The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-13
CHAPTER XVIII.
IN WHICH 1 SADDLE THE BLACK
MARE

CHATTER ANVIL.
IN WHICH 1 SADDLE THE BLACK
MARE.
Having so good disguise. the thing L
had set myself to do would seem TO ask
for little more than peaceful holiness held
in check by common caution.
The point where I had broken cover to
step into the circle of fire light was nearly
equidistant from the Englishman's camp
on the right and the horse meadow on the
left, so 1 had not to pass within recogni-
ton range of the great fire; indeed,
might have skulked in the laurel cover
all the way, thus coming to the horses
unseen by any, but that 1 was afraid F'al,
comet might miss his trooper. 80
thought ii best to show myself discreety.
Copying our captive's lounging stride,
first held sauntering course down to the
streams edge, keeping the great camp nre
right and far enough aloof to battle any
overcurious eye at either. Coming 10 the
stream without mishap. 1 stopped ana
made a feint of drinking, after when =,
crossed and climbed slowly toward the
makeshift powder magazine.
AS 1 have said. the camp was pitched in
small savanna or natural clearing on the
right bank of the little river. This clearing
was hedged about by the forest on three
sides and backed by the densely wooded
sleeps and crags of the western Gill;
more than an acre; not greatly more, since
the fire at the troop camp ngnted all It's
boundaries
ON the left or opposite bank of the
stream there was no intervale at all Inc
ground rose sharply from the waters edge
in a rough hillside thickly studded and pc
strewn with powders great and smaI.
fallen cleavings and hewings from the
crags of the eastern cliff. Twas at the
foot of one of the powders, huge over
hanging mass of weather-riven rock rae
ing the camp, that the powder cargo was
sheltered, so isolated to be out of danger
from the camp fires.
From the hillside just below this powder
rock 1 could look back upon the camp en-
enfilade, as an artilleryman would say.
Nearest at hand was the half moon OF In
dian lodges with the hollow of the crescent
facing the stream and caldr0n nre purn-
ing in the midst Around the fire a ring OF
warriors naked to the breech clout kept
time in slow shutting dance to mo-
notonous chanting; and for onlookers there
was an outer ring of sQuatting hgures-the
visiting Tuckaseges, as l supposed.
Beyond the Indian lodges ana little
higher up the gentle slope of the savanna
were the troop shelters, and beyond these,
half concealed in the fringing of the boun-
dairy forest, was the tepee lodge OF the
women.
On the bare hillside beneath the powder
magazine / made no doubt L was in plain
est view from the great fire, and the proof
of this conclusion came shortly In a bel
lowing hail from Falconnet.
d
speaking trumpet OF his hands to lift the
hail above the chanting Of the Indian
dancers. "Have look at that shelter
whilst you are over there and make sure
twill shed rain IL the weather shifts"
Now, some such long-range marking
down as this was what had been angling
for. So 1 came to attention and saluted in
soldierly fashion, thereby raising a great
laugh among my pseudO-cOmrades around
the trooper fire-a laugh that pointed
shrewdly. to the baronet captains lack of
proper discipline. But that is neither here
nor there Having my masters order for
1t. 1 climbed to the foot of the powder
rock.
Here the bare sight of all the stored-up
devastation set me a-thirst with a fierce
longing for leave to snap a pistol in the
well-laid mine. For If these enemies of
ours had planned their own undoing they
a better chance. To hold the pine boughs
of the rude shelter in place they had piled
a great loose wall of stones around and
der. heaped as it was against the backing
cliff of the bowlder, would hurl these
weighing stones in a murderous broadside
upon the camp across the stream.
| the hazard of such a broadside 1 had no
leave to blow myself and the powder con-
voy to kingdom come, as l thirsted to
| could not you will say. having neither
pistol to snap nor flint and steel to fire a
| train. Nay, nay, my dears, 1 would not
have you think so lightly of my invention.
| be sure 1 should have found way TO grind
| a firing spark out Of two bits of stone,
But being otherwise enjoined. as L say.
| turned my back upon the temptation and
| held to the business in hand, which was
| to reach and recross the stream higher W
and to come among the horses
| AS had hoped TO find them, the saddles
| were hung upon the branches OF the nearest
| trees, Margery's horse furnishings among
| them At first the black mare was shy OF
| me, but gentling word or two won her
4 T.. 4.
lock and lead her deeper into the herd
| where / could saddle and bride her In
| greater safety.
| My plan to cut her out was simple
| enough Trusting to the darkness-the
| horse meadow was far enough from the
fires to make murky twilight OF the rud-
dy glow-I thought to lead the mare quietly
| away up the stream and thus on TO the
| foot of that ravine by which We hoped &c
| climb to the old bordererS rendezvous or
| the plateau. But when all was ready and
| sought to set this plan In action an unfore.
| seen obstacle barred the way. To keep the
| horses from straying up the valley an In
dian sentry line was strung above the
| grazing meadow. and into this blundereC
\ like any unlocked knave of raw recruit.
| Had l been armed the warrior who rose
before me phantom-like in the laurel edg
| ing of the meadow would have had a mos
sharp pointed answer to his challenge. A.
| Ii was-I had left my sword with Jennifel
| because the captured trooper whose under
| study was had left his sword in camp
| no word of English nor of Cherokee. bu
| that deadlock was speedily broken. gut
| tural call summoned others of the hors,
| keepers. and among them one who spok,
| a little English.
Ugh. What for take white squav
| horse?" he demanded.
| go is the captains order" replied, ly
| ing boldly to fit the crisis.
At that they gave me room, and had
| fastened 1 had doubtless gone at larg,
| without more ado. But at this very ape,
| point of hazard | must needs play out tn,
| part of unalarm to the fools envoi. takint
| time To part the mares forelock under tn,
| headstall and looking leisurely to the lac
| ings of the saddle girth.
| This foolhardy delay cost me all, ant
| more than ALL l was still fiddle-faddlin,
| with the girth strap, the better to impos,
| upon my Indian horse guards, when sud
| laughter in the camp behind. / turned [,
look and beheld a thing laughable enough
| no doubt, and yet IL broke no bubble o
| mirth in me. Half way from the neares
| forest fringe to the great fire man, whit
| OF skin and clothed only in pair of troop
| er boots, was running swiftly for cover u
the nearest pine bough shelter shoutin,
like an escaped Bedlamite as he fed.
| asked Tor no second glance, this appari
| ton or the yelling mailman; twas our cap
| tive soldier, foot loose and racing in I,
raise the hue and cry.
| Now, you may always count upon thi
| failing in cautious man. that at crisi
| he is like to do the unwisest thing tina
offers This cutting out OF Margery's mar
was none vital a matter that 1 shou
have risked the marring of Ephrain
Yeatess plan upon IL. Yet having don
this very thing, l must needs make ba
4 nat far ffnfr