In Barracks and Wigwam — page 163: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

rar Bic was Lieutenant Dimsdale. mee Vitae the cap- . ~ 4 > = ‘ 4 " a Fd 4 > 4 ‘ * 4 - e Ne At. * % ) i A Mysterious Column of Smoke. 153. “What do you think of it, oabiaank Ms asked Captain Norman. “It’s a signal of some sort, sir,” replied the scout. “It may be settlers or a wagon train asking for help. Or, perhaps, it’s meant to lure us into ambush.” | ‘Hardly that,” said Captain Norman. “At all events, I'll have to report on it. The troop is about worn out, and if | march them over there we won't get back to the battalion before morning.” “Corporal Osborne,” he added, turning sharply around to Linn, ‘“‘také ten men who have the best horses, and go over there and see what that smoke means. ‘Ten will be cnough, for I don’t believe there are Indians near in any | ferce. Reconnoitre the ground well as you go along, and don’t on any pretext venture into the hills. No matter what you discover, come back at once and report. You will likely overtake us before we rejoin the main column et Powder River. Do you understand ?”’ “Yes, sir,’ replied Linn. “I think I do.” He did not like the task, and he had a lurking suspicion that Captain Norman would be glad to see him get into trouble or disgrace—if nothing worse. He was about to esk that Lowther might accompany him, but he changed his mind and turned away. His choice was limited to pri- vates, and in a short time he had picked out ten men whose steeds seemed the best fitted for a rapid march. Trumpeter Grant asked and received permission to go, end this swelled the number to a dozen. Meanwhile, Captain Norman’s order had created some surprise among the troopers, who felt that the party was — entirely too small, and that it was going on a doubtful and — dangerous mission. Some, who knew how matters stood, may have entertained the same suspicions that Linn had; but the only man who dared to venture a word on the sub- ) com choo <SHato) m