The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-01-27


mountain side to the left, the north,
following the spur or shoulder, there
were signs Of hoof tracks, half sheet
ed by the new-fallen snow, and
through this fresh, feecy mantlet
ploughed the trooper boots in rude,
insistent pursuit. The sergeant's
horses were held by third soldier
/ a few yards back behind the spur,
for Winsor was "side scouting" up
the heights.
The snowfall had ceased for time.
The light was growing broader every
moment, and presently a soft whistle
sounded somewhere up the steep, and
Schneider answered. "He wants us,
sir" was all he said, and in five min
utes they had found him, sprawled on
his stomach on projecting ledge,
and pointing southeastward, where,
boldly outlined against the gray of
the morning sky, black and beetling
precipice lowered from the mist
wreathed pines at it's base. Bear Cliff
beyond doubt!
"How far, sergeant?" asked the
captain, never too reliant on his pow
ers of judging distance.
Give miles, sir, at least; yet some
three or four Indians have turned off
here and gone-somewhere up there
And, rolling half over, Winsor pointed
again toward wooded bluff, perhaps
800 feet higher and half mile away.
That's probably the best lookout
this side of the cliff ITSELF" he con-
tinued, in explanation, as he saw the
puzzled look on the captains face.
from there, likely, they can see
the trail over the divide-the one Lit
tie Bat is leading the major, and, if
they've made any time at all, the
squadron should be at Bear Cliff
now"
They were crawling to him by this
time, Blake and Schneider, among the
stunted cedars that grew thickly
along the rocky ledge. Winsor, fiat
again on his stomach, sprawled like
a squirrel close to the brink. Every
moment as the skies grew brighter
the panorama before them became
more extensive. glorious sweep of
highland scenery, of boldly tossing
ridges east and south and west-the
slopes all mantled, the trees all
tipped, with natures ermine, and
studded now with myriad gems, TAX
ing fire at the first touch of the day
gods messenger, as the mighty king
himself burst his halo of circling
cloud and came peering over the low
curtain far at the eastward horizon.
Chill and darkness and shrouding va
por vanished all in breath as he
rose, dominant over countless leagues
of wild, unbroken, yet magnificent
mountain landscape.
worth every hour of watch and
mile of climb" muttered Blake. "But
it's Indians, not scenery, we're after.
What are we here for, Winsor?" and
narrowly lie eyeu I.ay n nous right
bower.
eff the major got there first, sir
and believe he did-they have to
send the prisoners and wounded back
this way"
''Then we've got 'em!" broke in
Schneider, low-toned, but exultant.
look, SIR" he added, as he pointed
along the range. "They are signaling
now"
From the wooded height 1000 yards
away, curious little puffs of smoke,
one following another, were sailing
straight for the zenith, and Blake,
screwing his field glasses to the To-
Gus, swept with them the mountain
side toward the fve-mile distant
cliff, and presently the muscles about
his mouth began to twitch-sure sign
with Blake of gathering excitement
you're right, sergeant" he pres
emily spoke, depressing the desire tt
shout, and striving, lest Winso1
should be moved to invidious compari
sons, to seem as nonchalent as Billy
Ray himself. '"They're coming bacl
already" Then down the mountain
side he dove to plan and prepare APP
propriate welcome, leaving Winso,
and the glasses to keep double-pow
cred watch on the situation.
| Six-ffty of glorious, keen Novem
Der morning, and 60 troopers of tn,
old regiment were distributed alon.
a spur that crossed, almost at RICH
angles, the line of the Indian trail
Sixty fur-capped, rough-coated fel
lows, with their short brown carbine
in hand, crouching behind rocks an,
fallen trees, keeping close to cove
and warned to utter silence. Benin,
them, 200 yards away, their horse
were huddled uLder charge of thei
Disguised guards, envious of their fel
lows at the front, and cursing har
their luck in counting off as numbe
four. Schroeder had just come slid
ing, stumbling down from Winsor'
perch to say that they could hea
faint sound of sharp volleying far GU
to the eastward, where the warriors
evidently, were trying to "stand off
Webb's skirmish line until the travoi
with the wounded and the escort o
the possible prisoners should succee
in getting back out of harms way an
taking surer and higher trail into tn
thick of the wilderness back of Bea
Cliff. "Some of 'em must come i
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