Chapter 11
The Great Battle By Rock Hill
In front of the headquarters building back at Fort Courage, Major Chase stepped up into the wagon seat. Piled behind were the stack of crates that were supposedly his.
"Well, Captain, I'm off. I must tell you I've enjoyed my stay here very much."
"Thank you, Major," Parmenter replied from the porch. "I'm glad everything went well for you."
"Indeed it did. I'm sure my superiors will be pleased with what I'm bringing them. As a token of the Red man's good will, they should be very interested in seeing them. Especially that teepee."
"I'm sure they will, major. I almost wish I could be there when they open them up."
"I'll be sure to write you what their response is."
Parmenter smiled with expectation. "Oh good! I'll be looking forward to it. Oh, and be sure and tell them that if they have any questions about how something works or what it's for or anything of that sort, for them just to give us a wire. We'd be happy to explain."
Chase gave an awkward grin. "Uh, yes. I'm sure that won't be necessary, but thank you, Captain."
"Glad to help. Anything for our working leaders in Washington."
Just then there was the approaching sound of pounding hooves.
Chase looked through the open fort gates. "Two horses coming."
Parmenter leaned forward on is toes trying to see too. "Do they have riders?"
"Of course they have riders. Looks like your two noncoms."
Parmenter nodded. "Oh, yes. I know those horses then."
They watched the two noncoms gallop through. The dust on their clothes told they had been riding hard.
O'Rourke brought his black horse to a sliding stop beside the wagon. "Major! I'm glad we caught you in time!" And that he was sincere about.
"What's the trouble, Sergeant?" Chase asked.
"The Hekawis gave us a tip that some of the Shug warriors have been a bit restless and that there was a chance one of their marauding bands is in the area."
Randel brought his horse over beside the sergeant's. "On the way back we even found some fresh signs that a band may have passed not far from here."
O'Rourke nodded. "It could mean trouble for your trip, sir."
"Oh dear." Chase dropped his hands to his lap. "I don't want to lose any of these gifts, but I can't delay getting back to Washington any longer."
"Are you sure it could really mean that the major could get attacked, Sergeant?" Parmenter asked.
"I think there's a high chance of it, Captain," O'Rourke said. He then spoke to Chase. "Major, for your protection, I think Corporal Agarn and myself should ride along with you as an escort. At least until you're well out of the area. After all, I want to see these gifts of the Red man's good will get back to Washington as much as you do."
Chase sat straighter with a pleased smile. "Thank you, Sergeant. That's good thinking. I'll be glad to have you and the corporal along."
"I'm coming along too," Parmenter announced.
O'Rourke shook his head. "I don't think there's any need for that, Captain. We don't know what we'll run into out there. Could be trouble and could be nothing. Besides, Agarn and myself can handle things."
"I have no doubt of that, Sergeant, but it's always better to have an extra pair of eyes when the situation could be hazardous."
"But, Captain–"
Parmenter held up a palm. "No, no. If my men are going into perilous territory, then it's my duty to be there to fight with them."
"Did you hear that, Sarge?" Agarn turned to O'Rourke. His chin quivered and he whipped his nose with the tie of his neckerchief. He sniffed emotionally, "What more could a man ask of his commanding officer then for him to be there through territory of pearls?"
"That's perils, Agarn," O'Rourke corrected.
Parmenter looked kindly at the corporal. "I think it's the least I can do for the men under me. I'll get my horse and be with you in a minute. We'll get the major through – together."
"Yeah, well…" O'Rourke mumbled as the captain strode off with head high. He'd hoped that it would be just the major that would be with them. More people meant more chances of their plans getting foiled. But then again, if he did have to pick anyone who had the least possible chances of finding it out, it would have to be Captain Parmenter.
A while later, the sagging wagon rattled down the dusty road, Major Chase at the reins. O'Rourke and Agarn rode just ahead as lookouts. Behind, they could hear Chase recounting about an adventure this reminded him of to Parmenter who was riding along beside.
"And I thought the major couldn't have another story left in him," Agarn muttered unenthusiastically. "That makes three more new ones in just the last half hour."
"He sure does seem to be full of them." O'Rourke smirked as he peeked over his shoulder to see the captain trying not to doze off in the saddle. His attention was brought back to the road when his friend spoke.
