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A Daughter suts Sioux •By GEN. CHARLES KING. Copyright, lMtt, by Tb* Hobart CompaAj. [Continued.] westward. Number 5 had turned up safely, and declared that at the mo ment the scream was heard he was round by the flagstaff, listening the night chorus of a pack of yelping coyotes, afar out to the northwest, and then he thought he heard scram bling and running down at the foot of the bluff just as the shots fired. Investigation on his part was hat took him out of sight for the moment, and showed that one marauder, at least. •ay, for a capeless to •re \\ later investigation had gone that greatcoat was found close down by the shore, where some fugitive had tossed it in his flight. This overcoat bore, half-erased from lining, the name of Citlligan, troop but Culligan had served out his time and taken the discharge a year before. The other overcoat was even ith shorter the soiled "K; older, an infantry coat, cape, bearing "47," but no name. a company number Both garments savored strongly «»f the stable. Then, before quiet was restored, certain search was made about th® It was found the intruders quarters. had obtaineil admission through the basement door at. the back. But what had they taken? The sil ver was upstairs, infaet, under Mrs. Blake's bed; so was the little safe in which was kepf her jewelry ami their valuable papers. Books, bric-a brac—everything downstairs seemed unmolested. No item was missing aceustoined place. Mrs. from its Blake thought perhaps the intruders had no, entered her room at all. In as lu were "stacks," Gerald's dc said, of relics, souvenirs, trophies of chase and the intrinsic value of $50. \\ hat could have been the object of their mid night search? was the question all asking as people dispersed and went home the doctor intimating it was high time that Mrs. Blake was permitted to seek repose. Not until In* had practically cleared f all but her most Inii ar, but no one thing of Fort Frayne was the house mate friends, Mrs. Ray, would Waller permit himself to ask a question that had been upper most in his mind ever since he heard Dade and Mrs. her story. "Mrs. Blake, someone has been ran sacking Mr. Field's quarters for let ters or papers, thing of that kind left by the cap tain that—someone may have need ed V Nannie Blake's head was uplifted instantly from Marion's shoulder. She had been beginning to feel the icaction. For one moment the three women looked intently into other's faces. Then up they started and trooped away into (Jerald's den. The doctor followed, drawer of the big. fiat-topped desk stood wide open, and pretty Mrs. Blake opened her eyes and mouth in emulation as she briefly exclaimed: "It's gone!" Then Waller went forthwith to the quarters of the commander and caught him still in conference with his quartermaster and the guard, four or five of ihe latter being grouped without. The major retired to his front room, where, with Wil kins, he received the doctor. "Maj. Flint," said Waller, "those overcoats belong to Mr. Hay's stable men, Pete and Crapaud. Will you or der their immediate arrest?" "I would, doctor," was the answer, "but they are not at the corral. We know how to account for the lioof beats in the valley. Those scoundrels have got nearly an hour's start, j»nd we've nobody to send in chase. ' Then it presently appeared that the post commander desired to continue conference with his staff officer, for he failed to invite the surgeon to be seated. Indeed, he looked up into the doctor's kindling eyes with odd mix ture of impatience and ment in his own. and the veteran practitioner felt the slight; flushed instantly, and, with much hauteur of manner, took prompt hut ceremoni ous leave. as there any \ Tlie upper 'inbanass And when morning came and Fort Frayne awoke to another busy day, as if the excitements of the night gone by had not been enough for it, a new story went buzzing, with the first call for guard mount, about the garrison; and, bigger even than yes terday, the two details, in soldier si- i lence, began to gather in front of the infantry quarters. Ma j. Flint had or dered sentries posted at the trader's home, with directions that Mrs. Hay was not to be allowed outside of her gate, and no one, man or woman, permitted to approach her from with out, except by express permission of the post commander, end "Dan, tlie trader's stable, despite the pres ence of the sentry at the front, had been abstained some time during the earlier hours of tlie night, and later traced to the ford at Stabber's old camp, and with Pete and Crapaud, doubtless, were gone. That day the major wired to Omaha that, he should be reinforced at once. One-half hi* little force, he said, was now mounted each day for guard, and the men couldn't stand it. The general, of course, was in the field, but his chief of staff remained at headquarters and was empowered