The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1905-08-03
CHAPTER XXI.
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
1t. But when the pipe was aglow he
told us of his findings.
TWAS about ez l reckoned; them
varmints waded in the shadows a spell
to throw us off, and then came out
and forded higher up"
That will be a shrewd guess Of
yours, I take it, Ephriam?" said I: for
the night was black as Erebus.
"Ne'er a guess at all; I've had 'em
fair at ~eye-holts." this as calmly as If
we had not been for ten long days pin
ming III faith to ill-defined trace Of
footprints. "Ez 7 was a-going on to
say. they're incamped on t'other BAN
ruther eenside O. two sights and a
horn-blow from this. I saw 'em and
counted 'em: sever redskins and two
gals"
THANK God" says Richard, as fer
vently as If the rescue of the women
We're already a thing accomplished.
Then he fell upon the scout with an
eager question:: How does she look,
Ephriam?-tell me how she looks!"
Listen at him. said the old man.
caclsling his dry little laugh. How in
tarnation am l going to know which
She he's a-stewing about? There's a
pair of 'em, and they both look like
wimmin ez have been dragged hitter
skilter through the big woods for some
better q week. Natleless, they're fit
ting to set up and take their nourish-
ment, both on EN-. They was perching
on a log afore the fire, with ever last
one O. them redskins awaiting on 'em
li~keithey was a couple of Injun queens.
| reckon as how the hoss-captain gave
them varmints their orders, particular
Dick was upon his feet, Juggling out
the great br~oadsword.
Show US the way, Eph Yeates!" he
burst out impatiently. We are vast
ing a deal of precious time!"
But the old man only pulled the
more placidly at his pipe, making no
move to head a sortie.
Fair and easy, Cap'n Dick; fair and
easy. There amt no manner O. hurry.
ez I allow. Whenst I've got to tussle
with a wheen O. full redskins, and me
with my stummick growed fast to my
backbone, / Jest ez soon wait till them
same redskins are asleep. Bime-by
they'll settle down for the night. and
then Well go up yonder and pizen EN-
imrnej.tly. If not sooner. But there
amt no kind o. use to Spite it all by
rampaging round too soon"
There was wisdom undeniable in this.
and. accordingly, we waited, taking
turns at the hunters terrible pipe in
lieu of supper, n laying our plan of
attack. This last was simple enough
as III resources. or rather our lack soft
them, would make 1t. At midnight we
would move upon the enemy feeling
u way along the river till we should
discover the ford by which the captive
party had crossed. The stream safely
passed, we would deploy and surround
the camp of the Indians, and at the sig
nal, which was to be the report of
Yeates' rifle, We We're to close in and
smite, giving no quarter.
The old borderer dwelt at length upon
the need for this severity, saying that
a single Cherokee escaping would
bring the warriors Of the Erati tribe
down upon US to CUTOFF all chance of
our retreat with the women.
"Onless I'm nightly out o my reck-
oning, this here spot were asserting on
amt more than a days Injun-running
from the T~uckasege Towns. With them
gals to hender US We amt a-going to
be in no fettle for a skimper-scamper
race with g fresh wheen %, redskins.
Therefore and wherefore, says /, make
them chopping-knives nnnr.n-ell
and come again, ayen to the dividing,
erpart OF soul and marrer.'
Dick laughed, and speaking for both
of is, said between his teeth that we
were not like to be oNermerciful.
But now the old wolf of the border
gave us a glimpse of an unsupported
side OF him, taking Jennifer sharply
to task and reading him a homily on
the sin of vengeance for yengeance's
sake. In this harangue he evinced a
most astonishing tongue-grasp Of
scripture, and for a good half hour the
air was thick with texts. And. to cap
the climax. when the sermon paused
he laid his pipe aside, dotted his cap,
and went upon his knees topour forth
such a militant prayer as brought my
fathers stories of the grim old fighting
sRoundheads most Yiyidly to mind.
Here, being as good q place as any,
il may say frankly that / never fully
understood this side of Ephriam
Yeates. Like all the hardy boirderers,
he raj fighter by Instinct and in
elination;; and / can bear him witness
that when he smote the s~sAmalekites.,
as he would call them-red skin, or red
coat-he smote them hip and thigh,
and was as ruthless as that British
Captain Turnbun who slew the wound
ed. Yet Withal, on the very edge 81
battle, or mayhap fair in the midst OF
lit, he was like t fall upon his knees
to pray most ~feryently: though. az j
have limited. his prayers were like his
bloWs--of the biting sort, full OF scrip.
tural ~anatherna upon the enemy.
RichSxd Jennifer. carelessly profane
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES