The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1903-10-17
THE OF
" ~ALTOONAH. x

"a . - IgRoMA
.ss.s aaaaasssss.ssssas

or barren sand, cactus
~ Barred, haze-blurred with heat;
the faint blue simmer of foothills on
the edge Of the horizon, and above
them grim. gaunt ridges Of the noun
tain lands, rising in giant chaos, steep
on steep,
q solitary figure on the edge Of the
vast salt basin OF the desert dragged
itself YEARLY 70 where the mule team
lay painting IN the dust, and drawing
his sheath knife, cut the traces clean
WGat the ends. The animals stared
duly ct him with glazed eyes, and the
indian, rising to his superb height,
scanned the lava sands from under
lowering brows He had driven fast
and far across those burning sands, and
the mules had paid the penalty Of his
escape Far to the left in a haze OF
blue steel rays lay the Indian reser-
vahcn, but only the white d~esolation
o. the salt depression broke the dead
level Of the plain.
The pack wagon, left to itself, stood
mouoniesss an Ominous portent to the
eye and the indian. with a last sweep
ing glance about him. plunged dog
gedly forward through the brilliant
glare.
Within the reservation was excite
ment an the more felt because II was
suppressed The older troopers were
grimly buckling on their saddles in
obedience to the curt order to company
A while the less seasoned men and
raw recruits were swearing blindly at
a government which would send out
GO men for a loose Indian on a day
like this.
He'll stop at Pascas all right, "
voachsafed Hinton, q keen trailer and
sure shot. whose opinions were gem
orally respected.
"Pascas be blowed," spoke up the
opposition man Of the troop, Putnam,
who opposed on principle every state
ment that was made, and who spent
his time il endeavoring to catch up
with quicker minds.
she will" persisted Hinton. That
girl-what's her manner Altoonah-
she's down there, and Eagle wind
knows IL Mighty hne girl she was,
too; Eagle Winds just loco to see her,"
he added in lower tones.
Who are You talking about? That
girl Altoonah7" grudly asked a third
man, turning in his saddle as he can-
tered easily by. She's going to be
married-Ktrkham down at the post
Know him, any Of you feIlows2"
The men were in their saddles now,
and the mustangs were covering the
country with the long, easy lope Of
the cavalry mount, It was two in the
afternoon, and the hot. white sand was
unbearable.
'Jingo! exclaimed n Of the
troopers, slackening his rein as he
gazed Woefully ahead, where for miles.
and miles lay the interminable glisten~
ing sands. Il wouldn't take this chase
again for the biggest Indian in the
country. Why not let him loose. any
hows What's the odds?"
He'd make mischief responded the
other eurtiy "We won't find him any
way. He's had two days start. Neat.
wasn't It. the way he Unanswered to
get 20 the salt basin, and then walked
one?
He was a Number / up TO the
time Re left commented Hinton, rid
Ing up alongside. "but when be gets TO
Gnaymas thsneu be the devil to pay.
Wouldnt ear to cross Eagle Wind my-
self Just now. be ended smiling grim
~
AT seven the captain ordered a halt
Shading his eyes with his soft cavalry
bar, he looked long ana searehingly III
every direction. Then be waved q
Eaunteted hand toward the troop.
Baok @ the reservation, boys, he
saids gl0omilV
The little town Of Paseas lay quiet
"a tha clear moonlight, when q shadow
emerged from one Of its narrow, iE-
paved streets only 70 lose itself Ga the
deeper SHADOW ol 81 archway. Feeling
"a way cautiously along the rough,
a1one houses the shadow reached a
point whore it WaVered. hesitated.
pBea TIE musical tnlda of q gui-
Was audible. and close at hand
$40 SHADOW suddenly developed into
8 muae aNny-limbed Indian