to order troops from post to post with in the limits of the department. Flint hoped two more companies could come at once, and he did not care what post was denuded in his favor. His, he said, «as close to the Indian lands—separated from them, in fact, only by a narrow and fordable river. The Indians were all on the warpath, und, aware of his puny numbers, might be tempted at nny moment to quit the mountains and concentrate on hint. And so another restless day went by and no more news came from either front or rear—from the range to the north or Itock Springs at the •sMith, nod Flint was just formulating another fervid appeal to that ioi Gen. Harney" the two best horses of passive functionary, the adjutant gen eral at Omaha, when toward evening word came whistling down the line in the person of Master Sanford Hay, that«two couriers were in sight Moccasin Ridge, and Flint and full.v half the soldier strength of Fort Frayne gathered on the northward bluff like the "wan burghers" of ancient Koine, to watch and speed their coining. Who cotild tell what the day might yet bring scooting" in fr forth? Jt was well-nigh dark before the foremost reached the foTd a scout in worn and tawdry buckskin, wearied and impassive. He gave bis dispatch to the care of the first officer to ac cost him, and took the way to the store, briefly saying in reply t<> ques tions, that lie was "too dry to speak the truth." So they flocked, at re spectful distance, about the major he read the hurried lines. 'The general bade the post copimander wire the entire message to Washing "take all precaution* for ►f the few settlers The columns under Col. ton, and I the protection about him. Henry and Maj. Webb bad united near the head waters of the ( lear Fork of the I'mvder: had had a rat tling running! fight with l,ame Wolfs people; had driven them mountains and were following- hot <>■ the trail, but that- Slabber's band and certain disaffeeted Sioux had rut loose from the main body and gone Whistling Klk, a young chiei I In into the south. of much ambition, had quarreled with l-tain of the lied ( loud element, and joined Stabber, with bis entire band. Book on, for them and watch for sig nals any day or night fr But ,e." Flint read with sinking heart, dian fighting was something far too scientific for his and too much for his skeleton ootn In the gathering dusk his face re Fagls 'duration, a rl ial ma nd. looked white and drawn, and old Wil kins, breasting bis way up the slope, he begged for news. dispatch, puffed hard, as There was still another howe\er, which was evidently adding to tlie major's perturbation, for it concerned him personally and for the ent unheard. moment Wilkins The general desires that* you send the couriers back within 24 hours of their ar rival, after you have hud time to scout the line of the Platte say JO miles each way, giving full report of every Indian seen or heard of. He enjoins vigilance and hopes to keep the Sioux so busy that they rection. send no more In yo.ur di Should they do so, however, he will pursue at once. He trusts that you are doing everything possible to com fort and reassure Mrs. Hay, and that send good news of Lieut. Field. you ran "He is simply fretting his heart out here," were tlie doctor's words to him but a short time before, "and, while unable to mount a horse, he is quite strong enough now to take the trip by ambulance, slowly, that is, to Hock Springs. I fear his father is failing. allowed to go. I recommend a seven days' leave, with permission to apply to Omaha for 30—lie'll probably need • I fear Field will fail if not it.' "I can't permit government te'ame and ambulanees to lie used for any such purpose," said the major, stout ly. "It is distinctly against orders." "Then, sir, lie can go in my spring wagon and we'il hire mules from Mre. Hay," was the doctor's prompt reply. "He can do no good here, major. He may do much good there." But Flint was full of information and official zeal. The matter of Field's going had been broached be fore, and. when told of it, the Wilkins pair had been prompt with their pro tests. "Of course he'd be wantin' to get away," said Wilkins, "wid all that money to account for, let alone these other things." The Irishman was hot against the young West Pointer, who had derided him. He doubtless be lieved his own word*. He never dreamed how sorely the lad now longed to see his father—how deep was his anxiety on his father's ac count—how filled with apprehension on hi* own. for that rifled desk had brought him reason for th* most painful thought. Wilkins and Field had been antagonistic from the start. Neither could see good in the other, and, egged on by his worthy spouse'* exhortations, the quartermaster had siezed the opportunity to fill the post, commander's too receptive mind with all his dTvn suspicions—and this at a crucial time, ^ cant listen to it. Dr. Waller." * aifl the ™aj«i\ sternly, niat-ter of near $1,000 that young man ,,aK £ ot tn answer for the moment he well enough to stir. And if he can't account for it—you well know what my duty will demand." 