The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-03-06

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It can interest no third party"
He was rapidly growing weaker, the
eye was fixed, and the hoarse voice
faltered
"Ohase the Sioux, recover poor Rose.
She is a lady," he muttered, then with
an effort he reused himself. 81 have
gold for her-look-great rock, cross,
| full moon, shadow-dig and with a
rattle, terrible gasp, and the stout
heart ceased to beat.
Possessing himself of the package, the
officer briefly penciled the vague and
unsatisfactory words of the dying man
on the back. 1t might have been the
wanderings of a mind unsettled by the
near approach of death, but he was de-
termined to investigate the matter when
ever an opportunity should occur.
"Now for work, Dick. We'll bury
poor Olavering, then follow on the trail
of these red fiends, and Rose shall either
be rescued or avenged"
Mounting their horses the two sadly
turned away, sallying forth upon the
! dark and silent prairie.
Suddenly the scout halted, and his
hand pressed the arm of his superior
with nervous clutch.
"Look there, lieutenant. Do you
know what that means?"
Just under the horizon faint glow of
light was perceptible, above which hung
a black threatening cloud, which rapid
ly spread over the heavens. Gradually
the stars disappeared, while herds Of
wild mustangs, buffaloes and deer swept
furiously by.
Then it was the lieutenant realized
The danger he was in. The Sioux had
fired the dry grass from three different
points, and with gigantic leaps the bill
lowy flames were rolling, kissing and
ronrir g toward them.
But old Dick had not been idle. He
was too old and experienced an Indian
fighter to be outdone in the peculiar
warfare of the frontier.
Leaping from his horse, he struck a
light and set fire to the prairie in his
turn. Rapidly the flames spread, dart j
ing onward, sweeping everything in its
path. Leading their horses forward the
two men followed close upon the track
of the counter fire, while every moment
the number of half frantic animals in
creased.
Stretching far away in front and be-
hind them, the terrible crescent rapidly
closed in upon the men. The glowing
billows of writhing flame roared and
thundered in their ears, smothering the
cries of the poor animals, who perished
by hundreds.
The air became very hot, and the
eddying volumes of smoke made it all
but impossible for the two to breathe.
Their horses became almost unman.
ageable; they were obliged to cover
their owl, ,heads. as well as their beasts.
with blankets. 1t was an awful moment
of agonizing darkness, with the terrible
heat blistering the exposed portions of
their skins.
The earth shook beneath the mighty
tramp of an immense herd of buffalo, as
they burst suddenly forth from the sur.
rounding smoke. A muffied, indistinct
cry of warning from Dick echoed for q
moment in the ears of Paul Welch, and
then he felt himself borne furiously
along, his horse hemmed in on all sides
by the frantic animals.
Hours elapsed before he succeeded in
extricating his gallant animal from the
ranks of the buffaloes, and as he stood,
half suffocated, his eyes all but power
less, the officer realized that he was
alone in the smoking waste, hopelessly
lost, surrounded by gloom and sitting
odors, which rose necessarily from the
blackened earth.
1t was agony to remain stationary,
and in hopes to gain a position where
the smoke would be less binding he
slowly urged his horse over the prairie.
waiting and hoping for daylight to ap-
pear.
Gradually the atmosphere became
clear, the stars peeped timidly forth
above his head. while long gray streak
along the distant horizon gave token
that daylight would soon dawn.
As objects became more and more dis
tinct, the young officer was finally en-
abled to make out the rugged outlines.
deep gullies, thick underbrush, and pc.
culiar formation of the Black hills, into
the lower portion of which bis horse had
wandered. Carefully he looked about
him on all sides, but failed to recognize
a single object. Everything was strange;
but the fact occasioned no disquietude
to the officer. He had every faith in
the Judgment of his scout, and it would
not be many hours before the old vete-
ran would be on his trail, followed by
his faithful companions-in-ar arms.
He had allowed his horse to browse
on the fresh green verdure which had
escape the track of the fire, while he
plunged into a profound reverie over
the events of the last few hours, and was
oblivious to what was passing around
him.
The rumble of horses feet, ferocious
yell, aroused the army officer to O full
sense of the peril into which his absence
of mind had partially betrayed him.
Pressing his regimental hat we'll
down upon his forehead, loosening the
sword in its scabbard, and feeling for
his trusty revolvers, he dashed the spurs
into his horses sides, while in his rear
followed half a dozen half-naked war
riors, yelling like so many fiends.
1t would have been madness to have
turned back and galloped on to the
burnt prairie, where no cover was to be
found, but by penetrating deeper into
the hills chance was barely possible
OF escaping the painted fiends.
The animal which Paul Welch be-
strode had the reputation of both speed
and endurance, qualities that were now
likely to stand him IN good need. The
turf was soft and springy, the ascent
gentle, and, having every faith in the
well-tried animal, Paul allowed the
bowling rascals to gain upon him. He
had emerged on to small but level
plateau that enabled him to take a sur
vey of the surrounding country, inter-
spersed here and there with scattering
shrubs and trees.
Gontarina, 1a,arraIx- - II him from