The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-08-04
The MASTER OF APPLEBY|
I
<- BY Francis Lyndo. -"{
BY Francis Lyndo. =
A~xnAAHANN~NAnNNA
CHAPTER xxI.-continued.

CHAPTER xxI.-Continued.
This incident told us plainly enough
hat the k~idnapers were now but a lit
tie way ahead, and that their rear
guard scouts were holding us we'll in
hand. So from that on we went as men
whose lives are held in pawn by a hid
den foe, looking at every turn for an
adjustment. Nevertheless. we We're
not waylaid again: n when at length
the long, hot afternoon drew to its
close with the mountain of peril we'll
behind us, we had neither seen or heard
aught else of the Cherokees.
That night we camped, freless and
foodless, on the banks of a swift-flow-
ing stream in a valley between two
great mountains. We reached this
stream a little before dark, and since
the trail led straight into the water, we
would nave put this obstacle behind
us if We could. But though the little
river was not above five or six poles
in width 1t was exceeding swift and
deep; so impassa BILE, in truth, that we
were moved to wonder how the cap
tive party had made shift to cross.
We guessed at it a while, Richard
and I, and then gave it up until we
might have the help of better daylight.
But the old borderer's curiosity was
not so readily postponed. Cutting 4
slim pole from a sapling thicket. he
waded in cautiously, ~anchoring him
self by the dropping branches of he
willows whilst he prodded and sounded
and proved beyond a doubt that the
current was over man-head deep, and
far too rapid for swimming.
Satisfied Of this, he came out, drip
ping, and with a monitory word to us
to keep a sharp lookout, disappeared
upstream in the growing dusk, his
long rife at the trail, and his body
bent to bring his keen old yes the
nearer to the ground.
CHAPTER %XH.
HOW THE FATES GAVE LARGESS
OF DESPAIR.
Ephriam Yeates was gone a full hour.
When he returned he gave US cause to
wonder at his lack of caution. since
he filled his earthen Indian pipe and
coolly struck a light w~herewith to fire
it. But when the pipe was aglow he
told us of his findings.
Twas about cZ l r~eckoned; them
yarmints Waded in the shadows a spell
to throw us off, and then fcarne ;out
and forded higher up"
| 8. THAT will be a shrewda guess rof
yours, ! take it, Ephriam?" said I; for
the night was black as Erebus. .A
Nicer a guess at all;i rye had! 'em
AtAAi ~ Inns oS AiAA t' -
we had not been for ten long days pin
ming our faith to ill-defned trace OF
footprints. "Ez I vas a-going on to
say, they're incamped on t'other bank
ruther eenside O. two sights and a
horn-blow from this. l saw EN- and
counted EN-: seven redskins and two
gals"
Thank God!' says Richard, as fer
vently as if the rescue of the women
were already a thing accomplished
Then he fell upon the scout with ar
eager question: How does she look
Ephriam?-tell me how she looks"
Listen at him!" said the DC man
cackling his dry little laugh. How ir
%tarnation am I going to know which
she he's a-stewing about? There's a
pair of EN-, and they both look like
wimmin ez have been dragged hitter
skilter through the big woods for some
better N n week. Natneless, they're fit
ting to set up and take their nourish,
ment, both on EN-. They was perchine
on a log afore the fire, With ever LAS
one O them redskins awaiting on EN-
like they was a couple of 1njun queens
l reckon as how the hoss-captain gave
them varmiilts their orders, particular
Dick was upon his feet, Juggling Oh
The great b~roadswOrd.
SHOW us the way, Eph Yeates.' HI
burst out impatiently. w are vast
ing a deal of precious time!'
But the old mar only puffed thu
more placidly at his pipe, making NJ
move to head a sortie.
Fair and easy, Cap'n Dick: fair ant
Easy. There amt no manne O hurry
ez l allow. Whenst I've got to tussl'
with a wheen O. full redskins. and m
with my stummick growed fast to m.
backbone, l jest ez soon wait till then
same redskins are asleep. Bime-b.
o fhnr.11 cIft1, ,y., fnr tho rioht orf
hen We'll go up yonder and piZen 'en
immejitly, if not sooner. But Their
amt ne kind O. use to Spite it all b.
rampaeing round too soon"
There was wisdom undeniable in this
and, accordingly, we waited, takin.
turns at the hunters terrible pipe il
lieu of supper, and laying our plan 0
attack. This last was simple enough
as our resources, or rather our lack Q
them, would make it. AT, midnight W
would nov upon the enemy, feeling
our way along the river till we SHOULD
discover the ford by which the captiv
party had crossed. The stream safel,
passed, we would deploy and surroun'
the camp Of the Indians, and at the sig
nal, which was to be the report @
Yeates' rife, we were to close in an
smite, giving nc quarter.
The old borderer dwelt at length upo
the need for this severity, saying tha
a single Cherokee escaping woul
bring the warriors of the Erati trib
down upon us to cut off all chance o
our retreat with the ONE )
"Onless I'm nightly out O my reck
oning, this here spot we're asserting o
amt more than a days Injun-runnin
from the Tuckasege Towns. With Their
gals to bender US we amt a-going t
be in no fettle for a skimper-Scampe
race with a fresh wheen O redskins
Therefore and wherefore, says I, max
them chopping-knives O. your'n Gu
and come again, aVen to the dividin
erpart Of soul and marrer.'
Dick laughed, and speaking for bot
Of us. said between his teeth that w
were not like to be overrnerciful.
But now the old wolf of the borde
gave us a glimpse Of an unsuspecte
side OF him., taking Jennifer sharpl
to task and reading him a homily O
the sin Of vengeance for vengeance
sake. In this harangue he evinced
most astonishing t~ongue-grasp {
scripture, and for a good half hour tn
air was thick with texts. And.to ca
the climax, when the sernon pause
he laid his pipe aside. DOTTED his cal
inc went upon his knees to pour fort
such a militant prayer as brought m
fathers stories of the grim old fightin
Roundheads most wildly to mind.
Here, being as good a place as an,
may say frankly that I never full
,,1I1r~tr~I fhic c.1r 30 >,L-,-.