The following day the _Belle Peoria_ reached Fort Rice, where Colonel -Dill and his command were very glad to see them and to hear the first -news of General Sully's expedition which they had received in several -weeks. The garrison was in good health and spirits; but they had been -several times attacked by Indians, and were now much concerned for the -safety of a large emigrant train from Minnesota, under Captain James -Fisk, which had arrived at the fort in July and moved West over Sully's -trail, in spite of warnings, determined to reach the gold mines. This -party a little later came very near being annihilated by the Indians on -the edge of the Bad Lands; but a strong relief column sent out by -General Sully after his return to Fort Rice finally rescued them and -brought them back safe. - -After leaving Colonel Dill's hospitable command the journey of the -steamboat was uneventful for several days, until one morning she came to -the bank at Fort La Framboise. She was stopping wholly on Al's account -and with beating heart he went ashore, accompanied by Wallace and -Captain Lamont. They ascended a gently sloping hill to the small and -rather dilapidated trading post, which stood on its summit. Here they -found that the factor, a Frenchman, was not yet up, but they soon got -him out. - -"Un white boy by ze name Tomas Breescoe?" said the factor, when Al had -explained their errand. "Oui, je savvy heem. Il est un reg'lair leetle -Injin. Py gar, he ride like ze centaur!" His eyes narrowed shrewdly. "Un -Yanktonais bring heem here, seex, saven week ago. Sacre! How mooch I pay -pour ze pauvre boy release! You pay me back, oui?" - -"Certainly," replied Al, yet with many misgivings, for he had no idea -what the Frenchman might ask. "You shall be repaid for any expense you -may have been put to." - -Captain Lamont nudged him. "He's going to gouge you," he whispered. -"Don't be too eager. Find out where Tommy is." - -"I haven't much money," continued Al, speaking the sober truth. "Is my -brother here now?" - -"Eet ees not so ver' mooch," proceeded the factor, ignoring Al's -question and quickly changing his tack regarding the ransom. "T'ree -horse, feefty pound flouair, ten pound shot et ten pound powdair." - -Al was aghast, for he understood that these items would cost far more -than he had money to pay for. But here Captain Lamont broke into the -conversation. - -"That's more than Mr. Briscoe or I can pay you for just now," said he, -blandly. "However, we can give you a note and pay the amount over to Mr. -Charles P. Chouteau for you when we reach St. Louis." - -Mr. Chouteau was the manager of the American Fur Company and the factor -knew as well as did Captain Lamont that he would not allow one of his -employees to practise such extortion upon the relatives or friends of an -unfortunate prisoner rescued from the savages. The Frenchman shifted his -feet uneasily. - -"Has m'sieu feefty dollair, cash?" he asked. - -"Fifty dollars?" - -"Oui, m'sieu. Pour zat ve call ze mattair--how you say?--sqvare." - -The Captain looked at Al and nodded, for the amount was about one-third -of what the man's first demand would have made it. - -"But I haven't even that much, Captain," said Al, despairingly. - -"I have forty dollars, Al," said Wallace. "Take that." He thrust his -hand into his pocket. - -"Pshaw, that's all right," broke in the Captain, stopping him. "I have -plenty, but we don't want to be bled, that's all." He turned to the -factor. "Very well," he remarked. "We'll pay you fifty dollars, cash. -Now where's the boy?" - -"M'sieu has ze cash money here, dans sa poche, for geeve me now?" the -factor persisted, anxiously. - -"Yes, yes," replied Captain Lamont, impatiently. "But before I give it -to you, you must first show us the boy." - -The Frenchman waved his hands pathetically. - -"Oui, mais je ne peut pas show ze pauvre boy. Il est depart down ze -rivair pour la S'in' Louis pour--two veek." - -"You say you can't show him?" exclaimed the Captain. "He started for -St. Louis two weeks ago?" - -"Oui, m'sieu, oui. Sur le steamair _North Vind_. Je poot heem ver' -comfor'ble sur le steamair. He shall reach S'in' Louis safe." - -"Huh! That remains to be seen!" grunted the Captain. Then he looked -sympathetically into Al's disappointed face. "Well, my boy," said he, -"that seems to be all there is to it. Your brother has gone down and you -can do nothing but follow. Here is your money, factor. We thank you for -your trouble." He handed the Frenchman fifty dollars in greenbacks from -an amply filled wallet, for the steamboat officers of those days earned -handsome salaries and were seldom without plenty of money. - -Then the Captain and his two young companions retraced their steps to -the steamboat landing and the _Belle Peoria_ resumed her journey. Al was -perfectly certain that the Frenchman had simply robbed them of fifty -dollars, for he did not believe that Te-o-kun-ko had either asked or -received one cent of ransom for Tommy's delivery. He was, moreover, far -from satisfied concerning his young brother's present safety, but he was -helpless in the circumstances, and could only hope that Tommy would -reach St. Louis all right and would there seek his uncle, Mr. Colton. - -Ten days sufficed to bring the _Belle Peoria_ to Omaha, and here her -captain received so tempting an offer to carry a cargo back to a point -up-river that he determined to accept it. His decision was an unexpected -misfortune to Captain Lamont, but the latter was not a man to be -discouraged by such untoward events. It will be remembered that on her -way up-river, the _Island City_ left a large barge at Omaha which had so -impeded her progress that she could not tow it further. This barge was -still lying moored to the bank where it had been left, and into it -Captain Lamont loaded his engines and other machinery from the _Belle -Peoria_, determined to complete his journey to St. Louis by drifting -down-river with the current. - -The size of the barge was such that it could easily accommodate the -cargo of machinery and still leave ample living room for the entire -crew of the shipwrecked _Island City_. Many men were necessary to handle -the unwieldy craft with oars, sweeps, and rudders in facing hard winds, -in sparring off from bars or snags, and in encountering the many other -perils and embarrassments incident to such navigation. Tarpaulins were -spread over the boat, protecting both the machinery and the crew; a -galley was arranged and a cook stove set up; a sufficient supply of -provisions was laid in for the first few days of the journey; and, thus -equipped, the strange craft set out on her southward voyage. - -It was a slow journey, but no one could have called it monotonous, for a -score of times every day all hands were called out to hard work of one -sort or another. Now it was to pole the barge off a shoal place on which -she had drifted, or again, to row her down the length of some bend -against a flat head wind which was beating her back up the river faster -than the current bore her the other way. Occasionally the men had to -land and, taking hold of a long "cordelle rope" attached to the barge's -stern, walk up the bank in a long, straining line and pull her back -into the channel from some "blind chute" into which she had blundered, -dragging her along as in the early days of the fur trade the crews of -the keel boats were obliged to drag their vessels clear from St. Louis -to Fort Union, except when rare favoring winds allowed the use of a -sail. More than once during the long days between Omaha and Kansas City, -Al and his companions worked for hours up to their waists and shoulders -in the water alongside the barge, freeing her from some obstruction or a -lodgement against the bank. - -But all labors have an end, and at length the great bend at Kansas City -came in sight, with the little town straggling along the river and the -rugged, precipitous hills rising behind it, which in a few decades were -destined to be covered with the crowded dwellings and the towering -business structures of a great metropolis. The barge was moored for the -night, and most of her crew, including Al and Wallace, seized the -opportunity to get a glimpse of civilization once more and to hear the -news of the day by strolling up-town in the evening. - -"I'll tell you what I want," said Wallace, as they walked along -Broadway, looking into the brightly lighted shop windows and enjoying -the novel sensation of being on a busy street with crowds of people -about them. "I want a great, big, tall, fat glass of lemonade, with ice -in it. I haven't had one since I was in St. Paul last." - -"Nor I since I left St. Louis," rejoined Al. "That for me, too." - -They soon came to an ice-cream and confectionery store where a number of -people were sitting about at small tables, eating, drinking, and -talking, quite after the manner of dwellers in a real city. The boys -took their places in two vacant chairs at a table where two men were -seated, one a soldier and the other a civilian. After giving their -orders to the waiter, the boys sat silent for a moment, feeling an -embarrassing consciousness of their decidedly soiled and unkempt -appearance in the comparatively well dressed crowd, which included a -number of ladies. Presently the soldier at their table said to his -companion, after a silence induced by the intrusion of the boys upon -their privacy, - -"Well, anyhow, I'll tell you if old Pap Price ever gets as far as the -Kansas line with his ragamuffin army, we'll give him a reception that he -won't forget soon." - -Al and Wallace began to listen, for this sounded interesting. - -"You Kansas Militia fellows are too much scattered," returned the -civilian. "Why doesn't General Curtis get you concentrated down here by -the border somewhere? I tell you, old Pap will be here before you know -it. Why, he's already to Jefferson City, according to the latest -despatches, cleaning up everything before him and coming this way like a -jack rabbit. What is there between here and his front to stop his -twenty-five or thirty thousand men? Nothing! Nothing to make him even -hesitate." - -"There will be something to make him hesitate, though," insisted the -Kansas militiaman, stoutly. "Curtis _is_ concentrating, and we'll be -sent across the State line to meet and