'Here's a CHAPTER X7X The columns of Col. Henry and Maj. Webb, as said "tlie chief," had united, -ad here were two men who could he counted on to push the pursuit "for all they were worth." Hitherto, act ing in the open country and free from encumbrance, the Indians had been hard to reach. Now they were being driven into their fastnesses among the mountains toward the distant shelter whither their few wounded had been conveyed, and where the old men, tlie women and children were in hiding. Now it meant that, unless the troops could be confronted and thrown back another transfer of teepes and travois, ponies and dogs, wounded and aged would have to he be made. Lame Wolf had thought his people safe behind the walls of the Big Horn, and the shifting screen of warriors along the foothills, but the blue skirmish lines pushed steadily on into the fringing pines driving the feathered brave* from ridge to ridge, and Lame Wolf had sense enough to see that here were leaders that "meant business," and would not lie held. Henry had ten veteran troops at his baek when he united with. Webb, who led his own and the Beech er squadron, making lfl companies, or troops, of horse, with their psek mules, all out at the front, while the wagon twin and ambulances were thoroughly gunrued by a big battalion of sturdy infantry, nearly all of them good marksmen against tirliose spite ful Springfield* the warriors made only one essay in force, and that wai more than enough. The bluecoutu emptied many an Indian saddle and strewed the prairie with ponies, and sent Whistling Elk and his people to the right about in sore dismay, and then it dawned on Lame Wolf that lie must now either mislead the eavalry leader, throw him off the track, as it were, or more the villages, wounded, prisoners and all, across the Big Horn river where hereditary f Of men, Sho shone and Absaraka would surely welcome them red-handed. It was at this stag£ of the game he had his final split with Stabber. Slabber was shrewd, and saw uner ringly that with other columns out, from ( uster on the Little Horn and Washakie on the Wind river-—with reinforcements coining from north :ind south, the surrounding of the Sioux in arms would be but a matter of time. He had done much to get l ame Wolf into the scrape and now was urging hateful measures as, un less they were prepared for further and heavier losses, the one way out, and that was—surrender. Now, this is almost the last thing the Indian will do. Not from fear df consequences at the hands of his cap tors, for he well knows that physical ly, he is infinitely better off when being coddled by Uncle Ham than when fighting in the field. It is simply the loss of prestige among his fellow red men that he hates and dreads. There fore, nothing short of starvation or probable annihilation prompts him, as a rule, to yield himself a prisoner. And this was the situation wlien the general's first dispatches were sent in to Frayne- this the last news ,o reach the garrison from the dis tant front for five long days, ami then one morning, when the snow was sift ing softly down, there came tidings that thrilled the little community, heart and soul—tidings that were heard with mingled tears and prayers and rejoicings, and that led to many a visit of congratulation to Mrs. Hay, who, poor woman, dare not say at. fl'e moment that she had known it all as much as LM hours earlier.despite the fact that I'ete and Crapaud were banished from the roll of her auxili urie*. Even as the new couriers came speeding through Ihe veil of falling flakes, riding jubilantly over tlie wide rolling prairie with their news of vic tory and battle, the post commander at Fort Frayne was puzzling over a missive that had come to him, he knew not how-—mysteriously as the anarchists' warnings are said to find their.war to the very bedside of the guarded Romanoffs. Sentry Number 4 had picked it up on his post an hour before the dawn a letter addressed in bold hand to Maj. Stanley Flint, commanding Fort Frayne, and, pre suming the major himself had dropped it, he turned it over to the corporal of his relief, and so it found its way toward reveille into the hands of old Medann. wheezing about Ids work of building fires, and Michael laid it on the major's table and thought no more about it until two hours later when the major roused and read, and then a row began that ended only with the other worriei of his im-timbeiK-y at Frayne. Secretly Flint was doing his heat to discover the hearer when rame the hold riders from the north with their thrilling news. Secretly, he had beet-, over at the guard-house interviewing «s lies, lie could, by tlie aid of an unwilling clerk who spoke a little .Sioux, a young Indian