The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-04-03

at least die struggling FOR his Ire, WINE,
bound to the stake, there could be but
one termination to it ell. His eyes
frightened, the blood coursed rapidly
through his veins, and he stopped oc-
casionally to peer through the opening,
the flaps of which had been carelessly
thrown together.
One by one the stars made their ap-
pearance in the clear blue heavens,
against which the bold, jagged outlines
of the mountain ranges were sharply
outlined. Within the camp comparative
quiet and stiffness reigned, unbroken
save by the occasional yelp of an Indian
dog skullking about the outskirts. eau
tiously accommodating from his point of
observation, the captain glanced about
him, but could detect no inmate of the
camp stirring within range Of his vision.
His prospects for making q bold dash
for liberty were good, and his spirits
kept pace to the fever Of excitement
which coursed through his veins like so
much liquid Are.
Like CLEAN of silver silhouetted
against the scintillating background, the
thin crescent moon suddenly shot into
view from behind tho shaggy peak. It
caught the eye Of the expectant soldier
as he loitered close to the opening, and
his heart gave @ bound as his highly
strung ear detected a slight scraping
sound at the rear of the tepee The
CLEAN of keen knife glittered for
moment in tee uncertain light as it
silently but rapidly cut its way through
the buffalo skins, and Ross realized that
the Sioux had kept his faith-had per-
formed all that was possible for him to
accomplish, and the balance remained
with himself
His nerves were braced like steel as he
prepared for the supreme effort. Delay
ing a moment to enable the Indian to
make good his escape, the captain, with
his heart beating fast and furious.
sprang lightly through the slot, found
himself beside a magnificent specimen
of horsehesh vaulted onto his back,
piled the spurs, and with the speed of a
whirlwind rushed from between the
tents, through the encampment, scatter
ing the countless Indian dogs right and
left as he galloped straight for the river
ford
There was a savage yell of astonish-
ment and alarm, a ringing shot, a pack
of bowling dogs swapping at his mettle-
some chargers heels, followed by a few
struggling rife shots as the startled
braves sprang forth, scarcely realizing
that their victim had eluded their grasp.
In trice the entire camp was aroused;
each tepee had been emptied of its occu-
pants, while score Of dusky figures,
shouting like demons, leaped on to their
horses, starting in hot pursuit of the
prisoner, who had disappeared in the
dark shadows Of the overhanging hills.
Giving his steed the rein, he reached
the opposite side of the river unscathed.
Then for the first time, In the excitement
and hurry attending his flight, the sol
dier noticed strapped to the neck of his
horse was Winchester repeating rifle.
One glance sufficed to assure him that it
was ready for use, for fortunately, per-
haps, he had no occasion to use it upon
his pursuers.
It required no urging from him for
the noble animal to put forth its best eff
forts, and with the speed of bird the
spirited horse few onward, easily dis
tancing the horde Of yelling pursuers.
Across the sandy, level plain, through
sagebrush and singing nettles, winding
about the base of outlying hills, the cap
tain pursued his way, and ere daylight
dawned all sound Of pursuit had died
away, leaving the fugitive surrounded
by the valleys and risings of the lofty
mountain range.
1t was three days before he struck a
familiar trail leading to Gomez pass, and
both horse and rider were well nigh ex-
hausted before they finally succeeded in
gaining camp. 1t was a joyful reunion,
for Ross had been given up as dead by
his companions, with whom he was de-
servedly popular.
There was no time lost by the COM
mand in following up the war band of
Sioux. but the willy, subtle game had
fed, and when the river ford was reached
by the cavalrymen the Indians had dis
appeared. But Ross still retains that
horse, and Idoubt If thereis gold enough
in the bowels of the Black Hills to win
| him from his owner.-Captain Fl. D,
! Smith in True Flag.
/