Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-10-16


with other little dots sourrying about at
some distance from the main cluster.
No need to tell him they were Indians.
It was some minutes before be could
determine which way they were really
going, but when he finally saw that
they were bound down the valley the
boys heart beat high with hope. He
could venture down to the Platte as
soon as they had passed entirely out Of
sight and find some place to Cross we'll
to the west of them. An hour he wait
ed, anC. still they were in view. Then
they seemed to disappear in little
clump of timber. He waited 10 to 30
minutes, and they were still there.
Then it suddenly dawned upon him
that the whole band were resting in the
shade while their scouts searched the
neighborhood. He was five or six miles
from the river, and every inch Of ground
in front was open. He knew we'll that
their eyes were keener than his, and
should he make dash for it they would
certainly see and give chase. What he
could not detect and did not dream Of
was that miles still farther away down
the Platte another dust cloud was slow
ly advancing Wallace troop coming
up stream-and their scouts were watch
ing that.
At last, after another hour of anxiety,
he determined to slip away westward,
90 up the Rawhide few miles until he
could gain the shelter Of some low lying
ridges, cross the stream and, making
wide circuit, sweep around to the
Platte. He might still reach it before
dark and find ford, or at least place
to swim across. He could trust Big Jim
for that. But even as he would have put
this plan in execution, he saw to his
dismay ne move among the warriors.
Four little dots came riding from the
timber and pushing back up the valley.
These were only the advance. In half
an hour the whole band came jogging
leisurely out of the shadows, and little
dots farther east came streaking across
the flats to join them. Fred saw that
the whole war party was now retraclng
its steps and coming back up stream,
and that now, if he waited, he might
pursue his original intention of cross
ing at the shadows, ten miles below the
mouth of the Rawhide. And 80 patient
ly and pluckily he kept his ground, Big
Jim contentedly filling himself with buff
falo grass the while, and not until the
sun was low in the west did Fred realize
their real intent. Just as the scouts, far
in advance of the main party, reached
the winding banks of the Rawhide,
they seemed ID hold brief consultation.
One of them plunged through to the
western side; the other three turned and
came straight toward the watching boy.
Great heavens! 1t meant that the
whole party was coming up the Raw
hide and before dark would find and
follow his track. Fred's first impulse
was to mount, and, giving Jim the spurs,
ride on the wings of the wind back to
the north-back to the Niobrara, where
he had left the troop in bivouac. There
at least was safety, for they could not
trail him in the dark. But the second
thought covered him with shame. Go
back-go back now! Never, so long as
he had chance for life and hope.
Away from here, and instantly he must
speed on his mission, and in another
moment his girth was frightened, and
Big Jim,, astonished, was racing away
eastward, but keeping the sheltered
ridge between him aud the Platte.