Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-11-02

strained, expecting each second to fee
the curved fangs strike INTO his leg. Fol
several seconds, il seemed to him hours
ne remained motionless, and the snake
also was quiet, awaiting the movement
that would send lie needle pointed fang,
of death into its enemy.
Then IL began to move. and Blaine
heard its sluggish body slIther over the
grass between his feet. He felt it:
weight upon his foot, and then with 6
slckenlng fear felt it reur Its fiat head
along his boot and up to his knee. In
Imagination he could see its fo-ked
tongue darling along his rough riding
trousers 10 feel what manner of creature
1t was that mad disturbed IL, and could
almost see the venomous glitter of its
cold unwinking eyes. He stood almost
paralyZed.
Then be heard footsteps approaching,
apparently from the camp, but dared
not III. II his head lest the slight move
| ment should cause the snake to strike.
The steps came on quickly, and the
snake lowered its head. Blaine felt it
move over his foot, aud heard 1t ri de
away. He breathed a deep breadth OF
! intense relief, turned to see who il was
| approaching, when fearful blow de-
| scended on his head, and he fell TO the
! ground inseisible.
The treGcherous assailaut lent orer the
| PROSTATE body for IA few minutes, then
stood up. Twice he raised the weapon in
his hand 10 strike, but each time his arm
fell nerveless 10 his side. He searched
about little while, then lifting the
body, carried it n few yards to where
some scrub bushes grew amid rocks, and
there hid it. This done, he returned
stealthily to the bivouac under shelter of
the horses, where he waited patiently TO
satisfy himself that no ore was watch
ing.
His next movement was strange, for
he loosened Blaine's horse from the
bunch aud led IT away with utmost cnu-
ton, until he got the wind with him,
when he sent the animal adrift with
sharp crack to hurry its movements.
Satisfied that the brute would go until il
found shelter from the wind, ne slipped
again into camp ard deliberately fired
of hs revolver INTO the mir.
In two minutes every horse Was cad
died and every nun in his saddle, aud
looking wildly about for the cause of the
alarm.
'W no fired that shoi?' demanded the
colonel in his sharp voice.
There was no answer, and the men,
after casting many uneasy chances into
the night, peered silently into one an
Others faces.
''Who was on sentry?"
81 was cir, but
lyon were asleep Supposed
mo, sir. Capt. Blame relieved me
an hour ago. Said he might as we'll
keep watch as be could not Sleep
The colonel waited minute for Blaine
10 come forward. !'Well,'' he said,
with an OTninous ring in his voice, :why
does not Capt. Blaine speak?''
Again there was no answer, and each
man looked ut his ueighbor curiously. II
was strange that the fearless young
officer did not respond.
'Kurnel. the captains gone.
"Who's that?''
"Rowe-Cob Rowe. Here's the cap
tain's saddle on the ground, but his
horse is gone.
"And here is his blanket, - said the
prince, (which he kindly lent me about
midnight. He seemed then very wake
full. -
"Bucler, sound the recall. -
The buGler's lips were numbed and he !
could not make his instrument speak, |
except in suatches of awful discord. AT
last the quick clear notes rang out loud !
and shrilI.
The men listened and the faint echo of |
q distant neigh came up against the |
wind.
"That's in the direction of the camp"
said the colonel quickly.
"Ah, know he wanted to be in camp |
to- morrow. - said a voice, ''to be in
time for the post.
eyes, but why should he leave his
saddle and 70 without orders? And that
does not explain the pistol shot. II may
be senseless joke. Well,'' added the
gTimly, ''now we are mounted
we will march. -
He struck into the night, the captains
Of the companies gave the command and |
the men, growing ut the discomfort of q
dark march. filed away.
There were two men in the column
W no did not cease to think over the dis
appearance of Capt. Blaine. These were
Cob Rowe and Basuto Dick of Couhraue's
horse.
They had struck up e sort of friend
ship, which had its origin in the fret
place 10 the admiration which Dick had
Tor Rowe's deerskin coat. When Rowe
had shown his horsemanshIp the Basu,O,
! born rider, felt his respect for the coat
extend to the man who wore it, and
Rowe himself took liking TO the good
we'll built and fearless black
cout.
They rode along together In silence for
ome time, Dick chewing a sweet cane
Ind splitting out the fiber at regular in
ervals, while he occasionally glanced
.skauce at his saturnine companion.
''You no like Capt. Blaine yer mooch,
,h?"
"what-why?'
"Oh, nuttiDgs. see skin-ja
ometimes look Capt. Blaine when he not
ooking.''
"What are you driving at, you ami
mated stick of black sealing-wax?'
"What say? Some mems like see Capt.
Blaine out of way. -
Rove started. awake up. you niger
Joy; you re still asleep.''
"Not bigger, Basuto me. Skin-jacke
no sleep in de night. Seems to me ii is
lot right about de captain''
"No, Dick, 1t is not right. 1 believe
lie 3 bolted.
"Soh!" Dick looked curiously at his
and then went on chewing
& his cane.