"Hey, Sarge. There's Rock Hill."
Up ahead they could see where the road cut between an area where the ground rose to a hill on one side, covered with large rocks. On the other side was the tree line that stretched for miles.
"Alright, Agarn. Be ready," O'Rourke alerted. "Wild Eagle and his braves should be just ahead."
"Right, Sarge. I just hope they don't get carried away."
"Don't worry. They won't."
"Sarge, you put a bow and arrow in an Indian's hands and you don't know what might happen."
"Even if they did, there's nothing to worry about anyway."
"Why not?"
"None of them can shoot straight."
As if in answer. A rifle shot split the air and Agarn's hat flipped off his head.
"But they can shoot bullets straight!" he yelped.
"This is it!" O'Rourke said as he spun his horse around. "Let's make it look good or we're dead!"
"Worse than that; we'll be bankrupt!" Agarn reasoned and quickly followed.
O'Rourke galloped toward the wagon as he yelled, "It's a Shug attack, Captain!" He pulled his gun and gave a few shots into the trees, but well above head height. Agarn did the same.
"Indian attack!" Parmenter shouted and fumbled to get his gun out of its holster.
Wild yells rose from the trees as a dozen or more painted and feathered Indians popped out from the brush. Gunfire filled the air and arrows zipped around. Chase brought the wagon horses to a halt and whipped out his pistol.
"Why those bushwhackers! I'll give 'em a fight they won't forget!" He began firing into the trees.
Parmenter succeeded in getting his gun out and stepped from the saddle right onto the wagon, surprisingly making it with no mishaps. He ducked down beside the seat and started firing as well.
O'Rourke saw and brought his fidgeting horse next to Agarn's. "We gotta get the major and captain out of that wagon before they hurt somebody."
"Yeah. The Hekawis might get mad and start hurting us back," Agarn replied.
O'Rourke came closer to the wagon. "Major! Captain!" he bellowed over the noise. "We'll have a better chance if we make our stand from the hill!"
"Good thinking, Sergeant!" Parmenter yelled back.
"Make a break for the higher rocks! We'll cover you!" O'Rourke said and popped off a few more high shots.
Taking one last shot, Chase quickly jumped down from the wagon and rushed to the hill. Behind him, Parmenter also jumped, but the back of his gun belt looped over the break handle. His decent was abruptly stopped and he found himself hung up on the side of the wagon, his toes not quite able to touch the ground. Chase didn't notice as he made his way up toward a large rock that looked defendable. O'Rourke and Agarn dismounted and began to follow.
When he noticed only the major was ahead, O'Rourke paused as he searched around. "Where's the captain?"
Agarn suddenly pointed back. "There he is, Sarge!"
The sergeant looked to see their leader hanging from his gun belt on the brake lever. Squirming in air, Parmenter waved his arm as he shouted, "Go on men! Go on without me!"
O'Rourke's sigh turned into a groan. "Oh, no. It had to happen."
"You gunna free him, Sarge?"
"I have to. Wild Eagle can't snatch the wagon with the captain stuck to it. Come on."
They quickly hurried back. Had he not been in such a hurry, O'Rourke might have thought the sight amusing. "Don't worry, Sir. I'll get you out of here." He tugged at the belt buckle, trying to unclip it. It wouldn't budge.
Parmenter shook his head. "It's no use, Sergeant! It's stuck! Save yourselves!"
"Wait, I got an idea! Agarn, get on the ground."
"What?" Agarn said.
"Get down on your hands and knees and give the captain something to stand on. Then we'll slip the belt over his head."
Agarn didn't look thrilled but did as ordered. Parmenter stood on the corporal's back, lifting him a bit so he wasn't hanging anymore. O'Rourke then slid the gun belt up over the captain's slim waist and chest. Hands over head, Parmenter wiggled through the rest of the tight squeeze. His shoulders abruptly popped through and he lost his balance. Agarn gave a whoosh as the captain sat down hard on top of him.
"There! We got it!" O'Rourke announced as he flipped the still clipped belt free from the brake.
Parmenter picked himself up off the corporal. "It's a good thing I've been staying away from sweets lately."
Agarn got up stiffly, straightening his sore back. "That makes two of us, Captain."
