Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1892-04-09
CHAPTER X.
A SHOT IN THE DARK.

Nolo and then he ,oould pause and listen.
AS the day advanced it became more
and more apparent that the cattlemen
had commenced a siege upon the little
garrison at the Travellers Rest. This
caused a feeling of uneasiness among
the settlers, for well they knew that the
desperate character of the enemy would
lead them to adopt any method to obtain
revenge for their loss and defeat on the
night previous.
There were full sixty of the cattle
men now in sight, and it was probable
that they would soon be REINFORCED by
others.
"If we could only get word ter some
more of the settlers" said Simon Riggs
by, 1--WE could hold our own"
But there was the difficulty. 1t would
be worse than useless to attempt to send
a messenger from the place while such
a close watch was kept by the enemy.
The provisions at the inn were only
sufficient to last a few days, and there
was no chance of obtaining new sup
ply. But could the siege be prolonged
sufficiently to starve the garrison into
submission? This was a question that
was difficult to decide. Should it be-
come known by the settlers in that sec
ton that such siege was going on they
would instantly come to the rescue of
their friends. but could the cattlemen
prevent the news from spreading. since
there were sure to be travellers on the
road? Besides, the mail from Fort Scott
would be due in the evening.
Would the besiegers dare to stop this
United States mail as well as all travel
ers on the road in order to carry the
siege to II successful result? 1t was the
opinion of the settlers that they would
not go that far, and if not, it would be
easy for one of the men to leave the inn
in the stagecoach, and thus gain COM
munication with the other settlers in
that locality.
But they had not counted upon the
strategy that was to be employed by the
enemy.
1t was about five o'clock in the evening
when the stagecoach was seen approach
ing from the north. When quarter of
mile away it was met and stopped by
a squad Of cowboys. What passed be-
tween them and the driver was only a
matter of speculation. But after a short
conversation the driver turned from the
road, and under the escort of a half
dozen cowboys passed an eighth of a
mile east of the inn.
THAT just beats me" declared Simon
Riggsby, who had been Watching the
stagecoach from window in the upper
story OF the building. Whats them
fellers up ter? I'd like ter know how
they managed ter meek the driver turn
out without forcin him ter do it, 'Tain't
safe fer 'em ter fool with the mail. cause
they might get an army of soldiers from
Fort Scott after EN-"
"Hit's somethin | don't understand"
asserted Ike Baker. But yonder comes
three more wagons. Well see what
they'll do with them" AS he spoke he
pointed to the north where three covered
wagons were coming slowly down the
road.
AS the wagons drew near they were
approached by the cowboys and turned
from the road in the same manner as the
stagecoach.
THAT beats all. exclaimed Ike Baker.
as the wagons passed far out on the
prairie and continued their course to the
south without coming within an eighth
of mile of the inn. "Them devils of
cattlemen air goin ter try ter keep every
body away till they starve us out.
1T looks powerfully that way" af
frmed Riggsby. But they cant so ON
forcin people ter keep away from the
place. It's the most outrag'us business
ever witnessed"
But neither Riggsby nor his friends
could guess how well the cattlemen had
laid their plans. The means which they
had employed to keep those quartered AT
the inn from communicating with the
outer world were both unique and dar-
ing in their conception.
The probability of the frequent passage
Of travellers ON the road had been well
considered by the cattlemen before the
siege had been commenced They recog-
nized at once that TO- attempt to stop all