San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-01-06
CHAPTER Ill

CHARTER III.
Far and wide those nntamed prairies
stretched in wondrons, billowy folds OF
brown shaded down to dull green. II
was hard to realize that the peace and
quiet reigning there would before many
hours had elapsed be broken by the
tiendish yells of dusky savages.
Mrs. Gilbert and Lois were not per.
sons who made habit of crossing a
bridge till they came to it. They did
not allow their minds to paint pictures
of Indian horrors as they proceeded on
their way toward Jordan's. If the
Cheyennes came the horrors would
doubtless be bad enough without mag
lining them beforehand. They would
place themselves under the protection
of the settlers gathered at the impro-
vised blockhouse, and hope and pray
for the best.
A lovely, fearless figure was Lois Gill
bert as she marched by her mothers
side, her fathers ammunition pouches
strapped over her shoulders and his
large revolver in her hand. She had
brought these because they might be
needed, and if anything happened and
the worst came she would have some
thing herself with which to defend her
mother and herself.
Mrs. Gilbert and Lois did not appre-
bend any danger for Nose Gilbert. 1t
was comparatively thickly settled
around Scrub Station, where he had
gone on business, and the Indians would
not be likely to attack neighborhood
where they were pretty sure to encoun-
ter defeat.
Silas Jordan's cabin was situated ON a
hill asfew hundred yards back from the
river. 1t was large, two roomed build
ing, and .on account of size and position
was the best cabin in the settlement to
turn into blockhouse. A stately cot.
tonwood tree stood near the door, and
seemed to be ever exercising kind of
sturdy guardianship over the prairie
habitation.
AS Lois and her mother approached
the cabin they could see that a few set
tiers had gathered there and were busy
getting ready for an expected attack.
Old Silas Jordan rushed forward and
greeted the newcomers warmly.
'Tm powerful glad ter welcome you
uns ter ther fort" he said, pointing with
one of his broad grins to his cabin. 81
herd Nose was talkin O. goin ter Their
station, an l was afeard you uns was
alone. How'd yer git Their word tibet
ther Cheyennes be comin?"
"Lee Hutchins brought US the word,
answered Mrs. Gilbert, alighting from
HERDS back.
81 bet Lee wouldn't let Lois be ker.
ried off by er Cheyenne eff he he'd tel
wade through fire an rattlesnakes up to
his collar button" laughed the old set
tier, who must have his joke no matter
what danger threatened.
81 reckon not" said Mrs. Gilbert
willing to help her neighbor along with
his joking. "He seemed dead set or
coming along with US, but drove hin
back to his duty"
"What was thetY' asked old Silas.
"To warn the folks over on Plum
SIOCh. hhOW hOhC VI ud'
heard of the outbreak yet. | told hin
we could get along by ourselves thii
| far"
GOOD for you unsl But I'll bet yeI
Lee wished thar was no Plum Creek set
tlemint when he watched Lois march of
, with yer"
"Like as not" laughed Mrs. Gilbert
"for he rode off kind of grim and silent
and kept looking behind him, as if he'c
lost something"
Reckon he he'd, too-his heart, Tn
thinkin, Ell, Lois?" and old Silas' some
what angular sides snook with laughter
"Waal, amt blamin Lee none. A ga
who kin shoulder her dads shot pouche
and his shootin iron, not ter mention
her bein ther purtiest an best larnt ga
on Their purary, is enough ter create
kindly all goneness of any feller's heart.
Mrs. Gilbert could not repross a IaugI
at the old bOrderman's queer speech
! while Lois strove to bury her blushe
under the shadow of her sunbonneE.
"Thar's Mary Jane an Betty Bowlan
comm ter welcome you uns." he an