Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-10-22
IADaughter
Iof the Sioux
By GEN. CHARLES King.
Copyright, 1902, by The Hobart Company
CHAPTER Xxx.

In the hush of the wintry night,
under leaden sky, with snowHakes
falling thick and fast and mantling
the hills in feecy white, Webb's col
Umn had halted among the sturdy
pines, the men exchanging muttered,
lDw-tOned query and comment, the
b0rses standing with bowed heads,
occasionally paving the soft cover
let and shifting curiously at this film
ly barrier to the bunch grass they
sought in vain. They had feasted
together, these comrade troopers
and chargers ere the sun went down
the men on abundant rations of
agency bacon, -four and brown sugar,
found with black tailed deer and
mountain sheep in abundance in the
captured village, and eked out by
supplies from the pack train-the
horses on big blankets" of oats set
before them by sympathetic friends
and masters. Then when the skies
were fairly dark, Webb had ordered
little fires lighted all along the bank
of the stream. leaving the men of
Rays and Billings troops to keep
them blazing through the long night
watches to create the impression
among the lurking Sioux that the
whole force was still there. guard
ing the big village it had captured in
the early afternoon, and then, in
silence. the troopers had saddled and
jogged away into the heart of the
hills, close on the heels of their
guides.
There had been little time to look
over the captures The main interest
of both officers and men, of course
Centered in Mr.. Hay, who was found
in one of the tepees, prostrate from
illness and half frantic from fever
and strong mental excitement. He
bad later tidings from Frayne, it
seems, than had his rescuers. He
could assure them of the health and
safety Of their wives and little ones,
but would not tell them what was
amiss in his own household. One
significant question he asked Did
any of them know this new Mai.
Flint? No? Well God help Flint,
if ever he, Hay got mold of him.
Hes delirious," whispered Webb,
and rode away in that conviction,
leaving him to Ray and Billings.
Three miles out, on the tortuous
trail of the pursued, the column
halted and dismounted among the
pines. Then there was a brief confer
ence, and the word Mount was
whispered along the Beecher squad
ron, while Blake's men stood fast.
With a parting clasp Of the hand
Webb and Legs" had returned to
the head of their respective com
mands, Legs" and his fellows to
follow steadily the Indian trail
through the twisting ravines of the
foothills; Webb to make an all
night forced march, in wide Getour
and determined effort, to head off the
escaping warriors before they could
Teach the rocky Businesses back of
Bear Cliff. Webb's chief scout Bat
chosen by Gen. Crook himself, had
been captive among the Sioux
Shrough long years of his boyhood
and knew the Big Horn Range as
Webb did the banks of the Wabash
>Lhey can stand off a thousand sol
ciiera," said the guide, ''if once they
get into the rocks. They'd have
gone there first off only there was
no water. Now there's plenty snow
So Blake's Instructions were to fol
Tow them without pushing, to lei
chem feel they were being pursued
yet by no -iieans to hasten them. and
if the generals fayOrite scout proved
to be all he promised as guide anC
pathfinder, Webb might reasonably
aope by dint of hard night riding. tc
he first at rne tryst at break of day
Then they would have the retreatins
Sioux, hampered by their few wound
ed and certain prisoners whom the,
priced. hemmed between rock,
neights on every side, and sturd,
horscmen front and rear.
1t was eight by the watch at tn
parting of the ways. 1t was S:3
when Blake retook the trail, will