John Ermine of the Yellowstone

by Frederic Remington

  CHAPTER XV

  BRINGING IN THE WOLF

  "Going to follow the dogs to-day, Lewis?" said Lieutenant Shockley,poking his head in the half-open door.

  "Yes, reckon I'll give this chair a vacation; wait a minute," and hemauled the contents of his ditty-box after the manner of men and bearswhen in search of trifles. A vigorous stirring is bound to upheave whatis searched for, so in due course the Captain dug up a snaffle-bit.

  "I find my horse goes against this better than the governmentthing--when the idea is to get there and d---- formations."

  "Well, shake yourself, Lewis; the people are pulling out."

  "What, ahead of the scouts?" laughed the chief of them.

  "Yes; and you know the line never retires on the scouts; so smoke up."

  The orderly having changed the bits, the two mounted and walked away."'Spose this is for the Englishman. Great people these Englishmen--gotrotting all over the earth to chase something; anything will do fromrabbits to tigers, and niggers preferred," said Lewis.

  "Must be a great deprivation to most Englishmen to have to live inEngland where there is nothing to chase. I suppose they all have thisdesire to kill something; a great hardship it must be," suggestedShockley.

  "Oh, I think they manage," continued Lewis; "from what I understand therich and the great go batting about the globe after heads; the so-sofellows go into the army and navy to take their chance of a killing, andthe lower orders have to find contentment in staying at home, wherethere is no amusement but pounding each other."

  "There goes your friend Ermine on that war-pony of his; well, he canshow his tail to any horse in cantonments. By the way, some one wastelling me that he carries a medicine-bag with him; isn't he aChristian?"

  "Oh, I don't know. He reminds me of old Major Doyle of ours, who waspromoted out of us during the war, but who rejoined in Kansas and wasretired. You don't remember him? He was an Irishman and a Catholic; hehad been in the old army since the memory of man runneth not to thecontrary, and ploughed his way up and down all over the continent. Andthere was Major Dunham--you know him. He and Doyle had been comradessince youth; they had fought and marched together, spilled many a nogginin each other's honor, and who drew the other's monthly pay depended onthe paste-boards. Old Doyle came into post, one day, and had a lot ofdrinks with the fellows as he picked up the social threads. Finally heasked: 'Un' phware is me ole friend, Dunham? Why doesn't he come downand greet me with a glass?'

  "Some one explained that old Dunham had since married, had joined thechurch, and didn't greet any one over glasses any more.

  "'Un' phwat church did he join?'

  "Some one answered, the Universalist Church.

  "'Ah, I see,' said Doyle, tossing off his drink, 'he's huntin' an aisyford.' So I guess that's what Ermine is doing."

  They soon joined the group of mounted officers and ladies, orderlies,and nondescripts of the camp, all alive with anticipations, and theirhorses stepping high.

  "Good morning, Mr. Harding; how do you find yourself?" called outCaptain Lewis.

  "Fine--fine, thank you."

  "How are you mounted?"

  Harding patted his horse's neck, saying: "Quite well--a good beast;seems to manage my weight, but I find this saddle odd. Bless me, I knowthere is no habit in the world so strong as the saddle. I have the flatsaddle habit."

  "What we call a rim-fire saddle," laughed Searles, who joined theconversation.

  "Ah--a rim-fire, do you call them? Well, do you know, Major, I shouldsay this saddle was better adapted to carrying a sack of corn than aman," rejoined Harding.

  "Oh, you'll get along; there isn't a fence nearer than St. Paul exceptthe quartermaster's corral."

  "I say, Searles," spoke Lewis, "there's the Colonel out in front--happyas a boy out of school; glad there's something to keep him quiet; wemust do this for him every day, or he'll have us out poundingsage-brush."

  "And there's the quartermaster with a new popper on his whip," sang somevoice.

