Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1895-02-25


ually mass the Indians on the western
border to oppose them, and it was rea-
soned that the route to Fort Sully would
be unopposed. In going out Of the val
ley, however, each party took dif-
ferent route, and it was not until the
gold seekers arrived at the forts of the
Cheyenne and the soldiers encampment
that they knew the outlaws had passed
on before and only two days ahead.
81 had rather have them ahead than
behind" said the captain when he heard
the news. eff they can get through
we ought to be able to-"
Il don't like it," answered Joe with o
shake Of the head. ''They were des-
perate lot before Taylor joined them,
and you know how he feels toward us.
believe they have come this way to
ambush Us, and from this on we can't
keep our eyes open too wide
That's true" added Harlzins. ''Tay-
lor knew what we were after, and
through him all the others know.
think they played spy on US and dis
! covered that we had struck the treasure.
| They dared not attack US in the valley,
as we would be on our guard, but |
! shall be greatly disappointed if they do
not show their hands before our second
day down the river is over"
The party remained in camp with the
| soldiers only one night, and as in the
case Of the outlaws the contents of the
wagons We're not suspected. They were
| looked upon as one of the hundred I'M
successful expeditions already returning
Disguised from the diggings. They were
moved out, and camp had been placed
only q few miles behind when q vigilant
outlook was maintained for the outlaws
Three times during the day, when the
party was obliged to pass locations where
a foe could lie in ambush, scouts were
sent ahead to make sure that no trap
had been set for them. Their pace was
not SO rapid as that Of the outlaws, and
it was noon of the second day before
they approached the scene of the tragedy
brought about by Taylor.
While yet two or three miles away
the scout, who was riding in advance,
halted and waited for the others to come
up.
"What is it," asked the captain as all
had closed up.
"Look!''
lowering over the grove straight
ahead was % cloud of buzzards. What
their presence signifed every man
knew.
''They are low down." whispered the
captain.
(Which means DEATH replied joe
while they are waiting for wor ~ded
man or horse to die they sail high
''The other party has been attacked
and wiped out, fear"
Cant be otherwise. There's certain
to be q sight there which the women
should not be permitted to gaze upon.
Some of us had best ride ahead and see
what can be done"
Joe, Harkins and third man were
dispatched on the errand, and they
found it one to try their nerves. When
they had approached close enough to get
view of the camp they knew it to be
the camp of the outlaws, for there were
the horses and wagon. The vultures
numbered hundreds, and while part of
them were running about on the ground,
others sailed slowly about in short cir
cles and hesitated to alight.
"Look at the ho:sesr' exclaimed Joe.
The animals had been staked out on
3
best. For three days they had had
neither food nor water, and as Joe spoke
they We're making tremendous efforts to
break their lariats or pull the iron pins
from the ground
''There are dead men therer' whis-
pered Harkins, with pale face, ssbut the
buzzards are afraid of the horses
The trio moved forward. They were
of
the suffering horses, but for two or three
minutes they had eyes only for the bodies
of the dead. But for the clothing on
them it would have been hard to identify
them as human beings.
''There are only four, and neither of
them is Taylor" said Joe as he rode
around the bodies. There are no ar
rows here, no empty shells, no signs Of
a fight with the Indians Let US ride
through the grove and see if we can
find the key to this mystery"
They scattered and hunted for further
evidence, but they found none. Taylor,
living Or dead, could not be traced.
Here's his rifle" said Harkins as GO
aismounted and picked up gun lying
by itself on the ground.
sAnd it has not been discharged"
added Joe as he inspected it. These
dead men are his work, and the fact
That he did not drive away with the .
team proves that something happened |
him. Let US relieve the horses and then
set these horrible objects out of sight"
When the remainder of the party came
tip not an evidence of the tragedy ex-
l'ted, but the story told them by those