The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1895-07-04

CHATTER ANll
II was high noon when Brown
reached the scene OF the capture, and
taking the plain trail left by the In
dinns. he followed Il to the river bank
Pushing forward. he forded 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.
His 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 IL with his troop,
and knew that at the Dripping Springs,
about forty miles from the river, fa-
vorite 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 out into
the great tornado del Muerto, or Jour
ney TO DEATH" that great desert once
a terror TO those who were obliged to
traverse its dreary, waterless wastes
beneath the burning suns of summer.
Far ahead in the distance the San
Andreas range loomed up before him,
the eastern side of the great frame of
mountains which inclosed the desert.
The shades of evening were rapidly
eclipsing the light of day as he en-
tered the first range of foothills and
81. IL n. L A
the mountains. Dark, threatening
clouds began TO gather over the tower
ing peaks as he neared the Dripping
Springs, and distant growlings OF
thunder presaged q coming storm.
Dismounting from his horse he
crawled to the brow of a hill from
which view of the spring could be
secured, and his heart gave n grca,
throb of satisfaction when the smoke
from number of camp fires met hi,
eyes. Grouped about near the spring,
was n village of about twenty lodges
and near by n herd Of ponies roamet
over the hillside cropping the sparse
grass which sprouted out from between
the rocks.
His searching eyes failed to discover
the presence of a guard on any Of the
surrounding hills, and he rightly in
terprcted 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 tn,
following day. Even had the captur,
been discovered shortly after the poo
girl was seized, the cavalry horse
could never carry their equipmen
laden riders more than half the dis
tance from the fort to the mountain
before darkness came upon them, and
not being able to follow the trail, tn
troops would camp until daybreali
Fully satisfied that there were no sen
tinels to discover his presence, his hop
of being able TO gain an entry in til,
village was greatly strengthened.
lie must now wait until darknes
should come to conceal his movements
Lying down upon the brow of the hill
he eagerly scanned the distant camp
Dusky forms moved to and fro abou
the flickering fires, but the one believe
form for which he sought with achin
eyes appeared not. Although the az
preaching storm materially aided /
driving back the gray light of day,
his anxious, impatient soul the night
fall came with all too tardy footsteps
The great black clouds rolled rapic
ly toward him, at times splitting ou
vivid flashes of lightning followed b
peals of angry thunder. These prem,
nitions of the coming storm filed h