CAPTAIN CAREY [Illustration: "'Great heavens!' cried Kit, 'it is the noble Wallace!'" (See page 87)] CAPTAIN CAREY OR Fighting the Indians at Pine Ridge BY LIEUT. LOUNSBERRY Author of "Won at West Point" [Illustration] PHILADELPHIA DAVID McKAY, PUBLISHER 610 SOUTH WASHINGTON SQUARE Copyright, 1896 and 1899, By STREET & SMITH CAPTAIN CAREY. CHAPTER I. 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."