girl whom iT-aliW's eonvaleseen, squad, four in number, had most unexpectedly run down when sent scouting five miles up the I'iatte, ami brought, scream ing. scratching and protesting, back to Frayne. Her pony had been killed in the dash to escape, and the two In dians with her seemed to he young lads not ye, well schooled as war riors. for they rode away pellinell over the prairie, leaving tlir girl to the mercy of tlie soldiers. Flint believed her to he connect ed in some way with the coming of the disturbing note, which was wily he compelled tier detention at the guaid-house. Under Webb's regime, she would have been questoned by Hay. or some one of his household. Under Flint, no one of Hay's family or retainers con hi lie allowed to see her. Me regarded it as most sig nificant Ilia, her shrillest screams amt fiercest resistance should have been reserved until just as her guardians were hearing her past the trader'* house. She had the light little prison room to herself all that wintry morn ing. ami there, disdainful of bunk or chair, enveloped in her blanket, she squatted disconsolate, greeting all questioners with defiant and fearless shruggings and inarticulate protest. .Not a syllable of explanation, not a shred of news could their lies, en deavors wring from her. Vet hei glittering eyes were surely in search of some one. for she looked up eager ly every lime I lie door was opened, and Flint was jus, beginning to think lie would have to send for Mrs. Hay when tlie courier* came with thei. stirring news and he had to drop other affairs in order to forward "this important matter to headquarters. Once again, it seems. Trooper Ken nedy had been entrusted witli dis tinguished duty, for it was he who i-ame trotting foremost up the road, waving his dispatch on high. A com rade from Blake's troop, following through the ford, had turned to the left and led hia horse up the steep to the quarters nearest the flag-staff. This time there was no big-hearted post commander to bid the Irishman refresh )iin,seif ail libitum. Flint whs • lone at his office, a, the moment, and knew not this strange trooper, and looked askance a, his heterodox garb and war-worn guise. Such laxity, said he to himself, win not permitted where tie had hitherto served, which was never on Indian campaign. Ken nedy. having delivered his dispatches, stood mutely rxpectant of question, and struggling. with an Irishman's enthusiastic eagerness to tell the de tails of th* heavy fight. But Flint had but one method of getting at facts— the official reports and Kennedy stood unnoticed u^til, impatient at last, he queried: "Beg pardon, air, but may we put up our horses?" "Wlio'a _w*r\ aalsad the major. \ bluntly. "And wkere are the others? "Trigg, sir—Capt. Blake's troop. He went to the captain's quarters with a package " "He should hate reported himself first to the post commander,'' said the major, who deemed it advisable to make prompt, impression on these savage hunters of *a\age game. "Thiiu wasn't his ordhers, suit," said Kennedy, with zealous, hut mis guided loyalty to his comrades and bis regiment. "No one has h right, sir, to give orders that are contrary in spirit to the regulations and customs of tin service," answered ti)<* commander, with proper austerity. •'Mr. Wilkins," he continued, as the '» y quarter master came bustling in. "have the other trooper sent to report at once to me and let this man wait outside till I am ready to see him." And so it happened that a dozen mernl>ers of the garrison gathered, from the lips of a participant, stir ring particulars of a spirited chase and fight that set soldiers to cheer ing and women and children to ex travagant scenes of rejoicing before the official head of the garrison gave out the news. Kennedy had taken satisfaction for the commander's slights by telling the tidings broad cast to the crowd that quickly gath ered, and, in three minutes, the word was flying from lip to li)) that the troops had run down Lame Wolf's main village after an all-day. all-night rush to head them off, and that with y small loss they had been able to capture many of the families and to scatter the warriors among the hills. In brief, while Henry, with the main body, had followed tlie trail of the fighting band, Webb bad been de tached, and, with two squadrons, had ridden hard after a Shoshone guide, who led them by a short cuty thr the range and enabled them to pounce on the village where were most of Lame Wolf's non-combatants, guard ed only by a small party of warriors, and, while Capts. Hillings and Hay, with their troops, remained in charge of these captives, Webb, with Blake and the others, had pushed on in pursuit of certain braves who had scampered into the thick of the hills, carrying a few of the wounded and prisoners with them. Among those captured, were Mr. Hay anil ( rapnud. Among those who had been spirited away was Nanette Flower. This seemed strange and unaccountable. And yet Blake had found time to write to his winsome wife to send her an important missive and most important, bit of news. It was with these site came running in to Mrs. Hay before the latter had time to half read the long letter received from her soldier husband, am.1 we take the facts in the order of theii revelation. gl j | Think of it, Madie, she cried, "Think of it! (Jerald's first words, Almost, are, 'Take good care of that pouch and contents.