stop Price somewhere around -Lexington. You watch!" - -"Would you go across the line?" queried the other. - -"Certainly I would." - -"Well, then, you're an exception," returned the civilian. "I'll bet you -two bits that if the Kansas militia is ordered across the State line, -nine-tenths of them will refuse to go. They're too afraid they'll be -kept away over election and too afraid they'll have to give up a little -shred of their sacred 'State Rights' to the National Government." - -"Oh, well, some of the boys feel that way, of course," replied the -militiaman, defensively, "but not all, by any means." - -Al's curiosity had reached the breaking-point. - -"I beg your pardon," he interrupted, leaning across the table, "but will -you kindly tell me if General Sterling Price's army is invading -Missouri?" - -The two men looked at Al and Wallace in amazement. - -"Why, yes, I should say it is," answered the militiaman. "Where have you -come from that you didn't know that?" - -"We have just come down the Missouri in a barge," Al answered, "and we -haven't heard any late news; nothing since we left Omaha. We have been -up in Dakota all Summer with General Sully, fighting the Sioux Indians." - -"Oh, is that so?" asked the other. "We haven't heard much from that -campaign, either. Did you whip the Indians?" - -"Yes, we defeated and scattered them in two pretty big battles. But what -about General Price?" - -"Why, he entered southeast Missouri from Arkansas about the middle of -September with an army of anywhere from fifteen to thirty thousand men. -He tried to take Pilot Knob, but General Ewing, who used to be here at -Kansas City, you know, was there with a small force and repulsed him -badly; knocked the tar clean out of him, in fact. Then he started for -St. Louis but there were so many troops there that he seems to have -given it up; at least, he is moving west along the Missouri and I guess -he's somewhere around Jeff City now. I don't know whether he can take it -or not; according to the latest despatches Rosecrans is going to try to -hold the city. But we're looking for Price to come on out here and try -to invade Kansas, anyhow." - -"You say he's coming up the Missouri?" asked Al. "We've got to keep on -down the river to St. Louis with our barge." - -"Well, you'd better look out for old Pap, then," rejoined the other. -"He'll catch you, sure, and likely burn your boat; and if he don't the -guerillas will. They're awful bad now, and there isn't a steamboat ever -gets through without being attacked, and often they're destroyed." - -Al felt a sudden chill of apprehension. - -"Do you know whether they attacked the steamer _North Wind_ on her way -down?" he asked, anxiously. - -"No, I don't remember it," the militiaman returned. - -"Why, yes, you do," broke in his companion. "Don't you know, two or -three weeks ago a band of guerillas got the _North Wind_ somewhere -between Lexington and Miami? They crossed the river on her and then -burnt her up. It was reported several of her people were killed in the -mix-up." - -"Oh, that's right; I had forgotten," returned the soldier. Then to Al he -said, curiously, "Why do you ask?" - -"Nothing," answered Al, in a dull voice. "Only I had a young brother on -her who had been a prisoner among the Indians. He was going home to his -mother in St. Louis." - -"Pshaw, that's too bad!" exclaimed the militiaman, sympathetically. "But -he's probably gotten through all right." - -"Maybe he has and maybe not," said Al. "It's hard to tell in such times. -Come on, Wallace," he added. "Let's go back to the boat." - -They rose abruptly and left the store. Al slept very little that night, -and when he did his rest was broken by troubled dreams of Tommy; he -imagined his brother in all sorts of desperate situations and losing his -life in a variety of horrible ways. Even when awake and thinking -rationally, he realized that almost any of the fancies of his nightmare -might easily be realities, for the guerilla warfare in Missouri at this -time had degenerated into a carnival of barbarous brutality hardly -exceeded in the history of any country, and the mercy or cruelty dealt -out to a prisoner by one of these bands of lawless marauders depended -almost wholly upon the humor of the guerilla chief. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -CAPTURED BY GUERILLAS - - -Captain Lamont was disturbed by the rumors he heard at Kansas City of -the dangerous condition of navigation below that point; but he was a -brave and determined man, and would not be swerved from his purpose of -reaching St. Louis, now that he had gotten so far on the way and -overcome so many difficulties. The next morning the barge started out as -usual, and as there was deeper water the farther down river she went, -her progress became more rapid. Four days after leaving Kansas City she -tied up for the night opposite Brunswick, Missouri, a town about -twenty-five miles, by the channel, above Glasgow. Though it was said -guerillas had been in Brunswick the day before, none had yet interrupted -the journey of the barge, nor had any even been seen; and Captain Lamont -and his men had begun to think that the alarming rumors circulating -through the country were largely without foundation. - -The following morning, a short time after the boat got under way, -Captain Lamont found that the deck hand, Jim, was missing, and then he -made the additional discovery that his own wallet was also gone. Though -a guard had been maintained on the boat all night, as usual, Jim had -contrived in some way to slip ashore and escape with the money. The -circumstances made Captain Lamont somewhat uneasy. - -"I don't care about the money," said he. "There were only a few hundred -dollars in the pocket-book. But I should like to know what that fellow -wanted to get away for when we are so near St. Louis. He could have -robbed me just as easily there, and then he would have been in a country -where he could get a job when the money was spent. But he certainly -can't expect to get one around here." - -"I'll tell you, Captain," said Al, "I believe he's gone to try and find -some rebs or guerillas to make an attack on our boat. You know he's a -rebel at heart. He probably figures he can get me into trouble that -way, and you, too; for he doesn't like you any too well." - -"That's a long guess," replied the Captain, after studying Al's theory -for a moment, "but it may be correct. Anyway, I wish I knew what he's up -to." - -The boat drifted lazily on for a couple of hours and at length came into -the head of a long, gradual bend having, on its north side, a low, open -shore of sandbars, with meadows and farm lands farther back, and on the -south an extensive belt of timber growing between the water's edge and -the bluffs. The channel ran close in along the timbered shore, and the -place was such a favorable one for an armed party to attack passing -river craft, and had so often been utilized for that purpose during the -war, that it had come to be known as Bushwhacker Bend,--"bushwhacker" -and "guerilla" being terms used interchangeably for describing the -irregular partisans along the border. - -As the boat came to the head of the timber, the pilot crowded her over -as far as possible toward the north bank. But she had gone only a short -distance when a crowd of apparently about fifty men, wearing all manner -of ragged and dirty garments, suddenly arose among the trees and fired a -rattling volley of musketry point-blank at the barge. The bullets -plunged into her wooden sides and tore through her tarpaulin covers, -though, almost miraculously, no one was hit. Then a man wearing a sabre -and dressed in gray clothes somewhat resembling a Confederate uniform, -stepped forward and, waving his sabre toward the boat, shouted, with an -oath, - -"Bring that boat in here or I'll kill every man on board!" - -Seeing nothing but guns pointing toward him and knowing well that the -guerilla chief could make good his threat, Captain Lamont shouted back, - -"All right. We'll come over. Don't fire again." - -The pilot swung the barge over toward the south shore, the bushwhackers -following her down the bank until she touched the land. Then the chief, -accompanied by about half of his villainous-looking followers, sprang -aboard. - -"I'm Captain John C. Calhoun Yeager, u' the Confederate States army," -said he, pompously, throwing out his chest as he confronted Captain -Lamont. - -"Heaven pity the Confederate States army, then!" muttered the mate, who -was standing behind him. - -"What's that?" demanded Yeager, turning sharply. - -"I said, sir, that the Confederate States Army is honored," replied the -mate, meekly. - -"Oh!" said the guerilla chief, mollified. "You bet." - -He smoothed down his coat with a satisfied air, then resumed to Captain -Lamont, - -"I'm gonta search this yere boat fer Yankee soldiers, an' if anybody -peeps he'll git plugged full o' holes." - -Wallace, who was standing beside Al, turned pale, for he knew not what -this might mean for him. He was in uniform and there was no escape, as -Yeager immediately pointed to him and continued, - -"There's one of 'em. Jerk him up, boys." - -Half a dozen of his men sprang upon Wallace like cats upon a mouse, -pulling his arms roughly behind him. Wallace uttered a cry of pain as -his wounded arm was twisted. - -"Oh, please don't!" he begged. "My left arm is wounded." - -"The devil it is!" sneered one of the guerillas, giving it an extra -twist as he jerked a piece of cord around Wallace's wrists. "Then it -needs exercise to limber it up." - -Al's face turned pale with cold fury. He stepped forward and, before any -one could think what he intended doing, his fist shot out into the -guerilla's right eye with terrific force, sending him to the deck like a -stone. - -"You dirty cur!" he growled. "I'll give you some exercise, too." - -"Don't, Al, don't!" pleaded Wallace, now more frightened for his -friend's safety than for his own. - -Yeager, paying no attention whatever to the fall of his retainer, fixed -his cold eyes on Al as he heard Wallace call him by name. - -"I've got it straight," said he, "that there's another blue belly on -here, not in soldier clothes. His name's Al Briscoe an' he's a friend -o' this yere kid,"--indicating Wallace. "I reckon you're the ticket," he -went on, addressing