Carl The Trailer

the officer who was acting as comm

I didn't know but you had some men in your own c

let Sergeant Leeds go with the hunters to take command of them. As for the t

dle his horse, for be it known that it was against the law for Page 15 an officer to hire an enlisted man to take care of his stock. He was obliged to act as his own servant or his work would n

We are going to see what you can do now. If y

rmission to go hunting?" aske

foothills and shoot some big game for the post," said Parke

" said Lieutenant Randolph, flinging his book across the room and stretching himself out with

ge

ade with your horse's legs covered with dust, and your necktie all adrift instead of bei

did not say any

. The captain gave you something of a blessing, too, judgin

just about five minutes; that is, Parker's appointment was signed before Randolph's was. But the same habits that clung to him at West Point followed him here. He was just a moment too Page 17 late for everything, and the colonel thought that keeping him in while the other offic

head, were waiting for him. Carl, the Trailer, was there, superbly mounted, and when Lieutenant Parker led his horse up, he surveyed the animal with rather a critical eye. The conclusion he

he colonel to witness his departure, kissed his hand to some of the second lieutenants, and swung himself into the saddle. "Forward!" said the sergeant, and in a few minutes more the little train had p

y over his long, curly hair, his Winchester was confined by a strap at his back, leaving his hands, which were protected by gauntlet gloves, free to manage his horse

ung to go on an exp

ge

g desperate. I was sure he was going to send me to Fort Yates with dispatches; but when I found th

er, modestly. "I lack some years yet of being a man. Wh

to the fort you will brag as loudly as though you had done something. If we should accidentally kill a bear, yo

had some experi

lieutenant, who offered me twenty-five dollars if I would say that he

ge

r I don't know of any officer who ha

as sent t

ow him, and I shall make n

d at Parker with a smile

ly. "I should not care to associate with

that was the reason he selected

y of telling a young officer that he is satisfied with him. Would you mind telling me how you came by yo

ge

o do my business as I ought to have done it," said Car

n brier-root from his pocket, and proceeded to fill up for a smoke. When he h

ving never been down there but once, but he knew how to trail Indians. In fact, he could not remember the time when he couldn't do it. On the way he fell in with a troop of soldiers who were out punishing the savages for some outrage they had committed Page 22 on the settlers, and as they were journeying toward the fort he kept company with them, and he never regretted it but once in his life. The c

found, and nobody would be the wiser for it until morning, by which time the Comanche would be so far away, and cover up his trail no nicely, that pursuit was impossible. When the time came for the soldiers to go to bed, he brought his horse i

d tell, all owning the best stock, too. A good many men had followed his example and tied their horses fast to them, but every one of them found his lariat cut and his horse gone. Of course those Comanches must be overtaken and punished for stealing their hor

anch out every which way, and Page 24 those of us who ha

Carl to make known one

n in three days to the place where the

foot. No doubt he thought that, for one of his years, he was talking a little too big;

fe," said he. "Then you must have seen Indian tra

not put much faith in him, allowed him to do as he pleased. The soldiers camped that night-and a sorry camp it was, too; they had no Page 25 fire to cook their grub by, and, worse than all, the boys had to do without

rned something during the time he was out with me, and when I came to go with

nt, you will have the satisfaction of shooting at

and found that the dirt had been thrown up and stones placed upon it to hide it from curious eyes. He threw aside the stones and began investigating Page 26 with his sheath knife, the soldiers all s

captain. "How did you know

he must keep his eyes about him. I don't suppose you know that the

e looked in every direction except t

ype="