The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-03-25
CHAPTER II.

A CURIOUS AND STARTLING MYSTERY
Skirting the Black Hills, forty miles
west OF Fort Laramie, 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 Ore
gon emigrant road, among those long
ridges, dry beds of rivers, and sterile
plains, by which the region of the Black
Hills is distinguished. .r,
The bulk of the party consisted Of ten
cavalrymen, under a lieutenant, who were
returning to Fort Laramie, their post Of
duty They were well mounted, and had
several led horses in their train, loaded
with their provisions and appurtenances
of travel. i at.
The balance Of the party comprised
three civilians, who had seized the oppor-
tunity of crossing the mountains under
military escort. Two of these were emf
grants who had settled near Fort Bridger
but who had tired of the great solitude,
or been frightened by the Indians, and
wers now returning eastward in search of
homes nearer the haunts of civilization
The third civilian was Hubert Earle,
the lover of Miriam Dane, the settlers
daughter, whom we have just left in such
deadly peril. taa{f. .
He was splendid specimen of Ameri-
can manhood, magnifcently formed,
broad-shouldered, deep chested, as vigor-
GUS as an athlete, and rode his horse,
fiery Mexican steed, with the grace and
ease of Centaur
At the moment of his introduction to
the reader, he was riding in the rear of
the little train, busy with his own retlec
tions which were evidently as bright as
the morning itself-the forenoon proceed
ing the events we have recorded.
His thoughts were wrapt in the sweet
memory Of Miriam, who had wept so bit
terly at his departure, and who, he ex-
pected, would smile SO joyonsly at his re-
turn.
|. "The dear little soul y he murmured
aloud. "Where is she now ?"
His eyes darkened with tender sweet
ness, his lips quivered with the ineffable
love that flooded his being with happi-
ness akin to pain. He pictured their
meeting, the pretty home they would
share together, the years they would spend
in each others society, the tender mutual
love and care that would bless all their
coming days.
He had left her poor adventurer, to
seek his fortune among the mines of Ida,
no. He was returning to her more than
moderately rich man, with bills of ex-
change in his chamois money belt of suf
fieient value to support them both in lux
ury 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 excitement To
the southwark, at no great distance, a
small herd of buffaloes was grazing lazily,
seemingly not at all alarmed by the near
presence of 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 galloped
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 sport,
Mr. Earle ?" shouted the lieutenant, as he
bore down upon his friend, for Hubert was
a decided taVorite with every member of
the party.
Il think it would be downright shame
to turn our backs on such splendid game"
was the quick response. "Who could eat
a dinner of salt pork, with those fat buff
Gloes so near us?"
The lieutenant smiled, glanced up and
down the line, reading eager longing In
the faces of his men, and resolved to car
~ out his own and the general desire.