  "There is no champagne like the air of the high plains before the sunburns the bubble out of it," proclaimed Shockley, who was young andwithout any of the saddle or collar marks of life; "and to see thesebeautiful women riding along--say, Harding, if I get off this horse I'llset this prairie on fire," and he burst into an old song:--

  "Now, ladies, good-by to each kind, gentle soul, Though me coat it is ragged, me heart it is whole; There's one sitting yonder I think wants a beau, Let her come to the arms of young Billy Barlow."

  And Shockley urged his horse to the side of Miss Katherine Searles.

  Observing the manoeuvre, Captain Lewis poked her father in the ribs. "Idon't think your daughter wants a beau very much, Major; the youngstersare four files deep around her now."

  "'Tis youth, Bill Lewis; we've all had it once, and from what Iobserve, they handle it pretty much as we used to."

  "The very same. I don't see how men write novels or plays about that oldstory; all they can do is to invent new fortifications for Mr. Hero tocarry before she names the day."

  Lieutenant Shockley found himself unable to get nearer than two horsesto Miss Searles, so he bawled: "And I thought you fellows were huntingwolves. I say, Miss Searles, if you ride one way and the wolf runs theother, it is easy to see which will have the larger field. My money ison you--two to one. Who will take the wolf?"

  SHOCKLEY.]

  "Oh, Mr. Shockley, between you and this Western sun, I shall soon need anew powder puff."

  "Shall I challenge him?" called Bowles to the young woman.

  "Please not, Mr. Bowles; I do not want to lose him." And every onegreeted Shockley derisively.

  "Guide right!" shouted the last, putting his horse into a lope. MissSearles playfully slashed about with her riding-whip, saying, "Deploy,gentlemen," and followed him. The others broke apart; they had beenbeaten by the strategy of the loud mouth. Lieutenant Butler, however,permitted himself the pleasure of accompanying Miss Searles; hisdetermination could not be shaken by these diversions; he pressedresolutely on.

  "I think Butler has been hit over the heart," said one of the dispersedcavaliers.

  "You bet, and it is a disabling wound too. I wonder if Miss Searlesintends to cure him. When I see her handle her eyes, methinks, compadre,she's a cruel little puss. I wouldn't care to be her mouse."

  "But, fellows, she's pretty, a d---- pretty girl, hey!" ventured aserious youngster. "You can bet any chap here would hang out the whiteflag and come a-running, if she hailed him."

  And so, one with another, they kept the sacred fire alight. As for thatmatter, the aforesaid Miss Puss knew how her men valued the difficultiesof approach, which was why she scattered them. She proposed to take themin detail. Men do not weaken readily before each other, but alone theyare helpless creatures, when the woman understands herself. She can thensew them up, tag them, and put them away on various shelves, and rely onthem to stay there; but it requires management, of course.

  "I say, Miss Searles, those fellows will set spring guns and bear trapsfor me to-night; they will never forgive me."

  "Oh, well, Mr. Shockley, to be serious, I don't care. Do you suppose awolf will be found? I am so bored." Which remark caused the eminentLieutenant to open his mouth very wide in imitation of a laugh,divested of all mirth.

  "Miss Katherine Searles," he said, in mock majesty, "I shall do myselfthe honor to crawl into the first badger-hole we come to and stay thereuntil you dig me out."

  "Don't be absurd; you know I always bury my dead. Mr. Butler, do youexpect we shall find a wolf? Ah, there is that King Charles cavalier,Mr. Ermine--for all the world as though he had stepped from an oldframe. I do think he is lovely."

  "Oh, bother that yellow Indian; he is such a nuisance," jerked Butler.

  "Why do you say that? I find him perfectly new; he never bores me, andhe stood between me and that enraged savage."

  "A regular play. I do not doubt he arranged it beforehand. However, itwas well thought out--downr
ight dramatic, except that the Indian oughtto have killed him."

  "Oh, would you have arranged it that way if you had been playwright?"

  "Yes," replied the bilious lover.

