Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-10-02

| royal. There was only one chance of
safety-that the Indians should not
discover their presence. If they did and
| realized who the intruders were, Jessie
Dean might look in vain for her broth
er's return. Pappoose would never hear
the love words that, trembling on his
lips the sight he ie7t ner, had been
| poured out only to that unresponsive
| picture. Two ways there were inwhich
| the Indians could know. of his presence.
| One by being informed through some
half-breed spy, lurking about Frayne;
but then who would be bastard enough
to send such word? The other by being
seen and recognized by some of the
Ogallalla band. and thus far he be-
lieved they had come undetected, and it
was now after five o'clock-after five
o'clock and all was we'll In few hours
they could again be on their starlit
way. With the morrow they should be
safely within the gates of the new
stockade at Warrior Gap.
Turning with hope and relief in his
face to speak to Sergt. Bruce, who
lay there at his elbow, he saw the
blue-sleeved arm stretching forth in
warning to lie low. and with grave
eyes the veteran was gazing straight
at a little butte that rose from the
rolling surface not more than half a
mile away to the southeast.
Lieutenant" he whispered, "there
are Indians back of that hill at this
minute, and it isn't buffalo they're
laying for"
Dean was brave. He had been tried
and his mettle was assured, and yet
he felt the sudden chill that coursed
his veins. How can they have seen
| us?" he murmured.
May have struck our trail out to
the southwest" said Bruce, slowly,
"or they may have been told of our
coming and are stalking us. They've
got heavy score to settle with this
troop, you know"
| For moment only the breathing
of the little party could be heard All
eyes were fixed upon the distant
mound. AT last Dean spoke again.
when did you see them first and
how many are there?"
| Near ten minutes ago. I saw
something futterins swift along the
sky line just beyond that divide to the
south. 1t skinned like bird, all
but the quick bobbing up and down
that made me sure there was a gall
Looping pony under it. Then another
skinned along. 1t was the bunch of
feathers and red flannel on their
lances, and my belief is that they
struck our trail back here somewhere,
and that there's only a small party,
and they don't know just who we are
and they want to find out"
You're right. Look!" was Deans
sudden answer, for at the very in
slant there rode boldly, calmly into
full view two young Indians, who
with cool elaboration came jogging
on at gentle speed, straight toward
| the concealed bivouac of the troopers
Instantly Bruce reached for his car
bine, and two or three of the men
went sliding or crouching backward
down the slope as though in quest of
their arms. Full eight hundred yards
away were the riders at the moment,
coming side by side in apparent urr
concern.
DON'T" muttered Dean, with hand
outstretcbed. "They look anything
but hostile"
That's when they're most likely to
be full of hell, sir" was the prompt
answer. "See! others are watching
behind that knoll" and indeed as
Bruce declared. feather-decked head
or two could be detected through the
glass, peering over the summit.
warn them to halt, them" cried
Dean. "But we cannot fire unless
they provoke it,
Bruce was on his feet in second.
Standing erect and facing straight to-