Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-09-01
CHAPTER XVIII.
IN WHICH I SADDLE THE BLACK
MARE

Having so good a disguise, the thing
/ had set myself to do would seem to
ask for little more than peaceful bold
ness held in check by common caution.
The point where l had broken cover
TO step into the circle of fire light was
nearly equidistant from the English
mems camp on the right n the horse
meadow on the left, so l had not to
pass within recognition range of the
great fire; indeed, l might have skulked
in the laurel cover all the way, thus
coming TO the horses unseen by any
but that / was afraid FaIconnet might
miss his trooper. So / thought II best
to show myself discreetly.
Copying u captive's Longing
stride, l first held a sauntering course
down 20 the streams edge, keeping the
great campfire and the droning Indian
hive we'll TO the right and far enough
aloof to battle any over-curious eye at
either. Coming to the stream without
mishap, | stopped and made a feint of
drinking; after which l crossed and
climbed slowly toward the makeshift
powder magazine.
AS / nave said, the camp was pitched
in a small a or natural clear
ing 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 cliff. L
guessed the compass of it to be some
thing more than an acre; not greatly
more, since the fire at the troop camp
lighted all its boundaries.
On the left or opposite bank of the
stream there was no intervale at all.
The ground rose sharply from the wa
ter's edge in a rough hillside thickly
studded and bestrewn with boulders
great n small; fallen cleavings and
heWings from the crags of the eastern
cliff. Twas at the foot of one of the
boulders, a huge overhanging mass of
weatherriven rock facing 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 pow
der rock / could look back upon the
camp en- enfilade, as an artilleryman
would say. Nearest at hand was the
half moon Of indian lodges with the
hollow of the crescent facing the
stream. and IL caidron fire burning in
the midst. Around the fire a ring of
warriors naked to the breech clout
kept time in a slow shutting dance to
a monotonous chanting; and for on
lockers there was an outer ring of
sQuatting figures-the visiting Tucka-
seges, as / supposed.
Beyond the Indian lodges, and a lit
tie higher up the gentle slope of the
savanna, were the troop shelters; and
beyond these, half concealed in the
fringing of the boundary forest, was
the tepee lodge of the women.
On the bare hillside beneath the
powder magazine / made no doubt /
was in plainest view from the great
fire, and the proof OF his conclusion
came shortly in a believing hail from
Falconnet.
"Ho, Jack Warden!' he called, maxi
ing a speaking trumpet of his hands
to lift the hail above the chanting OF
the Indian dancers. Have a 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 ang-
ling for. So / came to attention and
raluted In soldierly fashion, thereby
raising a great laugh among my pseudo
comrades around the trooper fire-a
laugh that pointed shrewdly to the
baronet-captain's lack OF proper dis