The National tribune., 1892-06-02

prcspected for these same mines for 20 years
or more came to him with his map of the
country In Which they were supposed to exist,
Harry was not long in growing enthusiastic
and believing what was told him, for the
prospect Of great wealth is always Intoxicating.
The map was old, and frayed, and faded, for
many another man had fingered it, to his
sorrow. That counted for nsught, though,
with Harry. When the day came for the
party to start out on their search he was the
most light hearted of all, especially when he
Jagged behind to kiss his hand to the girl for
whose sake he desired wealth, and who stood
ct the door of her fathers house watching
him, while she saw in vision the beautiful
things that the future had in store for them
both. The wealth that Harry might discover
was not necessary TO make her pictures of
the future bright. IF she only could have
Harry, that was sufficient; and when he had
passed from her sight she turned away. hum
ming the song he most liked, while thinking
Of the pleasures that awaited his return.
For months there had been no rumors of
Indian disturbances. There had been peace
&c long on the reservation that men had ceased
20 give its dangers q thought men who
live in the shadows of volcanoes live day after
day unthinking of the hour that viii find them
buried beneath its lava. To the undertaken
nothing is so commonplace as death, while the
headsman in time sees nothing notable in an
execution save whether or not the ak finds its
way through one neck easier than through
another. And SO it is with danger, for when
IL is ever present men grow cailous to il, no
matter how great il may be. So it was with
Harry Barrett and his comrades. While the
girl who was awaiting his return might have
occasionally thought of the risks the little
party ran, the men never felt any anxiety, or
If they did, eubdued it without openly ex-
pressing IL.
For the first few days they found indications
ofrich silver Observation-Disclosures that were so
rich that they made a permanent camp, intend
ing to examine the lodges that criss- crossed
the country thoroughly. They had seen no
Indians, and expected none. One day, though,
ss they sat at dinner, shot came from out of
the pines, and before the echo had died away
il was followed By score Of others. Old JEFF
Bramlett, who was TO have led them to untold
wealth. dropped the tin-plate-from which he
was eatlng-on the ground. Not abruptly but
20 gently that it hardly made sound and
ss it fell he apparently made an effort to rise
20 his feet, only TO fall face forward into the
fire, where still simmered the uneaten portion O!
the MONDAY meal.
The three remaining men sprang to their
ket unharmed, and rushed TO seek cover be-
hind trees and powders picking up the arms
that came nearest to their hands. As Barrett
passed the fire he drew from il the body Of the
old man. The face was covered with ashes and
blood. while the long hair and open shirt were
smoking from the contact with the Goals. The
limp body and relaxed jaw told how suddenly
death had come.
As the young man threw the body to one side
from the fire and sank under the cover of q
boElder, he glanced in q direction from which
the shots had come but could see nothing. As
be watched there would occasionally rise
puts Of white smoke. followed By the report of q
rife, and sbe would fire in return. Through
the whole afternoon never once did he see an
Indians face or form. After the first surprise,
the three had called TO one another, and were
rejciced to know that none was hit. The old
est had taken the direction of affairs.
Hold your ammunition and wait until
tonight, and then we will break back for the
canyon, and try to reach the settlements. There
are too many Of them for us to stand off" be
said, and SO through the long afternoon they
waited. The fire they had kindled burned out
and the body of the dead man beside ID grew
cold aud rigid. The blood no longer flowed
from the wound. When the wind would
blow the ashes from the Goals left by the FIRE
they would still glow, as if in mockery of thu
quick death that had overtaken the out
stretched form beside them.
When darkness had come the three mer
gradually crept bookkeeping as closely to
Fether as possible-in the direction of til,
canyon behind them. Occasionally out of til,
darkness would come q fash Of light from
rife fired In their direction. To these, at first
they replied: but when they had got some dis
tance from the camp where the dead man la,
they rose to their feet, and as rapidly sni
noiselessly az possible retreated to the canyon
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