Rock Island Argus., 1896-06-24
CHAPTER XIV.

Bouton was dozing by the campfire
and dreaming over the plans that had
filled his brain during the day. He was
accused by feeling body pushed rudely
against him, and he started up, expect
ing to find that one of the horses had
broken his picket rope and wandered
over to the fire. Great was Bouton's
surprise at seeing before him q man
with q gag in his mouth and his arms
bound It was not till he had taken out
the gag and cut the cords that he recog-
nized in the frightened, half strangled
man before him the renegade Patch.
With en- oAth Bouton demanded to
know what had happened. Patch gave
It as his belief that very hot place had
broken loose.
"Sit down, man, and get your BREATH"
said Bouton, laying his hand on Patch's
shoulder and forcing him down. "Sit
down and tell me all about it. Don't
speak out loud, for I've just had devil
Of time trying to quiet those two
girls.
Patch did sit down, and after a time
he got his breathing under control and
told his story with considerable clear
ness, though Bouton's impatient ques-
tions prevented anything like consecu-
tive narrative.
And Brandon rescued the doctor?"
said Bouton at length.
eyes. 1t all happened just as told
you.''
'Hist. For your life, do not speak so
loud. Here! Follow me away from the
fire. We must speak where there is no
danger of being overheard. He led
Patch to the bank of the stream and sat
down beside him under tree. NOV go
on. but talk low, and for your life after
this tell no one the story
Patch told his story with much detail,
nor did he neglect to give himself due
prominence. When he had concluded,
Bouton slapped him on the back.
Now, Patch, not a word of this to
any one. Do you understand"
"Iou can bet your bottom dollar do.
I'm Up to snuff, am. The feller that
cen keep stiller tongue sin his mouth
than me was born dumb
. Good. Now go and take sleep. It
will soon be daylight
Patch followed this advice by coiling
up where he was and going to sleep at
once, and Bouton went back to the slum-
bering fire and resumed his doing.
Sim Bliss was awake when Patch
came gasping into camp. Waiting till
Patch sat down, Sim, always ready to
play the spy, crept softly over to point
from which he could hear every word of
tho conversation without being himself
observed And when, for greater secu-
rity, Bouton led Patch to the edge Of the
stream, Sim followed, and not a word
escaped him He communicated what he
had heard to his brother, and it was
agreed between them that Sim should
make his way to Deadwood and tele-
graph to his father to come On.
While they were discussing the situ-
alton in frightened whispers the stars
began to pale and the crests of the
mountains to the west took on the hue
of fire opals- Bearded figures rose from
the ground in every direction and began
to yawn and stretch themselves. The
horses and mules, resting with lowered
hips beside the river, began to prick up
their ears and resume their grazing.
The fires were renewed, and those whose
duty it was to cook set about getting
the morning meal Henry Kyle went
down to the river to wash his face and
hands He bent over q mirrorlike ex-
panse under the shade Of bush, and
he was horrifed at the expression Of his
own face It was 80 aged, ghastly and
haggard he had not slept much, and
it seemed to him that he could never