Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-09-07

were unquestionably. and each with bis
rider. Every moment brought them
nearer and nearer, until. as they spread
ont in extended order across the level
surface, it was possible to count their
number. eleven; possible b note that
every now and then some one of the
number in front or on the TANKS would
rein in suddenly and circle around and
stop. as though examining tracks upon
th' prairie.
1T is not possible the ambulance can
have got so far over as that" muttered
Brewster. 1T is not possible that they
ran have heard of it in all that fearful
storm. Why. Morse, it's madness to
think of it,"
IL don't know how far the team may
have been driven ont that way, sir, but
the blizzard came from the northwest,
from their left front; it beat across their
path all the way and mules won't face
it, and if it isn't the ambulance they're
after, what can it be?'
my God, if we only knew where it
wasr groaned Brewster. Come what
may, men. we've got TO stand 'twixt it
and those scoundrels. Here, Murphy,
lively now, slip back down into the val
ley and ride for all you're worth to the
ford and bring those fellows back with
ynu. every man of them. Tell them to
keep under the bank and ride like hell
on with you, now" And this time there
was no recall; Murphy was out of sight
In fash.
Nearer and nearer rode the savage
horsemen, now about a mile away.
Already Morse and his silent comrade
had swung their carbines out of their
leathern buckets, thrust cartridge in
the chamber and loosened others in the
woven thimbles. Brewster never for an
instant quit his gaze. but his hand had
stolen back and loosed the flap of the
holster at his hip. The movements of
the Indians had puzzled him; they were
riding not as though moving on some
point already determined, but rather as
if searching. feeling their way. Every
now and then, too, some of their num-
Der cantered 10 the edge Of the bank and
seemed to scrutinize the valley.
''.Snowdrifts are too deep and plenti-
full in there, around that bend. sir.
That's why they're up on the prairie"
Brewster's heart seemed almost TO
stand still All on a sudden the leaders
swerved; the blanketed riders could be
seen bending low and over as they
swung their nimble steeds in circle 10
the right. And then. then. an instant
more. and. tossing the powdery snow all
in a fieecy white cloud, there came tear
ing up out of the depths of some unseen
coulee lively herd of Indian ponies re-
joicing in their unwonted freedom and
determined not to be herded back to
slavery without a struggle.
1t was hard to repress the shout Of JOY
that sprang TO the soldiers lips. Then
it wasn't the ambulance after all: moth
ing but this frolicsome band Of rascals
that. after breaking away from the In
dian boys the evening before. had doubt
less been driven before the gale, de-
the sending forth of quite
party of the young men in search. even
before the storm had fully abated For
a moment the troopers forgot their mis-
sion as they watched the chase Fresh |
and unhampered by weight of any kind
the scurrying band came sweeping along |
the edge of the distant bluff, following |
an active. mischievous leader and leav-
ing their iaded pursuers far behind. The
Indian knows too much to chase run |
ming horse: he leaves him 90 his own de- /
vices. well knowing he will more quick /
y stop when unpursued and can then
more readily be beaded off and turned |
back to the ways he should go. On
,ame the nimble herd full tilt toward /
he elbow in the shallow valley, where /
/ broad white streak told of deep drifted /
now, and there the leader veered to the
eft and south and would doubtless have
away at racing speed On that
'ourse but for one young warrior on a
lun eolored pony, who with the speed of
he wind came darting out across the
eyel surface beyond, gamely, skillfully
reading him. Around went the leader
,nce more in wide circle westward,
lIOnHl the StulutFiuoSt tuSt OF the
ieecy drift, and then, with laundering
roofs, the whole troop went bounding
way TO the west without a living soul
o interpose between them and the bald,
olling heights at the far horizon, miles
md miles away.
'.Go it, ponyl I'm glad to see a red
kin done for oncel" was Morse's jubi-
ant shout. And then, suddenly and
harp, Good God! What's that, Lieu
enanty Lookm
Not six hundred yards away, now, the
title band Of ponies, following their
pirited leader, had suddenly halted at
he very edge of some dip or sink in the
'rairie that lay to the southeast of the
nowy rift in which the troopers were
still hidden, they and their
orses, from the sharp eyes Of the chas-
ng Indians. Then as suddenly, tossing
Ugh their scragsy names, as though
With one accord, the nimble brutes
Thirled to the south, their leader in