Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1903-01-08
A Weasel Captive.

Anu Cuuubl UetWNtu tthHlNietHteg
and Follett had reached a point at
which one or the other must soon
yield. The trapper. hghting on tho
defensive. fought desperately, having
released hts grasp upon the Cana
dams throat aud drawn his knife.
But the half.hreod was more deBper.
ate. With the Lord OF tho Desert now
HIS enemy. his only hope was In rem
dering such service for Egan that the
latter would accept him Into his band
OF mArauders. life that ho really
coveted. When the trapper released
bis throat he seized the trapper's
hand as Il drew the knife from the
sheath and each, now on equal terms,
struggled desperately.
The right hand OF each clasped an
ugly knife. while the left OF each
held the others right wrist with a
Vice.llko grip. II was now question
OF strength and physical endurance.
Tho one who Arst weakened would
forfeit his life. The trapper would
not take life wantonly. but would
take II II necessary, and now stirred
TO his uttermost only waited the op-
portunity 10 plunge his weapon to
the hilt In his antagonists breast
Time and again half-triumphant
smile passed over the dark face 0f
the half.breed As he thought he saw
the trapper weakening. II was a
battle royal. Neither OF these men
had ever been defeated in single
combat. Ono had fought with the
hercest animals OF the desert, and the
other had battlod with the blood
thirstiest Of men. Both In the primo
OF life and possessing unninching
courage. such an encounter would
have been prixe-wlnner In tho
arenas OF old.
A cAt.like movement OF the hnlf'
breed and the trapper dropped to his
knee. A sudden lurch and n smile
came over the face OF the Canadian
as he thought the battle was about to
end In his favorl But the trapper
was as frm as the deep-set rocks
about him. Ha rose like Samson,
backed his antagonist against boul'
der by tho trail, and grasping the
half.breed's wrist which held tho
murderous knife. until the bones
fairly ground together, he began
slowly TO force the point OF his knife
to the Canadians breast as the latter
began TO weaken and give way.
II was then that the shout: Whats
up ,thcro7-, surrender upon your
lives!" came
General Crook and a squad oI
picked scouts had been out on q 10
connoiterinC expedition. and while OF
their return TO the fort had come
upon the combatants. who were toe
busily engaged to hear them ap
proach.
There was but one thing to do and
that was to obey orders Each at
tempted to explain himself, but the
stern old soldier ordered them for
ward" and told them they could ex
plain at the fort
II was after midnight when they
reached the fort. General Crook had
the two prisoners brought to his
quarters. The half-breed succeeded
In getting the generals ear first. He
explained that Martin Lyle, known
as the Lord OF the Desert, was be
sleged In his home by large band
of Indians and that he had escaped
through their lines and was on his
way to the fort to ask for relief wheT
he was assaulted from the roadside
by the trapper.
Hammersley was non-plussed. II
came his turn to explain, but heine
n man OF veracity he did not know
how to meet liar, But he related
his story in a straightforward man
ner without comment. and remember
ing the message from the Lord OF the
Desert, he drew 1t forth and handed
It to the general.
Both stories seem to be straight,
said General Crook "but No. l IL
dark enough to have Indian blood II
him and this being the case the bur
den of proof Is cast upon him. Blu,
you may put them both In safe-keep
ing until morning and we will take
them along with us to the Stone
House they tell about and let this
Lord Of the Desert Identify his mes
senger."
Immediately upon the departure o
the guard with the prisoners. Genera
Crook gave orders for the prepara
tion of ten days rations for one com
pany of soldiers, and ordered the
march to begin ut daybreak the mex,
morning.
Shortly after the departure Of the
guard and the prisoners the shou
"haltl" then gInshot, followed by
several others, was heard.
what means th's?" asked the gen
eral of STAFF officer as he rushed t
the door.
In a few minutes a strong guart
appeared with Dan Follett, two stal
wart soldiers on either side of the
Canadian holding him fast.
"What does this 'mean?" inquired
General Crook.
"Just as we had unlocked the dool
of tho guard.house." replied the Off
Ger with q salute, "this prisoner drew
a knife like a fash, stabbed the near
est guard and made break for lib
erty, and had he not run into the
arms Of detachment of soldiers who
were on their way to bed he would
have made good his escape"
Search him to the skin, place him
in irons and release the other pris
oner!" promptly ordered the general
II might have known that that In
dian was q liar!" said the old war
rior to himself.
The general was about half un
dressed and was hurrying to bed In
order to get little sleep before the
early morning march when he was
disturbed again. An officer was ad
mitted who had long been on the
generals staff and who, with a ia
miliarity with which such association
countenances, said: 1--WE searched
the prisoner and here is what we
found next to his skin," at the same
time producing a belt with bag
attached to It,