The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-05-09

THE RANGERS CHASE. 6
A Western story of the War of tsIs.
BY J. L. MCCONNELL, AUTHOR OF talbot
- AND VERNON" ETC.
CHApTEg III.
THE CHASE, ENDED.

THE CHASE ENDED.
No more Man The first gray streaks o
dawn had shot up. from the eastern horizon
when the disappointed rangers we're again
astir Their horses-which had been pick.
eted upon the prairie, each with long rope
after the ranger fashion of feeding-were
first taken 'to'a little stream to driiiK, aud
then moved to fresh place, to Craze until
their riders were prepared to mount. Such
provision as they had made against their
own hunger was then dispatched without
delay and with little preparation. Fortu-
nately, however, the wedding feast had furn.
lshed viands enough for more than ten times
their number and with the readiness Of the
women of those days, each had been pro.
vided by wife, sister or sweetheart, with
supplies, ample and well selected
1t was now plain, that the chase before
them was long one and it was no equiv
ocal aagury of their resolution to follow it
to the end, that they thus set out with sys-
tematic prudence.
by the time they had finished hasty
breakfast, and each taken deep draught
from the stream where they had watered
their horses, the gray of the dawn had
deepened into rcd, and the dew.drops upon
the bending grass were sparkling like dia-
monds in the opening light. The birds
within the grove were auttering, full of
matin songs, from branch to branch, or float
ing of-in long and graceful fights-far
over the verdant plain: the grouse came
out upon the knolls, where the herbage was
short and green, and strutting pompously
fromside to side, clumsily plumcd themselves
in the morning beams: on the ridges, far
thcr of, the deer stalked out from sheltering
hollows, and stamping daintily upon the
ground, or tossing proudly up their antlercd
heads, snuffed vainly at the rising wind
A low, faint sigh, as of passing spirit,
foated-scarcely audible-along the jew
eled grass, and shook the jewels gently from
the blades. The stars went slowly out, or
sba~sass-ia the -brisAteniuss-}h }hue7uf= hravcn-;;
the shadows that still fingered round the
groves were fading rapidly, or deepening
iuto shade; the red in the east grew yellow,
and an arc Of white announced the suns
approach. The day had taken full posses
sion of the earth and sky.
"Thcre is light enough now, boys" sid
Edgar, rising to his feet, "to begin the
search Cor the trail. Let us saddle up and
be off,
Time was never wasted by these men !;
within five minutes all were in the saddle
and extended along the northern and west
crn skirts of the grove, in search of indi-
cations left by the enemy. A signal was
given by one at the extreme north-the trail
was found, and the whole company at once
sallopcd to the place. Edgar sprans to the
ground, and examined the track
"Just as suspected, boys" said he, rem
ounting. "There has been but one Red skin
here, and he has been sent this way, to
build that fire and attract us from the pur-
suit"
"Indian like" said White "they have
used our own vigilance. TO circumvent U.S.
But we'll never give it up So Captain"
"Never," was Edgar's decided answer
"But VIC have lost the trail, and must re-
cover it. We must separate into small par
ties, and continue the chase. We are pretty
nearly due east from the Portage, for which,
| think, they are making-at all events,
they will not 60 south of it. We will meet
in the cvening-thcre or, if the trail
should turn northward, VIC may come to-
gether sooner. Let no one linger on the
way-wc have lost too much time already"
The company was soon divided into
squads of two and three; Edgar took with
him White and George Fielding; and, re-
peating the injunction not to lngcr, rode
away to the northwest. The three other
divisions set out at the same time, upon d.
verging lines but all maintaining the same
general direction.
For an hour, those in the centre kept all
the rest in view but, at the cud of that
time, the undula;ions Of the prairie, and
the rapidity with which they travelled, had
completely separated them. Edgar, and
the two companions, whom he had chosen
as well for the excellence of their horses,
as for their well.known courage and cool
ness, we're upon the extreme right, or North
crn f]anS-a post which the young cap.
tain had selected, both on account Of its
danger and for the advantage it gave him,
should the Indians turn to the north 1t is
with him that we must continue the chase.
Several hours passed away, during which
they had crossed the belts Of timber which
grew upon the banks of two or three prairie
streams; when. on approaching one Of the
Cahokin, they suddenly found themselves
upon the trail Of single horscman Keep
ing away from the timber, it stretched to.
ward the north, parallel with the course OF
the stream, disdaining the conccalment
which might have been in the wood The
three drew up, and Edgar dismountcd.
| at is the same Indian who kindlcd the