Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1892-11-14


tered away IN pursuit Oh tne nerd
brewster knew them at glance Ster-
rett's ambulance mules. Indeed, the
broken pole was still dangling between
the two in -ear and bounding with them
over the frozen turf
And thai swerve, that sudden halt and
turn to the south end, had cost the band
their liberty. Darling along abreast OF
them. but nearly half mile away to the
south, the warrior on the dun colored
pony had shot far out beyond them, and
now. sweeping around in a wide circle
10 his right, rode between them and the
broad wastes to the west. Two other In
lians were circling in their front, bar
ring the way to the low hills to the
south. Others still, struggling far out
Eastward, reined up so as not to inter-
tere with the rounding of the hsSi.
md in a moment or two more these
|hree experts had turned their runaway
property in wide sweep back into the
thinning track of the sun, and in very
few minutes the matter was settled; the
bonies were sulkily trotting along the
bank beyond the bend, headed for home
md hard work again, with the ambu-
ance mules braying at their heels. Here
Fhe younger Indians, the boys, took
kharge, and from the distant slopes,
from south and east and from the prai-
he to the west, the others came canter-
ing toward that sharp angle half mile
Rway and gathered in eager consulta-
lion about one who seemed to be their
leader.
All this, and much more, Brewster
and his men were watching with bound
ng pulses, in breathless excitement,
brewster with feelings of mingled hope
despair Now he knew that the
ambulance must be somewhere near at
hand, possibly up that long ravine on
the south side that slanted in from the
prairie not hundred yards away below
Them. Surely the banks looked as though
there were good ford at that point
Might not that be the very one of which
Ellis spoke? Now, if it were but posi-
Bile to drop back out of the drifts in
which they were hiding and recross the
stream, they might yet creep unobserved
nto the mouth of that gully and feel
their way afoot until, somewhere in the
snow, they came upon, as he now felt
sure they must, the StOrmbOund wagon
with its precious contents. From their
crouching place it was impossible to see
across the ridge that separated them
from the ravine referred to; but to the
boutheast the prairie lay before them,
hnd the keenest eye could detect no sign
bf hollow between that which lay so
hear them and that from which those
kagabond mules had emerged far out
Upon the plain. Somehow Brewster felt
certain that now at last he was actually
within pistol shot of the ambulance,
within speaking distance, almost, of the
girl he so fondly loved, whose very life
ht this instant depended not only on his
courage. but also on his judgment. One
false move would ruin all.
So long as the Indians kept up their
powwow at the bend, so long was Wini-
fred safe. The longer they delayed the
bearer would it bring Murphy and the
men from the main crossing three miles
away up stream. Then, six to six, he
could laugh at the Sioux. But any one
who knew Indians at all | ew that the
discovery of the mules would only set
Them to work to find the snow camp
from which the animals had broken
away Aye even as these things flashed
through his mind. Brewster could see
that they were signaling halt to the
herd guard, and that two of the young
sters were lashing their ponies out in
front of the band and gradually bring
ing it to standstill. Almost at the same
moment, too those in consultation sepa-
rated, three riding swiftly after the
herd, while the other three, slowly and
cautiously. began to advance toward the
hollow whence the mules had emerged.
Evidently they expected to find the white
mans wagon there.
Nov is your time, men," muttered
Brewster. Quick! Off with your side
ines and double them about your horses
fore feet so that they can't even hobble
but of the drift Keep them here. Take
your Iariat and hopple my horse, one of
you. Throw him if need be. I'll watch
hose beggars down stream. All, |
Thought So, he muttered, They've
grabbed the mules and are examining
he harness: that will tell them easily
Enough they were cut loose after break
ng the pole Quick, meni throw snow
by the bushel all over your horses. Roll
n it yourselves. Get all the white on
you can: then run down the gully as
soon as you have your horses hidden
And watch for my signal. The moment
say go, bend double and scamper to
he ice yonder. then make for the bluffs.
I'll follow instantly"
Meekly the two troop horses, after
having been led to deeper point down
he coulee, bent their heads and sub
nitted to the lashing together of their
fore feet, but Brewster's ''Black jack
was of different mold. He would not