Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-06-29

guards saw me as plainly as You do
now, they dared not to raise their rifles
against the Mountain Prophet. held
them as with . spell, but the spell would
have been broken had I attempted to
carry on Louis Kyle. Trust me, his res
cue will come in good time" said the
Prophet.
Nov, in TRUTH" said the delighted
captain. II feel strong, and unless Bou-
ton gets all his force together will not
shrink from giving him battle
'Ah. my friends" cried honest John
Clyde, did I not say last night that
things were on the mend? I am not a
prophet, but I knew we could not be
beaten all the time
"a hopeful man is better than a
prophet of evil Let me clasp thy hand,
my friend, for good words are next to
inspired words. said the Prophet, and
he took John Clyde's hand and shook it
heartily.
The captain then told him what they
had planned about Clara before he came
up or they had thought of seeing him.
"And you planned right. but now it
must be changed somewhat" said the
Prophet. Myself and the doctor will
go on with tho maiden to my retreat,
and when we have left her with friends
we will return with food, and mayhap
we may have more aid. have called
for it, and it may be forthcoming in
time. Follow me ON the trail of the foe
and strike whenever he comes within
reach Of your arms
The Prophet drew the herders to one
side and talked to them for some time
in low tones, and, though they made no
audible reply, it was evident from the
way in which they nodded their heads
that they were agreeing with. him. He
came back, leaped on his horse, and,
mOtioning to the doctor to take posi-
ton on the other side Of Clara, they
rode of without leave taking save
wave Of the Prophets long arms.
THAT is his habit" said the captain
to Howard. 1.-THE Prophet is strong in
welcoming, but his feelings will not
permit him to say farewell.
The men cheerfully obeyed the cap
tain's order, and, leaping into the sad
die, started of to find Bouton's trail
There was no trouble in getting ON the
track Of the outlaws The hoofs of the
cattle stolen from Kyle's valley were
visible in every stretch Of earth, and
they had cut into the moss covered
rocks like hieroglyphics.
1t soon became evident that Boutou's
.'arty had gone to their old camp, tact
that gave the captain not a little en-
couragcment. About noon they reached
tho cncircling hills that command a
view of tho whole valley. They saw the
herds grazing by the. river, the horses
stalsed near the fires, and could make
ont the line that separated the Indians
from their allies.
When Bouton reached his camp,
which he did before daylight, he was
delighted to find large accession to his
force. More than score of white men
had come in from the south and as
many runaway Indians from the reser-
va.ions to the north and east. In addi-
, ton to robbing stages and killing min.
ers, Bottoms gang did a large business
in horses" The organization ut one
thhAV huhoSfeu many HuuuIeuS VI IucIl,
and its field extended from the Missis-
sippi to the Pacific and from the plains
Of British Columbia to the plateaus of
old Mexico.
The horse thieves were held together
by awful oaths of fidelity and still more
awful penalties for treason. Their
camps were lodges, and one Of their
members could recognize a ''pard'' OF
make himself known wherever he went.
But the great bond that held them to-
gether was mutual protection for indi-
vidual gain. SO perfect was this organ
ization-and, no doubt, some of its
branches still exist-that horses could
be run through from Texas and sold in
Colorado or be taken from Montana to
Missouri without detection and with
the certainty Of finding a market.
Bouton gave the prisoners into Font
Robb's charge, cnjoining him to guard
them as he valued his life, and then
turned to talk to the new arrivals His
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