Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-09-19

case" replied Owain. "and he will leave
the less to execute H."
In a short time we were UP among
the trees. and at a glance I saw what
a spot Sir Arthur had chosen for hts
gibbet. On every hand the country lay
below us like a map. Far to the west
q gray level patch marked the sea, and
the slant of the stunted trees told Of
the winds which raced In from that
quarter. The Red Men of III Dusk
looked around them with quick, UNI
easy glances as they were halted in the
tiny wood, and when a mountain pony
came scrambling up after us, laden
with coils of rope, every man turned
with fierce eyes upon my uncle and ut
tered a deep cultural cry of scorn.
Two of them made an attempt to
burst tneir bonds and run, but 1t was
useless, and within the instant they
were struck down and pinioned still
more securely. The other four, after
that single note of rage and scorn, re-
NAMED as impressive as the hills
around them. now saw for the first
time that one of them was a mere boy,
not more than IA years old. Even as /
looked, the tall elderly man who had
seemed their leader moved a little
toward the lad, and began to speak to
him In a low, caressing voice. The
savage mask dropped off, and his fea-
lures worked with strong emotion. This
n the likeness that existed between
them made the situation clear: they
were father and son. The boy paid but
little heed, nodding carelessly now and
again. n looking from side to side
with a sullen glare.
Sir Arthur now began to call out
quick orders, and his men ran right and
left. In a trice half a dozen ropes were
run over branches, lofty enough 10
swing the Gwylliaid Cochion several
feet from the ground, and the execution
proceeded swiftly. Already four fig
ures were writhing in horrible contor-
tons, when n woman darted into the
circle n seized the boy with a dread
ful outcry. Her scream was echoed by
my uncle, who doubted not but to see
a whole band Upon us, ano there was
a general run to arms. But no one else
appeared, and the poor creature who
got among us must have exercised
wonderful cunning to evade the sem
tries posted about the hill.
She was an elderly woman, though
1T is likely h was not so old as she
looked, for so wild a life must age them
beyond their time. Her foul tangled.
scanty elf locks, once red, now bleached
to a dry wheaton shade by weather and
years, hung low yer her hard worn
features, her great dark eyes looked UNI
naturally large n bright in their hol-
low sockets, and as she fondled her
child, the business we were engaged
upon, distasteful before, now seemed to
me dismally repulsive.
The little group drew every eye, and
for a few moments no one moved or
spoke; father, mother and son, even the
rude fellows who We're %stringing up the
Red Men of the Dusk as indifferently
as If they were hanging salmon to
smoke, stood at gaze, struck by the dra-
matte quality of the scene. Ny uncle
alone remained ANNOYED and venom
GUS; he shouted an angry order, and
the woman cried out as If she had re-
ceiVed q wound. She turned and flung
herself upon her knees before Sir Ar
thur, pouring out with tears and up
lifted hands frenzied e%ntreaties that he
would spare her son, her youngest. her
dearest; for her husband she uttered
no plea. She knew 1t would be useless,
but she begged for her boys life in
terms which moved every listener but
one. There was no need to be able to
understand her words; the piercing
quality of pathos and longing In her
voice went to the very heart. Had she
spoken nothing, the simple natural eio-
quence of her entreating gestures would
have said everything. My uncle took
but little heed of her, and called out to
his men again In a harsh, grating
voice.
CONTINUED Next Week.