The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-09-05
By II. S. CANFIELD
CHAPTER VII.
eminole Scouts of the Southwest.

hery red, was rushing to it's rest be-
mind the far Mexican mountains, the
watchers at the rancho, looking east
ward, saw suddenly outlined against
the sky troop of horsemen with a
solitary figure well to the front. They
were five miles away when they swept
over the brow of the hill, but in that
clear air it was plain to see that they
were riding two abreast at a long
swinging trot. Even as they showed
they melted into the slope beneath
them and became indistinguishable
Twenty minutes later they came once
more into view, their pace unchecked
and regularity unbroken. Five min
utes afterward the long roll of the
hoofs came to the ear and then showed
plainly beyond the arroyo, before they
plunged into its ravine to the cool,
clear water beneath. AS they splashed
through, paused for their horses to
drink and then came up the incline,
Lois, peering through window, saw
that the man in front was short and
aeshy, with resolute yet merry face;
that the men behind him were tall and
powerful and swart of visage and that
all were clad in dusty blue. She did
not then, nor for some time after
ward. know the cause of the visit, but
'she recognized them as cavalry regu-
lars and her heart beast fast to see the
precision of their movements and their
stern, soldierly bearing The troop,
twenty-five in ll,halted at thirty yards
distance and saluted. The men then
rested at ease in the saddle while Rob-
ert Harding swung himself down and
came forward with a smile. He was
met halfway by Glynn, who shook his
hand heartily and said:
Prompt as ever, captain. It's a
Jewel you are"
or brightest ray serene" Harding
answered, shaking hands vigorously
with the others, to all of whom he was
known. my men may have the old
quarters. presume
"Of course" answered the host
The house is ready for them and the
sergeant knows where it is. Order
them TO break ranks when you please"
Harding gave brief command and
ehe men swung to the southwark,
where ground of outbuildings stood
Fifteen minutes later the horses had
been tethered and fed and the camp
fires were going. Harding, in his
worn uniform, looked dusty but BUSH
'ness-Iike among the dress-coated men
HE did not think to apologize for his
costume. He knew the customs of
Balconies rancho well, but he was in
the field, not in barracks. He was
shown to a room by Glynn himself
VINO treated him with the respect and
cordially due tried officer. There he
dashed some water on his face and
hands, ran clothes brush over and
around his portly body and announced
himself fit and hungry. They repaired
to the drawing room. Lois could not
have explained the thrill she felt when
he was introduced, but it was due to
the fact that after weeks among men
OF another nation she was now in the
presence of one who wore the uniform
OF her own. She was glad to see that
IN ease OF manner and gentleness of
oearing he was in no wise inferior TO
enose representatives Of the best blood
OK the mother country. Harding was
indeed, much of a. man of the world
While his fifteen years of service had
been passed in the main on the from
der, he knew courts and camps and
cities, was as familiar with London
and che continent as the Englishmen
themselves and had, besides, a wide
knowledge of his own land. For five
years he had been in command of =
company of Seminole scouts at Fort
Clark, and from Ell Paso to Browne
vale was known of all and feared by
the evil doer. He was still under
forty and unmarried with gray. SOL
'dferiy temper, an apparent immunity
from fatigue and courage that occa-
sfonally rose to sublimity of reck-
tessness. He took her in TO dinner
aud. hungry as he was, found little
time to eat SO constant was their talk
OF places in their own loved land 81
ardent their Qualification of it. so in
sfstent their belief that while England
might be good America was far better
Allyn caught an inkling Of their talk
.and announced with laugh that If
we're well for all Of them to keep ST.
1ence while the Yankees had their in
-afngs
1T won't last long, you know" he
'sald, but it'll be deadly while it does"
When the party had reassembled in
me drawing room, Harding said to
Ter: -
Would you like to see the semin-
Soses, Miss English? n think they are
\ aH worth looking at. :, .ss s 4
B She thanked himS and sthe entire
9arty strolled TO the camp: Supper vas
.Svsr and the soldiers ffe stretched
shout In uncoIissc: ionsl = picfuresaa;ue
llGfstdes. s,1hesy ~ u salsse g
eiAadr odicer appeared, then sank back
- - said: Lie down. boys. and take