Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1899-01-05

would stamp them at once as stolen
property.
"Why, bless your heart, Maynard, y
said Ray, that's no bar. Stealing gov
eminent property is no crime in Wyo-
ming or anywhere else on the frontier
Besides, all they we got to do is to touch
up that brand a little, and the U S be-
comes O or toadstool or some other
equally transparent device. But no jury
ever convicts citizen of stealing from
Uncle Sam, out in these parts at least
Why, it's feather in the cap of those
fellows to run off our stock, and the
gang that did this trick were no novices,
nor were they few in number. -
And that night proved the truth of
Rays conjecture.
just before sunset away in among The
| jagged hills and ravines that hem the
Sweetwater valley on the south the dust
begrimed troop halted and dismounted,
while Ray he'd brief converse with the
owners of little shack, one Of whom
the captain NEW. He had served his
time in the old regiment and, in COM
mon with all the other "old hands, -
would do almost anything for Ray; but
now his tongue was tied. Oh, he had
seen nothing, heard nothing! No horse
thieves had been thereabouts His part
ner was sure of all these points ALSO
and even if they had seen or heard it
would be signing their own death war
rants to tell. No. neither man could
give any information.
But Rays dark eyes never left the
ex-soldier's face. He read secret there
and was watching his opportunity. 1t
came quickly and while the partner
was taking long, long pull at Ray IS
proffered flask.
'There's camp of 'em right in on
the Rawlins trail somewhere about five
miles ahead-seven or eight men and
about dozsn horses-some Of yours,
sure, whispered the veteran, and the
captain nodded expressively.
At 9 O'Clock, despite the long day s
march, Rays men swung readily into
saddle again, and away they went,
every trooper guessing that the quarry
was somewhere among those heights to
the south and wondering were they like
their old time foelnen, the Indians
die hards to man. The moon came
floating into the starry sky from behind
the screen Of old Laramie peak and the
wooded range that tumbled across the
eastward horizon. The night wind went
whispering over the hills and sitting
the dust cloud that lowered above the
column over the stunted sagebrush, and
the jack rabbits trembled and shuddered
in their burrows at the dull, mufled
tread Of those 200 hoofs. Two miles
away from the shack" the trail grew
steep and tortuous, and Ray babe May
nard follow slowly with the command,
while he, with chosen sergeant, pushed
ahead in the dim, fairy light and was
speedily lost to view.
Another mile was passed without
event. They We're riding up beside and
along the bed of stream that the
melting SHOWS of the spring would send
tumbling in muddy torrent to the val
ley, but now the channel was dry as the
bordering bluffs. Not sound had been
heard from the advance, yet Maynard
knew they must be nearing the alleged
camp, and he wondered how his captain
would settle matters with its desperate
occupants Silent as so many specters,
his men came filing along in his tracks.
There were no scabbards to rattle, nc
jingling bit and chain, no clank Of car.
bine against canteen. Long years of In
dian scouting had taught these veterans
what to carry and how to carry it SO as
to give least warning of their move
ments. Only the muffled thud Of horse
hoofs told occasionally of the onward
passage of force of cavalry. Alta steady
walk they pressed along until May
nard's watch said it was quarter past
10, and they had traversed nearly five
miles, and then "a shadowy form, horse
and man, loomed up under the shoulder
of bluff in front and warning hand
was raised.
"We're on to them, SIR whispered
Sergeant Burke as Maynard refined up
beside him and signaled to the column
to halt. "They re having regular jam
boree right ahead about 400 yards. The
captain says to come forward slowly
and still as possible.
Inc WOrd was whispered down the
dusty column. Again the weary horses
started and the noiseless march began
Presently there came from the distant
front "a sound Of revelry by night in
deed, at which the sergeant grinned
alphabetically. Somewhere ahead
there was jovial gathering, flicker
ing light, as though from campfire, Il
bacchanalian chorus, punctuated by oc.
casional yells, and when the foremost
troopers reached and peered around AL
elbow in the winding ravine they saw a
sight that made their mouths water
Singing. smoking. rollicking about a
blazing fire, filling their cups at little
key and tossing their contents, undilut-
ed, down their seasoned outlets, Il full
score Of stalwart fellows were having Il
carouse such as many of Rays devoted
followers would have given a month 5
pay to join for even minute. Two
white topped wagons We're halted III !;
little glade; mules and horses Were
tethered all around, and so absorbed
was the entire camp in its merriment
that even the dogs had not yet shifted
the coming foe.