Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-02-06
nibbling at the scant heritage, or lazily

curely hoppled, and all carefully guard
ed by the single trooper, whose own
mount; ready saddled, 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 as
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, were 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 distance of several
miles. The herd was evidently one of
unusual size even for those days when
the buffalo swarued 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
saddle-bags and the colonel's words i'm
pressing him with the sense of response
bility the night they parted at Fort
Emory. Tomorrow, by sunrise. If for
tune favored him, he could turn j. over
to the commanding officer at the new
stockade, and then if 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 homeward 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
eyes-that beautiful face-haunted his
thoughts and filled his young heart
with new and passionate longing. It
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, if
the Sioux should learn of his presence,
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 no
hope of getting back without a battle
royal. There was only one chance of
safety-that the Indians should not
discover their presence. If they did aud
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 night he left her, had been
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-braed spy. lurking about Frayne;
but then who would be da stard enough
to send such word? The other by being
seen and recognized by some of the
Ogallalla band, and thus far he be-
neved 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 little butte that rose from the
rolling surface not more than half
mile away to the southeast.
"Lieutenant,,' he whispered, "there
ere 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 vet
he felt the sudden chill that cQursed
his veins. "How can they have seen
us?' he murm ured.
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 we're fixed upon the distant
mound. At last Dean spoke again.