Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1902-01-31

Out on the Pampas !


AtC A40 ~ WstAA SaAS"N thAl I MI
rection was true. Describing a slight
curve, it rushed full ut the black mass,
struck something, turned abruptly. and
then exploded with a loud report. follow
ed Instantly by Il cracking ncise, like Il
struggling fusillade of musketry. 1t had
scarcely ceased before the third followed
1t, greeted, like it's predecessors, with a
yell from the Indians. Its success was
equal to that of it's predecessors anl MIR.
Hardy was .delikhted by the sound of a
dull, heavy noise, like distant thunder,
and knew that the success was complete,
and that he had stampeded the cattle.
He now ran to his horse, which was
trembling in every limb and struggling
wildly to escape. soothed it by patting it,
ioosed its bonds, spran. into the saddle.
and went of at full gallop in the direc-
ton by which he had come. He had hot
ridden very far before lie heard in the
still night air, the repeated sound OF fire.
arms, and knew that the boys were upon
the trail of the cattle. Mr.. Hardy had
little fear of the Indians pursuing them:
lie felt sure that the slaughter of the
day by the new and mysterious firearms,
together with the effect of the rockets.
would have too much terrified and cowei
them for them to think of anything but
flight.
"Hurrah! papa the boys said as he
rode up to them. "Thcy have gone by ut
Il tremendous ~rusl-shcep and cattle and
all. We started the moment we saw
yonr first rocket, and got up just as they
rushed past, and we joined in behind and
fired, and yelled till We were hoarse.
I Hnn't fhiNl. t1nv will ctn~ n,,;, +n-
night"
Indians. boysy"
Nothing, papa. When the first rocket
burst we saw several dark figures leap
up from the grass-whcre they had been.
no doubt, s~couting-and run toward the
camp; but that was all. What are we
to do now"
Ride on straight for home. We need
not trouble about the animals: they won't
stop till they are back. We must so
easily, for our horses have done a very
long days work already. They have been
between fifty and sixty miles. think
that we had better ride ON for another
hour. BY that time the moon will be up,
and we shall be able to See for miles
across the plain. Then we will halt till
daybreak-it will only be three hours
and the horses will be able to carry us
in Mt a canter afterwards"
And SO it was done. In an hour the
moon was fairly up. and. choosing a rise
whence a clear view could be obtained.
the horses We're allowed to feed, and
Mr.. Hardy and Hubert lay down to sleep,
Charley taking the post of sentry with
orders to wake the others at daybreak.
The day was just dawning when he
aroused them. "Wake up, papa. There
are some figures coming over the plain.'
Mr.. Hardy and Hubert were on their
feet in an instant. Where. Charley..,
Prom the north papa. They must
have passed us in their pursuit of the
cattle. and are now acknowledgements
handed. anyhow; for there are only sew
On or eight of them, and they are driving
nothing before them"
by this time all three were in the sad
die again.
"Shall we attack them, papa?'
mo. boys; we have given them quite n
severe lesson enough. AT the same time,
we will move a little across, SO that we
can get a good sight of them as they pass,
and make sure that they i.ave got nothing
with them"
II don't think they are Indians at ALL"
Hubert said, as the figures rapidly APP
preached. "Halloo."
'Halloo! hurrah!' came back to them.
and in another five minutes they were
shaking hands heartily with their three
friends from Canterbury, the Janliesons,
and two or three other neighbori,,g set
tiers.
nNt,0r, <Nl ~, ,I,,A
as Lopez brought news OF the attack,
had sent mounted men off to all the 9th
er settlements, begging them to meet
that night at Mount Pleasant. by nine
o'clock they had assembled, and, after
consultation, had agreed that the Indians
would be satisfied with their present
booty, and that therefore no guard would
be necessary at their OWL estancias. \
good feed and four hours rest had been
given to their horses and when the moon
rose they had started. Two hours after
leaving they had seen n dark mass ap-
preaching and had prepared for an en-
counter; but it had turned ont to be the
animals, who were going toward home
Mt IA steady pace. There seemed. they
said, to be a good many horses among
them. and when an inspection was made
of returned animals it was found that
nearly all of the Indians horses had been
carried along by the cattle and sheep in
the stampede. =
a council was held, and it was agreed
that there was no chance whatever of the
Indians returning to renew the contest.
as they would be helpless on foot; but
that if by a spy they found out that
their horses We're there, they might en-
deavor to recover them. 1t was there
fore agreed that they should be driven
over at once to Mr.. Percy's, there to re-
main until Il purchaser was obtained for
them. In the afternoon the party dis
persed, with many thanks from the Har-
dys for their prompt assistance.
CHAPTER X.
AFTER a storm comes IL calm," a SAYING
true in the case of the Iiardys. as in that
of most others. The settlers were now.
therefore, able to give their whole atten-
ton to the farm. Thc> first cneration
was the strengthening. 1t was ;n anus
ing sight to see 300 or 100 sheep driven
into an inclosure, and Their dragged out
by the shcarers. Men were paid accord
1