O'Rourke thrust Parmenter's gun belt to him. "Let's get to cover!"
The three quickly scurried up the hill to where the major crouched behind the cover of a large boulder.
"Thank goodness you made it!" he exclaimed as they joined him.
"Sorry, Major," Agarn said. "The captain got hung up."
Together they crouched behind the boulder. Bullets ricocheted off rocks around them and arrows fell just short of their cover.
"Strange," Chase mused. "They're not even coming close to hitting us. I would have thought renegade Indians would be better shots than that."
O'Rourke thought fast. "Oh, well you see, sir, that's because they're trying to make us use up all our ammunition by making us shoot back at them. It's an old Shug trick."
"Makes it easier when they strike for the final kill," Agarn put in.
Parmenter tilted his head slightly as he thought. "Oh. I didn't know that." He turned back to trying to unbuckle his stuck gun belt.
O'Rourke went on. "So you see, that's our strategy. If we don't fire back, it saves us bullets for if they make a charge."
Chase nodded. "Yes, yes. Good thinking, Sergeant. Your men have good heads on their shoulders, Captain."
"Thank you," Parmenter grunted as he pulled at the stubborn clip.
"How long do you think it'll be before they charge, Sergeant?" Chase asked.
"I'm sure we won't have to wait long before something happens," O'Rourke said cagily.
Agarn peeked over the boulder, and gave an overacted gasp. "Oh my, Sarge! Look at what's happening!"
Cautiously, they all peeked over. Below they saw two painted Indian braves leading the wagon horses into the trees.
Chase stiffened. "Why! Those Indian's are stealing my tokens of the Red man's good will!"
"And the wagon," Agarn put in. "Those sneaking token stealing thieves!"
"And to think I was stuck on that wagon," Parmenter mused.
Below, the wagon disappeared in the trees and the Indians pulled back so they too disappeared in the brush, but their continued firing told that they were still there.
"Men, we've got to get that wagon back! Or my entire mission here will have been for nothing!" Chase announced.
O'Rourke shook his head as though thinking over the situation. "Sir, they've got a good advantage over us. I mean with all the cover from those woods they have more protection. Why any man trying to get down there probably wouldn't be able to get ten yards before he'd be cut to shreds."
"They wouldn't?" Agarn asked a bit nervously.
Chase nodded in deep thought. "Yes, I know, Sergeant. What we need is a plan."
"I've got it!" Parmenter exclaimed.
Chase turned expectantly to him. "You've got a plan, Captain?"
"No, I got my gun belt buckle to unclip." He held it up happily.
"Oh."
O'Rourke put his shoulders back with a determined expression. "Major, there is no choice in this matter. You and the captain stay here, sir. Corporal Agarn and myself will go in after those bloodthirsty Indians and retrieve your property."
"Sergeant!" Parmenter gasped, nearly dropping his gun belt he was putting back on. "You can't go in there alone! You'll be cut down!"
"We have to do it, sir. They could keep us pinned here for hours and our ammunition can only last for so long before it finally diminishes leaving us helpless."
"That's right, Sir!" Agarn added. "It's the only way. And if our duty requires that we face danger by possibly making the supreme sacrifice, then that is what we are called to do."
Parmenter groaned in a grudging sound. "Well, alright. Not that I agree, but there doesn't seem to be anything else we can do."
"Thank you, sir." O'Rourke said sorrowfully as if saying goodbye forever. "Let's go, Agarn."
Parmenter suddenly stepped after them. "I'm going with you!" He was halted by the sergeant's hand.
"No, Captain," O'Rourke said quickly. "This is one time we must face the danger alone. We can't risk the major's life, and we can't leave him here to fight single-handed. You'll have to stay here to help him. We're expendable."
"F Troop will never forget you for this," Parmenter said sadly. "Good luck, men."
"Thank you, Captain." O'Rourke signaled to the corporal. "Come on, Agarn," he said resolutely.
"Right, Sarge."
They crept to the edge of the boulder, then dashed to the next available rock further down the hill. Together, Parmenter and the major peered over the boulder and watched with baited breath. They could see the two men below as they scurried from one rock to another until they had reached the edge of the road. Then, breaking from their last available cover, they sprinted with guns drawn into the open.
