The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-08-07

the good woman of the cottage, gave a.
piece of money to the little boy, and
swung myself into the saddle. felt,
my sword was buckled tightly, the hilt
handy, and the butts of my pistol ca.
silly with in reach.
had no real evidence for distrust-
ing my companions but did SO heart
lily, and for that very reason was de-
termined to keep an eye upon them. I
felt certain that the girls In gray had
been packed off at sight of them, and
| felt also that they were Of another
and a more dangerous class than the
Egyptian and her dirty rabble
For couple of miles we moved slow
ly, for the road was villainous under
foot. Indeed, my companions aimble
little pony, bred up on these mountain
tracks. made better way than White
sock, who was quite at loss among
the rolling pebbles and clumsy pieces Of
rock that Uttered the way.
Then the path improved. running over
clean mountain, turf, and, turning a
spur of the hill. we rode into the Light
of the rising moon, now nearly at the
full, and swinging low against q dis
tant slope.
The harper was trotting beside my
companion, and at intervals they ex-
turn of the road brought the moon at
our back. and was surprised to see
shadow fall between Whitesock and
the pony. I glanced quickly round.
Immediately behind was marching q
bare-headed. bare-footed fellow with q
pike over his shoulder, following with
noiseless tread, and his eyes bent on
the ground The other two took no
notice OF him, but continued to talk
quietly.
Who is this man following us?"
said l.
"Oh, said the bard, waving his hand,
1T ISIS nothing. A friend to me-"
slipped my hand down to the Off
holster, dropped it on pistol butt and
gently drew it to full cock The &C.
ton was we'll oiled and worked smooth
ly, and amid the rafting Of the horses
feet the soft click was, as I thought,
unheard.
So far as could see was the only
one in the party possessed Of firearms,
and to that extent I held them at ad-
vantage.
l glanced again, and gave an invol-
untary start. A second pikeman was
trotting at the side of the first. How
or from where the fellow came could
not divine. If spirits of the dead had
been rising to join us, they could not
come more silently or held their way
with softer football.
He also had no other head covering
than shock Of hair. and his feet were
bare. Both had that bounding move
ment which betosens surprising
strength and activity, and 1 scarcely
knew what to think Of the comnany
into which had SO strangely fallen.
That they were honest had a great
doubts, and I had q mind to give
Whitesock hint to leave them, but
that the road had now fallen very bad
again.
Marching with my beard upon my
shoulder, as the saying goes, saw the
third pikeman arrive. Just as we
passed great boulder lying on the
edge Of the road he glided from Its
shadow and fell in at the rear He was
as like his fellows as one bean resem-
bles another. q
Not a word or sign was exchanged
among any of them. and with the
queerness and odd danger Of it all
cold sweat came out upon me. This
was another business altogether to
the bard and the dwarf Our path
now lay along the lee of a hill, which
cast a dark shadow over the rough.
broken road.
Without looking round, the tall man
gave a shrill whistle. half drew my
pistol but the signal was not aimed
against me. At a flash, the three pike
men sprang forward, running swiftly
and silently, and flew on ahead, the
dwarf running with them. I urged
Whitesock on, impelled to follow them
and see what was their object, but I
was compelled to rein in almost In
stantly. I should only have famed the
poor lass among the loose cluttered
rocks, and then things would have been
at worse pass still.
Come, come" said my companion,
who had sent his pony along with me
and drawn rein when I did; Indeed
you are not treating me fairly, at all,
To cock your pistol and hold it ready,
when we are riding together so friend
ly as possible, is not showing any
trust at all. Do you think I would set
those boys against you when you had
good chance to kill me this after
noon and did not do it? To be sure I
would not. And, indeed, am wanting
no help against any one man in this
world" he added, proudly.
To these remarks had no answer to
make, and we rode for some time In
silence. The dwarf had left his harp
behind and my companion fingered Il
as he rode, now and again humming or
trying over an air. as If he had for
gotten my existence.
The young lady and her attendants
ran strongly in my mind. How far had
they got ahead? What was the mean
ing Of that little elf and the three MINI
BILE fellows running forward like grey
hounds?
Continued Next week.)
RI