Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-03-31
CHAPTER II.

ACURIoUs AND STARTLING MYSTERY !
Skirting the Black Hills, forty
miles west of Fort Larmie, a party of
horsemen were riding eastward.
They had left Fort Bridger eight
days before, taking the route of the
North Platte, and were now following
the Oregon emigrant road, among
those long ridges, dry beds Of rivers,
and sterile plains, by which the
region of the Black Hills is distin-
guished.
The bulk of the party consisted of
ten cavalry-men, under a lieutenant,
who were returning to Fort Laramie,
there post OF duty. They were well
mounted, and had several led horses
in their train, loaded with their pro-
visions and appurtenances of travel.
The balance of the party comprised
three civilians, who had seized the
opportunity of crossing the mountains
under military escort. Two of these
were emigrants who had settled near
Fort Bridger, but who had tired of
the great solitude, or been frightened
by the Indians, and were now re-
turning eastward in search of homes
nearer the haunts of civilization.
lA0 bulIu ClNllldu was Hubert
Earle, the lover of Miriam Dane, the
settlers daughter, whom we have
just left in such deadly peril.
He was a splendid specimen of
American manhood, magnifcently
formed, broad-shouldered, deep-chest-
ed, as vigorous as an athlete, and rode
his horse, a fiery Mexican steed, with
the grace and ease of a Centaur.
At the moment of his introduction
to the reader, he was riding in the
rea of the little train, busy with his
own reflections, which were evidently
as bright as the morning itsel-the
forenoon preceding the events we
have recorded.
His thoughts were wrapt in the
sweet memory of Miriam, who had
wept SO bitterly at his departure, and
who, he expected, would smile so
joyously at his return.
1.-THE dear little SOUL" he murmur-
ed aloud.
"Where is she now ?"
His eyes darkened with tender
sweetness, his lips quivered with the
ineffable love that flooded his being
with a happiness akin to pain. He
pictured their meeting, the pretty
home they would share together, the
years they would spendin each others
society, the tender mutual love and
care that would bless all their coming
days.
He had left her a poor ADVENTURE,
to seek his fortune among the mines
Of Idaho. He was returning to her a
more than moderately rich man, with
bills Of exchange in his chamois
money-belt of sufficient value to sup
port them both in luxury as long as
they might live.
1t was not to be wondered at that
his thoughts were pleasant.
Suddenly he was aroused from his
trance-like silence, by cries of delight
from his companions, and by the fact
that they had checked their speed.
Looking around him quickly, he
beheld the cause of the unusual eX-
element. To the southwark, at no
great distance, a small herd of buffa-
loes was grazing lazily, seemingly not
at all alarmed by the near presence of
3 formidable enemy.
The wind was blowing from them,
the horses were fresh, and, as he
looked at the tempting game, Hubert
felt the spirit of the hunter grow
strong within him.
Giving rein to his horse, he gaIlop-
ed along the line to speak to the
lieutenant, but was met half way by
that officer, whose sparkling eyes and
eager demeanOr attested to a kindling
Of Nimrod-like zeal.
"What do you say to an hours