"If it was not that General Miles is held in check by the President, he would quickly strike a blow that would forever put down these Indian wars; but as it is, he has to go with caution, as orders are constantly coming from as far back in his rear as Washington City, and so he is trammeled. "Surgeon Frank Powell, your old and trusted friend, is here, hatching affairs like a hawk, and Buffalo Bill is on the alert for a move when orders come to him giving him the word to go. "I am just back from the Wounded Knee battle-field, and it must have been a terrible affair. "I have heard of your courage there, and that you left on the trail of Red Hatchet. "If you find him I am sure the 'Hatchet' will be forever buried. "With good will, believe me, "Yours, JOHN M. BURKE." He was also notified that another company of Indian scouts was ordered to report at a certain point, awaiting orders from Lieutenant Carey, and two troops of cavalry, and a Hotchkiss gun were stationed within easy call, should he need them, while the commanding general had appointed him acting captain until further orders. "If this war lasts long enough, and I do not get killed, it shall be captain in reality," muttered Kit Carey. Then he broke the seal of another letter. It was from Surgeon Frank Powell, and only a few lines, as follows; "MY DEAR CAREY.--It has just come to my knowledge that the officer who captures Red Hatchet, the red fiend who started the Wounded Knee fight, is to go up a step in promotion. "Go for the two bars on the shoulder straps, for you are the man to win them. "Yours, FRANK POWELL." And just as he read these lines, that the captor of Red Hatchet was to be promoted, by one of those strange coincidences that those we speak of, or are in our minds, appear before us, into sight dashed the Sioux band, and at their head their terrible young chief. "Speak of the devil and his imp appears," cried Kit Carey, and hastily thrusting his papers away he called for his men to saddle and follow him. For once he, too, had been caught, if not napping, at a disadvantage. He had not looked for a foe from the rear. Had he come from the front he would have come in sight in ample time to give them a chance to be prepared for him. But along the very trail he was guarding, and from the Bernard ranch direction, came Red Hatchet and his band. "And that lovely girl is his captive. I feared it," cried Kit Carey, as he recognized in the captive of the chief the settler's daughter. Hastily he took in the numbers of the Indians, and then glanced over his own party. "I can leave two scouts here, and take fourteen men with me. Just half his force, and little less than half; but I will make the attempt to rescue the girl and get my captaincy, too."