Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-11-06

He dared not move, ne scarcely
breathed, but stood with every muscle
strained, expecting each second TO 1eei
the curved fangs strike INTO his leg. For
several seconds, it seemed to him hours,
he remained motionless, and the snake
| also was quiet, awaiting The movement
that would send lis needle pointed fangs
of death into its enemy.
Then it began TO move. and Blaine
| heard its sluggish body slIther over the
grass between his feet. He felt It's
weight upon his foot, and then with a
! sickening fear felt it rear its fiat head
along his boot and up to his knee. In
| imagination he could see its forked
! tongue darting along his rough riding
| trousers to feel what manner of creature
| il was that had disturbed it, and coulc
almost see the venOmous glitter OF us
! cold unwinking eyes. He stood almost
pGralyzed.
Then be heard footsteps approaching,
| apparently from the camp, but dared
not tuT n his head lest the slight move
! ment should cause the snake to strike.
The steps came on quickly, and the
| snake lowered it's head. Blaine 1elt II
move over his foot, and heard It gl.oe
| away. He breathed deep bTeedth OF
intense relief, turned to see who II was
approaching, when fearful blow de-
scended on his head, and he fell TO Inc
| ground insensible.
The treacherous assailant lent over the
PROSTATE body for few minutes. then
| stood up. Twice he raised the weapon III
his hand TO strike, but each time his arm
fell nerveless to his side. He searched
about little while, then lifting the
body, carried it few yards to where
some scrub bushes grew amid rocks, ana
there hid it, This done, he returned
| stealthily to the bivOuac under shelter ot
the horses, where he waited patiently TO
satisfy himself that no one was watch
ing.
His next movement was strange, for
he loosened Blaine's horse from the
bunch aud led II away with utmost cau-
ton, until he got the wind with hlm,
when he sent the animal adrift with
sharp crack TO hurry its movements.
Satisfied that the brute would go until II
found shelter from the wind, he slipped
again into camp and deliberately nred
off his revolver INTO the air.
In two minutes every horse was sad
died and every man in his saddle, aud
looking wildly about for the cause of the
alarm.
CIV no fired that shot?' demanded the
colonel in his sharp voice.
There was no answer, and the men
after casting many uneasy glances into
the night, peered silently into one an
others faces.
"Who was on sentryr
al was sir, but
"'You were asleep Supposed
''No, sir. Capt. Blame relieved me
an hour ago. Said he might as well
keen watch as he could not Sleep
The colonel waited minute for Blaine
; TO come forward. ''Well, - he said
with an ominous ring in his voice, ''why
does not Capt. Blaine sOeakT
Again theIe was no answer. and each
man looked at his neighbor curiously. Ii
was strange that the fearless young
officer did not respond.
.'Kurnel, the captain g gone.
, HWho's that?
, HRowe-Cob Rowe. Here s the cap
, taiu's saddle on the ground, but hi:
horse is gone.
r land here is his blanket, - said the
l ! prince. (which he kindly lent me about
e ! midnight. He seemed then very wake
/ full. -
I "Bugler, sound the recall.
The bugler's lips were numbed and ht
could not make his instrument speak
except in suatches of awful diScord. A
last the quick clear notes rang out louc
| aud shrill.
The men listened and the faint echo o
g a distant neigh came up against tht
r wind.
[ ''That 8 in the direction of the camp,
q said the colonel quickly.
"Ah. / know he wanted to be in caml
, to- morrow, - said a voice, ''to be Ii
, time for the post.
eyes, but why should he leave hi
saddle ana go without orders? And thG
L does not explain the pistol shot, 1t ma.
be senseless joke. Well,'' added tn
colonel, Rrlmly. NOW we are mounted
we will march
He struck into the night, the captain
Il of the companies gave the commend an
; the men, growing at the discomfort or
dark march, filed away.
There were two men in the column
. who did not cease to think over the dis
+ appearance OF Capt. Blaine. These wer
q cob Rowe and Basuio Dick of Cochrane
horse.
= They had struck up sort of friend
t shin, which had its origin in the frs
place to the admiration which Dick ha
( for Rowe's deerskiu coat. When Row
g had shown his hoFsemanSnlp the DatulO
r born rider, felt his respect for the Goa
n extend TO the man who wore it, an
a Rowe himself took liking to the good
tempered. we'll built and fearless blac
d scout.
q They rode along together in silence fo
If some time, Dick chewing sweet can
Is and splitting out the tiber at regular in
= tervals. while he occasionally glance
9 askauce at his saturnine companion.
Il .'You no like Capt. Blaine yer mooch
a eh?''
k ''what-why?'
II "Oh, nuttings. l see skin-jack'
e sometimes look Capt. Blaine when he NJ
i LOOKING
"Whnt are you driving at, you an
II mated stick of black sealing-wax?'
lie "what say? Some mems like see Cap
e Blaine out of way.
j. Rowe started. "Wake up, you nigg,
y boy; you re still asleep.
lie mot niger, Basuto me. Skiu-jack'
re / no sleep i'll de night. Seems to me it
not right about de captain.
TO "No, Dick, it is not right. 1 belieN
lie he s bolted.
lt "Soh!'' Dick looked curiously at b
~ companion, and then went on chewir
o. | O. his cane