  Shaking her bridle rein, she cried, "Come, Mr. Shockley, let us ride toErmine; at least you will admire him." Shockley enjoyed the death strokewhich she had administered to Butler, but saying to himself as hethought of Ermine, "D---- the curly boy," and followed his charming anddifficult quarry. He alone had ridden true.

  The independent and close-lipped scout was riding outside the group. Henever grew accustomed to the heavy columns, and did not talk on themarch--a common habit of desert wanderers. But his eye coveredeverything. Not a buckle or a horse-hair or the turn of a leg escapedhim, and you may be sure Miss Katherine Searles was detailed in hispicture.

  He had beheld her surrounded by the young officers until he began tohate the whole United States army. Then he saw her dismiss the escortsaving only two, and presently she reduced her force to one. As she cametoward him, his blood took a pop into his head, which helped mightily toillumine his natural richness of color. She was really coming to him. Hewished it, he wanted it, as badly as a man dying of thirst wants water,and yet a whole volley of bullets would not disturb him as her comingdid.

  "Good morning, Mr. Ermine; you, too, are out after wolves, I see," sangKatherine, cheerily.

  "No, ma'am, I don't care anything about wolves; and why should I carefor them?"

  "What are you out for then, pray?"

  "Oh, I don't know; thought I would like to see you after wolves. I guessthat's why I am out," came the simple answer.

  "Well, to judge by the past few miles I don't think you will see meafter them to-day."

  "I think so myself, Miss Searles. These people ought to go back in thebreaks of the land to find wolves; they don't give a wolf credit forhaving eyes."

  "Why don't you tell them so, Mr. Ermine?" pleaded the young woman.

  "The officers think they know where to find them; they would not thankme, and there might not be anywhere I would go to find them. It does notmatter whether we get one or none, anyhow," came Ermine's sageness.

  "Indeed, it does matter. I must have a wolf."

  "Want him alive or dead?" was the low question.

  "What! am I to have one?"

  "You are," replied the scout, simply.

  "When?"

  "Well, Miss Searles, I can't order one from the quartermaster exactly,but if you are in a great hurry, I might go now."

  "Mr. Ermine, you will surely kill me with your generosity. You haveoffered me your scalp, your body, and now a wolf. Oh, by the way, whatdid that awful Indian say to you? I suppose you have seen him since."

  "Didn't say anything."

  "Well, I hope he has forgiven you; but as I understand them, that is notthe usual way among Indians."

  "No, Miss Searles, he won't forgive me. I'm a-keeping him to rememberyou by."

  "How foolish; I might give you something for a keepsake which wouldleave better memories, do you not think so?"

  "You might, if you wish to."

  The girl was visibly agitated at this, coming as it did from her crudeadmirer. She fumbled about her dress, her hair, and finally drew off herglove and gave it to the scout, with a smile so sweet and a glance ofthe eye which penetrated Ermine like a charge of buckshot. He took theglove and put it inside of the breast of his shirt, and said, "I'll getthe wolf."

  Shockley was so impressed with the conversation that he was surprisedinto silence, and to accomplish that phenomenon took a most powerfuljolt, as every one in the regiment knew. He could talk the bottom out ofa nose-bag, or put a clock to sleep. Ordinary verbal jollity did notseem at all adequate, so he carolled a passing line:--

  "One little, two little, three little Injuns, Four little, five little, six little Injuns, Seven little, eight little, nine little Injuns, Ten little Injun boys."

  This came as an expiring burst which unsettled his horse though itrelieved him. Shockley needed this much yeast before he could riseagain.

  "Oh, Mr. Shockley, you must know Mr. Ermine."

  "I have the pleasure, Miss Searles; haven't I, Ermine?"

  The scout nodded assent.

  "We were side by side when we rushed the point of that hill in theSitting Bull fight last fall; remember that, Ermine?"

  "Yes, sir," said the scout; but the remembrance evidently did not causeErmine's E string to vibrate. Fighting was easier, freer; but altogetherit was like washing the dishes at home compared with the dangers whichnow beset him.

