The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-09-18

we mounted the hill very slowly. I
looked upon the wild pinioned figures
before me and felt the irony of the
circumstances that we should be
marching thus to accommodate these
children of the mountain. who a
hitherto flown over Its face nimbly as
the wild goat.
Half a mile from the house we
turned to a side track, and Owain nod
ded to himself.
Il was sure Of it, he said in my ear.
"Of what?" I asked.
Owain said nothing for the moment
but half lifted his finger. We topped a
little rise, and he pointed before us.
A short distance in front was a steep
hill crowned with a clump Of ragged
stunted trees.
II will hang them to those trees,
and leave them swinging there as we
do rows in a cornfield,'' said Owain.
Without trial, without form Of law?"
/ asked
Trial! law!" repeated Owain. "Those
are words of little import here as re-
plenty above them. And, indeed. who
is there to inquire or care for what be-
comes of such rogues as these? Those
who hear OF 1t will praise Sir Arthur
heartily, and the relations whom the
Red Men leave hin them are little
49, ~ oSSSeSS AL a 4"" " AiAo
lack of form in disposing of their
friends
But they will exact a dreadful re-
venge.''
They are bent on that now, in an
case" replied Owain, land he will leave
the less to execute It,"
In a short time we were up amon
the trees. and at a glance 1 saw what
a spot Sir Arthur had chosen for his
gibbet. On every hand the country lay
below US like a map. Far to the west
a 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 the Dusk
looked around them with quick, un-
easy glances as they We're 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 their bonds and run, but it was
useless, and within the instant they
We're struck down and pinioned still
more securely. The other four, after
that single note Of rage and scorn, re-
manned as impassive as the hills
around them. I now saw for the first
time that one of them was a mere boy
not more than IL years old. Even as ]
looked, the tall elderly man who had
seemed their leader moved a little
toward the lad, n began to speak tic
him in a low, caressing voice. The
savage mask dropped off, and his fea.
lures worked with strong emotion. This
and the likeness that existed between
them made the situation clear; they
were father and son. The boy paid blu
: little heed, noddtng carelessly now ant
) again, and looking from side to sids
with a sullen glare.
/ Sir Arthur now began to call GU
quick orders, and his men ran right ar
left. In a trice half a dozen ropes Were
Y run. over branches, lofty enough t.
swing the Gwylliaid Cochion severa
/ feet from the ground, and the execution
4 proceeded swiftly. Already four fig
|. ures were writing in horrible contor
f tons, when a woman darted INTO TIL
2 circle and seized the boy with a dread
j full cutlery. Her scream was echoed b
my uncle, who doubted not but to Sc
a whole BAN upon us, and there wa
a general run to arms. But no one els
f appeared. n the poor creature VIII
o had got among US must ave exercise
h wonderful cunning to evade the sen
e tries posted about the hill.
d She was an elderly woman, thong
1t is likely she was not SO old as sh
IT looked, for so wild a life must age ther
beyond their time. Her foul, tangled
scanty elf locks, one red, now bleache
It to a dry wheaton shade by weather an
years. hung low owe her hard wor
It her great dark yes looked vi
70 naturally large and bright in their no.
10 low sockets, n as she fondled he
child, the business we were engage
upon, distasteful before, now seemed t
x me dismally repulsive.
The little group drew every eye, an
1t for a few moments no one moved {
lie spoke; father, mother and son, even til
l. rude fellows who were %stringing up til
lr Red Men Of the Dusk as Indifferent
er as If they were hanging salmon
Il. smoke, stood at gaze, struck by the drs
is matte quality of the scene. My unc
n alone remained unmoved and venom
GUS he shouted an angry order, an
", the woman cried out as if she la II
e, cetved a wound. She turned and fur
at herself upon her knees before Sir Al
ir thur, pouring out with tears and vi
90 lifted hands frenzied entreaties that /
I'd would spare her son, her youngest, h
I'd dearest; for her husband she uttere
no plea. She knew it would be useles
ae but she begged for her boys life
terms which moved every listener b,
Id one. There was no need to be able
Of understand her words; the piercir
quality Of pathos and longing in h
in voice went to the very heart. Had 81
TT spoken nothing, the simple natural ell
n, quence Of her entreating gestures wou
lie have said everything. My uncle toe
but little heed Of her, and called out
n his men again in a harsh. gratir
or voice.
/" Continued Next week.)
is
y, a Unicue Western City.