The Irish standard., 1901-02-16

ed by the single trooper, whose own
mount, ready saddied, circled within
the limits Of the stout lariat, looped
about his masters wrist. All spoke of
caution, of lively sense of danger and
responsibility, for they of the little de-
tachment were picked men, who had
ridden the warpath too long not to real
ize that there was no such thing az
trusting to luck in the heart of the In
dian country, especially when Mach
pealota with his Ogallalla braves was
out for business. The cautious move
ments of the group along the bank had
quickly been noted by the wakeful ones
among the troopers, and presently the
entire party, excepting only the herd
guard, had crouched up alongside, and
with the comradeship born of such
perilous service, We're now discussing
the situation in low, confidential tones.
For half an hour they lay there.
studying the signs to the northeast.
The dun-colored cloud hung low over
the earth for a distance of several
miles. The herd was evidently one of
unusual size even for those days when
the buffalo swarned in countless thou
sands, and finally the sergeant spoke
again.
Its big hunt, lieutenant. What
ever may be going on about the Gap
they've found time to send out young
men enough to round up most of the
buffalo north of the Platte and drive
them in toward the mountains. It's
combining pleasure with business.
They don't feel strong enough in num-
Der, perhaps, to make another attempt
on troops armed with breechloaders, so
while they're waiting until Their reen-
forcements come, or their own breech-
leaders, they are herding the buffalo
where they can get them when they
want them later on. We are in big luck
that no stragglers are anywhere around
us; if they were it wouldn't take such
fellows long to spy us out"
Dean swept the ridge line with his
glass. No sign of life nearer than that
far-away, betraying dust cloud. No
symptom of danger anywhere within
their ken. He was thinking at the mo-
ment of that precious package in his
pressing him with the sense Of response
b.ity the night they parted at Fort
Emory. Tomorrow, by sunrise, if for
| tune favored him, he could turn it over
to the commanding officer at the new
stockade, and then il the Indians were
not gathered in force about the post
! and actually hostile, he could slip out
again at night and make swift dash for
the Platte and the homcward way, and
then within the week rejoin his sister
at Fort Emory-his sister and Pap
poose." Never before had the Indian
pet name carried such significance as
now. Night and day those soft, dark
eycs-that beautiful face-haunted his
thoughts and filled his young heart
with new and passionate longing. 1t
was hard to have to leave the spot her
presence made enchanted ground
Nothing but the spur of duty, the thrill
of soldier achievement and stirring
venture could have reconciled him to
that unwelcome order.
In one week now, if fortune favored
and heaven spared, he could hope to
look again into the eyes that had so en-.
chained him, but if there should inter.
pose the sterner lot of the frontier, il
the Sioux should learn of his presence
I he who had thwarted Burning Star and
the brothers of poor Lizette in their
schemes of vengeance, he at whose door
the Ogallallas must by this time have
laid the death of one of their foremost
braves, then indeed would there be nc
hope of getting back without cattle
royal. There was only one chance Of
safety-that the Indians should not
discover their presence. If they did anc
realized who the intruders were, Jessie
Dean might look in vain for her broth
er's return. Pappoose would never hea,
the love words that, trembling on his
lips the night he left her, had beer
i poured out only to that unresponsive
picture. Two ways there were in which
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 tn,
Ogallalla band, and thus far he be
lieved they had come undetected, and i
was now after five o'clock-after tiv,
o'clock and all was we'll. In few hour
they could again be ON their starli
, way. With the morrow they should b.
safely within the gates of the new
, stockade at Warrior Gap.
Turning with hope and relief in hi
face to speak to sergt. Bruce, wh'
lay there at his elbow, he saw tn,
blue-sleeved arm stretching forth il
warning to lie low, and with grav
eyes the veteran was gazing straigh
l at Il little butte that rose from tn
rolling surface not more than half ,
; mile away to the southeast.
"Lieutenant," he whispered, ether
: are Indians back of that hill at thi
minute. and it isn't buffalo they'r
laying for"
Dean was brave. He had been trie'
and his mettle was assured, and we
! he felt the sudden chill that course'
his veins. GLOW can they have seel
us?" he murmured.
, "May have struck our trail out t.
- the southwest" said Bruce. slowly
y cor they may have been told of GU
coming and are stalking us. They'v
: got a heavy score to settle with thi
troop, you know"
;, For Il moment only the breathing
= of the little party could be heard. Al
eyes We're fixed upon the distan
. l,,,@