  Suddenly every one was whipping and spurring forward; the pack ofgreyhounds were streaking it for the hills. "Come on," yelled Shockley,"here's a run." And that mercurial young man's scales tipped rightreadily from his heart to his spurs.

  "It's only a coyote, Miss Searles," said Ermine; but the young womanspatted her horse with her whip and rode bravely after the flyingShockley. Ermine's fast pony kept steadily along with her under a pull;the plainsman's long, easy sway in the saddle was unconscious, and henever took his eyes from the girl, now quite another person under theexcitement.

  Every one in the hunting-party was pumping away to the last ounce. Apack of greyhounds make a coyote save all the time he can; theystimulate his interest in life, and those who have seen a good healthyspecimen burn up the ground fully realize the value of passing moments.

  "Oh, dear; my hat is falling off!" shrieked the girl.

  "Shall I save it, Miss Searles?"

  "Yes! yes! Catch it!" she screamed.

  Ermine brought his flying pony nearer hers on the off side and reachedhis hand toward the flapping hat, struggling at a frail anchorage ofone hat-pin, but his arm grew nerveless at the near approach todivinity.

  "Save it! save it!" she called.

  "Shall I?" and he pulled himself together.

  Dropping his bridle-rein over the pommel of his saddle, standing in hisstirrups as steadily as a man in church, he undid the hat with bothhands. When he had released it and handed it to its owner, she heard himmutter hoarsely, "My God!"

  "Oh, Mr. Ermine, I hope the pin did not prick you."

  "No, it wasn't the pin."

  "Ah," she ejaculated barely loud enough for him to hear amid the rushinghoof-beats.

  The poor man was in earnest, and the idea drove the horses, the hounds,and the coyote out of her mind, and she ran her mount harder than ever.She detested earnest men, having so far in her career with the exceptionof Mr. Butler found them great bores; but drive as she would, the scoutpattered at her side, and she dared not look at him.

  These two were by no means near the head of the drive, as the girl'shorse was a stager, which had been selected because he was highlyeducated concerning badger-holes and rocky hillsides.

  Orderlies clattered behind them, and Private Patrick O'Dowd and PrivateThompson drew long winks at each other.

  "Oi do be thinkin' the long bie's harse cud roon fasther eff the divilwas afther him. Faith, who'd roon away from a fairy?"

  "The horse is running as fast as is wanted," said Thompson, sticking hishooks into the Indian pony which he rode.

  "Did yez obsarve the bie ramove the hat from the lady, and his ponyshootin' gravel into our eyes fit to smother?" shouted O'Dowd, using theflat of his hand as a sounding-board to Thompson.

  "You bet, Pat; and keeping the gait he could take a shoe off her horse,if she wanted it done."

  "They say seein's believin', but Oi'll not be afther tellin' the storyin quarters. Oi'm eaight year in the ahrmy, and Oi can lie whin it'sconvanient."

  The dogs overhauled the unfortunate little wolf despite its gallantefforts, and it came out of the snarling mass, as some wag had expressedit, "like a hog going to war--in small pieces." The field closed up anddismounted, soldier fashion, at the halt.

  "What's the matter with the pony to-day, Ermine? Expected you'd be aheadof the wolf at least," sang out Lewis.

  "I stopped to pick up a hat," he explained
; but Captain Lewis fixed hiscalculating eye on his man and bit his mustache. Events had begun toarrange themselves; that drunken night and Ermine's apathy toward theEnglishman's hunting-party--and he had stopped to pick up her hat--oho!

  Without a word the scout regained his seat and loped away toward thepost, and Lewis watched him for some time, in a brown study; but a manof his years often fails to give the ardor of youth its proper value, sohis mind soon followed more natural thoughts.

  "Your horse is not a very rapid animal, I observe, Miss Searles," spokeButler.

  "Did you observe that? I did not notice that you were watching me, Mr.Butler."