Al. "Take him in tow, boys." - -"He's not a soldier," exclaimed Wallace. "He's never enlisted." - -"This is Jim's work," whispered the mate to Captain Lamont. "Nobody else -would know about Al." - -Captain Lamont repeated Wallace's remonstrance. - -"This boy is not a soldier, Captain Yeager," he declared. "I know that -to be a fact." - -"Well, I got it straight that he is," persisted Yeager, insolently, "so -you may as well shut up. Take 'em ashore," he went on, to the men who -held Al and Wallace by the arms. Then he added, to the others, "Search -the boat." - -"Oh, I'm dreadfully sorry, Al," moaned Wallace, as they were pushed and -kicked out on the bank. "It's my fault you were taken." - -"No, they'd have found me out, anyway," Al answered, smiling bravely at -his friend. "I'd a good deal rather stay with you, old man, than to -have you face this alone." - -The boys were held on the bank while the guerillas went through the -barge, taking what they pleased in the way of food and the clothing of -the men. They seized no more prisoners and finally came ashore, when -Yeager, brandishing a pistol, shouted to Captain Lamont, - -"Now, then, cast off an' git out an' don't stop ner monkey around fer -two hours, anyhow, er I'll sink yer rotten old tub an' you with it!" - -There was nothing to do but obey, and with many glances of profound -regret and apprehension at Al and Wallace, standing guarded by a dozen -brawny ruffians on the bank, Captain Lamont and his men shoved the barge -off and drifted on down the river. As the boys watched the boat recede -in the distance, it seemed to them that they had looked their last upon -friendly faces, and that the portals of death were closing upon them as -the barge finally disappeared. - -When the boat was gone, Yeager turned his attention to his prisoners. -Seating himself under a tree, he regarded them genially and remarked, - -"P'utty sporty clothes you got on. I reckon some o' my boys needs them -worse 'n you do." - -"Yes, I reckon," said one of the guerillas, slouching up and leering -into Al's face. It was the fellow whom Al had knocked down and he could -leer with only one eye for the other was closed and the flesh around it -had already turned blue-black in color. He glanced down at Al's shoes, -which had been purchased in Kansas City. - -"Those look about my size," said he, comparing them with his own -broken-down cowhide boots. "I'll take them before I shoot you." - -He knelt down and began to unlace one of the shoes. Al's anger and -contempt were so great that he had lost all sense of discretion. But he -showed his feelings in unusual ways. - -"Certainly; help yourself," said he, in a smooth tone of mocking -politeness, thrusting his foot a little way forward. "I always like to -have a nigger take care of my shoes for me." - -The crowd laughed uproariously and the ruffian sprang to his feet and -slapped Al across the mouth. - -"Take 'em off yerself an' hand 'em to me!" he shouted. - -Al looked around at the other men. - -"If you will untie my hands and leave me free to use them," said he, "I -will hand you my shoes,--and something more." He glanced significantly -at the guerilla's still uninjured eye. - -Again the crowd laughed, and approvingly. It was evident that Al's -fearless behaviour pleased them, and his tormentor became -correspondingly enraged. Again he struck his defenceless antagonist -across the mouth. But at this moment a short, broad-shouldered little -man stepped out from among the onlookers and sauntered over to the -cowardly ruffian. One of his hands was thrust into his pants' pocket and -in the other he carried a huge revolver which looked almost as long as -himself. This terrifying weapon he raised and brushed its muzzle -deliberately back and forth across the tip of the other man's nose, -which was nearly a foot above the top of his own head. - -[Illustration: Bill Cotton protects Al from the guerilla] - -"Now, look here, Daddy Longlegs," said he, in a persuasive tone, "you -let this kid alone or I'll blow you into the river. These boys are game; -an', by jinks, I'm goin' to see that they're treated decent from now on. -Everybody take notice." - -He swept a calm, authoritative glance around over the crowd, spat upon -the ground, stuck his revolver back into its holster and, with both -hands now in his pockets, strolled back to the tree whence he had come, -and sat down. - -Yeager laughed nervously, seeming to fear the effect of this exhibition -of authority on the part of some one beside himself. - -"I was just goin' to say that," he remarked. - -The little man looked at him and his lip curled slightly. - -"Yes, you were!" said he, derisively, and Yeager made no further -comment, while Al's persecutor sneaked away sheepishly, muttering to -himself. - -There was a moment of embarrassed silence, and while it lasted there -emerged from the woods behind the motley company a figure which hurried -toward the guerilla captain officiously. As soon as they saw it, the -boys smiled in unison. - -"Here's Jim!" exclaimed Wallace. "Now we'll catch it!" - -The deck hand glanced toward them, then, with a look of relief, said to -Yeager, - -"Well, you got 'em, I see, Captain." - -"Yes, yes, I got 'em," replied Yeager, starting from thought and eying -Jim uneasily. "Much obliged to you fer puttin' me on." - -"Oh, sure; that's all right," exclaimed Jim, beaming on him. "I hate a -Yank worse 'n pizen." - -He turned and, walking over, faced Al and Wallace. - -"Nice day, ain't it?" he inquired, with a sneer. "How do you kids like -it? You ain't doin' no fancy boxin' to-day, Al Briscoe, are yeh?" - -"Well, well; my dear old friend, James!" exclaimed Al, in affected -surprise. "Aren't you the proud boy, though, over this great victory?" - -"None o' yer freshness, now," cried Jim, doubling up his fists, -threateningly, "er I'll mash yeh one." - -"Here, here!" cried Yeager, loudly. "Don't abuse the prisoners!" - -Jim looked at him in surprise. - -"Why not?" he asked, as if abusing prisoners were the most natural -pastime in the world. - -"Because I said so," returned Yeager, bluntly. "That's why." - -The deck hand appeared to meditate this unusual ruling for a moment. -Then he inquired, - -"When yeh goin' to shoot these Yanks, Captain?" - -"Well," said the guerilla chief, hesitatingly, and stopped. Then he shot -a furtive glance at the short, broad-shouldered man. The latter was -sitting in a lounging attitude with his arms clasped around his knees, -but his eyes were fixed steadily on Yeager. - -"Well," began the Captain, again. "I ain't a-goin' to shoot 'em. I'm -a-goin' to take 'em down an' turn 'em over to General Price." - -He looked again at the short man, who was now gazing calmly out over the -river. The boys breathed sighs of relief and thanksgiving, for it seemed -they were to be saved for the moment, at least, from their most -imminent peril of being murdered in the woods. - -"What?" cried Jim, angrily. "Yeh told me yeh'd shoot 'em if I got 'em -fer yeh." - -"I find they ain't deservin' uh death," returned Yeager, with dignity. -"Leastways, not unless ordered by a reg'lar military court." - -"Oh, thunder!" exclaimed Jim. He frowned in disappointed hatred at Al, -then turned and walked away. - -"Well, I must be goin'," said he. "I got business up to Lexington." - -"Hold on!" cried Yeager. "What's yer hurry? We're just startin' fer -Arrer Rock to take these prisoners to General Price. I want you fer a -witness ag'in 'em." - -"Aw, no, I can't do no good," returned Jim, hastily, continuing to back -away. "I've told yeh all I know about 'em. I got to go." - -Then he felt a nudge on his arm and looked at the short man, who had -risen and, with his hand on his big holster, was gazing up into Jim's -face. - -"Pshaw, you'd better come with us," said he, in a soft voice. - -Jim's eyes wavered, then shot a desperate, hunted look around over the -crowd. But by a great effort he controlled himself. - -"Oh, very well. Yes," he replied, with as much carelessness as he could -assume. "I'll go." - -The horses of the guerilla gang were tied a few yards back in the -timber. The boys were led to them and mounted, each one riding between -two guards; and then the party, forming in a rough column of fours, -started out. They soon emerged from the woods, passed up through a -ravine and so out upon the bluffs, where presently they turned into a -faintly marked country road running to the southeast, toward Arrow Rock. -For hours they travelled, alternately at a trot and a walk, through the -pretty, rolling country of Saline County, now passing among stretches of -forest, gay with the foliage of Autumn, and again moving across reaches -of open land, dotted here and there with little farms, most of them -deserted and falling to decay. But always they avoided the main roads -and often they travelled across the fields, through ravines and along -the lower edge of ridges, making it evident that these men possessed a -knowledge of the country as intimate as that of the Sioux in the -Northwest. - -The boys were held near the centre of the column, and several files -ahead of them was Jim, who rode along easily, slouching in the saddle -and yielding to the motions of his horse as if accustomed to it through -long practice. It was noticeable to the boys that the short man held a -place in column immediately behind Jim; for this guerilla company -appeared to have no regular formation, and the men fell in wherever they -chose, sometimes even changing their places on the march. - -Toward evening the gang approached Arrow Rock and were halted by a -picket in the edge of the little town. The officer of the guard, a young -man in the full uniform of a Confederate lieutenant, came out to meet -Yeager, who had ridden to the front. - -"Is General Price's army here?" asked Yeager. - -"Yes," answered the Lieutenant. "Who are you?" - -"Captain Yeager and command, with Yankee prisoners." - -"Captain Yeager? Of whose regiment?" - -"Nobody's," replied the chief, boastfully. "We go it alone." - -"Oh, I see," said the other, a slight inflection of contempt in his -voice. "Er--ah--partisan rangers?" - -"What?" - -"Bushwhackers?