The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1902-10-11
BY II. S. CANFlELD
CHAPTER VIII.


CHAPTER VIII.
The Lonely Figure at the Ford
An day was breaking Lois was
aroused by steady tramp of hoofs and
IN occasional jingle coming from a
heavy bit, uptossed by an impatient
sesed. Going to her outer window, and
Desrfng through the blinds, she saw
Rho troop Of SeminOles heading south
westward and riding at trot. At their
Asad was Harding, and with him were
oil of the rancho Englishmen, except
Glynn, who remained to see that the
days work was done. They climed a
hill smartly, and then dropped over it's
summit, long line that grew rapidly
shorter until the last rider was hid
Den from sight. All through that day
: the ranche-house had it's usual quiet.
The rough riders were never about the
place in the light hours at any season.
Lessons went on in the school-room,
tho mistress kept to her shaded room,
with novel in hand, and scent bottle
close by, and the servants came and
went with as little noise as possible.
At the dinner hour, however, the con-
6nued absence Of the males made itself
felt For the first time in many moons
Mrs. Glynn did not dress for the
function. Her meal was served in her
apartment. Lois and the children
dined in the nursery and told each
ether stories until bedtime.
Meanwhile the ranchmen and regu-
Oars had pursued course parallel with
the river for ten miles and then swung
Tn toward it. They reached their des-
fination by 10 o'clock and went into
ambush. The place was well chosen.
Ragged hills rose all around them on
which grew mosquitoes and huisaches so
"tAickly that passage through them
was made with difficulty. A quarter
II mile from them was the ford. At
the base of the hill behind whose sum-
init they were encamped ran a narrow
twisting about the hillocks, leading to
the river. The troops commanded
view of this trail for a hundred yards
60 the eastward and for nearly four
&undred yards to the westward, while
they were invisible to any one riding
or walking along it. To make assur-
01ce doubly sure, two of the black
scouts waited until dark and then
Tasted the ford. They found a narrow
xfdge Of rock and sand traversing the
stream from side to side and nowhere
more than three feet under water.
they returned and reported and Hard
ing smiled. The horses had been
herdeI a half-mile away all day, and
were driven to the camp when the
Gun had set and the swift twilight
afosed No fires had been built for the
cooking Of dinner or supper. 1t was
understood by the officer and the
.Hanchmen that the Mexicans would
eruss before the moon rose at II
'0'clock, attempt to ride out into the
country, gather such cattle as they
into their own country before day
break. 1t was Harding's plan to per-
init them to come over and ride
little way past the ambush, then charge
down, get between them and the river
and endeavor to secure the entire
band. Maude suggested that they first
b permitted to gather the cattle and
'6e attacked on their return, as their
&isht would then be impeded by the
gteers in their front, but the Captain
did not like the plan. He feared that
the smugglers might after all, re-
eross by another ford, and if they did
xhey would get safely back into Mex
SEQ with all of their booty.
At 9 o'clock, there being no moon
aud light haze having covered the
stars the night was so black that only
@ze outlines of trees near at hand
could be distinguished. Looking down
into the hollow was like looking into
Tire bottomless pit. 1t was sea of ink
from which no sound arose. Occasion
ally a horse ridden by an Englishman
bot the trained steeds of the Seminoles
atood as if carved from stone. The
riders and horses showed like dark
statues dimly. They were used. to the
work Sitting erect in his saddle and
7astening intently, Harding drew a
cigar from his pocket, bit off. the end,
hsad his large sombrero closely before
hfs face, struck a match behind the
ahelter, blew out the match before re-
paacing his hat and held the lighted
end of his cigar concealed in his hand.
II must smoke" he muttered apollo
~getically. "Damme, I'd rather fight for
a long day than sit here for two hours
without tobacco. I guess they're not:
looking for us hard enough, however,
to make it dangerous" ,"
There was little talk between the
bite men, and among the Seminoles
loud sigh or whisper. An hour
in this way-an hour which
rec hours long. Upon. more
1:asion the troops had sat
,---,~----..-----4! :, whole night with Moth
he end of it. Il
their right IN tho d.