  "Oh, I must explain that in an affair of this kind I am expected tosustain the reputation of the cavalry. I forced myself to the front."

  "Quite right. I kept the only man in the rear, who was capable ofspoiling your reputation; you are under obligations to me."

  "That wild man, you mean. He certainly has a wonderful pony, but youneed not trouble about him if it is to please me only."

  "I find this sun becoming too insistent; I think I will go back," saidKatherine Searles. Many of the women also turned their horses homeward,leaving only the more pronounced types of sportsmen to search foranother wolf.

  "Having sustained the cavalry, I'll accompany you, Katherine."

  "Miss Searles, please!" she said, turning to him, and the little gem ofa nose asserted itself.

  "Oh, dear me! What have I done? You permitted me to call you Katherineonly last night."

  "Yes, but I do not propose to divide my friendship with a nasty littlegray wolf which has been eaten up alive."

  The officer ran his gauntlet over his eyes.

  "I am such a booby. I see my mistake, Miss Searles, but the idea youadvance seems so ridiculous--to compare yourself with a wolf."

  "Oh, I say, Miss Searles," said Shockley, riding up, "may I offer youone of my gauntlets? The sun, I fear, will blister your bare hand."

  "No, indeed." And Butler tore off a glove, forcing it into her hand. Shecould not deny him, and pulled it on. "Thank you; I lost one of minethis morning."

  Then she turned her eyes on Mr. Shockley with a hard little expression,which sealed him up. He was prompt to feel that the challenge meant war,and war with this girl was the far-away swing of that gallant strategicpendulum.

  "Yes," Shockley added, "one is apt to drop things without noting them,in a fast rush. I dropped something myself this morning."

  "Pray what was it, Mr. Shockley?"

  "It was an idea," he replied with a shrug of the shoulders.

  "An idea?" laughed she, appreciating Shockley's discretion. "I hope youhave more of them than I have gloves."

  "I have only one," he sighed.

  "Are all soldiers as stupid as you are, my dear sir?"

  "All under thirty, I am sorry to say," and this from Shockley too. MissSearles applied the whip; but go as she would, the two officers did notlose again the idea, but kept their places beside her.

  "You are not very steady under fire," laughed Shockley.

  "You are such an absurd person."

  "I may be a blessing in disguise."

  "You may be; I am unable to identify you."

  "The chaperon is waving her whip at us, Miss Searles," cautioned Butler.

  "Private O'Dowd is my chaperon, and he can stand the pace," she replied.

  The young woman drove on, leaving a pall of dust behind, until thelittle party made the cantonment and drew rein in front of theSearleses' quarters. Giving her hand to the orderly, she dismissed herescort and disappeared.

  "Well, Katherine," said Mrs. Searles, "did you enjoy your ride?"

  "Yes, mother, but my horse is such an old poke I was nowhere in therace."

  "The Major says he is a safe horse; one which can be relied on, and thatis more important than speed. I do not want your neck broken, my dear."

  "Neither do I want my neck broken, but I should like to be somewhere insight during a run. The young officers desert me once a wolf is sighted;they forget their manners at the first flash of a greyhound."

  "I know, daughter, but what can you expect? They go out for thatpurpose."

  "Mr. Ermine doesn't, or at least he is polite enough to say that he goesout to see me run, and not the wolf. If he is not sophisticated, heseems to have the primitive instincts of a gentleman."

  "Mr. Ermine, forsooth!" And Madam Searles betrayed some asperity. "Is hepresumptuous enough to present you with compliments? You had bettermaintain your distance."

  "He is a perfectly delightful man, mother; so thoughtful and sohandsome."

  "Tut tut, Katherine; he is only an ordinary scout--a wild man."

  "I don't care; I like him."

  "Katherine, what are you thinking of?"

  "Oh, I don't know, mother; I am thinking what an absurd lot men are.They insist on talking nonsense at me. They do not seem to preservetheir reserve; they are not a bit like the men back in the States."