--Guerillas?" - -"That's what," replied Yeager. "I want to see General Price." - -"General Price is not here," stated the Lieutenant. "This is General -Clark's brigade of Marmaduke's division. You can see General Clark if -you wish." - -"All right," said Yeager. "Show us in." - -The officer of the guard instructed one of his men to conduct the -guerilla band to the house occupied by General Clark as headquarters, -near the centre of the town. The streets were swarming with Confederate -soldiers, and long lines of cavalry horses were hitched along the -sidewalks or tied to their picket lines in the middle of the streets. -Some of the soldiers were little better clothed than the guerillas, in -civilian garments of various hues and cuts, while others wore threadbare -suits of butternut jeans, and others still, many of them, were attired -in new uniforms of Federal blue, doubtless recently captured. - -As they approached General Clark's headquarters, Jim suddenly left his -place and, spurring up beside Yeager, exclaimed, earnestly, - -"Say, Cap, honest, I've got to be goin'. It's almighty important fer me -to get to Lexington." - -"It's almighty important fer you to stay with me till you've saw General -Clark," replied Yeager, gruffly. "Now, don't be foolish or you'll git -hurt." - -Jim was pale to the lips but, looking around, he saw the short man -following close after him and he continued riding beside Yeager. Arrived -at headquarters, the column halted, and the Captain dismounted and -entered. In a few moments a Confederate corporal with two men came out -and, walking over to Al and Wallace, ordered them to dismount. Then the -corporal noticed that their hands were tied behind them. He jerked out a -jack knife and cut the cords on their wrists, which were swollen and -bleeding. - -"How long have you been tied that way?" he demanded. - -"Since before noon, when we were captured," replied Wallace. - -The corporal glanced at the guerillas about him. - -"That's a fine way to treat helpless prisoners," he exclaimed, angrily. -"It 'ud take a gang like you-all, who dassent fight in the open, to -torture a kitten,--if yeh ever had nerve enough to catch one." - -Some of the guerillas looked ugly, but they dared do no more in the -midst of a Confederate camp, and in great indignation the corporal -marched his squad and prisoners through the doorway and into the -presence of General Clark, who was seated at a table, with Yeager -standing before him. - -"These are the prisoners, General," said Yeager, importantly. - -"Yes, I see," replied General Clark, dryly, as he measured the evident -youth of the captives. Then he continued, addressing Wallace, - -"Where have you boys come from?" - -"From Dakota, where we have been fighting Indians," returned Wallace. - -The General looked disappointed. - -"Oh, is that it?" he asked. "You don't know much about matters around -here, then?" - -"No, sir," Wallace answered. "We don't know anything about them. We were -coming down the Missouri on a barge, straight from Dakota, when we were -taken." - -"Well, Captain," remarked the General, leaning back in his chair and -glancing at Yeager. "I don't see that your prisoners are of much value." - -"Mebbe not," replied Yeager, somewhat crest-fallen. "But you'd better -see the feller that told me about 'em. Mebbe he knows somethin' more." - -General Clark sent out the corporal and in a moment the latter returned, -leading Jim forcibly by the arm. The short, broad-shouldered guerilla -followed them. The deck hand was trembling visibly and his eyes were -wild but he was evidently striving to maintain his composure. - -"What do you know about these prisoners?" demanded General Clark. - -"I don't know nothin', General," answered Jim, his voice shaking. "Only -they're Yanks, an' I thought they ought to be turned over. I didn't -expect,--" he stopped short. - -"Didn't expect what?" - -"I--I didn't expect they'd be examined none, ner that I'd be dragged -into it. I thought they'd--they'd be shot." - -"In the regular Confederate service we do not shoot prisoners of war," -replied the General, turning a coldly significant glance upon Yeager. -"And why," he continued, addressing Jim, "didn't you want to be dragged -into it, as you say?" - -The deck hand's eyes wavered and he made no reply. - -"What are you so alarmed about?" persisted the General, leaning forward -and watching him suspiciously. - -Al cleared his throat. - -"Pardon me, General Clark," said he, "but I believe you will find on -inquiry that this man is a deserter from your service." - -Jim started as if he had been shot. - -"It ain't so!" he cried, wildly. "I ain't never been in the Confederate -army." He made an involuntary step toward the door, but his guard pulled -him back firmly. - -"Why do you think that?" asked General Clark of Al. - -"He was a deck hand on the boat I ascended the Missouri on," replied Al, -"and I had trouble with him. That's doubtless why he hoped to have me -shot. I judge that he was in the Confederate service only by threats and -boasts that he made to me, and he was probably in an Arkansas regiment." - -"An Arkansas regiment?" the General asked. "We have a whole division of -Arkansas troops with us,--Fagan's." - -A curious, gurgling gasp came from Jim's throat. His face was chalky. - -"I never heerd o' Fagan," he sputtered. "Ner I ain't been in Arkansaw in -all my life." - -"You are not convicted," General Clark said, calmly. "But the matter is -worth investigating." - -He called the sergeant of the headquarters guard and directed him to -have Jim placed in close custody, and the deck hand was led away, -reeling and apparently almost fainting. Al never saw him again; and -though by chance he heard long afterward that Jim had, in fact, been in -an Arkansas regiment, he could never ascertain whether the young fellow -paid the penalty of death for his violation of his oath of enlistment. - -When Jim had been led away, the General turned to Al and asked, - -"You wear no uniform. Why not?" - -"I am not enlisted in the army, sir. I am too young." - -"Ah! You would not be in our service," the General returned, with a -smile. "But you are a Union sympathizer?" - -"Yes, sir, I am," replied Al, firmly. - -"Well, you appear to be a pretty bright boy," the General observed, -shrewdly. "I think it will be as well not to have you at large for a few -days. Corporal, lock these young men in that brick storehouse a block -below here, on the left side of the street. Mount a guard, give them -supper, and keep them securely till further orders." - -As they were being marched out, they passed the short guerilla who had -championed them in the morning. He was lounging by the doorstep. Al -motioned to him and he caught step with them. - -"We are very grateful to you for taking our part down there where we -were captured," said he. "We'd have been killed if it hadn't been for -you." - -"Maybe," said the other, somewhat embarrassed. "But I didn't like the -way you were taken." - -"How do you mean?" - -"Oh, havin' that dough-faced shipmate o' yours come in to give yeh -up,--pervidin' we'd shoot yeh!" - -"It was a low-down trick," said Wallace. - -"I should say it was! I'm glad you tipped off the General to the kind of -a pup he is." - -"Why are you so set against him?" asked Al. - -"Aw, I just don't like his looks," returned the bushwhacker. "Yeh kin -see he's yellow, an' I sized him up fer a deserter when he got in such a -sweat to pull out." - -"What's your name?" asked Al, as the man stopped, evidently not -intending to go as far as their prison with them. - -The bushwhacker looked at him suspiciously. - -"You needn't be afraid of me," Al insisted. "Perhaps we can do you a -good turn sometime." - -For a moment longer the other hesitated, then answered, - -"My name's Bill Cotton," and, turning, he walked away. - -The boys were soon securely locked in their prison with a sentry before -the door. It was a small brick building near the river bank, and all its -windows were boarded up with heavy planks except a small square one -facing the river, the sill of which was about six feet above the floor. -They had been confined but a few moments when the corporal returned, -bringing a quantity of hardtack, a chunk of bacon, a pail of drinking -water, two blankets and a small box of ointment. - -"There," said he, as he handed the various articles to the boys, "fill -yerselves up an' rub some o' this yere grease stuff on yer wrists. It -ain't the best; lard an' marigold juice is the best, but I ain't got -none, so I jest bought this in a store. I reckon it'll help some." - -The boys thanked him warmly. - -"That's all right," he replied. "I hate to see prisoners abused. I found -out how it felt myself, once. This is a kind of a nasty hole to put you -in but you'll likely be let out o' here an' paroled in the mornin', when -we start fer Glasgow." - -"Are you going to Glasgow?" asked Al, suddenly interested. - -"You bet we are," confided the corporal, sociably, "an' some o' Joe -Shelby's boys with us; got orders this evenin'. There's quite a bunch o' -your Yank friends up there, an' a big grist o' muskets, too, an' we want -the whole lot." He smiled genially at the boys in anticipation. - -Al became alert and, therefore, cautious. - -"I've understood Glasgow is a pretty strong position," said he, -carelessly. "You'll have to have a large force to take it." - -The Corporal laughed. "Oh, we've got plenty," he rattled on. "There's -our whole brigade,--Clark's,--an' five hundred men from Jackman's -brigade, of Shelby; an' then old General Joe himself is goin' up this -side the river, so I've heard, to bang the town in front with artillery -while we bust in the back door." - -"Well, I'll bet there are enough of our fellows there to hold it, -anyhow," declared Al, stoutly. - -"No, there ain't; there ain't above a thousand Yanks there," answered -the corporal, with conviction. "An' we'll have four thousand. Besides -that, they don't know we're comin', an' we'll gobble 'em before they -wake up." - -"That does seem like pretty big odds," admitted Al. "Still, I think -they'll hold you." - -"No, they won't," repeated the corporal, as he stepped through the -doorway, key in hand. "Well, I got to be goin'. Bye-bye, Yanks. Sleep -tight." - -The key turned in the lock and he was gone, leaving the boys to -themselves. