The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-25
CHAPTER l.

He was riding eastward, on the Santa Fe
route, just east of Fort Larned, in Kansas.
At length he drew rein.
He had reached an affluent of the Arkansas
river, and found himself in the edge of a
considerable growth of timber by which the
banks of this affiuent were lined Looking
through the openings in the verdure before
him, he saw, half mile away, to the east
ward, a single horseman approaching at an
easy pace.
''What y he calculated. ''That fellow
must be q red-skin-more or less red-skin,
any how. And yet he has a white woman on
the horse before him. What is still more
singular, that white woman seems to be Sleep
ing. What can this mean?'
Continuing to advance, the strange horse
man was soon near enough to be seen with
considerable distinctness by the watcher.
''There's minkery here" muttered Kit,
under his breath, his eyes lighting up sternly
That woman isn't taking this ride into the
red-skin country of her own free will"
In minute more the stranger reached the
creek, in which he proceeded to water his
horse, an Indian pony.
81 know him now," said Kit to himself
cit is that internal Fleet Foot, the half
breed"
The savage thus designated was one of the
most Misunderstanding fellows the scout had
ever encountered.
His long, tangled hair, his hideous features,
his wretched gRrb, his dirty complexion, his
black, bloodshot eyes, all gave him a most
repulsive aspect. His arms-for he carried a
hunting g-knife, revolver, and a rifle in plain
sight-gave to his ugly exterior a ferocity
that was actually startling.
The recognition of the savage having been
thus completed, Kit turned his glances upon
the object the savage was holding upon the
pony in front of him.
The object, as Kit had said, was white
woman, or rather white girl. Her long, fair
hair was dishevelled, flying wildly about her
shoulders and half hiding her face, but it
could be seen that her features were deathly
pale, and scratched and bleeding in places, as
if she had been struggling terribly with her
captor. That she aCaS captive Kit instantly
knew by the fact that her hands were tied
behind her, and he next saw that she was not
sleeping, as he had at first supposed-nor
dead, as he had for an instant feared-but
that she was in q death-like swoon!
Ignorant of the gaze bent upon him, the
half breed, whose arm still encircled the
slight figure pushed away the dishevelled
hair from the pallid features, that he might
look upon them.
For moment he seemed fascinated with
the view of the pale, fair countenance, SO
rarely beautiful, even in its death-like rigid
ity, and then he bent his head and kissed the
alf-parted lips, not once merely, but again
and again!
''T6is tires me out, said Kit to himself.
81 must change my position little-just
enough to get the girls head out of line-and
then"
At this instant, and Just as the scot began
moving into the desired range, the half-breed
happened to look beyond the face of his cap
tive to the ground, when his eyes encoun-
Tered the tracks left by Kits horse.
In another instant he had detected Carson's
presence.
''It's you, eh, Mr.. Fleet Foot p called the
scout.
The savage was silent
81 see it IS you, added the scout. ''Who
is that with you?"
''My new squaw," was the answer
''Hold on minute, Mr.. Fleet Foot" said
the scout.
''What more p was the response.
81 know that this young lady is not going
willingly to the country of Fleet Foot" con-
tinued the scout, with calm energy. 81 know
that she has been stolen, and 1T is In vain for
Fleet Foot to say that she is his squaw.
'sWell, what them" was all the savage
deigned to answer.
''The case is Just this, ;" continued Carson.
tsYou will have to deliver the girl up to me,
that l may take her back to her people.
ss'9That will never do. rejoined the half
breed, bluntly. ''This girl is nothing to you,
nor have you any claim upon me. Why
should we quarrel? l am as much white
man as a red-sllin, and the young lady might
have a worse fate than to become my wife,
even if she becomes my wife unwillingly.
There is no possible call for you to interfere
with me. The course for you to take,
Mr. Carson, is to go your own way and mind
your own business, and leave me to mine"
AS he ceased speaking he uttered wild
cry of command to his pony, which in
stantly bounded away to the southwark at
full gallop.
The scout raised his rifle.
o The figure of the miscreant was now fully
uncovered, presenting fair mark, but Kit
was compelled to realize, in view of the
bounding motions of the pony, that he coulc
not fire upon the desperate villain without the
greatest risk of killing the captive
''The accursed trash!" he CALCULATED hi
3, long-repressed wrath breaking forth. "Wer,
= it not for sacrificing the girl But can a
= least pursue him!
= He struck his horse sharply with his heels
and the animal bounded away at the top o
his speed.
1t was a long time before the chase thu
begun showed which horse could make tn
best time. The pony was carrying the mos
weight, but he was much fresher than tn
scouts horse, SO that the one circumstanc
: for a time counterbalanced the other A
length, however, the increased weight tol
upon the pony. The scout commence
81 shall catch him, " muttered Kit, agai
speakine under his breath. "How can say
the girl from his desperation p
At this moment wild cry OF dismay burs