* and now pouch and contents are gone! Whoever dreamed that they would be of such consequence? He says the newspaper will explain." And presently the two bonny heads were bent over Jhe big sheets of a dingy, grimy copy of a Philadelphia daily, and there, on an inner page, heavily marked, appeared a strange item, and this Quaker City journal had been picked up in an Ogallala camp. The item read as follows: AN UNTAMED SIOUX. The authorities of the Carlisle School and the police of Harrisburgh ing high and low for a young Indian known to the records of the Academy Ralph Moreau, but borne on the pay rolls of Buffalo Bill's Wild West aggre gation as Eagle Wing—a youth who is credited with having given the renowned scout-showman more trouble than all his braves, bronchos and "busters" thereof combined. Being of superb physique and a daring horseman, Moreau had been for given many a peccadillo, and had fol lowed the fortunes of the show two con secutive summers until Cody finally had to get rid of him as an intolerable nui sance. • It seems that when a lad of 18, "Eagle Wing" had been sent to Carlisle, where he ran th* gamut of scrapes of every conceivable kind. He spoke English picked up about the agencies; had influ ential friends and, in some clandestine way, received occasional supplies of money that enabled film to take French leave when he felt like it. He was sent back from Carlisle fib Dakota as irre claimable. and after a year his native heath, reappeared among the haunts of civilisation as one of Buffalo Bill s warriors. Bill discharged him at Cincinnati and, at the instance of the Indian bureau, he was again placed at Carlisle, only to repeat his earlier exploits and secure transfer to the plains where his oppor tunities for devilment were limited. Then Cody was induced to take him on again by profuse promises of good behavior, which were kept until Pennsylvania soil was reached two weeks ago, when he broke loose again; was seen in store clothes around West Philadelphia xfor a few days, plentifully supplied with money, and next he turned up in the streets of Carlisle, where he assaulted ■n attache of the school, whose life wa.s barely saved by the prompt efforts of other Indian students. Moreau escaped to Harrisburgh which he proceeded to paint with his favorite color that very night, and wound up the entertainment by galloping away on the horse of a prominent official, who had essayed to escort him back to Carlisle. It is be 1 laved that ha 1* now in hiding some where about the suburbs of West Phila delphia, and that an Innate propensity for devilment will speedily betray him td the clutches of the law. A few moments after reading this oddly interesting story the two friends were in consultation with Mrs. Dade, who, in turn, called in Dr. Waller, just returning from tlie hospital and n not too satisfactory visit to Mr. Field. There had been a slight change for the better in the condition of (Jen. Field that had en abled Dr. Lorain, of Fort Hgssell, and a local physician to arrange for his speedy transfer to Cheyenne. This had in a measure relieved the anxiety of Waller's patient, but never yet had the veteran practition er permitted him to know that he was practically a prisoner as well as a patient. Waller feared the result on so high-strung a temperament, and had made young Field believe that, when strong and well enough to attempt the journey, he should be sent to Rock Springs. Indeed, Dr Waller had no intention of submit ting to Maj. Flint's decision as final. He had written personally to the medical director of the department, acquainting him with the. facts, und, meanwhile, had withdrawn himself as far cially. from the limited circle in which moved Ida perturbed command ing officer. He was at a distant point of the garrison, therefore, and listening to the excited and vehement comments of the vomwrw of the three women hunt two on a larger scale second possible, officially and so 0 I upon tins strange newspaper story, |and its possible connection with tii*' iu<uu**ut to matters at Frayn \ .it when a dramatic j iu* was being guard-i •ted . helm d. i>i". a i I •r nl when li -tellers little g; 'Ml •f eng'! a of tlic trader's I*ink N..irlnc. factoi forth from tin* h store, cj adjutant > oi ..t. by M. . Flint. A . Huy tint w.iile i *. to visit t!i er th • » < k. "I over under suitable an til s followed toll Mrs. >t permit Iter