PHILADELPHIA: J.B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY.

1890

Copyright, 1887, by J.B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY.




THE DESERTER.




PRELUDE.


Far up in the Northwest, along the banks of the broad, winding stream
the Sioux call the Elk, a train of white-topped army-wagons is slowly
crawling eastward. The October sun is hot at noon-day, and the dust from
the loose soil rises like heavy smoke and powders every face and form in
the guarding battalion so that features are wellnigh indistinguishable.
Four companies of stalwart, sinewy infantry, with their brown rifles
slung over the shoulder, are striding along in dispersed order, covering
the exposed southern flank from sudden attack, while farther out along
the ridge-line, and far to the front and rear, cavalry skirmishers and
scouts are riding to and fro, searching every hollow and ravine, peering
cautiously over every "divide," and signalling "halt" or "forward" as
the indications warrant.