"They're making their run!" Chase said. "We'd better cover them!"
The two officers began blasting into the bushes and trees as fast as they could pull the triggers. Parmenter held his breath, expecting at any minute for them to fall to the ground, cut down by a savages' bullet or arrow. But the two men made it safely across and disappeared into the woods on the other side. Parmenter and Chase ceased their fire for fear off accidentally hitting their own men. Now they sat back to wait. Parmenter let out the breath he realized he had been holding. Listening to what sounded like a raging battle beyond, his face was deeply lined, heart heavy as he thought of the terrible time they must be having.
Chase put a hand on his shoulder. "I know how you must feel, Captain. It's hard to send good men into their possible deaths and not be able to help. Especially two such brave and dedicated soldiers like them."
Parmenter nodded. "Yes. I don't know what I'll do if they never come back. The fort just wouldn't be the same without them. But that's not the worst of it."
"What's that?"
"What will I tell their mothers?"
O'Rourke and Agarn pushed through the brush. Beyond they could hear the hooping and howling growing louder as they approached.
"Just listen to that racket they're makin', Sarge," Agarn said to the sergeant's back as he followed behind. "You sure they aren't actually real Indians?"
"Naw," O'Rourke's voice came back to him. "Did you see how wide those shots were when they attacked us?" He chuckled. "They're Hekawis alright."
"I sure hope this works, Sarge."
"Me too. I was just able to cover that sneaking Wild Eagle's attack fee. It'll take all I can scrape out of the saloon to pay the rest if it doesn't. Even more."
"And if this doesn't work we won't have to worry about it."
"You can say that again."
"And if this doesn't work we won't have to–"
"Oh, just keep walking. They should be around here somewhere."
Agarn looked around, but saw nothing but brush and trees. "I don't see 'em, Sarge."
"Pssst!" a nearby bush whispered.
Agarn jumped. "What was that?"
"O'Rourke! Agarn!" came from the bush.
Agarn leapt away, cowering behind the sergeant. "Sarge! That bush! It knows our names!"
O'Rourke pried the corporal off of him. "Relax, relax. It's just Wild Eagle." To the bush he called, "All right Wild Eagle, you can come on out now."
Wild Eagle appeared before them. His face was none too happy beneath the thick war paint. "You said we shoot over your head. Say nothing about your side shooting back," he growled.
O'Rourke flipped his hand. "Ahh, don't worry. The major and captain got a little excited, but there were so many trees that they couldn't've hit you anyway."
"Oh no?" Wild Eagle pointed up to three holes punched in the feathers of his war bonnet. "What you call that?"
"Oh yeah?!" Agarn shot back and pointed to the hole in his own hat. "What do you call that?! And you said you were shooting over our heads!"
"Can't blame Hekawi if we bad shots! We peaceful tribe! Only fight when we get paid to do it!"
"Alright, cut it out you two," O'Rourke cut in. "They were lucky shots is all. But you're safe now, Chief. They won't shoot while we're in here. Just keep those braves of yours howling for a while longer. We want 'em to think there's a real battle going on in here."
"They not stop till I tell 'em," Wild Eagle replied. "Or at least till they reach end of time period that attack cost cover."
"Just so long as it gives us enough time to get those boxes switched around. Where'd you put the major's wagon?"
"Just ahead."
Wild Eagle led the way and they entered a small clearing just ahead. In the middle sat two wagons, the harnessed horses almost asleep despite the noise. One wagon was empty with a stack of crates beside it. Perched on top of the pile of crates in the other was Crazy Cat, handing them down to a line of Indian below. It was then passed down to the line to be placed in the empty wagon.
"We already unload boxes from our wagon to save time," Wild Eagle explained. "Now we taking boxes from Major's wagon and loading them into other."
O'Rourke patted him on the shoulder. "Good thinking, Chief."
"Hey, Sarge, look at that," Agarn pointed.
Stuck on the back of each wagon was a sign. On the empty one that was being filled it said: OURS. On the one being emptying it said: NOT OURS.
Wild Eagle gave a resolute nod. "We making sure nothing get mixed up this time."
Agarn looked impressed. "Say, that was a smart idea. Maybe if we had labeled the wagons in the first place we wouldn't of had so much trouble." Then he asked, "We going to give them a hand, Sarge?"