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -THE DEFENCE OF GLASGOW - - -As soon as their kindly but indiscreet jailer was out of hearing, Al -exclaimed in a whisper, that the sentry might not overhear, - -"Wallace, we must get out of here somehow and up to Glasgow to warn our -garrison. It may not do any good; I'm afraid the Johnnies will be too -many, but our boys mustn't be surprised if we can help it." - -"No, indeed," agreed Wallace, fervently. "But how are we to get away?" - -"We'll see," returned Al. "Hold me up while I look at this window. Be -mighty quiet, so the sentry won't hear us." - -Wallace bent his back, and Al stepped on it and felt the iron bars of -the high window overlooking the river. Every one was firm and solid. - -"We can't get through there," he whispered, after descending to the -floor again. "It would take two weeks' work to loosen one of those -bars." - -Total darkness had fallen by this time, for in the middle of October -night comes much earlier than in the months of July and August, during -which the boys had been campaigning in Dakota and Montana. They started -around the room in opposite directions, feeling of the boarded windows. -When they came together again, Wallace said, - -"There's one over here may do. The planks are spiked fast to the window -sill, but the sill seems to be rotten or loose." - -He crept again to the window referred to, followed by Al. They found -that by working the planks back and forth they could move the portion of -the casing to which they were fastened. In a few moments they had an -opening large enough at the bottom for them to crawl through. - -"This is mighty lucky, but let's wait a while," cautioned Wallace. -"There are too many people moving around, and the sentry is wide awake -yet." - -They waited one hour, and then two. The sounds of voices and footsteps -gradually died away outside. For a long time their guard walked back -and forth on the ground before the door, then they heard him fling -himself down with a grunt. - -"It'll be an hour and a half at least before he's relieved," whispered -Al. "He'll doze or sleep." - -They waited fifteen or twenty minutes longer, then cautiously pulled out -the bottom of the planks and propped them with a small piece of board -they had found on the floor, so that they would not spring back. Then -one at a time they crept through the narrow opening. Once outside, they -tip-toed toward the river. - -"I can't swim," whispered Wallace. "My arm hurts like fury since it was -tied back this afternoon." - -"Then if we can't find a boat along here somewhere, you'll have to stay -or run off in the woods," replied Al. "It will be a long pull for me, -but I'll try to swim the river before I'll give up getting to Glasgow." - -They made their way along the bank for some distance and presently, as -luck would have it, came to a small row-boat pulled out on shore. They -could find only one oar in it but they worked the boat down to the -water, got in and shoved off. The rapid current carried them quickly -away from the Arrow Rock bank and then, by vigorous paddling, Al -succeeded finally in bringing the boat to the opposite shore a mile or -so down stream. They stepped on land and pushed the boat out again to -drift on down river. - -"Now I know the country from here to Glasgow like a book," said Al. -"I've been over it often with father. There's a road up here somewhere -on the bluffs, and when we strike that we can keep on going, right into -Glasgow. We'll have to hurry, though, for Clark's men will surely be -crossing pretty soon now, and we must get ahead of them." - -It was now about eleven o'clock of the night of October 14, and the boys -were on Arrow Rock Point, fourteen or fifteen miles from Glasgow. But at -four the next morning, footsore and weary, they came to the picket post -at the bridge on the Boonville road across Gregg's Creek, near the -southern edge of town, and fifteen minutes later they were conducted -into the presence of Colonel Chester Harding, Jr., who, with a -detachment of his regiment, the Forty-third Missouri Volunteer Infantry, -and a few militia and citizen guards, was holding the place. - -"Where have you come from?" inquired Colonel Harding, as soon as they -had introduced themselves. - -"From Arrow Rock, sir," answered Al, somewhat breathless in his -eagerness. "We were taken from a boat on the Missouri River early -yesterday by guerillas and conveyed to Arrow Rock, where we were -imprisoned; but we escaped last evening and have come here to tell you -that Arrow Rock is occupied by Clark's brigade and part of Shelby's -division, of Price's army, who intend to attack Glasgow to-day." - -Colonel Harding's face expressed surprise and concern. - -"Are you sure of what you say?" he asked. "Are the rebels at Arrow Rock -part of Price's main army?" - -"Yes, sir, they are," Al assured him, positively. "We were examined by -General Clark himself, and we later learned from one of his men that -they will attack Glasgow to-day. They are going to use artillery from -the west bank of the river and troops on this side, with artillery, too, -I suppose. They claim they will bring about four thousand men." - -Colonel Harding arose and walked the floor. "If they do," said he, "I -fear they will defeat us. I have expected to be attacked by -bushwhackers, perhaps in large numbers, but not by Price's main column. -However, we will give them the best fight possible; and I thank you -heartily for the information you have brought me. My troops are already -bivouacked in battle positions, but I will warn them to be ready for -immediate action." - -He put on his hat and started to the door, then turned back to Al. "I -see you are in civilian clothes," he remarked. "Do you want to fight if -there is an engagement?" - -"Indeed I do, sir," replied Al, earnestly. - -"Are you enlisted?" - -"No, sir. I am not old enough." - -"That is unfortunate," observed the Colonel. "You know, according to the -rules of civilized warfare, a man not regularly enlisted in the service -of a belligerent is liable to be punished by death if he fights in -battle and is captured. In case we should get the worst of this -encounter, you see you may be in a bad way unless you are in the -service." - -"I shall fight, Colonel, and take my chances," replied Al, firmly. "I -can't stand by and see the Union flag fired upon without shooting back." - -"That is the right spirit, my boy," said Colonel Harding. "But be -careful, and if you see things going against us, you had better try to -get yourself away quietly." - -"I lived in Glasgow until two years ago, sir," Al answered. "I think I -shall be able to manage in case of disaster. Can we get guns? Private -Smith, here, is on sick furlough, and my revolver I hid in the boat when -we were brought to shore by the guerillas." - -"Go to the court house and ask the ordnance officer," said the Colonel. -"There are thousands of stands of arms there. Good luck to you." - -He turned and went out and the boys followed immediately, turning -however, toward the court house. They were provided, Al with a musket -and Wallace with a revolver, as he could use only his right hand. The -silence of early morning was brooding over the town as they emerged from -the court house, for the watchful troops around could do nothing but -wait for the enemy's blow to fall. But as they paused on the sidewalk, -the deep boom of a cannon resounded across the river, echoing back from -the bluffs, and a second later a shell crashed into the side of a -building about half a block away. They could hear the window glass -spatter on the ground in a jingling shower. - -"There goes Joe Shelby's opening gun, if that reb corporal was right," -exclaimed Al. "Come on!" - -Wallace followed him and they ran south toward the bridge on the -Boonville road across Gregg's Creek, by which they had come in an hour -or so before. At a street corner they encountered three companies of -infantry going on the double-quick to the same point, with canteens -rattling against their bayonet scabbards. The boys fell in behind the -first company and kept on, until the column deployed into line along -the creek bank and the men threw themselves on the ground behind bushes -or whatever other cover offered. The bridge had been stripped of its -plank flooring by the picket guard, and only the bare stringers now -remained, offering no footing for an attacking column. - -"My, but that's hard work, runnin' that way," panted a stout man beside -Al. "Wonder what the rebs are doin'?" He raised himself on his elbows -and peered ahead. - -On the crest of the hill across the narrow valley two field guns frowned -on the bridge, the cannoneers standing motionless at their posts, -seeming to wait only the command to open fire. In front of them, long -lines of dismounted cavalry were reaching out, like slowly unfolding -ribbons, against the brown face of the hill. Al and Wallace watched them -curiously. Would they never cease to extend? All at once an officer on a -black horse darted up to the two field guns as if shot out of the woods -behind. They could see him point his arm toward the bridge, gesturing -emphatically. Then the cannoneers sprang to life, two vivid streaks of -fire spurted from the muzzles of the guns and Al felt, rather than -heard, a terrific explosion which seemed to take place all around him at -once. Following it came a sensation of intense, numbing silence that was -at length pierced by the thin, liquid vibration of a bugle, blowing -somewhere far off, "the charge." Then gradually other sounds came to his -reviving ear-drums, and he realized that a shell had burst directly over -his head, though he was unhurt. He glanced at Wallace, whose eyes looked -dazed. - -"Wasn't that awful?" whispered Al. - -"Awful, yes. Awful," repeated Wallace. He seemed almost beyond words. -But he suddenly hitched up on his knees, exclaiming, - -"There, look! They're coming!" - -Al turned his eyes to the front. The long, ribbon-like line of -Confederates was pitching forward down the hill and out across the floor -of the valley toward them. Two flags, fluttering blotches of red and -blue, tilted forward above it. Little ripples ran back and forth along -the line, like the wind ripples in growing wheat, as the men strained to -keep alignment; and ahead of them whirled a shrill, ear-piercing wave -of sound more united, more defiant and more formidable than any Indian -war-whoop the boys had ever heard. It came to their senses