Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 February 1908 — IN SILENCE A HERO [ARTICLE]

IN SILENCE A HERO

Sitting square In the saddle, his eyes fixed straight ahead, the scout rode, absolutely alone. Solitude and silence had been his portion so much that language was to him a curio, a rarity, a luxury. He seldom beard the sound of human voice, and when he did he listened deeply and answered deliberately, for his supply of speech was not great. As he rode there came a scream from afar overhead—a shriek, a screech. But he did not look upward. He knew the voice was the voice of a Springfield ball, high In the air. Man and horse lay down and waited. Neither moved, but both watched. On the brow of a little knoll far away he saw a bush wave too fast. It was far away, but he leveled his rlflo and fired. Then horse and man arose as If by mutual understanding, and, turning from the knoll, he rode away, the report of the guns behind him merely urging him to hasten. He was not afraid. He was not excited. He did not expect to die. He did not expect to live. Late that night he reached the post, delivered his orders and turned to go. The captain stopped him. “Meet anybody on the way over?” he asked. The scout looked hard, as if digesting the query. Then he thought At last he answered: "Only some Indians.” "How many?” “Was seven,” said the scout "Now ■lx.” “On the warpath?” asked the captain. The scout looked troubled, as though bored by the questions. "They fired”— was all he said. Now, then, the war w*as on in earnest But the scout ever after avoided the captain as a man who talked too much. In the grounds noncommissioned officers passed to and fro, bent on the duties of the day. New recruits being drilled singly and in squads; Now and again a stiff young lieutenant crossed to the officers’ quarters or, bent on inspection, went through the form of examining quarters to see whether the dust had been properly brushed away and the floor duly swept. Presently a soldier entered, -walked to where ’the scout lay and said: “Colonel wants you!” The scout remained immovable for a few seconds. Then he turned to the messenger and looked him squarely in the eye. Then he arose, deliberately dressed, drew on his long boots, buckled his belt with the ammunition and revolvers in place and stalked to quarters. The orderly halted him at the door.

“Colonel wants me,” he said. He passed in. The colonel Ignored the lack of a salute, for the keen eyed man before him was not a soldier, but a civilian employee. Then he said: “There is a woman here, the wife of Lieutenant Jasper, who is wounded at the ferry. She wants to join her husband. You must guide her over.’’ The scout looked half terrified. “Woman?” he asked. The question had a world of meaning, for the colonel knefcv of the hostiles on the road, the dangers of the trail itself, its double dangers for a woman. He nodded. “Bad,” said the scout. , “Can’t be helped,” said the colonel. The scout stood still a moment. Then he turned and walked out. As he reached the parade ground he saw a woman before the officers’ quarters. The sight revived his memory. In a few minutes he was back at the colonel’s quarters, his horse saddled, his blankets rolled behind the cantie, the rifle slung by the horse’s side, the data colled carefully over the saddle post. “Tell him I’m ready,” he said gruffly to the orderly. The soldier turned In disgust. He was not used to unceremonious orders. But the scout was Impenetrable. So the orderly went. When the scout was ordered in He saw a little woman wearing a short riding habit. He looked at her indifferently. The colonel spoke, saying he was the best scout at the post, and she might feel safe with him. “I feel it,” she said. The scout broke silence. “Better not go,” he said. “Oh, I must!" was her answer. They rode away together. All the night long they rode, halting during the day. On the third morning as the woman was about to lie down for a few hours’ rest the scout rose, as one who was about to deliver an -oration. “Only six miles,” he said. Fear of the hostiles had forsaken her, and they rode rapidly on, Indifferent alike to the whistle of the bullets, the yells of the braves and the efforts of small parties of bucks to head them off. Closer and closer to the camp, and then as the sentry challenged the scout turned and let the woman ride ahead. He faced the hostiles for a moment. Then he looked around and saw the guard rush forth and welcome the fainting wife. The dancing braves jarred on his sight. He turned back to where the woman had entered the camp and then followed her. The officer of the guard almost hugged him. Men gathered about him. The captain clasped his hand. The wounded lieutenant, now almost well, wept The talk annoyed him.