"They've got it under control. Besides, we've got something else to do." O'Rourke knelt down and scratched at the ground, digging his fingers into the dirt. He took a handful and rubbed it between his fingers. The top soil was soft and crumbly, but underneath it was a slightly moist mud, still damp from the rain the night before. "Oh, perfect," he smiled.
Agarn was confused as he watched. "What's perfect?"
"This," O'Rourke indicated to the dirt. "It'll make a good show. C'mon. Start dirtying yourself up."
"Huh?"
O'Rourke scooped up a pile of damp soil in his hands. "We've gotta make it look like we drove 'em off, don't we?"
"Yeah."
"Well, so we gotta make it look like we had a hard time doin' it." He stood up and flung the dirt onto Agarn's shirt.
Agarn spit as some hit his face. "But–!" The rest that came out was just a muffled gasp as two large hands began smearing sticky mud on his face. After a moment, the hands ceased their vigorous rubbing and again Agarn spit. He sighed. "Well, there goes another shirt."
A little more work on the front and the sergeant then turned him around and began smearing the back. He grinned. "We'll make 'em think we had the fight of the century in here."
Agarn wiggled a bit. "Hey Sarge, while you're back there, could you get this itch I've got in the middle of my back?"
"We've got no time for that now."
"But, Sarge, it's only fair. I scratch your back and you scratch mine."
"Never mind," O'Rourke muttered. A few seconds more and he backed off. "There. That'll do."
Agarn looked down at himself. His uniform was now splotched blue and brown. He groaned. "Now I'll have to take a bath tonight!"
"What'd you think? This was going to be a clean fight?" O'Rourke scooped up more mud and began rubbing it on himself. "Hey, Wild Eagle. Have 'em shoot a few arrows into the trees and ground just to make it look good."
"You got it, O'Rourke," Wild Eagle said. He turned to some of the near braves and said a few obscure words in Hekawi. The braves understood and knocked their strings. Wild Eagle turned back to the sergeant. "They make sure it look good."
"Good."
Sswissh! Dwing! The three jumped as an arrow embedded into the ground between them.
O'Rourke spun around with a scowl. "Hey! Watch where you're aimin' those stickers! We don't want to make this look too good!"
"Sorry 'bout that," Wild Eagle apologized then yelled, "Watch what you doing! Aim that way!" He pointed away from their area.
"Told you braves not know how to use 'em," Crazy Cat called out from his perch.
Agarn put a hand over his heart, almost hyperventilating. "At least I won't have to fake my racing adrenaline."
O'Rourke went back to the mud. "Hey Agarn. Rub a little on the back of my shirt, will ya'?"
"Sure, Sarge." Agarn grabbed more dirt and began spreading it over the wide shoulders. "You got an itch while I'm back here?"
"Just dirty it up, will ya'?" the sergeant snapped as he smeared his face. "We haven't got all day!"
"Alright, alright. I'm almost done," came from behind.
"How's those boxes going?" O'Rourke asked the chief.
Wild Eagle checked. "Nearly half done."
"Good."
A moment later, Agarn announced he'd finished. O'Rourke turned to him.
"Well? How do I look?"
Agarn's eyes peered through brown smudge. The sergeant looked as bad as him now, lightly smeared from head to foot in dirt. "Like you just battled an entire tribe single-handed, Sarge. How about me?"
O'Rourke looked him over. He cocked his head to one side, drawing back the corner of his mouth. "Hmm. There's something missing."
Two brown eyebrows puckered. "What?"
O'Rourke thought a moment then snapped his fingers. "I got it. What you need is something to make you look like you had a close call. Something like…" Suddenly an arrow zipped by. It pierced through the top of the now mud-brown and cream crown of the corporal's hat and stuck there, the arrowhead sticking out the other side. "There! That's perfect!"
Agarn's panicked eyes crossed to see the feathered tip sticking out over his forehead. "Did you see that?!" he squeaked. "That's the second time I almost got it between the eyes!"
Wild Eagle shook his head soberly. "Same old story. When you want them to hit something they miss. When you want them to miss they hit everything in sight."
Not really listening, O'Rourke rubbed his hands together in anticipation. "Now we're ready for the final act as soon as the wagon's loaded. The captain and major are still out there where we left 'em so we got to wrap this up soon before they begin to get suspicious."
