The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1905-08-04

VI S'AS "a al "a bthP-
ping. and with a monitory word to us
to keep a sharp lookout, disappeared
upstream in the growing dusk. his
long rifle at the trail. and his body
Dent to bring his keen old eyes the
nearer to the ground.
CHAPTER NNII.
HOW THE FATEs GAVE LARGEss
OF DESPAIR.
Ephriam Yeates was gone a full hour.
When he returned he gave us cause to
wonde at his lack of caution. since
he filed his earthen Indian pipe and
coolly struck a light wherewith to fire
1t. But when the pipe la aglow he
told us of his findings.
Twas about CT 1 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 1t. Ephriam?" said L: for
the night was black as Erebus.
Meier a guess at all; I've had EN-
fair at eye-holts," this as calmly as if
we had not been for ten long days PIN
footprints. "Ez I was a-going on to
say. they're incamped on t'other bank
ruther eenside O. two sights and a
horn-blow from this. I saw 'em and
counted EN-: sever redskins and two
gals"
THANK Cod" says Richard. as fer
Nently as if the rescue Of the women
Then he fell upon the scout with an
eager question: How does she look.
Ephriam?-tell me how she looks."
Listen at hint" said the old man.
cackling his dry little laugh. How in
tarnation am I 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 II q week. Natheless, they're fit
ting to set up and take their nourish-
ment, both on EN-. They was perchins
on a log afore the fire. with ever last
one O. them redskins awaiting on 'em
like they was q couple of Injun queens.
l reckon as how the ~hoss-captain gave
them varmints their orders, particular"
Dick was upon his feet, Juggling out
The great broadsword.
SHOW us the way. Eph Yeates!" he
burst out impatiently. We are ast
ing a deal of precious time!"
But the old man only pulled the
more placidly at his pipe. making no
to head a sortie.
Fair and easy, Cap'n Dick: fair and
easy. There amt no name 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. I 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 'em
immejitly. If not sooner. But there
amt no kind o. use tt spile 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. and laying our plan of
attack. This last was simple enough
as our resources. or rather our lack of
them. would mako it. AT midnight we
would move upon the enemy, feeling
our way along the river till we should
discover the ford by which the captive
party q crossed. The stream safely
passed, we would deploy and surround
the ann 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 cut off all chance of
our retreat with the m
"Onless I'm nightly out o. my reck-
oning, his here spot We're asserting on
amt more than a days Injun-running
from the Tuckasege Towns. With them
sals to hender us we amt a-going to
be in no fettle for a Skimper-Scamper
race with a fresh wheen o. redskins.
Therefore and wherefore. says /. make
them chopping-knives o. your'n cut
and come again. aven to the dividing
erpart of sou n marrer."
Dick laughed. and speaking for both
Of US. said between his teeth that we
We're not like to be overmerciful.
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 q homily on
the sin of vengeance for v~eugeance's
sake. In this %haranEue he evinced a
most astonishing tongue-grasp of
scripture, and for a good hall hour the
air was thick With texts. And to cap
the climax. when he sermon paused
he laid his pipe aside. dotted his cap,
and vent upon his knees to pour forth
such a militant prayer as brought my
fathers stories of the grim old lighting
R~oundheads most wildly to mind.
Here, being as good a place as any,
I may say frankly that l never fully
understood this side of Ephria,n
Yeatcs. Like all the hardy borderers.
he was a fighter by instinct and in
c%lination; and l can bear him witness
that when he smote the .'Amalekites"
as he would call them-red kin or red
coat-he smote them hip and thigh.
and was as ruthless as tina British
Captain Turnbull who slew the wound
ed. Yet withal, on the very edge of
battle. or mayhap fair In the midst of
1t, he was like to fall upon his knees
to pray most fervently: though. as I
have limited. his prayers were like his
blows-of the biting sort. full Of scrip
tural anathema upon the enemy.
Richard %Jennifer, carelessly profans