The Bemidji pioneer., 1902-09-04

which grew mesquites and huisaches so
thickly that passage through them
was made with difficulty. A quarter
of mile from them was the ford. At
the base of the hill behind whose sum
nit they were encamped ran a narrow
trail, not more than ten. feet wide,
twisting about the hillocks, leading to
the river. The troops commanded a
view of this trail for hundred yards
to the eastward and for nearly four
hundred yards to the westward, while
they were invisible to any one riding
or walking along it. To make assur-
ance doubly sure, two of the black
scouts waited until dark and then
tested the ford. They found narrow
ridge 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
herdel half-mile away all day, and
were driven to the camp when the
sun had set and the swift twilight
closed. No fires had been built for the
cooking of dinner or supper. 1t was
understood by the officer and the
ranchmen that the Mexicans would
cross before the moon rose at IL
o'clock, attempt to ride out into the
country, gather such cattle as they
wished to steal and seek to re-cross
into their own country before day
break. 1t was Harding's plan to per-
NIT 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
be permitted to gather the cattle and
be attacked on their return, as their
flight would then be impeded by the
steers in their front, but the Captain
did not like the plan. He feared that
the smugglers might after all. re-
cross by another ford. and II they did
they would get safely back into Mex
leo with all of their booty.
At 8 o'clock. there being no moon
and a light haze having covered the
stars, the night was so black that only
the outlines of trees near at hand
could be distinguished. Looking down
into the hollow was like looking into
the bottomless pit. 1t was a sea Of ink
from which no sound arose. Occasion
ally a. horse ridden by an Englishman
would snort or move its feet restlessly,
but the trained steeds of the Seminoles
stood as if carved from stone. The
riders and horses showed like dark
statues dimly. They were used to the
listening intently, Harding drew a
cigar from his pocket, bit off the end,
held his large sombrero closely before
his face, struck match behind the
shelter, blew out the match before re-
placing his hat and held the lighted
end Of his cigar concealed in his hand.
81 must smoke" he muttered apollo
getically. "Damme, I'd rather fight for
a long day than sit here for two hours
without tobacco. l guess they're not
looking for us hard enough, however,
to make it dangerous" -.... ,~ =.
There was little talk between the
white men, and. among the Seminoles
not a loud sigh or whisper. An hour
passed in this way-an hour which
seemed three hours long. Upon more
than one occasion the troops had sat
thus through whole night with moth
ing bagged at the end Of it.
Suddenly from their right, in the di-
rection Of the river, a slight splasing
was heard. Each man unconsciously
Strengthened a little and each right
hand dropped to the right side to feel
for the revolver in its holster. There
was a simultaneous movement also Of
each right knee, the leg being de-
pressed strongly for the comforting
touch Of the carbine running along un-
der the stirrup-leather.
At the far end of the trail where it
debouched into the river appeared a
shadow, something blacker than the
night, and this shadow grew in length
as the column climbed the bank and
stretched out along the hollow They
rode fearlessly at slow trot, evidently
expecting no collision with anything
more serious than a herd Of beeves.
and with a good deal Of noise. There
were some talk and laughter, two or
three Of them were humming songs
and many cigarettes were going. AS
they wound by the foot Of the hill, up
on which the Seminoles were hidden
the haze overhead disappeared and the
stars shone out brilliantly. Harding
and his friends could see that the col
umn was composed of some forty
riders. At their head was a short man,
riding easily, with one leg thrown over
the pommel. The glitter of gold tin
sci upon his sombrero showed even in
the half light. AS he passed he lit
match, and the fame flaring, showed
dark handsome face, with black eyes
and dropping black mustache. This
leader they knew to be Vavara. Walt
ing stilly for the word, the Seminoles
stared downward, and Harding delayed
to give it until the last man had
Dassed This figure was of unusraI