prisoner," lit ♦•ailed all rill send the girl to M -. T< icrely im! went on. shrugged i D lie fancied Flint no more Hum did the relics of the original gunison. A little later Flint person:.!!y g.r an order to the ♦•! ..ut of ib guard and then ea First there •re stifled sounds scuffle from the interior of th guard-house; then shrill, wrathful screams; then a v* -man's voice up lifted in wild upbruidings in fin known tongue, at sound of v ic Trooper Kennedy dropped his reii anil his jaw. stood staring on min ute; then, with the exelan.it "Mother of (Jod, but 1 kno\ e commotion. woman!" burst his way crowd and ran toward the old I blockhouse at the gate—the te . u ry post of the guard. .J ; ! turned the corner of the '» ii: almost stumbling a commander. forth from ili * dark inter! t'»• . ion ng woman- of ti t* • ioiia. < ;-i raging, and. breaking loose* fro: i . grasp of the tw who had her bv the arms, away she darted down the road, still scream ing like some infuriated child, and rushed straight for the open gate way of the Hay's. Of <•« hastened in pursuit, the major shout Stop her! Catch her! men striving to appear to shirking the feat of seizing the flee ing woman. Fa new then, the amaze ; lg. la ; soldiersi luckless and the •se the guard ing ey, yet of the swiftly following spectators loot- was thrown wide open and Mrs. May her self sprung forth. Another instant and the two women hud met at me gate. Another instant still, and, with one motherly arm twining about the quivering, panting, pleading girl and straining her to the motherly heart. Mrs. Hay's right hand and artn Hew up in' the superb gesture known the wide frontier over us the Indian signal.-Halt!" And halt they ther's son save Ken .f tlie And trmler's front lien the did, every nedy, who sprang t girl and faced the men in blue, then another woman's voice, the side deep, ringing, powerful, fell on tie ears of the amazed, swift-gut lu ring throng, with the marvelous order: "Stand where you are! You shan't touch a hair of her head! She's n. chief's daughter. She's my own kin, find I'll answer for her to the general himself. As for you." she turning now at the astounded Flint, all the p* nt and glaring st might * i r.r ,V \ya n'.'tQ - /■' S ■-.a '7 ■ pL/j Li) nl 'UVv f I. I : T p if ^ i I \ j: *- in , TjhV'J A •MRS. HAY'S RIGHT HAND AND ARM FLEW UP IN THE SUPERB TURK KNOWN THE WIDE FRON TIER OVER AS THE INDIAN SIG NAL, 'HALT!' " up sense of wrath, indignity, slu and wrong overmastering any thought of prudence or of "the di vinity that doth hedge" the com manding 1 officer, "As for you," she cried, "1 pity you when our own get God help you, Stanley Flint, the moment my husband sets eyes on you. D'you know the mes sage that came to trim this day?" And now the words rang louder and clearer, as she addressed the throng. "I do, and so do officers and gentle men who'd be shamed to have to nhake hands with such as he. got my husband's note about him now, and what my husband wrote was this—T charge myself with every dollar you charge to Field, and with the further obligation of thrashing you on sight'—and, mark you, he'll do it!" back again! CHAPTBH XX. In the hush of tlie wintry night, under a leaden sky, with snowflakes falling thick and fast and mantling tlie hills in fleecy white, Webb's col umn had halted among the* sturdy pines, the men exchanging muttered, low-toned query and comment, tin horses standing with bowed heads, occasionally pawing the soft cover let and sniffing curiously at ttiis tilm ly barrier to the bunch grass they sought in vain. They had feasted together, these comrade troopers and chargers ere the stin went down —the men on abundant rations of agency bacon, flour and brown sugar, found with black tailed deer and mountain sheep in abundance in the captured village, and kited out by supplies from the pack' train the horses on big "blankets" of oats set before them by sympathetic friends and masters. Then when the skies were fairly dark. Webb had ordered little fires lighted all along the bank of the stream, leaving the men of Ray's and Billings' troops to keep them hlnzing through the long night watches to create the impression among the lurking Sioux that tlie whole force was still there, guard ing the big village it had captured in the early afternoon, and then, in silenee, the troopers had saddled and jogged away into the heart of the hills, close on the heels of their guides. h;i<I be«*n little time to look tin interest ' i The »r the raptures. The i • nl both Oilin' 1 s and uini, of vas found centered in Mr. Huy, it* of the t r ihtriile 1 ran c fr a r-*v«T 4 rung i;. . i • u I e:\ii. -ine'nt. ill a j i i 1 from 1 had lalcr ti< d >. than in*'* th'*m of the health ; 1 little n what was own, li » " "hold. One 'stiru he asked: Did if them know this new Mnj. Well, find heh) Flint, ! could as i safef\ of their \ but would not tell the I sir 111 any ♦ Flint ' No** g'd hold of him. I if ♦ •*. t h»\ Hn\ "He's delirious." whispered Webb, j • ♦ i . onviet u: I firm rone nwny lea' in -r him to Three miles out, on the tortnuu.