The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-09-01
CHAPTER XVIII.
IN WHICH 1 SADDLE THE BLACK
MARE

Having so good a disguise, the thing
I 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 I had broken cover
to step into the circle of fire light was
nearly equidistant from the English
mems camp On the right and the horse
meadow on the left, SO / had not to
pass within recognition range of the
great fire; indeed, I might have skulked
In h laurel cover all the way, thus
coming to the horses unseen by any,
but that I was afraid Falconnet might
miss his trooper. So 1 thought it best
to show>myself dtscreetly.
Copying our captive's lounging
stride, I first held a sauntering course
down to the streams edge, keeping the
great campfire n the droning Indian
hive we'll to the right and far enough
aloof to battle any o~ver-curious eye at
either. Coming to the stream without
mishap, 1 stopped and made a feint of
drinking; after which 1 crossed and
climbed slowly toward the makeshift
powder magazine.
AS I have said, the camp was pitched
IN 8, small savanna or natural clear
ing on h right bank of the
little river. This clearing was hedged
backed by the densely wooded sleeps
and crags of the western cliff. I
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 it's 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 n bestrewn with boulders
great and small; fallen c%leavings and
heW1ngs from the crags Of the eastern
cliff. 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 his pow
der rock I 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 h crescent facing the
stream, and a caldron fire burning in
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 fgures-the visiting Tucka-
seges, as I supposed.
Beyond h Indian lodges. and a lit
tie higher up the gentle slope of the
o0NoAAAAo, were llG Troop SQGlleTS, ana
beyond these, half concealed in the
fringing Of the boundary forest, was
the tepee lodge Of the women
On h bare hillside beneath the
powder magazine I made no doubt I
was in plainest view from the great
fire, and the proof of this conclusion
came shortly in a believing hail from
Falconnet.
"Ho. Jack warden!" he called, max
ing a speaking trumpet of his hands
to lift the hail above the chanting of.
the Indian dancers. Have a look at
thai shelter whilst you are over there
and make sure twill shed rain II the
weather shifts"
Now some such long range marking
down as this was what I mad been ang-
ing for. So I came to attention and
eaiuted in soldierly fashion. thereby
raising a great laugh among my pseudo
comrades around the trooper fre-a
laugh that pointed shrewdly to the
baronet-captain's lack Of proper dis