that they -were listening for the first time to that heart-chilling "rebel yell" of -which they had so often been told. - -An officer walked rapidly along behind their own line, his voice, -high-keyed with excitement, striving vainly to be reassuring. - -"Now, boys, now, don't get scared," he kept repeating. "Hang it all, -hold your fire, men! Hold your fire!" - -All at once the volume of yells ceased. Al and Wallace looked to the -front and saw that the whole line of the enemy had stopped, rigid as a -fence. Even as they looked, a volley blazed along the line as if fired -from one gun. The fat man beside Al dropped his musket and began to cry, -frantically, - -"Oh, oh, oh, my shoulder! Oh, oh, oh, my shoulder!" - -There was no time to heed him. Through the wall of smoke before them, -created by the volley, again broke the Confederates on the run, their -dreadful yell preceding them, the two frayed battle flags eddying above -the smoke like the masts of catboats in a seaway. - -"Lord, Al, they don't fight like Indians!" gasped Wallace, hoarsely. - -As a photograph on the brain there came to Al a flashing recollection of -the broad plain fronting Tahkahokuty, bathed in the sunlight, with the -Sioux swooping and circling before the steadily advancing troops. - -"No," said he, briefly. - -The officer came behind them again, running, and bellowing above the -uproar, - -"Company, rise! Fire by company! Ready! Aim! Fire!" - -A volley as steady as that of the enemy flamed along the front of the -company. Al was conscious of a vague surprise that in such chaos the men -could maintain a discipline so machine-like. But the enemy's charging -line did not appear even to waver. - -"Load! Fire at will! Commence firing!" howled the officer, jumping into -the air to look over the heads of his men at the enemy beyond the -creek. "Fast, boys! Fer Gawd's sake, put it into 'em fast!" - -The muskets began to rattle in a disjointed way, Al's among the rest, -while Wallace's revolver popped viciously. Everything in front was -veiled in thin white vapors, and the men in the charging line resembled -shadows, dancing upon a curtain. But the Confederates, like a stampede -of buffalo, held to their headlong course. Shortly the officer bawled, -in a voice almost tearful, - -"No use, boys! They're flankin' us. They're across the creek, up and -down. Come back; back to the buildings!" - -Most soldiers fear being flanked more than death itself in front. The -men cast terrified glances toward the enemy, streaming past beyond their -wings, and broke like sheep for the rear, where the outlying houses of -the town looked down a gentle slope toward them. They were not -panic-stricken, but, as in one man, the instinct awoke in them to cover -their flanks and save themselves from the dreaded attack in rear. With -the enemy hard behind them and filling the air with exultant yells, they -swarmed into the buildings, like bees into their hives, smashing -through doors and windows in their haste and from these new havens of -refuge they resumed their interrupted fire desperately. - -Al and Wallace, with five or six soldiers, made for a brick residence -standing back in a shady garden. By main force they tore a pair of -blinds from a shuttered window, crushed in the glass and sash with -flailing musket butts, and leaped through, landing upon the plush carpet -of a handsome parlor. The men swept up a polished mahogany table and -three or four rosewood chairs and jammed them into the vacant window, -then opened fire feverishly upon the enemy, who were already tearing -down the fence pickets in front of the house or leaping over them. The -Confederate line of battle had dissolved into groups during the -impetuous pursuit and the men, so dauntless in their advance across the -open fields, looked doubtfully at the yawning windows and doors of the -houses, each spitting fire, upon which they had now come. They -discharged a patter of harmless shots, then began to seek cover behind -trees, fences, or stones. - -There was a sergeant among the men with Al and Wallace. He peered -through the rosewood chair-legs cluttered in the window, and cried, - -"They're takin' cover, boys. We can hold 'em now. Here, Jones, -Throckmorton, Schmidt,--get upstairs. Shoot down at 'em;--drive 'em -back." - -Al raised his voice. "This is the house of Doctor Falkner," he said. "I -know him well; he is a Union man. Treat the house as well as you can, -boys." To Wallace he added, "My father sold him all this furniture and -these carpets." - -The soldiers glanced at him curiously. This regard for property in the -midst of battle was unusual. But the Sergeant answered, as he thrust his -musket barrel through the chair legs, - -"Sure, we'll treat it as well as we can." - -The Confederates beyond the front fence seemed all at once to have -become tired. They declined to be coaxed or urged forward by their -officers, but from behind their hiding-places they kept up a constant -pop-popping of muskets and carbines which gradually reduced all the -doors and windows on that side of the house to kindlings. Framed -pictures on the opposite walls were punctured, and here and there light -from the adjoining rooms shone through holes in the plastering. A -soldier in the parlor was desperately wounded and lay in a stupor on a -spot of the plush carpet which was sopping wet with blood, his head -pillowed on a gay silk sofa cushion. Now and then other soldiers dodged -into or out of the house through doorways on the side opposite to the -enemy, and once the officer who had directed the fight at the creek came -in, but finding the Sergeant in charge, left immediately. Time seemed to -stand still. The little garrison, wrapped in the absorbing occupation of -pumping lead at the almost invisible enemy in front, took no note of its -passage. - -Outside, a steady, rattling roar seemed to envelop the whole town and -country around, pierced constantly by human voices, shouting, pleading -or commanding, now near and again distant. Once Al, his throat parched -with the choking fumes of confined powder smoke, darted back to the -kitchen in search of water. While he was drinking he heard a slight -creak and rustle, audible in the uproar by reason of its very lightness, -and, looking around, he saw a woman standing on the top step of the -cellar stairs, her hand on the door knob. He had to look twice before he -knew her, for when he had last seen her, her hair, now iron gray, was -brown, and her face, now wrinkled, was smooth and youthful. - -"Why, Mrs. Falkner!" he stammered. "Why, are you here?" - -She peered at him. "Al Briscoe!" she exclaimed, in a trembling voice. -"What on earth--why, how you've grown!" - -She uttered the commonplace remark almost mechanically. She seemed -hardly to know what she was doing. - -"Mrs. Falkner, you are in great danger here," cried Al. - -"No, no; I am down cellar. I am safe if the house doesn't burn. Is it on -fire?" - -"No, but it is being riddled with bullets." - -"That is not so bad as fire," she answered, putting her hand weakly to -her head. "You will try to keep it from burning, won't you, Al?" - -"I will do all I can, Mrs. Falkner," he answered, and before he could -say more she pulled the cellar door shut and disappeared. - -He ran back to the front of the house. The Sergeant was peeping -excitedly past the edge of the parlor window. Directly he drew back, -crying, - -"They're tryin' to get between us an' the next house!" He jabbed a -commanding forefinger at Al and Wallace. "Here, you--you; jump upstairs. -Shoot at 'em from the back windows. Stop 'em!" - -The boys leaped up the broad, easy front stairway, three steps at a -time, wrenched open a bedroom door at the top and ran to a window -looking out over the back porch. Down along the side fence they could -see a dozen or more Confederates running, crouching low. They were -making for the porch. The boys fired simultaneously and they saw one man -drop, then wriggle off through the grass. Wallace's revolver continued -to bark while Al was reloading his musket, but the Confederates cast -frightened glances up at their window, and before he was ready to fire -again they had run back to the other side of the house once more. The -boys looked over the back yard and the town behind it, and their eyes -caught the roof of the court house, rising above the trees. A column of -black smoke was pouring from it, with a dull glare of flames through and -below it. Al caught Wallace by the arm. - -"See! The court house is on fire!" he cried. "And all those thousands of -arms are in it." - -Wallace looked at the burning building, then apprehensively back at Al. - -"I wonder if a shell did it, or if it's Colonel Harding's orders?" - -"There's no telling," answered Al. "If it's orders, it means that we're -whipped and the court house is being burned to keep the rebs from -getting the arms. Listen! Isn't the fire slacking up?" - -It was true. The deep boom of the Confederate artillery had died out -from among the confused noises of the battle; and as the boys hearkened, -the continuous rattle of musketry diminished until only scattered, -individual shots could be heard. Then these ceased and a silence -followed, almost painful to the ears after the uproar. - -"What can it mean?" asked Wallace, in an uneasy tone. Then he went on, -hopefully, "Perhaps the Johnnies have given up the attack." - -They walked to the stairway and, as they went down, saw that the -Sergeant had opened the shattered front door and was standing on the -porch outside, while a Confederate officer, with a bit of dirty white -rag tied to the point of his sabre, was advancing up the walk toward -him. Something seemed to warn Al to keep out of sight and he stepped -into a corner where he could hear but could not be seen. - -"What do you want?" demanded the Sergeant, gruffly, as the Confederate -reached him. "Be quick, or we'll open fire again." - -"Your commander has surrendered the city and garrison, Sergeant," -replied the Confederate, who wore the insignia of a major on his coat -collar. "You are prisoners of war. You have made a very gallant defence. -Permit me to congratulate you." - -"Surrendered?" cried the Sergeant, in utter amazement. "Man alive, we -haven't begun to fight! We'll show you whether we've surrendered. Get -back to your lines, sir, before we