Rock Island Argus., 1896-06-25
CHAPTER XVI.

geT; my ravens will bring us food, said
the Prophet with contagious energy.
CHAPTER XVI
We left Henry Kyle in charge of Bou-
toms camp. Scarcely had Bouton depart
ed when Kyle went to Alice Blanchard
and informed her that he was about to
leave. He advised the sisters to depart
with him. but they resolutely declined
to trust to his good faith.
Going to where his saddled horse stood
waiting him, Henry was in the act Of
mounting when he heard some one
creeping toward him. A fash of light
ming from an approaching storm reveal
ed Patch. The report of Helny's pistol
and a clap Of thunder followed stimuli
taneously. Then he mounted and gal
loped for the mountains.
Henry Kyle's shot unfortunately did
not take effect on the would be assassin.
Patch was untouched, but thoroughly
frightened. When the horse galloped
off, Patch sat on the ground and felt all
his limbs to make sure he had not been
hurt. When he became satisfied on this
point, his spirits and his courage rose
wonderfully. He was saved a job that
from the first he did not like, not because
he would hesitate to do murder, but be-
cause, like all men of his class, he was
| at heart a coward. He went directly to
the place where the sisters were sitting,
and when within few feet of them he
threw himself ON the ground, saying at
the same time:
''This is a mighty dark night, Ia
dies''
The ladies made no reply, whereupon
he repeated:
IT'S mighty dark night, ladies'
and looks as if we mout have right
smart of storm"
Still no reply.
Don't you hear me?' he asked an
grily.
1--WE do" replied Alice.
'"Then why don't you speak?''
"Why should we speak?''
Because it's perlite, and when az
a civil question of man or woman,
blow me, but like civil answer" I"
| But you did not ask question. You
simply volunteered an opinion, said
Alice with tine calmness of tone that dis
tinguished her.
"Waal, we won't quarrel about p 'ints
like that. I amt much on the talk, I'll
confess, and mebbe young ladies like
you uns mOut think me bit rough,
but when you git down under the husks,
even if l do say it myself, thar amt
many better fellows than me- -
After exchanging a meaning glance
with her sister, Alice Blanchard became
more gracious to Patch, and that mon
ster, delighted at the change, then and
there declared that if they would trust
him he would take them to their friends
without a cent of pay In response to
Clara S question he told how this could
be done, nor did he dream that the SIS
ters had themselves planned to get away
from the outlaws that night.
When, at length, Patch left, the sisters,
with more light on the question, renew
ed the conversation. Their horses were
below the camp, and, believing that it
would be safer and easier to ride than
to walk, Clara proposed that they should
attempt to secune them She had the
Weldon decision of character. Securing
ON their persons few necessary articles
from their saddlebags, including a
knife, they waited for the storm to
break with as much eagerness as those
in profound darkness wait fer the light.
At first the fury Of the storm alarmed
them, but they soon became calm and
hailed its roaring as the voice of
friend. The rain fell in deluge, but
this they did not mind 1t shielded
them from their foes. AT first the light
ming was so vivid and continuous that
it kept the camp and the surrounding
landscape Lit mp. Il revealed to them
the horses, and, joyi two Of them were
saddled with their own saddles and an
other near by bore q mans
IF they follow us ON horseback, {"
thought Alice, ''the danger will be in
creased mnst free all the animals.'' -
She made Clara wait in the bushes by
the river, and, knife in hand, crept for
ward and began to cut the ropes that
held the uneasy horses to the stakes. Ev-
cry one was freed. She secured the two
on which she and Clara were to ride and
hastily led them to the river. Both were
expert horsewomen. To avoid the camp,
Alice decided to cross the river They
were in the act Of descending the bank
when the lightning again flashed out,
and they heard . maddened shout be-
hind them. Alice looked back and not
ten yards away she saw Sim Bliss ges-
ticulating like madman and shouting
all the time. Answering shouts came
bsck from the camp. The horses, dis
covering A~y we've free, went moFtins