Trumpeter Fred: A Story of the Plains

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King Charles. Trumpeter Fred: A Story of the Plains

CHAPTER I. A DANGEROUS MISSION

CHAPTER II. THE OATH OF ENLISTMENT

CHAPTER III. A ROBBER IN CAMP

CHAPTER IV. SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES

CHAPTER V. TRAILING THE TRAITOR

CHAPTER VI. CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE

CHAPTER VII. TELEGRAPHIC DISPATCHES

CHAPTER VIII. LOYAL FRIENDS

CHAPTER IX. LURKING FOES

CHAPTER X. IN SUSPENSE

CHAPTER XI. HEMMED IN BY SAVAGE FOES

CHAPTER XII. MYSTERIOUS HOOF-PRINTS

CHAPTER XIII. AWAY TO THE RESCUE!

CHAPTER XIV. INNOCENT OR GUILTY

CHAPTER XV. COURT-MARTIAL

CHAPTER XVI. PRISON AND PROMOTION

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IT was while stationed at old Fort Sanders that Waller's enthusiastic devotion to his new captain and his captain's family began. The former troop commander was ordered to the retired list, broken down by wounds, and the senior lieutenant stepped into his place. Waller bade farewell to his old captain with tear-dimmed eyes – they had served together for over fifteen years – and with much inward misgiving, but not the faintest outward show thereof, saluted the new arrival, a young officer but a soldier through and through; it was not a week before the sergeant had fully satisfied himself as to that. Presently the new captain's family reached the fort and took up their abode; a fair-haired, blue-eyed young mother with two children, a boy and a girl, the eldest being three years younger than Fred; and then began another and strong interest.

That very winter scarlet fever devastated the fort. Few children escaped the scourge. There were a dozen little graves in the cemetery out on the prairie when the long winter came to an end. There were two or three larger graves, and one of these held all that was mortal of Fred's loving mother; he and his stern, sad-faced father were now alone in the world.

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"It's more good news you've been getting from Fred, sergeant, dear; isn't it now? Faith, I wish he'd play ye a thrick wanst in a while, like other byes. Maybe thin I'd be mintioned to the captain for a corporalship." And for once the veteran turned his back on the laughing troop conscious of defeat.

In '74 old Waller changed the yellow stripes and diamond of the first sergeantcy for the crimson and the star of the ordnance, and the troopers, one and all, said good-by to him with infinite regret. Perhaps Dawson, who was next in rank, may be excepted. He confidently expected to be promoted in Waller's place. But though a dashing soldier and a smart non-commissioned officer, he was not the stanch, reliable man the captain needed, and proved it by celebrating Waller's promotion in a very boisterous and unseemly manner. It was plain that he had been drinking heavily, and though Captain Charlton saved him from arrest and court-martial he would not promote him, and plainly, though privately, told him why. The troop knew it was for this reason, but Dawson swore it was all on account of Waller's influence against him when Sergeant Graham was named in regimental orders as the old veteran's successor.

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