Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1894-10-06
CHAPTER XVII.

reached the scene of the capture, and,
taking the plain trail left by the In
dams. he followed II to the river bank.
Pushing forward. he fordcd the stream,
regained the trail on the opposite side
and dashed away into the sandhills In
eager pursuit Of the captors OF her
whom he SO dearly loved.
He formed no definite plan of action.
Ills every effort was bent in the direc-
ton of locating the Indians where they
would camp for the night before dark
ness should blind the trail. lie was
thoroughly familiar with the country,
having often secuted II with his troop,
and knew that ut the Dripping Spring,
about forty miles from the river. Il flu
voritc camping ground of the tribe was
located There he hoped TO find the
camp OF the band. Of which the captors
of Alice were but fragment.
On and on he sped through the hills
which border the river. and ont into
the great ,Iorna.lo del Mucrto. or Jour
ncy TO Death" that great desert once
terror To thosc who were obliged to
traverse it, drcarv. watcrlcss wastes
beneath the burning suns Of summer.
Far ahead In the distance the San
Andreas range locncd up before him,
the castcrn side Of the great frame OF
mountains which inclCSed the desert.
The shades Of evening were rapidly
cclipsirg the light Ct day us he en-
tered the first rangc of foothills and
sped along the trail into the bosom Of
the mountains. Dark. threatening
clouds began to gather over the tower
ing peaks IS he ncared the Dripping
Springs. and distant growlings of
thunder prcsagcd n coming storm.
Dismountirg from his horse he
crawlcd t. the brow OF hill from
which view of the spring could be
secured. and his heart gave great
throb of satisfaction when the smoke
froin number Of camp fires met his
eyes. Grouped about near the springs
was village of about twenty lodges,
end near by herd Of ponies roamcd
over the hillside cropping the sparse
grass which sproutcd out from between
the rocks.
His searching eyes failed to discover
the presence of n guard on any of the
surrounding kills, ard he rightly in
tcrpreted this to mean that the In
dians having Travelled with great speed
to their present camp. knew that they
need fear no pursuing party before the
following day. Even had the capture
been discovered shortly after the poor
girl was seized. the cavalry horses
could never carry their equipment
laden riders more than half the dis
lance from the fort TO the mountains
before darkness came upon them. and,
not teirg able TO follow the trail, the
troops would camp until daybrcak.
Fully satisfied thct there were no ccn-
tinels to discover his presence, his hope
of being able 10 gain tn entry in the
village was greatly strengthened.
lie must Row wait until darkness
should come to conceal his move ncnts.
Lying down upon the brow Of the hill,
he eagerly teamed the distant camp.
Drsliy forIns moved to and fro about
the ilichcrirg fires, but the one Lcloved
form for which he sought with aching
eyes appeared not. Although the ap-
preaching storm materially aided in
driving lacl; tic gray light Of day, to
his anxious, impatient soul the night
fall came with all too tardy footsteps.
TIfc great black clouds rolled rapid
~ toward him, 1T times splitting out
vivid flashes of lightning followed by
pccls Of Crrry thunder. These premo-
nitions Of the coming storm filed his
breast with unspealiablc satisfaction,
and he almost shouted with joy when
the storm burst upon him in all its
fury. The inl,y darl;ress which nc-
companicd it would hide his move
ments, and the rain beating down upon
the lodges Of the Indians would drown
the sound Of his stealthy footsteps.
As he lay there, his brain wns busy
formulating plan of action. He must
enter the village, n perilous venture,
and when once there how could he de-
tcrlninc in which one of the twenty or
more lodges his loved one was con-
lrcd? lie could but go ahead and
trust to Providence for guidance. Not
one man In q thousand would under
take such a-haZardons task; but the
light Of his life-all he cared to live for
-waS in that village Of deadly, treach-
crous foes. and II he could not effect
her rescue Il was his desire that he
t,,;s-hf lilo with hrr
When the storm struck the village
the Indians hastily sought shelter in
their lodges. and the drcnching rain
soon cxtinguishcd the camp fires. Be-
ing driven TO shelter. the waiting SOL
dicr knew the savagcs would soon seek
comfort In their blanket beds, and
after waiting about an hour. that 10 his
impatient spirit seemed an age. he re-
mounted his horse and rode toward the
village.
Securing his horse TO q bush behind
an embanlsment which marked the bed
Of an old creek near the village. the
soldier took the pistols from the hol-
sters and thrust them through the belt
above his waist. and taking q hunting
knife from one of the saddle pockets
moved stealthily into the camp. All
was quiet. save the beating Of the rain
and the occasional volleys from heav-
ems artillery overhead. Even the
snarling, hslf-starved ours with which
every Indian village Is infested had
crawled into the lodges for shelter
from the storm, and did not discover
his presence.
How would he ever be able TO locate
the object Of his search? Hislips moved
In prayer TO Heaven for aid, rs he
moved, along like dark specter amid
the lodges. Anon he would pause and
listen intently, hoping 10 hear . cough
OF a sigh or spoken word TO tell him
Of the presence OF his loved one
As he cautiously moved onward .
vivid fash OF lightning revealed TO his
eyes an object like q crouching form