* ! trail of the pursued, | l :*!t»<l mid dismounted among tre' ! eu w' : tin 1 nui I an I Bilii iiiur. pines. Then there was a brief confer the word "Mount vas and ispered along the Beecher squad !'hiHe's men stood fast. 1 1 | ron. With a | ar.in of tin* hand had rm.-n'd 1 and ills for, ' >i m.i.'ih tin* Indiun trail listing ravines make fellows to g ■ f ills; i»f the t!i u-'-h all detour head olV tin* r.' •. i- arch. deteri •M.rs before they oenn a captive among the Sinus through long years and knew the Big li Webb did the l nl 1 is boyhood, it Kanae as lanhs of the Wabash, stand off a thorn-ami sol guide, "if the r■ They'd have •Nov then-'s pi utly - mw." • to fol 'They et diers," said tin go t\ in, gone there ! no water. the. fir.- t on So Blake's i n. ; low the] them feel they tv wit bout to let pushing, j yet by no mean- to h- ti n i 1 j if tlie general s [it 1 to lie all lie promised j 'Aeblj j io l il lK r( * l>1 ' lirsl at t .' ,R 1 , v j 1 *' Pn wou '" - * *' 1 ' retr.-at ing * • sio " x - hamperetl by their few wound- i certain prisoners whom tin y Jl <'nmied |,-tween roeky ' I hpi P nts "" every side, and sturdy: *™„en front and rear. j H was eight by the watch at the | P a, l* n ff il ,e ' Vi D '- ^ uas 8F10 I " ,ltm B,alt c I ed >ri tf* Seoul, pr< a.-. i*tiitle and -■loly !lll ni ;;ht ridin at I»reak of to * ! the trail, with •ants Sehreiher and Winsur, the lat ter bo it retook Se: I from Huy. far i tin ! Even had tin* ound been hard keen-eyed soldier j scouts c almost as unerringly ns the 1 ml Id have foil :is ns, •s of ex for each had had 1 perjence all st; but, de- j spite the steadily failing snow, the r traces of hoofs and. for a time, of ver t 1 'a I • travois poles con and followed in tin dim the blanketed ikies, aloft, above the film of cloud, tin* very moon was shining, am) Hint was ; more than enc light o mewhere I illumination mcn of their years on the trail. For over an limit-. BlakeP followed the winilinps of a ravine that grew closer anil steeper as it burrowed re uu inf tlie hills. Old game trails good ns turnpikes in the eyes of the plainsman. It was when the ravine m-gaii to s; t into branches i problem i* cm, had not fleece lain two j vhite inches deep on the level when "Lo" ado I-i.- ■ dusii I 1 l-SCHt u\ •ion were merely rounded over by and ruts and depressions Jed on from midnight Blake I'd, s •e tilt: quarry could he I,nt a few miles ahead and Bear Cliff barely live hours march ly. the signal down tiio (*ni long, dark, sinuous column of twos* and every man slipped out of saddle, some of numb staiuphii were their feet. * With air had grown keen every mile the er and colder. They were glad lien l a: next wi ld whispered was, "Load on!" instead of "Mount." By this time they v/ereCfar up among the pine-fringed height^with the broad valley of the llig Dorn lying outspread lo the west, invisible its the stars above, and neither by ringing shot nor winged arrow had the letiders known the faintest check. It seemed as though the Indians, in their desperate effort to carry off the most important or val ued of their e.ha bending •xpedi!ing the all their energies letreat. Time cik-: w-h to turn on ti,♦ ■ > ■ pi f'U closed about them ed were safe in the fsmtuej.ses and the pursuers far from Mippo; is. But nt the foot of a steep ascent, the two leading scouts—rival sergeants of rival troops but devoted friends for nearly twenty years—were seen b\ the next in column, a single corporal followed them nt thirty yards <iis v!n*n the vo und a in some dark object by the wayside. i again. . i i- inch coverlet hat met the eyes of the silently trudging command us it followed. .i.-|;d nniiei- n I on - . of snow was Tin li!gh-peak.-d noth'll saddle tree was still "cinched" to the Fitter the in stiffening cnrcasi tlians were pushed for time or over stocked with saddlery. Presently there came a low whistle from the milltary "middleman" between the scouts and a little advance guard. "Him ahead." growled the sergeant commanding to his boy trumpeter, i* me Mini* reins." \nd lea'big '(ii tiong up the winding trail; got his message and waited, tlie captain, by Sehreiher. and '-this'' was a mitten of Inffian tanned buckskin, soft and warm, if unsightly, a niitten too small for * warrior's hand,, if ever ar one a mlt "(jive this to us the word sent hack warrior deigned t( ten the plain examined curiously, as he ploughed yhciid of Ids main body, and then turned to his subal tern with a grin on his face: "Boaitty draws ua with a single hair," said lie, "and can't shake us even when, she giu-s us the mitten, Ross," lie added, after a moment's thought, "remember this. With this gang there nre two or three sub chiefs that wc should get, alive or dead, but the chief end of man, so far as to c "K" Troo|fi concerned, Is apt lire that girl, unharmed.