Evening journal., 1892-09-29

man who had come down from Fort
Sully," replied the young man. "He
said that troops had been ordered for
ward to protect emigrants and that
number Of gold seekers, hunters and
trappers would start with the soldiers.
If that body of men followed the Big
Cheyenne, which Of course they would
do up to the forks, and if they started
two days behind us as they were to.
where should they be now?"
Being mounted as we are, and hay-
ing three or four wagons at least, they'd
make about our distance. The forks
are not over twenty miles away, and
they may be there tonight or not get up
for another day yet. But how are we
to get help from them?"
Let them know of our peril"
Can any of us fiyY"
mo but we can walk and run and
ride. One of US must be out of here
within an hour on the way to the forks
He must find the men from Sully and
bring EN- down on the rear Of this tribe
of redskins
"a rabbit couldn't make his way
through the circle the demons have
formed about us replied the captain
in tones Of detection.
"But man of my size can and willr
exclaimed Joe. 81 know the risks, but
the game is worth it. If lose my scalp
it will only be two or three days in ad-
vance Of the rest of you. If / get
through | shall save you all"
The right hand of every man went out
to him in the darkness, but it was two
long minutes before the captain said:
Il wouldn't ask it Of you, Joe, but if
you will volunteer wen pray to God to
spare your life. Your success is the
only thing that will save us. What is
your plan"
81 can speak a few words of the
dialect Of almost any tribe in the west, {"
replied Joe, land shall strip that dead
body for a disguise. | can't hope to get
out unperceived, but hope to be taken
for an Indian long enough to get through
the lines"
The knowledge Of what Joe proposed
to do was kept from the majority of the
men, The body Of the dead warrior
was dragged among the wagons, stripped
Of its buckskin suit, and in the course of
half an hour the young hunter was
ready to take his leave. He had trans
formed himself into an Indian, so far as
outward appearances went, and the
men were more hopeful Of his plan.
The captain and a couple Of the men ac-
companied him to the north side Of the
'nclosure. and after a cautious survey OF
ne grounds outside Joe whispered
1T is as hoped for; more than half
the bodies have already been removed.
The redskins must be made to think
am one of the party engaged in the
work. am all ready. Any special
word, caRtainT'
NO. II you find the party they viii
help US out of our fix. If they do moi
catch Us mapping or rush us too often
we can hold out here for q week, but
every one will have to drink blood after
tomorrow. If you do not return wei
know that you could not find the party
Now, then, God speed your
Joe softly mounted the breastworl,s
tomahawk in hand, dropped TO the eartl
outside and a minute later was los
sight Of in the darkness. The three mel
left behind listened with bated breath
Joe must enter the gully filed witt
Indians. If his disguise was penetrated
and he was made prisoner the fact woulC
be announced by whoops Of rejoicing
The silence would have been that o
the grave but for the chirp Of the crick
cts. The men could hear each other
heart beat as they leaned against eacl
other and listened for an alarm
o-three-four-fiv minute
dragged away.
1t is when a mans life is at stake tina
- the minutes pass like lightning hashe
b or drag like eternities.
n-eight--nine-ten
2 Joe must have reached the gully er
} this. If not suspected at the first 90 Of
2 he would not be suspected at all
Five minutes more passed away, AM
the captain drew a long breath of relic
S and whispered:
He will get through. Let us thanl
4 Godw
: The night was starlight, but a sort o
fog hung in the air, and if the Indian
made night attack they could not b
5 seen until close up to the breastworl;s
The captain no sooner felt that Joe wa
well launched on his perilous erran
than he returned to the men and issue
his orders for the night.
Z The Indians had suffered such a sever
loss that they might not attempt t
carry the fort by storm again. eve
under shelter of the darkness, but n
precautions must be neglected. Ths
their loss had discouraged them and II
B. sulted in retreat was not TO be hope
: for 1t would render them more d,
termined to have the scalp Of every ma
in the train.
An Indian who learns caution froI
: being repulsed becomes more dangerou
. than before. Instead of the tigers rus
it becomes the advance Of the serpent
Ferocity is temporarily replaced b
cunning and strategy, and he may /
feared at a dozen points instead Of one
J, "Watchl Listenl Be alertr were til
'' captains orders. "Not one Indian mui
= reach the breastworks if we would let q
, morrow's sun find our scalps on OF
headsl"
And bv ond nv tba cann srraxv o1lie