The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-09-18
CHAPTER XIII.
THE CAPrINES

saw Enid Vaughan cast a significant
glance oward her brother; I had OBJ
served that not nee had she spoken
to, or even looked in the direction of,
Sir Arthur.
What Is to be done with the prison
ers shut up there. sir?' asked Owain.
Ought they not receive food?"
My uncle started, as if from a rev.
erie. but did not raise his eyes as he
answered, II have formed my plans for
dealing with them, and things are in
train"
And what is the first step?"
I secure them IN bonds, that they
may do us no further mischief"
He rose as he spoke, and went from
the room, Owain and I followed him
at once. He made for the courtyard.
and by the instant information of
Owain. who was uneasy when anything
was said in my presence which l did
no understand. I was enabled to fol-
low perfectly every incident which now
took place.
"Ha!" cried Sir Arthur, in a tone of
satisfaction, and we saw tho two
marksmen, Evan and Mocyn, each
Of his piece between the bars, and
pointing inward.
Are they going to shoot the poor
wretches in their prison?" l asked.
II don't think So" replied Owain.
but l certainly cannot answer for what
he is going to do with them"
Owain's tone showed that he put but
little faith in my uncle's mercy, and we
continued to follow the latter as he
walked toward the nearer window.
A glance through the unglazed iron
bars showed that the captives We're six
in number. Bitter I'D was the season,
their n%akedness was covered with but
a few rags, and they lay on the stone
floor OF the large, low room as com
posedly as a mar lies on a bed. -Four
OF them were lying down. the other
two were leaning against the wall.
blinking carelessly at the muskets
pointed directly upon them. Mocyn
and Evan had watched their opportun-
ity, slipped the guns in at the window,
and hidden them remain as they were.
offering to shoot the first man that
moved. So the pixies, which were their
only weapons, save for large, savage
knives, lay on the floor as they. had
placed them, and they slept or stared
idly about them, awaiting, with an ap-
pearance of perfect u~nconcern. the
pleasure Of their captors.
Sir Arthur counted them over and
over again, drawing deep breaths of
satisfaction. Then he put his faee close
to the bars and began speaking in
sharp. clear tones. He made a short
speech, and paused. He spoke again,
and I recognized the same sounds he
paused once more.
He is bidding them submit them
selves to be pinioned, one at a time, or
they shall be shot down as they stand"
whispered Owain in my ear. II is
Also and this was said very drily,
making them a great quantity of
promises, which I don't Owain
stopped in a little confusion, n
looked upon the prisoners. m of them
was a long, lean, elderly man, and the
others, without a word having been
spoken among them, all turned their
ewes upon him. Sir Arthur began
speaking again, but instantly stopped
as the tall man Strengthened himself
from the wall, flung his knife to the
other side and went to the door Weap-
onless. My uncle blew a loud shrill
cali on the whistle which hung at his
button, and the door was cautiously
opened, and the prisoner disappeared.
The same process was gone through
with each Of the other five, II then we
round to the hall, where we found
the captives ranged along a bench.
Their arms were closely pinioned be-
hind, and their ankles were bound with
leathern pony shackles In such fashion
that they could move at a shutting
walk and no faster. A guard Of seven
or eight men stood over them, and
women's faces peeped from the lower
end of the hall, eager to catch a
glimpse of the terrible Red Men of the
Dusk. The latter bore themselves with
the stoicisrn OF true savages. They
barely deigned to look round them, n
when by chance I met a glance from
one, he eyed me as colby and hardly as
If he stood in a purely Indifferent stu
alton.
Sir Arthur uttered a few words OF
command, and the line Of prisoners
with their guards was set-in motion.
shall we go with them?" said
Owain.
.Will the house be safe?" I asked.
Several men will be left to watch It,"
replied, "and IL you wish for my
opinion, I do not think we shall go far"
Sir Arthur took his place between
two well-armed attendants at the head
the procession. and 1t moved up the
road, a couple of active Eel
on either side of the way search
every hollow where an enemy might
lie concealed, a precaution against sur
prise. Owain and I brought up the
Our pace was timed to That OF
the shackled. shutting prisoners. ma