Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-15
BUD.


almost under his horses feet, was another
\ Aman, dead. The blood was oozing out of
small hole in his forehead running in
tiny purple streams over each temple.
and lost IN the long black hair that
reached almost down to his shoulders.
The eleven men forming the circle had
their eyes upon the dead man; the eyes of
the twelfth were closely watching the
eleven, while half smile played around
the corners of his mouth, giving to his
face rather dare devil appearance.
There was perfect silence. Even the
horses were standing as if deeply absorbed
Z in thought, forgetting for the time to
swish their tails to keep away imaginary
flies.
But presently the silence was broken.
A terrible oath was uttered by one of the
u eleven, and 1t was answered by his ten
.omrades in the circle with angry words
end shouts and curses. They jerked
their horses heads around and faced tho
one with the smile upon his lips. Each
man had bis hand on his revolver, but the
half smile on the face Of him they seemed
ready to Destroy instead of vanishing.
grew broader and broader and more reck-
less, and haunting light shone in his
, eyes as he said, interrogatively: "Well"
The one who had FIRST broken the
silence replied by asking: why did you
kill our comrader'
because could, suppose"
You killed him, then, because you
wanted to kill some onef
r No, killed him because no was my
brother, and had taken an oath to kill
- him"
Your brotherl" all exclaimed.
y Eyes, am Bud. Did he never men
ition me to his friends? la. ha. hal But
|Dick was always reticent. 1t was his
way. Well, gentlemen, III bid YOU good
day, and move along"
He lifted his hat and bowed to them,
then he turned his horse around and gal
Hoped away across the prairie.
The GOODNESS of the man was such q sur
prise to the party he left that it was sew
eral minutes before they fully realized that
the murderer of their companion had
made his escape When they came to
their senses, however, it was with one &C
cord that each man turned his horse. and
with one voice they all shouted, Death
to the murderer"
= All were splendidly mounted, and all
. !, were good horsenen. men who spent the
Greater part of their time in the saddle.
: The chase was hot ors for the muir
'ddrsr also was well mounted and he easily
start between himself and his pursuers.
Ind it was evident from his actions that
he did not let his horse out to it's full
Hspeed, for he frequently reached his hand
lover the pommel of the saddle and patted
the animal on the neck to soothe it into
obedience of his wishes.
In the distance was O line Of timber.
- The trees became taller and taller as the
riders went on, until at last they rushed
into the dim light un6 or them. Bud, as
he called himself, was a scant mile ahead
If bis pursuers, but when he struck the
teoo6s he gave his horse free rein. and 1t
was surprising to see how the animal
bounded away, almost with the swiftness
Of theewind.
That's the style, SatanT' cried the
rider in exultant tones to his horse. 1--WE
will pass the river before they reach it."
On and on they sped through what
seemed an almost impossible tangle of
palmetto and vines.
Tho river was reached at last. The
water was over the banks and running
swiftly.
NAbout half a mile below where Bud had
EHruck the river was what is called
raft" q place where logs and trees had
liodged as they were carried down the
friver by freshets. They were fastened
4 together IN all sorts of ways-some stand
King on end with their broken tops above
Jwater, others with their roots in the air,
f'and against these wss lodged drift of
every description. Over and around this
drift and the upended trees the water
rushed in Thousand whirls and eddieS,
ttith roar as of q cataract.
8 Bud cast his eyes up and down the
.ver He had crossed it often, and knew
.ae danger.
"a The river is on boom" he muttered;
then turning to his horse he spoke cheer
lily, But we con cross it, can't we,
Satan9'
The animal uttered short neigh, as If
In response, and paved the ground rest
lessly.
Bud fastened his pistols high on the
feommel of the saddle. then pulled his
Tboots off and fastened them in the Same
| manner When all was ready he took
hold Of the horses tail and said: Now,
, Satan, over we 60
The horse walked into the water with
Bud following, holding on to his tail.
Man and beast were soon out of their
depth, when tho horse turned his head
slightly against the stream and swan
swiftly for the other bank.
The shore was reached in safety. The
bank. was low ana clear OF ilnDer, eX-
cept for tree standing here and there,
and in the distance, as far as the eye
. gould see, stretched the wide prairie
Bud was just ready to mount his horse.
{ when he Unopened to cast his eyes up the
4 river. They opened wide. and his atten-
ton was so closely drawn TO what he saw
that he did not notice his pursuers had
reached the other bank, until bullet
from a Winchester rifle came whistliuC
by. close to his head.
He looked around quickly The sight
that met his eyes would have caused most
men to seek cover, for half dozen rifles
were pointed toward Kim. But Bud did
not move except TO raise his hand and
motion it up the river.
The weapons were lowered and all eyes
\ glanced up the river. A small skin. with
what hooked like little toddling girl
baby in it. was floating down the swirling
water. Tho raft" was not far away, and
the sk;H, if not caught and landed before
pcoching there, would go to certain de-
Atfuction with it's living freight. for q
yniracle only could save 1t among the tree
tops and snags, with the water running
n such o mad rush.
Bud did not hesitate o moment. He
hounted his horse and rode up the river
AZ fast as tho animal could carry him.
When little way below, where the skif
was coming. he dismounted and hurriedly