The National tribune., 1889-11-07

Laramie lDau. AT nObDs ne
halted at The Rawhide TO rest his horse and
take a bite Of luncheon, but all his young
soul was athrill with eagerness; every
faculty vns alert. Warned of the recent
presence OF Indians on every side, he was yet
seeking to gain the Platte before nightfall +;
cross to the south bank, where there was
comparative safety; ride southeastward until
his horse was exhausted; picket him where
grass and water were near at hand; sleep
till dawn again. and then push on. He must
reach the Sidney road before Sunday morning
and strike IL far below the river.
But here, as he neared the valley, sight
had met his eyes that made his young heart
leap The banks of the Rawhide were
dotted here and there by fresh pony-tracks,
and, coming from the distant ridges 10 the
east, they bad gone in as though to water,
and then turned down toward the Platte
the very way he wanted to go. An hour
later, with his horse hidden behind him
in q shallow ravine, Fred Waller was lying
prone upon the ground and peering over a
ridge into the low, level wastes stretching
FAR TO the southeast, bordering the Platte TO
the very horizon. What most attracted his
gaze was a little dust cloud, miles away
down stream, in which tiny black dots were
moving, with otherlittle dotsscurrying about
need 20 tell him they were Indians.
il was some minutes before he could deter
mine which way they were really going, but
when he finally saw that they were bound
down the valley, the boys heart beat high
with hope He could venture down TO the
Platte as soon as they had passed entirely out
Of sight. and find some place TO cross well to
the west OF them. An hour he waited, and
still they were in view. Then they seemed 20
in rlumn Of
waited l5-20 minutes aud they were still
there. Then it suddenly dawned upon him
that the whole band was resting IN the shade
while their scouts searched the neighborhood
lie Was five or six miles from the river, and
every inch Of ground in front was open. He
well knew their eyes were keener than his
and that should he make dash for il, they
would certainly see and give Chase. What he
could not detect and did not dream Of was that
miles still farther away down the Platte another
dust cl0ud was slowly advancing-W S
troop coming up streani-and their scouts were
watching that.
At last. after another hour Of anxiety, he de-
termincd oslip away westward, 20 mp the Raw
hide q few miles until he could gain the shelter
Of some iow-lying ridges cross the stream and.
making q wide circuit. sweep around TO the
Platte lie might still reach il before dark
and find ford. or at least q place 20 swim
across; he could trust +" Big Jim I" for that.
But. even as he would have put this plan into
execution,
HE SAW TO HIS DIsMAY
new move among the warriors. Four little
dots came riding from the timber and pushing
back up the valley. These were only the ad
vance. IN half an hour the whole band came
jogging leisursly out Of the shadows, and little
dots farther esst came streaking across the
fats 10 join them. Fred saw that the whole
var psrty was nov retrGcing its steps and COM
Ing back up stream. and that now, If he waited,
be might pursue his original intention Of cross
ing At the shadows. 10 miles below the mouth
Of the Rawhide. And so patiently and pluckily
be kept his ground" Big Jim contentedly
filing himself with buffalo grass the while
and cot until the sun was low in the west did
Fred realize their real intent Just as the
scouts. FAR IN advance Of the main party. reached
the winding hanks Of the Rawhide they seemed
10 hold brief consultation: one OF them plunged
through 70 she western side. The other three
turned aud came straight toward the watching
b0y.
Great hezvensi It meant that the whole
band WIS coming up the Rawhide. and before
dark would find and follow his track Fred's
Inst Impulse WAS 10 mount and, giving Jim the
spuFs, ride on tie wings OF the wind back 10
the m0rth-back 10 tie NiObrara where he had
len the troop in biv0aac. There at least was
safety, f0r they could not trail hIm in the
dark. Bot the second thought covered him
with shame. Go back-go back nOp Never,
90 l0ng ifs be had a chance Of life and hope
Away from here. and instantly. he must speed
on his mission, and in another moment his
virth was tiEateBed. and Big Jim," aston
Shed. was racing away eastward, bot keeping
ihe sheitering ridge between him aud tue
Platte
That night Fred Waller slept ftfully on the
JpeB prairie with Big Jim tethered close at
sand- Saturday morning found him 10 miles
. the east and 10 miles further from the river
han tie point where he watched the Sioux the
previous evening; and, hungry aud worn with
anxiety rs be was the poor hOys heart sank
githin him Hhen, as he cautiously peeDed over
TIC ridge into the valley after an early morn
iEg ride, he saw dust clouds near the stream,
AID felt that he was
STILL CUT OFF.
Noon was near, when, far ar he could see up
Or down. the valley was clear; and then,
creeping cut from lie lair, he again mounted
6Dd rode straight for the Platte WaFily be
watched in every direction, bat no intruders
cane. lie vas Epurring over the fats, only
nile from the river, before the first sign Of
pursnit was made. Then. far back toward the
bluffs be had ieft. Fsed spied little party Of
warriors coming after him fall tilt Never
stopping for more than one glance he gave Jim
the rein. urging him 10 fall speed; marked, AS
De naSbed across 10 only few hundred yards
froEn the bank. the trail of cavalry command
going mp the valley and wondered whose it
could be- aud then be and Jim went crashing
through the gravel nc the waters ed ne aud
plunged boldly into the running stream
Deeper and deeper brave old Jim pushed in,
nDtn the HAtErs loaned about his broad and
nluscalar breast. and then Fred threw himself
from the saddle and, keeping tight hold Of the
pomnlel and steadying his czrbine with the
same hand, swim FOR IT, old man. be shouted
70 ms gallant horse, and in another minute he
and Jim were floating with the current yet
rapidly nearing the other shore. Three min
otes and, dripping wet but safe, they were
scTambling up the south bank and speeding
sway over the bounding tgFf. with the baffied
pursueEE still two miles behind.
And these were the tracks that Wallace found
a. he came hRrrying back down stream.
Saturday night again Fred Waller and bis
faithful horse fpen. on the open praire, for in
tie darkness he found IL impossible 10 make
hlE way. The moon wsz gone By O'Clock, and
her light had been all too faint before. Eat
Sunday. just little after noon, he had come in
sight Of the goal he had sought through such
iuGnite pluck end perii-the Sidney road and
as he gazed ~ il from sfzr. peering as usual
from behind EhelterRg bluff bis heart sank
into E5E very boots. lie had come too late
There On that distant trail were the tiny col
umns Of blue smoke floating slsywaF that told
ot burning wagons, row IN crumbling ruins.
horhe than THAT: here. close az hand oyer on
tie other side Of the long. shallow swsle were
t1o-sc0re lad ian warriors IN all their barbarit
tneTy, eEcitldly watching The coming Of Other
victims
With a moan Of anguish Fred Waller marked
mile beyond, ard rapidly approaching them