Five minutes passed as they waited.
"This last one," Crazy Cat finally announced as he handed a crate up to a brave perched on top of the "NOT OURS" wagon.
"Good work," O'Rourke praised. He helped tie down the stack, and, securing the last knot, he slapped it with a hand. "That does it! We did it, Agarn!"
Agarn wasn't listening as he toyed with the arrow sticking from his hat with a finger.
Crazy Cat came up to him. "Me think it really do something for you, Agarn."
Agarn's face brightened. He readjusted the hat. "You really think so, Craze?"
Crazy Cat nodded. "Maybe you start new fashion. Women go for things like that."
"Say, maybe you're right!" Agarn began to get excited. "I could start a whole new trend! A whole new line of ladies hats, each with an arrow through the top and the brims could be shaped like hearts, see?"
Crazy Cat listened intently. "Could call it the 'you're-the-arrow-through-my-heart'."
"Say, that's not bad, Craze! Or how about … cupid's bonnet."
O'Rourke cut in. "Enough with the fashions you two. It's time to end this fight. Wild Eagle, tell your brave braves to start skedaddling, but keep makin' noise."
"You got it, O'Rourke." Wild Eagle signaled to the others and they dashed back into the woods. A brave climbed into the wagon and slapped the reins, waking the dozing horses. The heavy "OURS" wagon slowly disappeared into the brush as the howling growing fainter in the trees.
"Now for the last part of the act." The sergeant took out his revolver and pointed it into the air and Randel stuck his fingers in his ears. O'Rourke shot twice then cupped a hand around his mouth and bellowed loud enough to be heard back at the road. "Agarn! I think they're pulling back!"
"I think you're right, Sarge!" Agarn hollered.
"Agarn! Watch out!"
Agarn dropped to the ground like a rock before he realized that the sergeant was only saying it for show. He rose to meet his friend's stare. "That was a close one, Sarge!" he yelled out and looked away sheepishly.
O'Rourke lowered his voice and jabbed a thumb toward the trees. "All right, Wild Eagle. You and Craze beat it. We'll take it from here."
"Right, O'Rourke." They started off.
"Hey, wait a minute!" The sergeant stopped them. He snatched the NOT OURS sign off the second wagon. "Don't forget this."
"We wouldn't want to have to try and explain that," Agarn said.
"Good thinking," Wild Eagle nodded. He took it and put a hand up. "See ya' later." Then he and Crazy Cat rushed away into the bushes. The two noncoms waited a few moments to give them time to get further away.
"I think that's long enough. Follow my lead," O'Rourke whispered. Then he shouted, "Agarn! They've retreated!"
"You're right, Sarge! We did it!" Agarn yelled. "Are you all right!"
"I don't know, Agarn! I haven't checked yet!" By now the fading hollers had died completely away, and O'Rourke called out. "Captain Parmenter! Are you still out there!"
A faint voice came to them through the trees. "Yes, Sergeant! We're all still here!"
"It's safe now, sir! You can come in!" He lowered his voice. "Act fatigued."
Agarn's fingers made an OK sign. He drooped his shoulders and began to pant like a dog.
O'Rourke shook his head as he made a slight face. "Don't overdo it."
Agarn shrugged and calmed it down to just a heavy breathing.
"Perfect." O'Rourke crouched down behind a tree and Agarn did the same a few trunks away. There was a faint rustling in the bushes beyond and they knew the captain and major were coming. It slowly came closer.
"Over this way, major," a voice that sounded like Parmenter's said.
"I think we should go a little more to the left," Chase's voice replied.
"Oh? I think if we keep going this way, we'll run right into them."
"Maybe we should split up."
"I don't think that'll be necessary, Major." After a minute of bushes rustling, the voice came again. "Uh, maybe we should go a little to the left like you suggested." More rustling.
Chase's voice came again after a pause. "Wait. Isn't that the same log we passed?"
"Maybe it just came from a related tree."
"Captain, I think we just went in a circle around those bushes."
O'Rourke glanced baffled at Agarn. "How can two men get lost between here and the road?" he whispered. Agarn shrugged.
"Did the sounds come from more this way or that way?" Parmenter's voice asked.
