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Harte, Bret, 1836-1902

"Drift from Two Shores"


In two hours she returned. In one hand she held three small flaxen
scalps, in the other "The Boy Marauder," complete in one volume,
price ten cents.
"Three pale-faced children," she gasped, "were reading it in the
tail end of an emigrant wagon. I crept up to them softly. Their
parents are still unaware of the accident," and she sank helpless
at his feet.
"Noble girl!" said the Boy Chief, gazing proudly on her prostrate
form; "and these are the people that a military despotism expects
to subdue!"

CHAPTER IV

But the capture of several wagon-loads of commissary whisky, and
the destruction of two tons of stationery intended for the general
commanding, which interfered with his regular correspondence with
the War Department, at last awakened the United States military
authorities to active exertion. A quantity of troops were massed
before the "Pigeon Feet" encampment, and an attack was hourly
imminent.
"Shine your boots, sir?"
It was the voice of a youth in humble attire, standing before the
flap of the commanding general's tent.


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