The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1902-10-10
BY II. S. cANFIELD
CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER VIII.
The Lonely Figure at the Ford.
AS day vas breaking Lois was
aroused by a steady tramp of hoofs and
an occasional jingle coming from a
heavy bit, uptossed by an impatient
steed. Going to her outer window, and
peering through the blinds, she saw
the troop Of Seminoles heading south
westward and riding at a trot. At their
head was Harding, and with him were
all of the rancho Englishmen, except
Glynn, who remained to see that the
days work was done. They climed a
hill smartly, and then dropped ver it's
summit, a long line that grew rapidly
shorter until the last rider was hid
den from sight. All through that day
the ranche-house had its usual quiet.
h rough riders were never about the
place in the light hours at any season.
Lessons went on in the school-room,
the 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-
tinued 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
other stories until bedtime.
Meanwhile the ranchmen and regu-
lars had pursued q course parallel with
the river for ten miles and then swung
In toward 1t. They reached their des-
tination by 10 o'clock and went into
ambush. The place vas well chosen.
Ragged hills rose all around them on
which grew mosquitoes and huisaches SO
thickly that passage through them
was made with difficulty. A quarter
Of q 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 a hundred yards
to the eastward and for nearly four
hundred yards to the westward, while
they were invisible to any one riding
OF walking along It. To make assur-
ance doubly sure. two Of the black
scouts waited until dark and then
tested the ford. They found a 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
herLeA : 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. It was
understood by the officer and the
ranchmen that the Mexicans would
cross before the o 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. II was Harding's plan to per-
NIT them to come yer and ride a
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 3 o'clock, there being no moon
and Z light haze having covered the
stars, the night vas 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. It was q sea OF ink
from which no sound arose. Occasion
ally 4 horse ridden by an E~nglishman
would snort or move It's feet restlessly.
but the trained steeds Of the Seminoles
stood a. II carved from stone. The
riders and horses showed like dark
statues dimly. They were used to the
work. Sitting erect in his saddle and
listening intently, Harding drew a
cigar from his pocket, bit on the end,
held his large sombrero closely before
his face, struck q 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.
II must smoke" he muttered apollo
get.cally. "Damme, I'd rather fight for
: long day than sit here for two hours
without tobacco. / guess they're not
looking for US hard enough, however.
to make it dangerous"
There wal little talk between the
white men, and among the Seminoles
not q loud sigh or whisper. An hour
passed in this way--an hour which
seemed three hours long. Upon more
than n occasion the troops had sat
thus through q whole night with moth
Ing bagged at the end OF It.
Suddenly from their right, In the d.
rection Of the river, a slight splasing
was heard. Each man uncOnsciously