"I'm not sure."
"Let's just keep going and see where it takes us." More rustling. "Let's see, if the hill is that way then … Aha! Then it's this way!"
"It is?"
"We should be coming in sight of them any second now, Major. Follow me!"
"But, Captain, if you go that way, I think you'll be heading back for the road."
"I will?"
Agarn rolled his eyes and threw his arms up. "Our great leader! By the time he finds us it'll be too dark for him to be able to see all the makeup we put on for him!"
O'Rourke shook his head. "I'd better direct him before they really get lost." He cupped a hand around his mouth. "Captain! Over here!"
"Oh!" a voice said. "It's this way, Major."
A few seconds later, Captain Parmenter broke through into the small clearing followed by Major Chase. "Here we are, Major!" He looked around, but all he saw was the loaded wagon. "Sergeant? Corporal?" he called out. He rounded a tree but immediately stumbled back as his nose abruptly came in contact with an arrow shaft stuck in the truck. He would've ended up sitting down if the major hadn't caught him.
"Are you alright, Captain?" Chase asked as he set the captain back on his feet.
"I'm fine. I'm fine," Parmenter nasally answered, holding a hand over his smarting nose.
Chase glanced around. "Well, there's the wagon, but where are your men?"
Seeing a good entrance cue, O'Rourke pushed himself up from behind the tree, staggering a bit as he walked toward them. Agarn followed, panting while dragging the toes of his boots.
"Captain!" the sergeant called out breathlessly.
Parmenter saw them and he and Chase rushed over. Parmenter grabbed O'Rourke's arm to steady him. "Sergeant! Are you two alright? Are you hit?" he asked with concern, looking them over.
O'Rourke shook his head. "I don't think so, sir, but we were so intent on the battle that we never had time to notice."
"It was a close one alright, captain," Agarn puffed as the major held him up. "It was the Little Big Horn all over again."
"We lost that one," Chase stated.
Agarn blinked as he thought. "Oh. Well … this version had a better ending."
Parmenter's eyes went wide as he noticed the feather tipped shaft sticking out the front of Agarn's hat. "Corporal! You were nearly hit by that arrow! Boy that was close."
Agarn nodded as he went on dramatically, "Yes, sir. But I couldn't let a thing like that stop me. A few of 'em jumped us but we managed to fight them off before they could overpower us. I didn't know if I was the only one left standing or not, but I had to stay at my post. I had to keep driving them back."
"That was very brave of you, Agarn," the captain commended in amazement.
"I must say," Chase looked around at the arrow littered ground. "It must have been some fight. It's a miracle you two weren't killed."
"Don't I know it," Agarn muttered as he glared at the shaft above his forehead.
Parmenter shook his head incredulously. "Boy, you sure were lucky. You shouldn't've rushed in here like that all by yourselves. You could've gotten yourselves killed! Then what would I have done?"
O'Rourke lifted his chin. "We had to do it, sir. It was the only thing we could do. We couldn't risk the major's life, and then, of course, we're sworn to protect the old man. But us – only a lowly sergeant and a corporal – we're expendable. If it was our calling to die here, defending our superior officers, then that's just what we were going to have to do."
Parmenter beheld the sergeant with awed admiration. "Sergeant … I think that's one of the bravest and noblest things I've ever heard. No true-blooded trooper could have said anything so beautiful and so…" he trailed off and his brow puckered. He looked up confused. "What old man?"
O'Rourke gestured to him. "Why, you, sir."
Parmenter bumped a palm against his forehead. "Oh! Yes, of course." He gave a little laugh and leaned slightly in the major's direction. "I keep forgetting I'm the 'old man'. That's what they call me at the fort."
Chase blinked as he gave an odd nod. "Oh. I see." He then looked around again at the arrow quilled ground. "It's still all so incredible! You and the corporal are to be commemorated, Sergeant. And I agree with Captain Parmenter. You're two of the bravest soldiers the United States Army's ever had in my book. You know, this could very well go down in history as one of the greatest stands made by two men against an Indian attack. We can call it: the Great Battle by Rock Hill."
"Who's Rock Hill?" Agarn asked.
Chase looked a bit puzzled. "Who? That's the name of the hill the battle took place next to."
