Evening journal., 1892-10-03

IuiNtHAc ldu utcn uluAe- w Ulc lit J.
owners of She wagons were mostly meI
Of steady habits aud good character
looking for homes as wen as for gold
the majority Of the horsenen were tur /
bulent and unruly characters, some O /
whom at least were leaving civilized F.
Nebraska and pushing into the Indian .
country from fear of the law They /
carried a plentiful supply of whisky |
with them, and they made it plainly un I
derstood that they would obey the c.
tain's orders only when it suited then |
to do so. At the first campfire six O
the wagoners. Disguised with the out
look. were in favor Of turning back
but the captain, who was an old plains
man, encouraged them TO 80 on by say
ing:
"These men are like sailors who al
ways start ON a voyage full of liquor
After we get beyond civilization the,
viii tone down and become as humble
as you please
But he was a false prophet so far a.
four of them was concerned. Thes
four men We're well mounted and armed
and they had the look and demeanor q.
border ru6ians. They had evidentl,
joined the train to enjoy its protection
and in return deiantly refused to afiorC
it any Of theirs. TO compel them tt
stand guard and assist in tho various
other duties would be to bring on fight
and this the trainmen wished to avoid
II the four men were driven away i
would only be after they killed somt
one, and the train would then be SC
crippled in strength that it might fall
prey to the first rowing band of Indians
encountered.
For two or three days all hauds'hac
been expecting to meet with a force o..
redskins who would attempt to bloci
the way, but to their great surprise the
country seemed entirely clear of them
They were gathered, as the reader
knows, to attack the party coming
across from Brule City.
When the train halted for dinner the
four men we have referred to drew of
by themselves and held an earnest con.
versation as they broke their fast.
1T isn't over twenty-five miles to tn,
Hills from this" said one, "and if we
are to do anything it must be done to
night"
How many wagons do we want
| Bob| asked a second.
"Only one We wan. the best wagor
/ and the best team"
"And that's Browns" said a third.
"Just what was going to say, added
the fourth
81 had already settled on that, OBJ
served Bob, who was evidently tn
leader Of the gang. First, because it,
the best outfit; and second, because
want revenge on the whole family"
"They don't like us any too well.
chuckled one Of the men.
II reckon not and now's our chance
60 get even. We want to fix that wagol
in about two hours from this. It's abou
four hours haul to the south fork Of tn
Cheyenne, and that's where the trail
win camp tonight"
"What about BrownY asked one @
the men.
Bob drew his finger across his throat
"And the old womanY
Bob repeated his gesture.
"And the galY
81 want the gal spared" he replied
Mobile l shall turn her loose afte
awhile. and mebbe 1 shall trade her Of
to some Indian chief for a dozen ponies
I'm told that the big chiefs are paying
( fancy prices for white gals this sum
mer."
At this there was a loud laugh from
fhe four. and when il had subsided BOl
& resumed:
B eyes. that gal must be considered IN.
q property, and don't You fellows get nj
{ any kick about it. Wen make a squar
divide on the gold, but keep your hand
!. off the gal"
( "Have You got a plaug' whispered on
. Of the men as he saw that a number @
G the trainmen were suspiciously regard
3 ing the group.
g Leave that to me. You fellows jus
y go on about your business and be %
q hand when wanted. Ii the plan I've So
! miscarries, I'll let you know in time
IS try something else
10 Aftera halt of an hour the train move
3 on. It was fair travelling now, and ia
!, sight of the mountains in the distanl
D and the thought Of the gold to be ol
AZ tanned put every one in fine spirits an
le created a desire TO push on as rapidly q
possible. Sig miles from the south for
~ there was a halt, and a scout went f0
.e ward to select a route for the wagon
4 over a bad piece of ground The fol
~ renegades nodded to each other, bl
e while three of them rode forward an
oiIiciously offered their services to Il
"a captain, Bob made his way to Brown
wagon, which was the last in the lin
I'd Its occupants were on the seat in frou
D. all interested in what was going
n ahead. and in three minutes the reu
gade had removed the lnchpins fro
both hind wheels of the heavy WACO
The "prairie schooners," as the big wa
ons of that date We're called, had the
"a pins in the place Of burrs, now so gene
nc ally used.
rs A quarter Of an hour later, as {
ia wagons started forward. the wheels HI
II, made only few turns when both roll
away and the rear end of the wag
ilc came down with a crash. BY this til
O the leading wagon was half a mile
M ] nIsr.rrn