  "Well, my daughter, you must be careful not to provoke familiarity.Young women are rather scarce out here, and you are not without yourcharms. I believe you use your eyes more than you should. Have a care;do not forget that quiet modesty is the most becoming thing in the worldfor a woman."

  "I am sure I do nothing; in fact, I have to be constantly menacing thesemilitary youths to keep them from coming too near, especially Mr.Shockley and Mr. Butler. I am in distress every minute for fear Mr.Butler will say more than I am ready to hear."

  Mrs. Searles was by no means averse to Butler's attentions to herdaughter. "A very fine young man," was her comment when she thought ofhim. Both women knew that the Lieutenant was ready to draw his sabre inKatherine's behalf.

  Katherine had met Butler while visiting St. Louis the year before, hadcome to know him well, and didn't pretend to dislike him. His father andmother were dead, but his people were of consequence.

  Mrs. Searles determined to ask the Major to make some inquiries abouther daughter's suitor, and meanwhile dismissed Katherine with thecaution not to tempt this midday sun overmuch; "It will soon turn yourpeach-blow into russet apples," she told her, "and men, you know, likethe peach-blow. Without it you might be less troubled by the youngofficers."

  * * * * *

  The sun was about to depart. The families of the officers were sittingunder their _ramadas_ enjoying the cool. Butler and Shockley with two orthree other men were seated with the Searleses when their attention wasattracted by a commotion down by the quarters.

  "What's the circus?"

  "Don't make out; seems to be coming this way. It is--why, it is thescout Ermine!"

  The group sat expectantly and witnessed the approach of John Ermine onhis horse. At some distance to one side rode Wolf-Voice, and graduallythrough the dusk they made out some small animal between them--adog-like thing.

  The riders drew up before the Searleses' hut, and every one rose. Theobject was a scared and demoralized wolf with his tail between his legs.His neck was encircled by two rawhide lariats which ran to the pommelsof the riders.

  Touching his hat, Ermine said, "Miss Searles, I have brought you thewolf."

  "Goodness gracious, Mr. Ermine! I only said that in fun. What can Ipossibly do with a wolf?"

  "I don't know. You said you wanted one, so here he is."

  "Yaes," said Wolf-Voice, with an oath, "she was bite my harm hoff; youno want heem; I skin her alive." He had previously warned Ermine that noone but a d---- fool would want a live wolf.

  "Well, daughter, what are you going to do with it? Start a Zoo? I don'tknow where we can put him," spoke Major Searles, in perplexity.

  "He will have to roost high if the dogs find out about this visitation,"observed Shockley.

  "How did you get him, Ermine?"

  "Dug him out of his den, and before we got him roped he pinchedWolf-Voice, and I had a hard time to keep him from killing the beast."

  "Yaes; no want him, an' we dig a hole mile deep mabeso--dig ever sincesu
n she so high, ten-as tol-a-pas." And in his disgust Wolf-Voice wasabout to slacken his rope.

  "Hold up there; don't turn that animal loose near here! Take him down tothe corral and lock him up. We'll see to-morrow what can be done withhim," spoke Searles.

  Ermine and Wolf-Voice turned and drifted out into the gathering darknesswith their forlorn tow, while a few soldiers with clubs fought the dogsoff as they gradually began to gather around their natural enemy.

  "Why, I only asked for a wolf in the most casual way--in a joking way;you heard me, Mr. Shockley."

  "Yes, I did hear you, but I also heard him say you should have one, andI thought at the time he looked serious about it."

  "I was so astonished that I did not properly thank him," she added; "andthe Indian was in a lovely humor over the whole episode; his disgust wasmost apparent. I must be more careful what I say to Mr. Ermine."

  "I have it," cried the Major; "we'll make up a purse, buy the wolf, andrun him so soon as he gets over the effects of his capture."

  "No, no, papa, you must not offend Ermine with money. He would beawfully offended; that would be the very last thing to do to him."