But Lieutenant Baldwin Was Very Silent, And Ever
Looking Back At The Queer Gray Cloud.
Once I looked at it, too, and
was amazed at the wonderfully fast way it had spread out, but just
then John shied at something, and in managing the horse I forgot the
cloud.
When about two miles from the post, Lieutenant Baldwin, who had fallen
back a little, called to us, "Put your horses to their best pace - a
sand storm is coming!" Then we knew there was a possibility of much
danger, for Lieutenant Baldwin is known to be a keen observer, and our
confidence in his judgment was great, so, without once looking back to
see what was coming after us, Lieutenant Alden and I started our
horses on a full run.
Well, that cloud increased in size with a rapidity you could never
imagine, and soon the sun was obscured as if by an eclipse. It became
darker and darker, and by the time we got opposite the post trader's
there could be heard a loud, continuous roar, resembling that of a
heavy waterfall.
Just then Lieutenant Baldwin grasped my bridle rein on the right and
told Lieutenant Alden to ride close on my left, which was done not a
second too soon, for as we reached the officers' line the storm struck
us, and with such force that I was almost swept from my saddle. The
wind was terrific and going at hurricane speed, and the air so thick
with sand and dirt we could not see the ears of our own horses. The
world seemed to have narrowed to a space that was appalling! You will
think that this could never have been - that I was made blind by
terror - but I can assure you that the absolute truth is being written.
Lieutenant Baldwin's voice sounded strange and far, far away when he
called to me, "Sit tight in your saddle and do not jump!" And then
again he fairly yelled, "We must stay together - and keep the horses
from stampeding to the stables!" He was afraid they would break away
and dash us against the iron supports to the flagstaff in the center
of the parade ground. How he could say one word, or even open his
mouth, I do not understand, for the air was thick with gritty dirt.
The horses were frantic, of course, whirling around each other,
rearing and pulling, in their efforts to get free.
We must have stayed in about the same place twenty minutes or longer,
when, just for one instant, there was a lull in the storm, and I
caught a glimpse of the white pickets of a fence! Without stopping to
think of horse's hoofs and, alas! without calling one word to the two
officers who were doing everything possible to protect me, I shut my
eyes tight, freed my foot from the stirrup, and, sliding down from my
horse, started for those pickets! How I missed Lieutenant Alden's
horse, and how I got to that fence, I do not know. The force of the
wind was terrific, and besides, I was obliged to cross the little
acequia. But I did get over the fifteen or sixteen feet of ground
without falling, and oh, the joy of getting my arms around those
pickets!
The storm continued for some time; but finally the atmosphere began to
clear, and I could see objects around me. And then out of the dust
loomed up Lieutenant Baldwin. He was about halfway down the line and
riding close to the fence, evidently looking for me. When he came up,
leading my horse, his face was black with more than dirt. He reminded
me of having told me positively not to jump from my horse, and asked
if I realized that I might have been knocked down and killed by the
crazy animals. Of course I had perceived all that as soon as I reached
safety, but I could not admit my mistake at that time without breaking
down and making a scene. I was nervous and exhausted, and in no
condition to be scolded by anyone, so I said: "If you were not an old
bachelor you would have known better than to have told a woman not to
do a thing - you would have known that, in all probability, that would
be the very thing she would do first!" That mollified him a little,
but we did not laugh - life had just been too serious for that.
The chaplain had joined us, and so had Lieutenant Alden. The fence I
had run to was the chaplain's, and when the good man saw us he came
out and assisted me to his house, where I received the kindest care
from Mrs. Lawton. I knew that Faye would be greatly worried about me,
so as soon as I had rested a little - enough to walk - and had got some
of the dust out of my eyes, the chaplain and I hurried down to our
house to let him know that I was safe.
At every house along the line the heavy shutters were closed, and not
one living thing was to be seen, and the post looked as though it
might have been long abandoned. There was a peculiar light, too, that
made the most familiar objects seem strange. Yes, we saw a squad of
enlisted men across the parade ground, trying with immense ropes to
get back in place the heavy roof of the long commissary building which
had been partly blown off.
We met Faye at our gate, just starting out to look for us. He said
that when the storm first came up he was frightened about me, but when
the broad adobe house began to rock he came to the conclusion that I
was about as safe out on the plains as I would be in a house,
particularly as I was on a good horse, and with two splendid horsemen
who would take the very best care of me.
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