The Denver Express | Page 9

bearing on their fate; of the fell
preparations making for their disaster; of the grim preparations making
to avert such disaster; of all of which the little wires alongside of them
had been talking back and forth. Watkins had telegraphed that he still
saw no reason to doubt the good faith of his warning, and Sinclair had
reported his receipt of authority and his acceptance thereof. Meanwhile,
also, there had been set in motion a measure of that power to which
appeal is so reluctantly made in time of peace.

At Fort ------, a lonely post on the plains, the orders had that morning
been issued for twenty men under Lieutenant Halsey to parade at 4 p.
m., with overcoats, two days' rations, and ball cartridges; also for
Assistant Surgeon Kesler to report for duty with the party. Orders as to
destination were communicated direct to the lieutenant from the post
commander, and on the minute the little column moved, taking the road
to the station. The regiment from which it came had been in active
service among the Indians on the frontier for a long time, and the
officers and men were tried and seasoned fighters. Lieutenant Halsey
had been well known at the West Point balls as the "leader of the
german." From the last of these balls he had gone straight to the field,
and three years had given him an enviable reputation for sang-froid and
determined bravery. He looked every inch the soldier as he walked
along the trail, his cloak thrown back and his sword tucked under his
arm. The doctor, who carried a Modoc bullet in some inaccessible part
of his scarred body, growled good-naturedly at the need of walking,
and the men, enveloped in their army-blue overcoats, marched easily
by fours. Reaching the station, the lieutenant called the agent aside, and
with him inspected, on a siding, a long platform car on which benches
had been placed and secured. Then he took his seat in the station and
quietly waited, occasionally twisting his long blond mustache. The
doctor took a cigar with the agent, and the men walked about or sat on
the edge of the platform. One of them, who obtained a surreptitious
glance at his silent commander, told his companions that there was
trouble ahead for somebody.
"That's just the way the leftenant looked, boys," said he, "when we was
laying for them Apaches that raided Jones's Ranch and killed the
women and little children."
In a short time the officer looked at his watch, formed his men, and
directed them to take their places on the seats of the car. They had
hardly done so when the whistle of the approaching train was heard.
When it came up, the conductor, who had his instructions from Sinclair,
had the engine detached and backed on the siding for the soldiers' car,
which thus came between it and the foremost baggage car when the
train was again made up. As arranged, it was announced that the troops

were to be taken a certain distance to join a scouting party, and the
curiosity of the passengers was but slightly excited. The soldiers sat
quietly in their seats, their repeating rifles held between their knees, and
the officer in front. Sinclair joined the latter, and had a few words with
him as the train moved on. A little later, when the stars were shining
brightly overhead, they passed into the express car, and sent for the
conductor and other trainmen, and for Foster. In a few words Sinclair
explained the position of affairs. His statement was received with
perfect coolness, and the men only asked what they were to do.
"I hope, boys," said Sinclair, "that we are going to put this gang
to-night where they will make no more trouble. Lieutenant Halsey will
bear the brunt of the fight, and it only remains for you to stand by the
interests committed to your care. Mr. Express Agent, what help do you
want?" The person addressed, a good-natured giant, girded with a
cartridge belt, smiled as he replied:
"Well, sir, I'm wearing a watch which the company gave me for
standing off the James gang in Missouri for half an hour, when we
hadn't the ghost of a soldier about. I'll take the contract, and welcome,
to hold this fort alone."
"Very well," said Sinclair. "Foster, what progress have you made?"
"Major, I've got ten or fifteen as good men as ever drew a bead, and
just red-hot for a fight."
"That will do very well. Conductor, give the trainmen the rifles from
the baggage car and let them act under Mr. Foster. Now, boys, I am
sure you will do your duty. That is all."
From the next station Sinclair telegraphed "All ready" to the
superintendent,