Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-11-17

would ilre the bullet himself which
should make him sole owner OF the con-
tents of the cave.
Men who have been drifting in mid
,cean on bit of wreckage, suffering
with hunger, thirst and exposure, and
naving not the faintest hope of rescue,
nave yet planned wicked and revengcful
shings.
When the last charge was made Tay.
lor had the Englishman and his daugh-
ter on his left hand and only few feet
away. Under cover of the smoke he
deliberately fired upon them, hoping to
kill them both. One Of his bullets
grazcd the girls shoulder and another
went through Harkins' hat, but Provi-
dence willed that such monstrous
crime should not be perpetrated. Tay-
lor had no sooner made the attempt than
sudden thought brought smile to his
face and he smote his breast and NUT
tered:
Fool that am to have forgotten the
contents of that box! Let them livcj
Let them go with me after the goldi
Let them aid me to secureit, and then
them
He had attempted murder. Te was
planning something far more horrible
than that.
1t was midnight when the train
reached the forks Of the Cheyenne and
went into camp. From that point it is
only sixty miles to Clusters peak in the
Black Hills. 1t was thought best to re-
main in camp for couple Of days and
reft and recruit The major in COM
mand of the cavalry was an old Indian
fighter and plainsnan, and before the
camp broke up he called q general con-
sultation. He impressed it upon one
and all that their safety forbade break
ing mp into smaller parties than ten or
twelve men. The Indians were thor
oughly aroused and alert, and while
they might be Tepulsed occasionally
they would be almost certain to over
| come small detachments of gold seekers.
No camp must DE eft uuguarded by day
or night. 10 man must relax his Wig
! ;lanco for an hour if he wished to pre-
! serve his scalp.
A portion of the troops would remain
]
ing point. The ether half would follow
the south fork of She Cheyenne up to
! the neighborhood of narney's peak and
/ there form another camp. They might
make occasional scouts, but they would
not be strong enough to defend the peo
pie rushing into the country.
The majors remarks resulting in a
! mia ~ 10 n
many of the hunters who had come thus
lar with the soldiers had now to hant
together and depend upon themselves
Out Of al three parties were organized
and put under the leadership of goot
men. The first party consisted Of the
, old captain of the train, Joe, HarklnS
| TAYLOR and seven other good men, BeS:
going of course. but not figuring in the
numerical strength. 1t had been agreed
beforehand that the men should bt
drawn by lot, and it was a curious hi
of fate that drew both Iarkins and Tay
Tor for one party when both were
earnestly hoping to he separated. There
were enough to give the other partie
equal strength or little more, and eacl
and every man was sworn to supper
and obey the chosen leaders. A faii
division was made of weapons. ammu
milton and necessaries of life, and eaol
party selected its own route. In tn,
first party all were agreed for Custer
peak. while the other two decided t,
strike in farther to the west.
On the third day all the parties moved
and within an hour after the first wag
ON pulled out the soldiers had the CAM
to themselves. 1t was the same steril
country that had been met with on th
other side Of the river, cut up by thu
same dry gullies and confused by thu
same monOtOnous ridges and each party
now that it numbered 50 few. realized
its peril more fully as it went forward.
The distance between the river ant
Cne IOotnlIIs was covered IN three day
IF easy travelling and without actui
sight of n redskin, although signs wei
encountered to prove that the party VIZ
being watched day and night. III
wagons pushed over the foothills, woun
up long and narrow valley, an
when they went into camp Custer
peak seemed to lean right over then
Here was spring, abundance of gra
, and a fairly defensive position, and
was decided to make permanel
; camp.
No prospectors had come this way,
far as could be ascertuined, and he
WAS as good a spot to try for the gold
any other. 1t was decided that two mt
should always be on guard during Il
night and that four should remain du
+ ing the day while the other 81; WEI
forth in parties Of two TO prospect.
Three days passed without anythir
, Of unusual moment. The prospecto
+ found enough to enc M'ago them, al
not an Indian had been seen. On Il
fourth day it so happened that Harki
and Taylor We're named to 60 togeth
as one Of the prospecting parties. Fac
would have promptly declined Il
others Companionship had he not res
lied that an explanation would ha'
boon demanded bv fine others VIII