"Oh! When you said it was going down in history I thought someone named Rock Hill was going to write a book about it called the Great Battle. Not bad title either. You should use it someday. Very catchy."
"Yes… well anyway, I shall recommend you both for a promotion and a medal when I get back to Washington."
O'Rourke put up a hand as he addressed the major. "Thank you, but that's really not necessary, sir. We simply did what our duty required us to do, and there's nothing heroic in simply following what one is called to do."
"There isn't?" Agarn asked. He almost winced as the sergeant jabbed him in the back with a fist. "I mean, that's right sir. We were simply doing our job."
"But for such a heroic deed there must be something I can do," Chase insisted.
O'Rourke put an arm around Agarn's shoulders. "We have no want for glory or honors, sir. A simple yet eloquent 'well done' is all the reward we need. And we would very much appreciate it if you gave us this great pleasure and leave it at that, Sir. It is all we ask in return."
Chase shook his head with admiration. "So humble." O'Rourke and Agarn looked down modestly at their feet. Chase sighed with a relenting shrug. "Well, as much as I think you deserve more, if that's what you want then," he held out his hand, "well done, soldier."
O'Rourke shook it firmly. "Thank you, sir," he said solemnly.
Agarn shook it next. "Thank you, sir. But about that medal you mentioned. If you really feel that you have to–" He was cut off by O'Rourke suddenly clearing his throat. Agarn quickly finished, "I mean if you feel you have to, you don't have to worry about it. The praise of our superior officers is enough for us."
The captain put his own hand out proudly. "Then let me give my praise as well, men. Well done, Sergeant." He shook O'Rourke's hand.
"Thank you, sir," O'Rourke said.
Parmenter shook Agarn's hand. "Well done, Corporal."
"Thank you, sir," Agarn said.
Parmenter shook the major's hand. "Well done, Major."
"Thank you, Captain," Chase said then suddenly let go. "Wait a minute, why are you telling me that?"
"Oh!" Parmenter quickly withdrew his hand. He fidgeted with embarrassment as he tried to rub his hands inconspicuously together. "I'm sorry, Major. I guess I just kinda' got … carried away in the moment."
Chase gave an odd look. "Hmm, yes," he mumbled, then changed the subject. "Captain, why don't you take your men back to the fort? I can go the rest of the way by myself."
"That may be a good idea," Parmenter agreed.
O'Rourke shook his head. "No, no, sir. We volunteered for this mission and we'll see it through to the finish."
"Are you sure? After all you've been through?" Parmenter asked.
O'Rourke nodded as he said ambiguously, "We're quite sure, Captain. We very much want to see the major through."
Agarn stood taller with shoulders back. "That's right, Sir. Even though the path may be rough; even though it may be filled with danger and pearls–"
"Perils," O'Rourke corrected.
"Perils," Agarn quickly revised. "Though snares and pitfalls may attempt to block our way; even though we may be battered and worn, beaten down, dragging ourselves on – we will always finish!" Agarn's eyes gazed off as he went on dramatically. "For it is our motto to never break! To fight on to triumph! To never give up! That neither rain nor snow nor attack of any bad men shall stay us from our mission! On to victory!"
O'Rourke looked queerly at the corporal. "Agarn, we saved a wagon. Not Valley Forge."
A bit self-consciously, Agarn drew back. "Sorry, Sarge. I guess I got carried away too."
"Never mind, Corporal," Parmenter consoled. "It's good to see such devoted spirit."
Agarn shrugged, trying to be modest. "Thank you, Captain."
Chase spoke up. "Well, then I'll get the wagon out of here and we can be on our way."
"Our horses are still out by the road. We'll round them up and get mounted and meet you out there," Parmenter said.
"Very good, Captain," Chase acknowledged and walked off to the wagon as the others started back for the road.
"Well, more than one good thing came out of this besides the major getting his wagon back," Parmenter stated.
"Oh, what's that, sir?" O'Rourke asked.
"Now that the fight's over and you're not dead, I don't have to worry about what I was going to write in those letters to your mothers."
Agarn looked at him with admiration. "Oh, Captain. You're so thoughtful. I know they would've been … just beautiful." His face quivered as his eyes moistened. He choked back a sob as Parmenter patted his shoulder.
"There, there, Corporal."