Des Arc weekly citizen., 1868-05-23

Aho TuuaHs, PeFldpS, put diil no so sure about the Comanches. Nc doubt there are other bands in thi' direction, and if we could only throw them off the trail, we could go back across our own tracks,, take our time about reaching the tort from some other side"
 But can we do that ?" T "Yes: Lipan and know good hiding-place: one, too, that four good rfles could hold for long time."
 Gall 1t six,v said Harry. "Pete and Cesar can use gun like white men"
 "Goodw said Lamar. 'That's a capital reinforcement" I Still, negro from Louisiana, in those days, who could manage rife, was sufficiently uncommon to warrant a glance of curiosity at the sinewy forms and honest black faces of the two slaves who rode behind him. The glance was satisfactory, however, and Lanman began to think better ftheir chances. Six good rifles make very respectable independent party. l Harry Murray was in earnest conver- sation, as they rode along, with his father, aud Rosa was, for few mo- ments, practically alone with her mysterious protector.
 q fear that you may become fatigu- l ed, Miss Murray" said Lanman, "we shall have to ride fast and far
 q can bear it." answered the brave girl, with a proud flash in her blue eyes. "But how does your scratch feel, this morning P
 "Oh, no, it was nothing
 "But you will let me thank you, will you not, for having received it on our account"
 No, indeedr said Lanman, with his usual bitter coolness. "Anything but that! A man who has nothing to live for had better die for something or somebody, the first good chance he gets.'
 "Nothing to live for, MT. Lanman? {? How can iltat be.
 "You may learn some day, but hope it will be after I have ceased 10 ] live at all."
 "You arc q mystery, Mir. Lanman!' said Rosa.
 1 sI wish was as much so to others as am to myself" twas the bittei'repiys and the speakers handsome face work red with pain in spite of his habitual 1 self-control.
 He turned the conversation as quick 1 ly as he could, but as they rode along side by side the eyes of the beautiful but inexperienced girl rested more and more frequently on the countenance whose dcsp lines, spite of it's youth, seemed to her evidently those of sor- row rather than of crime of vice.
 For long time Lanman relapsed in- to a moody silence, until aroused by an emphatic ''uh!" from Lipan Joe, who rode near them.
 '.Mr. Murray said the young man, tour intended place of refuge is near at hand, and our horses are pretty well blown."
 "We have made good time" said Mr. Murray, .'and I'm not sorry for chance to rest"
 Half a mile further and they came to the broad bed, in the centre of which rippled the narrow summer water" Of one of the smaller branches of the Brazos.
 Carefully watching for quicksands in the treacherous ooze. tho Lipan led the way into the stream and down it for some little distance. Then. with out waiting for consultation, he wheel ed his horse and led the little cavalcade directely up the bed as carefully as be- fore, until the horses feet rested on firm, gravelly bottom.
 "Where are you taking us, Lanman ?" asked Harry.
 "Wait and see. Lipan knows what he is about"
 What are called canons in Western parlance arc not common in that part of the country, nor of great extent, but this little 'branch,s a torrent at some seasons, had made one of itself in cut ting it's way through aridge of no great elevation, and toward this the Indian was conducting them. It was indeed a fair hiding-plac for even a more numerous party.
 The rock, sort of conglomerate, underlaid by coarse limestone, had been worn away, leaving a ragged cAannel, with high and preeipitous sideNalls, while the entrance itself was singulafs,s.abrupt and narrow. Within thisthe gorge was wider, in some places making quite miniature valley.
 ssThe two .'piafns-aen," white and red, had clearly been hare before, for they entered without heshetion, came 1 to a hall on little sandy plateau not l far from the entrance, concealed by masses of fallen rock. and announced. that tho hour for rest and refreshment had come.
 Nobody was specially sorry for this, and Rosa, in particular, felt the fatigue of her night ride severely.
 No fire could be allowed, but fair picnic dinner was made in spite of all that.