The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1886-10-16
TILE MYSTIC SIGN j,
The King of the
Mountain.
BY ABBIE C. MKEEVER.
CHAPTER XIV.
RUNNING THE GANTLET.

He made a circle almost of the Indian
7illage, and crossing the stream again APP
preached where a number of horses were
grazing. One animal in particular was
tethered quite a distance from the rest: it
carried handsome saddle, and by wonder
ful chance brace of revolvers.
Amazed at the apparent carelessness of,
as he surmised the party Of road-agents, be
selected this animal and quietly led it back
ont of all possible sight or hearing, when
he mounted it and galloped swiftly away in
the opposite direction they had borne him
captive the day previous.
Not an Indian or white man had OBJ
served him, or been aroused to any sign of
his escape thus far, and with strange Ella
ton he urged his horse into a swifter
gailop.
He had proceeded mile, or more, over
the rocky, uneven ground at the base of
the mountain, when loud sounds and
cries reached him.
His absence and escape had been dis
covered, for louder and louder grew the
cries.
Yes, and in few minutes the whole
murderous horde would be on his track.
He glanced around for a place of con-
cealment, but there was none in view. He
urged his already tired horse by word and
blow, but he knew the poor creature could
not hold out against fresher ones.
IL the meantime the Indian camp was
greatly disturbed The dead dog had been
found by some children, also the old
squaws bowl, which Jasper had dropped
near it.
Then they had hurried to his place of
capture to find only the old squaw bound
who was just beginning to recover con-
sciousness.
Cries, loud and fierce, arose.
The Cattle King was trailed TO the river,
but there the trail was lost
Numbers focked here and there, and
some one perceived that one of the road
agents horses was missing.
There was mounting in haste, and, taking
various directions. the Indians, with screech
and whoop, followed on the track of the
Cattle King.
He had placed several miles between
them; had swung out on the boundless
prairie, with only the light of the stars to
guide him. His weary horse galloped
slower and slower. Still, he urged it on,
noting anxiously its heaving sides.
Oh, for place of shelteri Far to his
right he caught the faint outline of a growth
of timber, no doubt along some stream of
water. Toward this he looked anxiously,
and resolved to reach it, if possible.
But his horse galloped very slowly now,
and glancing back he perceived the Indians
Mt no great distance.
Once more he urged it on, but it only
gave gasp and sank down quite dead.
Jasper leaped from its back. The tim
Der was too far off to be thought of now,
for the Indians were surrounding him.
I'll sell my life as dearly as possible, P"
he thought.
He was splendid shot, and when the
redskins began closing IN upon him he
fired quickly. One, two, three, four five
dusky warriors toppled over before a hun
bred stars swan around him. and he sank.
unconscious, under the dubbed rifle of an
Indian who had approached him from be-
hird.
When he began to regain consciousness
he found himself bound to tree around
which the Indians were piling brush and
leaves.
"Ah!" thought Jasper, Its the old story
Of torture. That was why 1 was taken
alive"
But he shut his lips firmly, and prepared
TO meet his fate bravely.
The Indians worked away for some
minutes, the outside fires lighting up the
scene with dreadful reality.
Perceiying that their captive had regained
consciousness, they amused themselves for
time IN throwing their knives into the tree
near his face.
Then torch was brought and applied to
the brush Mt his feet. Slowly but steadily
the blaze grew larger and larger.