The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-10-23

Ieuan was fastening MS do0plet Apous
him, and looked round upon us VA
cantly. uttering low, uneasy cries. !
brought the horse, and he was set
upon it. after his broadsword and Z
pair Of pistols had been taken from
him. 1euan ripped of q strip OF the
prisoners coat with a knife and bound
his feet together under the horse. then
seized the rein and struck away ct
once into the moorland.
CHAPTER XVII.
I BECOME A MAN OF THE DUSK
see what else to do. The whole affair
was on my account; the man vas in a
sense my prisoner, and I felt respon-
,, sible for him. The discovery OF the
dreadful advantage which Sir Arthur
held over my friends had turned my
plans topsy-turyy. and ! could scarce
ly ride away to a safe place OF refuge
with the knowledge that their liberties
and lives were hanging in the wind.
You will follow very, carefully" said
Ieuan over his shouldes, for there will
be places where to go = foot wrong will
be to slip into a bog, where You will
sink as a stone sinks In water"
Upon this caution I came down and
led Whitesock close at the tail Of the
messengers horse. At first the path
was hard and clean, then we travelled
for q long way through places where
the frost had not yet gained q COM
plete grip Of the marshy track. and.
crashing through the stiffened surface,
we half knee-deep at every step.
Being unused to such places my heart
was in my mouth time and again, es-
pecially when the surface of the bog for
~ HrnrnE M - Nyn ri rryV ~lynN III n ~
sWayed. and seemed to suck at US, as
II eager to engulf US between its SedRy
lips.
But Ieuan trod firmly and steadily
on. and / followed, and within an hour
we came out on the smooth, hard HILL
side. Ieuan now sprang up behind
Gruffydd and tool the reins. urging the
powerful horse to q trot. and I swung
myself into the saddle and rode along
side.
Az I came up. the prisoner turned a
surprise mingled in his glance.
Tell him not to be frightened said
Sarm n viii not come to any further
Ieuan gave a chuckle Of dry con-
tempt, and shrugged his shoulders
slightly. He spoke never q word, and /
was h more strongly fortified In my
resolution to see the thing through and
90 what I could to keep safe G man
who was only an innocent instrument
in the mischief intended to me.
Mile after mile we trotted over the
bare. bleak hills. n wilder and wilder
grew the scene around us. AT last
Ieuan drew rein at the mouth OF a
narrow cwm, whose entrance was litter
ed by great rocks, and began to bark
Ike q fox. He was answered instantly.
and two fellows sprang from their hid
Ing places among the boulders and ran
TO meet us. At a word from Ieuan each
OF them took a rein and guided the
horses through a narrow path, which
wound among the masses Of stone and
led to a smooth patch OF gre1nsward
set round on three sides by 'beetltnE
precipiceS.
One OF these latter lay full enrth
in the moonlight and toward It our
horses were led. A dozen yards from
the gray rock u guides stood still.
n u made a Sign that / should
dismount. I did so, and at q COM
mand from their leader the two attend-
ants pulled Gruffydd down in a very
unceremonious fashion and held him nv
the collar.
Come this way" said Ieuan.
what about my mare?" I returned
Bring her with you, II you like,
SAID leuan, and I led Whltesock after
him.
I now saw that a huge fragment Of
rock lay at the base OF the cliff, but
pe1ng OF the same color and leaving hui
a narrow gap, 1t looked, even when
close at hand, a mere projection rather
tnan a separate ass The path be-
tween the boulder and the cliff admit
teu III q single passenger. and we
walked In file, my stirrups 1ins]ine
against the rock on either hand 90
Wh1tesock stepped cautiously after me.
black hole, barely the height OF q
man received us, and sane crunched
unuer our 1eet. A red dancing CLEAN
struck INTO my eyes, n I saw a great
nre OF turf burning high and pafntinn
the wet, Shiny walls Of a large cavern
with bright, mirror-like reflections.
Half q dozen figures, who had bean
seated round the blaze, sprang to their
1eet as we entered, but sank down
again when they recognized Ieuan.
Low strains Of the most mournful
music hummed through the place and
I saw the dwarf harper bending over
nls lnstrulnen and drawing from 1t a
Wailing. melancholy air.
A woman, huddled near him in z
croucnlng lei continued to utter low
~ oAOoAA6s ulClIR
ment to his music. From two or tires
bundles laid against the further vol
n covered with skins and ta++.ra5
rags. cries Of pain o%ccasionallv 49,
forth. betraying the presence ~ ~
wounded, and I saw myself. at a h,,,ns
transferred to the center and stronr-
hold OF the Red Men OF the Dusk
q word to any one Is,,.n
walked up to the fire and snread hia
hands to the warmth. Fierce c,,r,a,,s
eyes We're turned upon me. ana avs
cries OF rage We're uttered as the pris.
oner was brought forward, His teath
q together in fear as he NO.
dragged into the freight. Ieuan looIad
upon mis- terror and their hate with =
complacent grin. At this instant w.
woman, whose groans Of sorrow has
been echoing through the place wna
from her torpor by the excitas
neht OF her companions. She Ion,.ad
Iouno and saw the captive. for Cruz
Iyad was now bound hand and roat
with a scream Of wild exultation 81.
recognized him as q mar fronn Me-. :, !.
bryn, and at the same momen + Eney,
ner Tor the woman who had hepp.ad ~
yam Tor the life Of her son. Il ina naa
Q ner feet, drew a knife. and r,,sbed
upon her prey. amid the annla,,ddsu
cries CT her friends. / snranr 80.
lifted arm. ~S1slshn er up
ESy IyS<l