fire!" - -He stepped into the house to slam the door in the Major's face, but the -latter raised his hand with a gesture of authority. - -"Just a moment," he said, soothingly. "I tell you the truth. Colonel -Harding has surrendered. We have broken through your lines on the north -and east of the city. There was nothing else for him to do." - -The Sergeant's face was purple with rage. - -"Well, I'll be--" he began, but he was interrupted by the entrance of -his own Captain, who laid a restraining hand on his arm. - -"Frank, it's all over," exclaimed the Captain, in a broken voice. "We've -surrendered, Frank." - -He dropped his hand with a despairing gesture, and two big tears rolled -from his eyes and coursed down his cheeks into his long, black beard. -Then he straightened up and flashed an indignant glance at the -Confederate officer. - -"At all events, sir," he exclaimed, "you did not break through my line." - -The Confederate bowed his head gravely. - -"No, sir;" he replied, "we did not. You have fought nobly, splendidly, -against superior numbers. The whole garrison has covered itself with -honor." - -The Captain seemed to be struck by his antagonist's politeness. - -"Anyway," said he, "it is not so hard to surrender to a gentleman." - -"Thank you, sir," the other answered. "Courage deserves at least the -meed of praise. And now you will please be good enough to assemble your -company from these various buildings and march them, under arms, to the -vicinity of the court house. The building was fired by your men before -we got in and it is now burning, but the formal surrender will occur as -near to it as possible." - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -REUNITED - - -Al waited to hear no more, but slipped through a convenient doorway and -out into the kitchen. He was just going to the cellar door when he heard -Wallace's voice behind him. - -"I'm going to stay with you, Al," he said. "Where shall we hide?" - -Al turned like a flash and caught his friend by the shoulder. - -"No, you don't, now, old fellow!" he exclaimed. "I'm outlawed, and you -'re not going to put yourself deliberately in the same fix; no, indeed! -You're going out and surrender with the rest of the garrison; and no -doubt the whole lot of you will soon be paroled, for I don't believe the -rebs will want to carry a crowd of prisoners very far." - -"Well, I'm going to stay with you, anyhow," persisted Wallace, doggedly. - -"Wallace, don't be a fool!" cried Al, impatiently. Then, seeing that he -must exercise diplomacy to make his friend follow the safer course, he -went on, "Don't you see that it would be harder for two of us to escape -than one, especially when you are disabled? I know Mrs. Falkner. She -will hide me until I can get away, but she could not so easily hide two -of us. Just give me your revolver and ammunition; that's all I want, and -you take my musket and surrender it, so there'll be no question about -your being unarmed. Nobody but Colonel Harding knows I'm here or who I -am; and, if it comes up, you can tell him I've cut out and escaped, -probably up-river." - -"Al, I hate to do it," said Wallace, hesitatingly. - -"You needn't. It's best for us both," insisted Al. "Now go; time is -precious, and good luck to you." - -They gripped each other's hands in a firm farewell and Al stepped to the -cellar door and opened it. Then he turned and shook his finger at -Wallace smilingly. - -"Mind, now; if you're paroled, I'll see you in St. Louis inside of ten -days, and we'll have lemonade together, with ice in it, at the ice-cream -parlor near Third and Olive Streets." - -He closed the door behind him and felt his way down the cellar stairs, -his heart by no means as light as he had tried to make Wallace believe. - -"Mrs. Falkner! Mrs. Falkner!" he called, softly, on reaching the bottom. - -There was no answer. - -"Mrs. Falkner!" Al repeated. "It's Al Briscoe. I'm in trouble." - -He heard the rustle of her dress as she came toward him, saying, - -"Al Briscoe? In trouble?" - -"Yes," he answered. "The city has just surrendered. I have been -fighting, though I am not an enlisted soldier, and if the Confederates -catch me I shall very likely be shot. Will you hide me for a little -while until I can escape from the city?" - -"Why, of course I will, Al," exclaimed the kind-hearted lady, forgetting -her own distress of mind in concern for him. "I am only too glad to help -you. What time of day is it?" - -"It is about noon, Mrs. Falkner." - -"Then you will hardly dare to venture out before dark," she said. "Till -then you can stay in the cellar. If you feel your way, you will find a -pile of boxes in the corner back here which you can hide behind, if you -wish. But I am living alone in the house, except for old Dinah, and she -ran away up town when the battle began. I think no one will suspect that -you are hiding here. Are you hungry?" - -"I have not eaten since last evening, in Arrow Rock," Al admitted. - -"I will see if there is anything to eat upstairs," said Mrs. Falkner. "I -suppose the house is completely wrecked?" - -"Not altogether," Al replied, "but it is in pretty bad shape." - -The lady went upstairs and presently returned with some food and a -candle. - -"Oh, everything is torn to pieces!" she groaned, as she handed these -things to Al. "I don't know how I shall ever repair it, all alone, as I -am." Then she continued, "You can see to eat by this candle and then -you had better put it out, in case any one should look down the cellar -stairs. Then, if you want to sleep, I will keep watch; and after dark I -will waken you, and you can go to an old cave I know of, in a clump of -bushes not far back of the house." - -"Yes, I know the cave," said Al. "It's the very place. Your son Frank -and 'Chucky' Collins and I made that cave. We used to have a pirates' -den there." - -He smiled up at her as he bit into a pink slice of cold ham, the first -he had tasted in months. - -"Oh, did you, Al?" asked Mrs. Falkner in a low voice. She was silent a -moment, then went on, slowly, "The Collins boy is in the rebel army. -Frank--Frank--was killed at Prairie Grove." Her voice broke. - -The smile vanished from Al's face. - -"Oh, Mrs. Falkner!" he exclaimed. "How sorry I am. Poor old Frank! And -your husband--Doctor Falkner?" - -"Is a surgeon in Sherman's army," she said. "So long as he is left to me -I should be thankful, for I am only one of thousands who have lost sons -or husbands in our Nation's cause. What of your own parents, Al?" - -Then he told her of his father's death and Tommy's capture and of his -mother and Annie in St. Louis. For some time they talked, then Mrs. -Falkner returned upstairs, while Al lay down behind the pile of boxes -and was at once wrapped in the profound slumber of exhaustion. - -No one disturbed the lonely house during the remaining hours of the day -nor the early ones of the following night, for most of the Confederate -army was farther uptown or in bivouac outside its limits. Sometime -toward morning Mrs. Falkner awakened Al and conducted him cautiously to -the cave, leaving him there with an ample supply of food for several -days. The next day and night passed and Al still lay in his cramped -refuge, undisturbed, but very stiff and uncomfortable and eager to get -out and away. - -During the second day Mrs. Falkner came to the cave and dropped a note -down to him through a crack in the roof. In it she informed him that -Colonel Harding and his command had been paroled the day before and -marched away toward Jefferson City accompanied by an escort, to be -delivered within the Union lines, wherever these might be met with. The -last of the Confederate troops, she wrote, had just left, crossing the -Missouri on steamboats and marching away westward, to join General -Price's main army. The town was still quiet, but every one feared that -gangs of guerillas would soon swoop down upon it; and she advised Al to -make his escape as soon as darkness came. - -Taking his revolver and such of his remaining food as he could -conveniently carry, he accordingly crept out of his hiding-place soon -after nightfall and made his way to the southeastward, following the -country roads and keeping his direction by the stars. About six o'clock -the next morning he arrived on the river bank opposite Boonville. Making -inquiries of a negro, he found that the town was in possession of Union -troops, and he soon crossed the river on the ferry. To his surprise and -delight, the paroled garrison of Glasgow was just coming into town when -he arrived, Wallace among them. They were loud in their praises of the -kind treatment they had received at the hands of their captors, and -especially of the escort under Lieutenant Graves, which had brought them -down to the near vicinity of Boonville; for the Confederate soldiers had -shared their rations with the prisoners and made their march as -comfortable as possible in every way. - -At Boonville the paroled men separated to await exchange; and Al and -Wallace continued their journey together, going down to Jefferson City -in an army wagon and thence by the Pacific Railroad to St. Louis, where -they arrived safe during the second morning after leaving Boonville. - -"Wallace," said Al, when they stepped from the train at the station and -walked out into the street, where drays and omnibuses were rattling over -the cobble stones and busy throngs of people covered the sidewalks, "the -first thing we do must be to find an ice-cream parlor. We won't go to -Third and Olive; that's too far from here. But I want to drink that -lemonade with you. I allowed ten days, you remember, but now it is -only,--let me see,--five days. Then you will go out to Palm Street with -me and see how a surprise affects my mother and Annie and--" he -hesitated, then added, hopefully, "Tommy." - -The refreshing drink was pleasant but they fairly gulped it down, for -Al, now that at last he had reached his journey's end, was feverishly -eager to see his dear ones once more. So they hastened to Fifth Street -and boarded a north-bound horse car, which soon carried them to Palm -Street, though to Al in his impatience the journey seemed hours long. As -they came in sight of the house, Al saw his mother in the front yard, -transplanting some flowers from a bed to pots. Her back was toward the -street and the boys