Griggs courier., 1893-06-09

gHOoIcCt was UuOO6tTuCV0U UAtuOSt ID
far a. the eye could reach, save by
bushes occasionally and here and there
clumps of small trees.
The pursuers now took counsel with
each other as to the best course to be
pursued. Both were of opinion that
the Indians would not likely be ut any
time more of their guard than they
would become now, made confident Of
security by SO great an accession Of
numbers.
The camp was on the east side of the
meadow, close to the forest, wherein
secreted the pursuers peered forth
through the leaves of the underwood
upon the foe. So near had they ap-
preached that they could not only hear
distinctly the voices, but could distin-
guish the features of some of the nearer
Indians.
To the north of the camp the horses,
OF which there were nearly q hundred,
including those stolen and those be-
longing to the Indians, were turned
loose to browse upon the pasturage Of
the wild meadow. Their strayings
were limited by narrow stream which
crossed the meadow from forest to
forest. No other restraint seemed inn
posed.
The hunters, having made duo sur
vey of the camp, then determined to
withdraw and take up q position in
nearer proximity to the horses. The
shades of night, which were rapidly
coming on, enabled them to execute
this maneuver with less likelihood Of
detection. Withdrawing more toward
the interior of the wood, they descend
ed long, gently sloping hill within
the forest, and reached the bank of the
stream referred to, near where it left
the meadow. Following its course,
they presently emerged into the open,
keeping carefully behind the shelter of
the bank.
Twilight had set in now, and the
prospect was becoming more obscured
every moment. The moon, which rode
high in the heavens, was nearly hidden
by clouds, while faint CLEANS 6 light
ming and the rumble of distant thunder
announced IN approaching storm. The
camp fires were seen to the south burn
ing brightly, and dusky forms fitting
about them.
Hist, Mike!" whispered Baker, lay
ing his hand on his companions shoul-
der, as they peered over the bank in the
direction Of the camp. "Was that q
voice yonder? Hark!' Both men bent
theire Cars to listen. '"There by the tree,
mean"
II heard nothing more than chip
pn1s ! ,s,,S So =
Mike, presently. "a more Elegant sound,
be me soul, than any redskin iver
| made"
II must have been mistaken" replied
the other. ;,
A brief silence thercupon ensued,
after which he continued:
''I'd like to know just where to lay
hands on tie mare. can't make her
out now, but marked her we'll this
evening, browsing toward the middle
of the field. She was feeding this way.
She can't be far from here now, unless
she turned back, which she may have
DONE"
''If we can 'ase dozen or 30 of thin
off by the side of the wood yonder and
get away, we'll be dein' a good days
job, I'm thinkin'," remarked. Delaney.
1T ought not to be SO hard"
"Have you the ropes safe?'' inquired
the scout after a pause, during which
he rose, half erect. upon the bank, in
order to take a wider survey Of the
prospect.
Gas safe as meself," teplied Mike,
''and that's not so safe, aither, perhaps,
but ready for use, all the same"
Here fash of lightning, more vivid
than any that had occurred yet, lit up
| the scene, and was followed by a laaader
| peal of thunder than any that had pre-
ceded it.
"Whew! But that was near!" ex-
claimed Delaney. 1.-THE storm is COM
ing on fast. It's raining now and COM
ing in big drops.
''Let us creep along the bank and re.
connoiter. The lightning will aid us in
finding what we are after. But make
use OF every BUSH"
s'All right. Lade on!'' assented Mike.
The horses were seen feeding together
in groups or dotted over the pasture, but
the darkness prevented them from being
separately lOcuC1ueO. 1 Nc uuuCeC6 Oe.
lieved that if they escaped observation
from the camp they would be secure
from detection. They had not observed
that Indian guards had stationed them
selves, earlier in the evening, along the
line of the stream, to watch the horses.
These were lying there now, separated
by intervals of three or four hundred
feet, crouching in the long grass, one
not two hundred feet ahead of them.
The lightning was becoming every
moment more frequent and vivid now,
and the thunder nearer and louder.
Presently, a.fash of dazzling brilliance
lit up the field with the splendor of
MONDAY, and was followed, or accom-
panied rather. by deafening crash,
which seemed to rend the very heavens.
Some of the horses neighed with
alright and went galloping about the
pasture.
"There is the mare now, not twenty
PAGES away!' exclaimed Baker. who
was standing now upright upon the
bank, with Delaney beside him, un-
screened by any tree or bush.