Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-08-12
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BY ALFRED r. CALHOUN.

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II am so delighted at the success of
my own plans that feel like cutting
my throat"
"Don't do that But why the feel
ing?"
"Ididn't join this outfit to make war
ON women and children. IF this doctor
and his son are prisoners and thieves,
let the Blisses pay us for our services
and take them away, though, to be
frank. I think it put up job, and you
think the same thing"
"We never had any doubt about that.
But the youLg ladies-what would you
do with them?'
IT can take them to place where
they will be safe and well cared for"
where is that?"
"My fathers house"
II thought you were never going
back there again"
"Then you thought wrong. My moth
er lives, and 80 long as she lives she
will receive me, and I will seek her
out.
"But supposing your brother falls in
love with the girl who has now your
hearth Bouton chuckled and looked
out between the horses ears.
II shall suppose nothing. have not
been in the habit Of considering the ef-
feet Of my conduct My being here is
the best proof Of that. Excepting your
self and a few men Of the same cast the
members Of this gang are creatures Of
impulse. We act then think"
Bouton bowed with mock courtesy
and rode to the rear Of the line, where
Font Robb and Patch had charge Of the
pack mules. He gave them some orders,
then galloped to the head Of the line,
where the young Shoshone, Black Eagle,
had command Of the scouts. He remain
ed with the Indians till the sun set.
By this time they had reached an
open valley, through which wound
broad, shallow stream, the banks lined
with cottonwood and the grassy expanse
broken here and there by clumps Of cedar
and mountain oaks Bouton's trained
eye at once fell on the proper position
for a camp, and he dismounted from his
horse. He sent a number Ct the Indians
into the surrounding hills to act as
vedettes and wait till DR.. Blanchard
came up with Alice and Clara He
would have helped the young ladies to
dismount had they not anticipated him
and sprung from their saddles
"You will permit me, ~ he said, with
q profound bow, Ito be your humble
servant so far as to take charge Of your
horses"
He took the brides, and when all the
party was up he instructed one Of his
men to stake the horses III peninsula
formed by bend in the river, the long
rawhide ropes giving ample space for
grazing. Huge fires were built, and
from the packs provisions were taken
for the evening meal.
Dr.. Blanchard gave no thought to
himself. Anxiety for his beautiful
daughters rent his heart, and for the
time unnamed him. If he could have
had assurances Of their safety, he would
have willingly given up his own life,
but such assurances could not be
had. There was not in all the party
man to whom he could look for help.
Once, as he saw Henry Kyle passing,
the impulse came to him to call to the
young man and invoke his aid Henry
Kyle looked to be so differ"rt from the
others that the doctor imagined he
might be better, until he recalled that
it was Henry Kyle who had come as
SPY to their camp on the plains and had
afterward betrayed them. While he was
thinking this over Clara laid her hand
on his shoulder and whispered to him,
as if she read his thoughts:
Might we not appeal to Henry
Kyle?"
From the first the handsome, graceful
youth had made an impression on Clara,
which she would blush to acknowledge
to herself, but do what she would she
could not Danish him from her mind.
The doctor shook his head and answered:
"Why should we appeal to him?
Does he not know the utter helplessness
auQ UlScTy VI OuI Sl1uaglOuS'
"He does, father, and yet something
tells me he might be induced to aid US 5"
IF his own heart does not induce
him, our words will not"
would you let me try?"
mo, my child cannot permit you
to seek an additional indignity. Let us
endure with patience till heaven sends
us aid.
The doctor drew Clara to his breast
and kissed her beautiful white brow and
left tear on it.
The Indian pickets were recalled by
three rife shots following each other at
regular intervals. Black Eagle and his
ten Indians were ravenously hungry
the nomad Indian seems to have been
born hungry, and there is no authentic
record Of his ever having eaten enough.
Bouton was too prudent to feed his
braves all they could eat. He caused to
be set before them what he considered
square feed" And when they had
finished every fragment and licked the
platters clean he drew the young chief
Black Eagle to one side and said:
"Black Eagle, you are the bravest
man, white or red, in the mountains. I
want you to help me. I want you to
take this white man, DR.. Blanchard,
away from camp tonight.
"And where am to take him?"
II do not know, nor do care, only
this-he must never be seen again.
"Not even his scalp?"
"No."
"It shall be as you say. When am l
to return?"
"As soon rs you can"
"By daylight?'