The National tribune., 1901-12-26
A TREE"

tanks the poor animals moved slowly,
| while their riders, scarcely less exhausted,
sometimes dismounted and walked to rest
] Them.
| The Indian trail seemed no fresher than
the day before, and George was in de-
spair. Some of the company had been
| compelled to return on account of their
horses being exhausted, and Capt. Cole
had but 22 men with him. He was not
afraid to attack the Indians, however, if
he could come up with them.
George was almost in despair OF ever
oycrhauling them.
They had crossed n wide prairie and
were in heavy body of timber on some
creek the name of which they did not
know. Capt. Cole insisted that they must
stop for the night, and let the horses rest.
Boys, yell have f do on cold meat
t'night. We daren't make a fire.
DO you think we are very close on
them" George asked hopefully.
Don't know. May be closer'n we
think
The horses were picketed out to Craze,
| the men were lying on the ground, save two
Sentrics. George sat at the root of 4 tree,
gazing off into the darkness, when he sud
denly discovered far off in the distance a
Speck of light. At first he Thought he
was mistaken, but the longer he looked
the more certain he became.
He put his hand on Abe's shoulder and
whispered. Look yonderr'
What do you WANT"
. Look in the direction I point, and tell
me- if you see anything"
What docs it look Iike?'
a light
Abe. its the Indians campfire. Where
is Capt. Colc:''
"I'll bring him.
Bring him while watch the light"
In n few moments Capt. Cole was
brought where George stood staring at the
| light, not daring to bat his eyes lest he
should lose It.
Yes, it's campfire Cole declared.
We're closer to tn Injuns n | thought"
George urged him to go at once, but
| the Captain was too experienced an In
dian fighter to move without recOnnuis-
sance; consequently, three of the oldest
and most experienced scouts We're sent in
| the direction of the light and returning
about midnight reported they had located
the Indian camp and had seen two girl
| captives. George was wild TO make the
attack at once.
mo, no; hold on, youngster, ur by
| junks We'll hev Z tie ye. Fact is, f we
don't exercise n little common sense, we'll
make n failure o this. Now, let older
beads plan, an you execute. Wen attack
t shoot without hittin' a prisoner"
But won't you close in on the camp
| before that timc!'
jest what we are gOin' to do right
now, f you'll have little patience. Wen
| be around 'em in two hours in rife range.
an they none the wiser, Z you'll keep
mum, ai:' not go [ squealin' and yelln'.
Ef ye do go L squealin' an yeiin' ven
see tn gals scalped afore we kin save
| en-"
Instructions were then given to every
man, and no military expert could have
| found fault with the plan of attack The
rangers went slowly forward until within
a fourth of mile of the camp, when they
! began to deploy by twos at distance of
ID PAGES, and in fan-shape spread nearly
around the camp.
| Though the Indians were 40 or so in
| number, far exceeding them, the pioneers
| would have the advantage of surprise.
1t chanced that Abe Beeman and
| George were together George managed
| that they would come up on the side
where the prisoners We're. The frontiers
men crawled on their hands and knees.
not making the least noise to awaken The
sleeping camp. Capt. Cole had told George
he might creep as near TO the camn ss
he dared, and when day began 10 dawn
lie was to fire as soon as it was so light
| there would be no danger to the prison
ers.
George and Abe were within 80 wards
OF the camp and 30 nearer than any of
the others, when they finally dropped be-
hind an old haif-rotten log to wait in pa
ucnce for the appearance of light They
did not speak, even in whispers, nor
scarce breathed aloud. Through the
gloom the eyes of the young man made
out the form OF Eunice leaning against
a tree. There was an Indian brave on
either side of her, while Sally with a sim
liar guard was not far off.