The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-02-20

1t had grown quite dark. Mack re-
solved to trustto not unfamiliar ruse.
He first allowed the fire 20 sink low,
and theu gathered quantity of sage
brush, and wrapped it up in three of
their extra blankets.
These bundles were then placed near
the fire so that they should look, at u
distance, like the figures of men
squatted before the blaze.
Then Mack and his comrades piled
on brush until the flames leaped high;
and behind this blaze they crept away
to the horses, mounted them, and, lead
ing the repa cked mules, rode straight
up the side hill until out of range of the
| freight
They then turned and rode several
miles parallel with the trail, guiding
their course by family seen stars. BY
and by they struck into the trail, and
urged their animals forward. They
had heard no sound of Indians in pur.
suit.
Before daylight, they turned off and
rode about four miles to the left, where
they hid their horses in little pocket
which had grass and water, and be-
took themselves to quaking-asr
thicliet near at hand, for rest, and by
turns, for sleep. Here they proposed
to remain all day, and to go on again
at night. One of them kept guard at
the edge of the thicket, overlooking
the route and the surrounding country.
Late in the afternoon a squad of In
dians were discerned in the distance,
looking for their trial Crowded be-
hind tufts of buffalo grass, they
watched this band closely and anxious
ly.
At sundown a signal-fire about three
miles away announced that their
tracks had been discovered. But it
would yet be an hour or more before
the Indians would overtaie the little
party.
As soon as it grew dark enough to
cover their retreat Mack and his com.
panions started. They crossed the trail
and rode until midnight on the other
side. Then they crossed back again,
rode two miles out to the left and
camped until daylight.
Rising again, they took the trail di.
rect and rode at as rapid pace aa
their animals could be expected to sus-
tain.
Mack thought they had gained lead
during the night which would make il
impossible for the Indians to come up
with them, but at about ten o'clock
they discovered signal-fire upon &
hill not more than mile off at the left
and somewhat in advance of them.
The building of this fire was proof
that the party ahead were scouts, and
that the main body of the Indians was
behind. Mack kept his men to the
trail, and they urged their animals for
ward
All that day they rode, but the In
dians who were signalling kept steadi'
ly in advance of them. During the day
they counted no less than seventeen
fires, all built at no great distance from
the trail, but during all this not an
Arapahoe was seen.
That night, when tn cir horses and
mules were almost exhausted, the
white men made out the 'dim forms OF
two mountains few miles in advance.
Mack knew that these marked the pas
sage of the trail out upon the open
plains, within a three or four hours
ride of Fort Collins. Hidden in the
mouth of a canyon they escaped obser-
vation They rested and fed their
! horses, took food, and before daylight
were again in the saddle.
"If we have any trouble it will come
in the pass between the mountains, -
| Mack told his comrades. IF we dom:
run against party of them there
we're out of the woods. If we do, it'll
| take a good bunch of 'em to clean Us
out, for there's no cover-only open
ground"
AS they rode into the pass they saw
five Indians in the distance, seated
upon their horses near the trail. These
were undoubtedly the scouts, who,
riding the swiftest ponies in their
| band had kept ahead and were now
stationed in the pass, hoping to hold
the white men in cneck until others ot
their party came up.
"Nothin' to do but brush 'em one
side, boys" said Mack.
Tightening their girths and looking
to their weapons, the little party
charged forward at a stiff gallop.
The Indians slipped off their horses
and made show of standing their
ground, but as the white men pressed
straight on and came nearly within
rife shot they lost their courage and
fed.
Five h ours later Mack and the Ten.
nesseeans were in Fort Collins, where
a strong detachment'of regular troops
was stationed.
The Tennesseeans looked queerly al
Mack as they rode up to the fort. They
seemed to be satisfied with his look
and said nothing. Nor did Mack say
anything to the officers at the pos;
concerning his companions rebellious
intentions. Frank Welles Calllins, ir
Youths Companion.
The Test of Death.
Not long since a queer old character
in the central part of New York lay