The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-21

This conviction was a dreadful one, yet
a relief as far as the young girl was
concerned. But should he tell her? Not
Better that she should keep her calm
faith in the triumphant promptness of
the soldiers-and their speedy return.
Il dare say you are right" he said
cheerfully, land let us be thankful that
in the empty coach you'll have at least
a half civilized shelter until they re-
turn. Meantime I'll go and reconnoiter
a little.'
81 will go with you," she said.
But Boyle pointed out to her so
strongly the necessity of her remaining
to wait for the return of the soldiers
that, being also tagged out by her long
climb, she obediently consented, while
he, even with his inspiration of the
truth, did not believe in the return Of
the despoilers and knew she would be
safe.
A few steps into the thicket brought
him full upon realization of more than
his worst convictions-the dead body
of Foster! Near it lay the body of the
mail agent. Both had been evidently
dragged into the thicket from where
they fell, scalped and half stripped.
There was no evidence of any later
struggle; they must have been dead
when they were brought there.
Boyle was neither hard-hearted nor
an unduly sensitive man. He was sor-
ry for these two men, and would have
fought to have saved them. But he
had no imaginative ideas of death.
His one thought was of the unsuspect-
ing girl sitting in the lonely coach, and
he hurriedly dragged the bodies fur
ther into the bushes. In doing this he
discovered a loaded revolver and a
flask Of spirit which had been lying
under them, and promptly secured
them. A few PAGES away lay the COW
eted trunk of arms and ammunition,
their lids wrenched off and their con-
tents gone. He noticed with a grim
smile that his own trunk of samples
had shared like fate, but was de-
lighted to find that, while the brighter
trifes had attracted the Indians child
ish cupidity, they had overlooked
heavy black merino shawl of a cheap
but serviceable quality. 1t would help
to protect Miss Cantire from the even
ing wind, which was already rising
over the chill and stark plain. II also
occurred to him that she would need
water after her parched journey, and
he resolved to look for a spring, be-
ing rewarded at last by a trickling rill
near the ambushed camp. But he had
no utensil except the spirit flask, which
he finally emptied Of it's contents and
replaced with the pure water-a he
roic sacrifice 10 a traveller who knew
the comfort of a stimulant. He re-
traced his steps, and was just emerg-
ing from the thicket when his quick
eye caught sight OF a moving shadow
before him close 10 the ground, which
set the blood coursing through his
veins.
II was the figure Of an Indian crawl
ing on his hands and knees toward
the coach. scarcely 40 yards away. For
the first time that afternoon Boyle's
calm Eood.humor was oyerswept by a
blind and furious rage. Yet. even then
he was sane enough 10 remember that
4 pistol shot would alarm the girl. and
20 keep that weapon ~ n last re-
source For an instant he crept for.
ward a. silently ana sfealfhily az the
savage, and then, with 3 sudden bound.
leaped upon him. driving bic heed and
shoulders down esainat the rocks be-