Captain Carey; or, Fighting the Indians at Pine Ridge

UNDER ORDERS.

"Well, Carey, my gallant aide-de-camp and friend, I am to lose you, it seems; but then what is my loss is your gain, as you have been promoted to a first lieutenancy, and ordered to report at once to General Miles for special duty," said Colonel Crandall, commandant of an advanced military post upon the border of the Indian country, and he held in his hands an official paper just received by courier.

The one whom he addressed had just entered his quarters, having been sent for to report immediately to the commandant, and, at the words of his superior, his face lighted up with enthusiasm, and he said, warmly:

"All that I am, Colonel Crandall, I owe to you, for it was you that sent me, a border boy, to West Point, and gave me the opportunity of becoming what I am more proud of than anything else in life, that of being an officer in the Army of the United States. My advancement has been through you alone, sir, and though I leave you with regret, I am glad to go into the field once more, for I wish to win another bar, sir, upon my shoulder-strap."

"And you will, mark my words, Carey, for there is to be trouble with the Indians, as you predicted, for General Brooke writes me that your full report to him has been thus far proven correct, and that is why you are needed now, on account of your perfect knowledge of the country and the Indian character. But let me say to you that you place too much stress upon what I did for you in the past, for you had it in you to make yourself all that you have done, as otherwise you would never have gotten through West Point, and if I had my way to-day I would make you a captain. But you are to go at once, and bear dispatches as well, and your traps shall follow by wagon-train later."

"I will be ready, Colonel Crandall, within half an hour," was the prompt reply.

"No, not so soon as that, Lieutenant Carey, for I have a mission for you to perform, which I must ask you to undertake."

"Certainly, sir."

"It is to become the escort of Captain Foshay's daughter, who is most anxious to return to her home and be with her mother, now that her father is to go into service. She declared she would go with the courier alone, but then I could not hear to that, of course, but if you will be bored with her for a ride of fifty miles, I will be glad to place her in your charge, as the girl is determined to go, and, preparing, as I am, to send General Brooke all the men I can, I cannot spare one as an escort to her."

"I shall undertake the mission with pleasure, for Miss Foshay is a superb rider, fearless, and can use a weapon if need be, while if we have to run for it, I believe she would be no tax upon me whatever."

"You really think then the Indians may be hovering about the trails already?" anxiously asked Colonel Crandall.

"I had just returned from a scout, sir, and was coming to report to you when I got your order to come at once to you. I made a complete circuit, Colonel Crandall, and there are signs that the redskins are taking positions along the trails, and mean mischief."

"Then it will be dangerous for Miss Emma to go?"

"Hardly as much now, sir, and untrammeled, as it would be several days later with a wagon-train."

"You are right, Carey, and I feel that she will be safe with you, for I know all that you are. I will see her at once, and arrange for you to start within a couple of hours."

"I will be ready, sir. As I shall need my two horses, I will let Miss Foshay ride one, and you know their speed, sir."

"Yes, no Indian can catch you, that is certain. Now go and prepare for your journey, and let me tell you again how much I dislike to part with you. I owe my life to you, Carey, and you are well aware how much my niece, Kate, owes to your pluck, for you saved her from the Indians, from that traitor guide, and afterwards from a fate hardly less cruel, from being forced into a marriage with that scoundrel Nevil, whom, I am happy to say, you drove out of the service. No, Kit Carey, I can never forget you, and all that you have done for me and mine, and God bless you, my noble young friend, will be my constant prayer," and the voice of the brave old officer quivered as he uttered the words and turned away to go in search of Miss Foshay, and explain to her that she could go under the escort of the young hero, Lieutenant Kit Carey, to join her father, and from thence to her home, for while on a visit to him, Captain Foshay had been unexpectedly ordered to the front.

Kit Carey was, as he had said, a border boy, for he had been reared upon the plains by an old hermit hunter, who had skilled him in every kind of frontier craft.

He had saved Colonel Crandall, a party of soldiers, and the colonel's niece, who had been led into a trap by a renegade guide, and this act had gotten for him a cadetship at West Point.

He had fought his way through against every obstacle, and been ordered to the command of Colonel Crandall, as the latter's aide-de-camp, and at once had he rendered gallant services, which had made him famous as an Indian fighter.

Years had passed, and he had faithfully rendered services to the Government, until he had won promotion, and on account of his splendid record had at once been ordered to the front to perform special service.

A dashing soldier, fearless to recklessness, handsome as an Adonis, and a hero, it was no wonder that Kit Carey was popular with his brother officers and the soldiers as well, and it was predicted that if there was another Indian war he would win still higher promotion, in spite of his youth.

Such was Lieutenant Kit Carey, a gallant soldier of the Seventh Cavalry, who was again to face death in its worse forms in fighting the treacherous Sioux, who knew him well and feared him, yet respected him as well, for never had he broken faith with them in war or peace.