** gray and wan And just at dawn, and pallid it could hardly be told ft un the pale moonlight of the ear |i, r hour . the dark, snake-like col lulled again, nine mills id r. 1 1• •.• u.Hided heiir'its. With Hear < iitl till nut of range and daH't, .something' had stopped the and i ;ik<' was needed at the I found Sehreiher crouching •. gazing warily forward along a southward-sloping if the mountain that was sparsely covered with tail, straight I inos. :• i l ':: 1 1 faded into mist a few hundri was furl tier in BC< front, at the foot of a tr« The trail—the !. ii.it is—seemed to go tight away eastward, and, for a »rt distune* . downward through a hollow or depression; while, up the mountain side to the left, the north, shoulder, there •ign.« of hoof trucks, half alieet nway. ed by the new-fallen snow, and through this fresh, fleecy mantlet ploughed the trooper boots in rude, insistent pursuit. The sergeant's horses were held by a third soldier a few yards buck behind the spur, for Winsor was "side scouting t lie heights. Hie snowfall jiad ceased for a time. Tlie light was growing broader every mom vij and presently a soft whistle :[ somewhere up the steep, and "He wants us, : r." was all lie said, and in five min s they had found him, sprawled on lus stomach on a projecting ledge, and pointing southeastward, where, boldly outlined against the gray of Hie morning sky, a black and beetling precipice towered from the mist wreathed pines at its base. Bear (liff beyond a doubt! "How far, sergeant?" asked the captain, never too reliant on his pow ers of judging distance. miles, sir, at least; yet some three or four Indians have, turned off hero and gone somewhere up there." And, rolling half over, Winsor pointed again toward a wooded bluff, perhaps I half a mile away. •"That's probably the best lookout this side of the cliff itself!" he con tinned, in explanation, as he saw the up ■ reiber a u. . red. Fit . . . . , , - , . 1 " ' ° 1 ' " '' I ' t, " n s faw * t1l "T„ At lp V ' 111 l<,ei " t .he one i.it . A" .T. h,,,' , H It Zl n A ' , ' , I :„*'* » ' * 1 Th him by this time, Blake and Sehreiher, among the stunted cedars that grew thickly Winsor, flat is stomach, sprawled like a squirrel close to the brink. Every skies grew brighter the panorama before, them became more extensive, u glorious sweep of highland scenery, of boldly tossing ridges east and south and west—tlie ere crawling t y along Ihe rocky ledge. inin ;>ment as the trees all the itli nature's ermine, and witji myriad gems, tak ing fire at Hu* first touch of the day god's messenger, as the mighty king himself burst his link) of circling slopes all* tipped, studded main led, lipfeKS PI - K pypISvi iipgvT r . 7 -&*** I, i W '' 3 "Zl i A3 > T mi ■ mm V > S 'V*-. - '*/ V, 'HE FOUND SCHREIBER CROUCH ING AT THE FOOT OF A TREE GAZ ING WARILY FORWARD." cloud and came peering over the low eiirtain far at the eastward horizon, ('nill and darkness and shrouding va por vanished all in a breath as lie rose, dominant over countless leagues wild, unbroken, yet magnificent mountain landscape. "Worth every hour of watch and mile of climb!" muttered Blake. "But it's Indians, not scenery, we're after. What are We here for. Winsor?" and narrowly In* eyed Ray's famous right bower. "if the major got there first, sir— and I believe In* did—they have to send the prisoners and wounded back this way." "Then we've got broke in Schreiber, low-toned, but exultant. 'em! "Look, sir," he added, ns he pointed along the rang-e. "They are signaling now." From the wooded height 1,000 yards away, curious little puffs v of smoke, one following another, were sailing straight for the zenith, arid Blake, screwing his field glasses to the fo cus, swept with them the mountain side toward the five-mile distant c-lifi', and presently the muscles about, mouth began to twitch—sure sign with Blake of gathering excitement. "Vou'fe right, sergeant, tntly spoke, repressing the desire to shout, and striving, lest Winsor should lie moved to invidious compari sons, to seem as imnchalentj as Billy Kay himself. "They're coming back already." Then down the mountain side he dove to plan and prepare ap propriate welcome, leaving Winsor the glasses to keep double-pow ered watch on the situation. Six-fifty of a glorious, keen Novem morning, and 60 troopers of tlie regiment were distributed along spur that crossed, almost, at right angles, the line of the Indian trail. •Sixty fur-capped, rough-coated fel lows, with their short brown carbines hand, crouching behind rocks and fallen trees, keeping close to warned to utter silence. Behind them, 200 yards away, their horses were huddled under charge of their disgusted guards, envious of their fel lows at the front, and cursing hard their luck in counting off as number (Continued on page 5.) he pres cover