The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-12-29

The puma quas actually in the air whcn
he pulled the trigger.
SLOUGH hat. They checked their painting
steeds as Quin came alongside of them
and regarded him rather sternly
''What are you doing here?" the Off
Ger inquired.
Locking for a herd of camels, :"
Quin replied. Ibid you see anything Of
them?''
'tNo," said the officer, with an in
credulous laugh. They're not about
this neighborhood.
'sThe government lays 20 claim to
them, believe?'
''Not bit, the officer answered.
"The brutes are common property. So
you re after camels, eh? Where's your
camp, and how many Of you are there ?'
The questions were put in a suspi-
cious tone, that Quin was inclined to
resent, but he answered them promptly
and briefly.
els there fort near?" he added.
eyes; Fort Stayman-20 miles to
the northwest"
At that moment the private, who
was on the farther side, whispered a
few words in the ear of the officer. The
latter started.
"Sure of it7" he whispered.
"Dead certain, lieutenant.
''Then know his game. wondered
what he was doing SO close to the res
ervation. It may account for these ru-
mors
He broke off abruptly and turned to
Quin, who had scarcely noticed the lit
tie byplay and had not heard any of
the conversation.
II hope you may find the camels my
good fellow" he drawled. GAS for
catching them, that's another matter
But you seem to have plenty of help. y
The officer added curt word of fare
well, and then, with keen glance at
the cowboys, he and the private wheel
ed their horses about and rode off as
they had come. They receded rapidly,
splashing through fording of the riv-
er and continuing On across the level
desert. Meanwhile Quin had returned
to his companions.
"What did them fellars want?" asked
Old Derrick.
Nothing in particular, as far as !
could tell, I" Quin replied.
''It's like the burned bluecoats, y
grumbled Hank Calkins "Always pokin
about somewhere. I reckon they
thought we were up to no good, or else
they took us for redskins what had
slipped the reservation
Twenty minutes later, refreshed by
their halt, the little party mounted and
rode away. They reached camp three
or four hours before sunset and found
good news awaiting them. Carruthers
and his companions had discovered
comparatively fresh camel tracks SIX
miles to the south and had followed
them to the mouth of high and mar
row gorge. They had seen plenty Of
timber and grass within, and here the
whole herd of camels doubtless was al
the present time
'We must corner them before they
get out again." Quin exclaimed eager
ly. "Suppose we move the camp on at
ouCe, eo VIC Cdu DeSlu opeidtlouS Gut
first thing in the mcrning?''
The cowboys were disposed to favor
this plan.
81 know the place" said Old Der.
rick. 1.-THE valley leads into the Sar
Carlos Indian reservation, which be-
longs to the worst of all the Apaches
If the camels get out by the other end,
we won't dare to follow them. We
must head them off and drive then
back"
"It was rumored at Ell Paz," Peppe,
Smith observed obviously, "that the
redskins was threatenin trouble"
This remark was laughed at, anG
some of the men asserted that there haG
never been less prospects of rising,
which was much to Quin's relief. He
carried his point, and in a very few
minutes all was ready. Over the dusty
plain filed the cavalcade of horsemen,
followed by the mule wagon. For the
last mile they had slightly rising
ground, and before the sun was quite
below the horizon their camp was
Al n. n II