approached within a few feet without her hearing -them. Then Al took off his hat and stepped up behind her. - -"Excuse me, madam," said he, gravely, "but is this where Mrs. Thomas -Briscoe lives?" - -His mother turned and gave one startled glance at the brown-faced youth -before her, in his rough, travel-stained clothes, then dropped her -case-knife and flower pot on the ground, crying, in a voice thrilling -with joy, - -"Al, Al! My dear, dear boy!" - -The next instant she was in his arms and both of them were laughing and -crying at once. As soon as the first warm greeting was over, Al asked -fearfully, - -"Mother, have you seen or heard anything of Tommy?" - -He need not have asked the question, for at this juncture a straight, -boyish figure bounded through the front doorway, cleared the steps in -one jump and sprang into Al's arms. - -"What, Tommy?" cried Al, in amazed delight. "Can it possibly be you, so -big and strong? I would not have known you. How and when did you get -here?" - -"They sent me down on another boat after the _North Wind_ burned," Tommy -answered. - -"But how did you know to stop in St. Louis?" asked Al. - -"Why, I hunted up Uncle Will, of course, to have him help me get to -Minnesota, and then I was so glad to find that mama and Annie were -here," Tommy replied. "What a hunt you have had for me, dear old -brother!" - -"Yes, but now we are together again, so everything has come out for the -best, even though I didn't find you myself. Mother, where is Annie?" - -"She is in school," answered Mrs. Briscoe. "But she will be home at -three o 'clock. Tommy should be there, too, but he will not start until -next Monday. He is far back in studies for his age." - -"But he must have learned many things in the last two years which he -never could have learned in school," said Wallace, who had been warmly -and affectionately greeted by Mrs. Briscoe. - -"Yes, I did," admitted Tommy. "It was a great life up there among the -Indians, and Te-o-kun-ko was always very good to me, and so were his -squaw and the children. I think a lot of them all." - -"We were a little afraid you might grow to think so much of them and of -their life that you would not want to come back to us," said Al. - -Tommy glanced at him reproachfully. - -"Why, Al," he exclaimed, "how could you think I would ever care as much -for any one as for mama and you and Annie and--" a shadow crossed his -face, "papa," he added. - -Al, judging that his young brother did not yet realize any connection of -Te-o-kun-ko with Mr. Briscoe's death, and deciding not to explain it -until some later time, answered, - -"We couldn't be sure, Tommy, for you know such things have happened." - -"I was always sure," remarked Mrs. Briscoe, calmly, and, indeed, there -was no question that her mother's instinct had been correct, as it -almost always is. - -"Well," said Wallace, "with all the knowledge of the Indians and their -ways you have gained, you ought to make a capital scout." - -Tommy looked at him thoughtfully. "Perhaps I will--some day," he -replied. "But first I want to learn the things that other fellows know, -because I don't believe that without them, it is much use just to be -able to ride and shoot and track game and so on." - -"Now, Al," Mrs. Briscoe interrupted, turning toward the door, "we all, -your aunt and uncle, too, will be eager to know what has happened to you -in the last six months, especially since you started west from Fort -Rice. The last letter I had from you was the one you sent from there, on -the eighteenth of July." - -"There has been no chance to send you any since," replied Al. "And I got -your last letter, dated June 20, at Fort Rice on my way down from the -Yellowstone. So we shall all have much to tell each other. Although I -didn't succeed in rescuing Tommy in the way I hoped to do," he put his -arm affectionately over his small brother's shoulders, "I believe this -trip of mine has been good for me, and will be in the future for all of -us." - -And so, indeed, it proved, for the following year Al readily secured an -appointment to West Point through the hearty endorsements of General -Sully and other army officers whom he had come to know in the Northwest; -and the father of Wallace Smith, after the close of the war had brought -prosperity and new floods of settlers to the Minnesota frontier, was -able to help Mrs. Briscoe to such a profitable sale of her desirable -claim near Fort Ridgely that she had enough to live upon comfortably at -her sister's hospitable home in St. Louis, while Tommy and Annie were -completing their education in the excellent schools of that city, and -sometimes spending a vacation in cruising up and down the Mississippi on -Captain Lamont's fine steamer. Thus Al's unselfish enterprise on behalf -of his brother, begun under such discouraging circumstances, resulted, -directly or indirectly, in advancing the interests and happiness of -himself and all those dearest to him; and he never had cause for -anything but gratitude and rejoicing over the friends made and the -experiences gained during his adventurous Summer with Sully in the Sioux -land. - - -THE END - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of With Sully into the Sioux Land, by -Joseph Mills Hanson - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WITH SULLY INTO THE SIOUX LAND *** - -***** This file should be named 42150.txt or 42150.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/2/1/5/42150/ - -Produced by sp1nd, Martin Pettit and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project -Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you -charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you -do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the -rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose -such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and -research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do -practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is -subject to the trademark license, especially commercial -redistribution. - - - -*** START: FULL LICENSE *** - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at - www.gutenberg.org/license. - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy -all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. -If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" -or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the -collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from -copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative -works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg -are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project -Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by -freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of -this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with -the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by -keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project -Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate -access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently -whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, -copied or distributed: - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived -from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is -posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied -and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees -or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work -with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the -work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 -through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional -terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked -to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the -permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), -you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a -copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon -request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other -form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided -that - -- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is - owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he - has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the - Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments - must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you - prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax - returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and - sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the - address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to - the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." - -- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or - destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium - and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of - Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any - money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days - of receipt of the work. - -- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set -forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from -both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm -collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain -"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or -corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual -property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a -computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by -your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. -To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 -and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent -permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. -Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 -North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email -contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the -Foundation's web site and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To -SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any -particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. -To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - diff --git a/42150.zip b/42150.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index dc8f092..0000000 --- a/42150.zip +++ /dev/null |