The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-12-21

him, while the men pushed on. and Il
now, as the lieutenant said, Carey was
coming himself. Some Of the party
were already doing when the ser
geant's sharp order "Sadure up" was
given, but glance at the lowering |
sky explained IL all. and every man |
was standing to horse and ready when |
the missing trooper came jogging in |
among them, white. peaked but de-
termined. A look Of mingled disap- |
pointment and relief appeared on his |
face as he saw the preparations for
the start but his only comment was;
81 can make It, sir" as he saluted his
young commander. Less than two
hours from the time they unsaddled.
therefore. the troopers once more
mounted, and. following their leader,
filed away down the winding gorge.
Presently there came the low rumble
of thunder, and a sweep Of the rising
wind "Trot." said Dean, and without
other word the little column quick
ened the pace.
The ravine grew wider soon and far
less tortuous. but was still "A narrow
and dangerous spot. For mile or
two from the Springs its course was
nearly east of north then it bore
away to the northeast. and the Sweet
water trail abruptly left it and went
winding up II cleft in the hills to the
west Just as they reached this point
the heavens opened and the clouds de-
scended in delugc of rain. Out came
the ponchos. unstrapped from the sad
Il al Had
through the slit as the shiny black
"shedwater" settled down on his
shoulders.
"That outfit behind us will get
soaking il It has been fool enough to
follow down to the Springs" said
Carey to the sergeant. as they began
the pull up the slippery trail
what OUTFIT" asked Dean, turning
in the saddle and looking back in sur
| prise.
A binding flash of lightning, fol-
| lowed almost on the instant Icy the
| crack and roar of thunder put sum
mary stop to talk of any knd. Men
| and horses bowed their heads before
! the deluge and the rain ran in streams
! from the names and tails. The as
cending path turned quickly into a
running brook and the black forms
/ of stceds and riders struggled sidewise
| up the grasS-growu slopes in search
of higher ground. The heavens had
! turned inkv black. The gloomy ra-
/ vine grew dark as night. Flash after
flash the lightning split the gloom.
! Every second or two trooper faces
cleaned CHASTITY in the dazzling glare,
then rs suddenly vanished. Horses
slipped or stumbled painfully and,
man after man, the riders followed
the example of the young soldier in
the lead and. dismounting, led their
dripping beasts farther up the steep
incline. Halfway to the summit,
peering through the wind-swept
sheets of rain, a palisaded clump OF
rocks jutted out from the heights
and, after hard climb, the little
band found partial shelter from the
driving storm, and huddled, awe
stricken, at their base. Still the
lightning played and the thunder can
nonaded with awful resonance from
crag TO crag down the deep gorge
from which they had clambered, evil
IDENTIFY none too soon, for presently,
far down the black depths, they could
see the Box Elder under white
wreath of foam, tearing in fury down
its narrow bed.
BEG pardon, lieutenant" shouted
the veteran sergeant in the young
commanders ear. even in that mo-
ment never forgetting the habitual
salute. but II ] didn't see the reason
for that sudden order to saddle ]
more than see il now. We would have
been drowned like rats down there In
the gulch,"
I'm wondering if anybody has
drowned like rats" shouted Dean, in
reply. Carey says another party was
just behind us. Who could they be-"
But for answer came another vivid.
dazzling flash that for an instant
blinded all eyes. by Cod but that's
a stunner," gasped big trooper, and
then followed the deafening bang and
crash of the thunder, and its echoes
went booming and rcvcrberating from
earth to heaven and rolling away,
peal after peal, down the buiI-bound
canyon. For moment no other
sound could be heard; then, as it
died away and the rain came swash-
ing down in fresh deugc Careys
voice overmastcred the storm.
That's struck something sir, right
around yondcr by the Springs God
help that outfit that came a-gallopin
after mel"
What was it? Which way were
they coming?' Dean managed to ask,
Fright along the bluF, sir, to the
east, Seemed like they was rid;n' over
from the old camp on the Frayne
read, There was % or 30 of EN-,
should say, coming at a lope."
"Cayalry?" asked Dean, n queer look