Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-02-21


along every babbling stream. lay the
lodges of the pampered tribe-old men
and children, old women and young,
living indolently and in plenty at their
guarded homes, while the sons and
brothers and braves, the war-chiefs
and the turbulent young men, swarmed
into the forbidden grazing-grounds of
the settlers, far beyond the treaty line,
and in rude and bloody foray found
their soul content. The trail the
cavalry squad had followed in the
early morning along the windings of
feeble tributary of the Mini Ska had
left the broad valley thirty miles away
to the south, and, bursting through a
dividing ridge by way of Wagon gap.
left the old beaten roads at the springs
where they made their MONDAY halt,
plunged into the timbered ascent close
to the backbone of the ridge, while the
road, by a sweep or detour to the east,
climbed gradually to the level of the
upland and could be family seen in
places five or six miles away like dun
colored ribbon gathering the green
carpet of the prairie. To their left and
rear frowning gorge in the heart of
the range opened the narrow way
that led to the basin or cove among
the pine-covered hills-the Slaughter
cove the guide had pointed out at
noon. To their right, therefore, all
was bold, open, undulating, smiling in
unclorded sunshine; to the left-the
west-au was dark, frowning and for
bidding; and yet the one was the path
of death and danger, the other the only
line of escape.
'By Jove, what magnificent viewi"
Is TNh0rpfOnsS ovo1au fi0n aft mo-
ment's gaze. ''What did you see, SER
geant? You looked as though some
thing lively was up. Any sight of the
chaser"
But LETTERS, crouching low and point
ing over along the slope not quarter
Of mile away, simply said: Look
there, sir"
Two 1.-THE, painted objects, crawling
slowly on a11-fcurs, with feathered
war bonnets trailing along their bare
| red backs, were rapidly nearing
third, who, bareheaded, seemed peer
ing over the ridge in his front at some
other objects in the ravine beyond, at
something out of sight from where the
troopers lay. Behind the two crawl
ing creatures first seen came, at ten or
twelve yards distance, others of their
kind, eagerly gesticulating and signal
ing to others still. All on a sudden
three or four ponies, placidly cropping
the turf down the slope behind their
creeping masters, pricked up their ears
| and glanced nervOuSly around, and in
a moment there rode into view, full
tilt, one after another, half a dozen
more wild warriors in the full panoply
of their craft. And-it was his first
campaign, he was only a boy-Perry
Thornton's heart leaped up in his
throat, for the sunshiny, breezy, bill
lowy upland was simply alive with war
parties of Sioux.
81 am willing to do my share of fight
fight double my weight of Indians,
| gentlemen" the guide was saying a
moment later. God only knows what's
set them on to US, but the whole Sioux
nations coming up from the Mini Ska,
and we're cut off. I can't fight all h,
neither can you. The one chance of get
ting out of this is by way of Slaughter
cove. There's a game trail over the
range back oft. They amt seen US yet.
Now is our time"
"Whom have they seen? What are
they watching over there?" asked
Thornton, his lip trembling bit de-
spite himself.
81 know without waiting to see. It's
your fellows coming back from their
chase after the road agents. They
have either got the money or they
haven't got it. In either case it'll be
of no earthly use to them in ten min
utes. Those Indians are laying to lay
'em out as they climb the trail. See?"
See? 1t was plain enough now. Creep
ing like panthers, the 1.-THE, sinewy fell
lows were scurrying up to line the
crest. Others, dismounting at the run,
were Fastening to join them. Others,
signalling, were conveying some It'd
ings to another party that, three miles
away, could now be seen sweeping at
full gal1op across the Pawnee road.
Come, gents" said the guide, slid
ing back to his horse and quickly
mounting. my partner had more
sense'n I when he swore he wouldn't
trust his scalp north of Wagon gap. If
you want to save your souls alive,
mount and follow while there's yet
time. I'm bound for the cove and back
to Gods country beyond"
A nervous young trooper started to
follow as the foontiersman went slid
ing and sprawling back down the trail,
but stern voice checked him. One
glance in the sergeant's eyes was all
the reinsurance Thornton needed. The
spirit of his soldier father spoke out on
the instant:
''Stop where you are, men! Let that
| \ i II VaS- 70