An officer is sent from the post to inspect all the cattle and rations
that are issued to them - yet there is much cheating. Once it was
discovered that a very inferior brand of flour was being given the
Indians - that sacks with the lettering and marks of the brand the
government was supposed to issue to them had been slipped over the
sacks which really held the inferior flour, and carefully tied. Just
imagine the trouble some one had taken, but there had been a fat
reward, of course, and then, where had those extra sacks come
from - where had the fine flour gone?
Some one could have explained it all. I must admit, however, that
anyone who has seen an Indian use flour would say that the most
inferior grade would be good enough for them, to be mixed in dirty old
pans, with still dirtier hands. This lack of cleanliness and
appreciation of things by the Indians makes stealing from them very
tempting.
The very night after the troops had gone out there was an excitement
in the garrison, and, as usual, I was mixed up in it, not through my
own choosing, however. I had been at Mrs. Palmer's playing whist
during the evening, and about eleven o'clock two of the ladies came
down to the house with me. The night was the very darkest I ever saw,
and of this we spoke as we came along the walk. Almost all the lights
were out in the officers' quarters, making the whole post seem dismal,
and as I came in the house and locked the door, I felt as if I could
never remain here until morning. Hang was in his room, of course but
would be no protection whatever if anything should happen.
Major and Mrs. Stokes have not yet returned from the East, so the
adjoining house is unoccupied, and on my right is Mrs. Norton, who is
alone also, as Doctor Norton is in camp with the troops. She had urged
me to go to her house for the night, but I did not go, because of the
little card party. I ran upstairs as though something evil was at my
heels and bolted my door, but did not fasten the dormer windows that
run out on the roof in front. Before retiring, I put a small, lighted
lantern in a closet and left the door open just a little, thinking
that the streak of light would be cheering and the lantern give me a
light quickly if I should need one.
Our breakfast had been very early that morning, on account of the
troops marching, and I was tired and fell asleep immediately, I think.
After a while I was conscious of hearing some one walking about in the
room corresponding to mine in the next house, but I dozed on, thinking
to myself that there was no occasion for feeling nervous, as the
people next door were still up.
