The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1905-08-04
THE MASTER OF APPLEBY:
I-= BY Fr~nci. Lynde. --,
BY Francis Lynde.


AS all men We're III that goddess day.
would say twas the old borderer's way
of swearing: that since he left ont the
oaths i'll common speech-as. truly. he
did-he would fetch up the arrears and
wipe out the score in one fell blast upon
his knees. BE this as 1t may. he was a
good man and a true, as L
have said: II mis- warlike sup
phcation that our blades should
be as the sword of the Lord and OF
Gideon in the coming onfall was no
Viii out of place.
1t wanted Yet a full hour OF midnight
when Richard began again to plead
piteously for instant action. Yeates
thought it still oNer-early. but when
Jennifer pressed him ard the old bor-
derer left the casting vote to me.
What say ye. Cap'n John? Your'n
Will be the next oldest head. and 1
reckon it hain't been turned plumb
foolish rampaging crazy by this here
purity gal O. Gilbert, Stair's.'
Now you have read. thus far in my
poor tale to little purpose il o have
not yet discovered the major weakness
of an old campaigner. which is to weigh
and measure all the chances, holding it
to the full as %culpable to strike too
soon as too late. This Weakness was
NINE. and in that evil moment | gave
my vote for further waiting. arguing
sapiently that my old field marshal
would never set a night assault afoot
till we'll on toward the dawn.
Jennifer heard me through and yield
ed. perforce. though with little good
will.
L cannot compass 1t alone. or. by the
gods. I'd go!" he asserted, angrily.
Mark you. John Ireton, this delay is a
thing you'll rue whilst you live. Your
enough. and I'm no soldier-lawyer to
argue them down. But something bet
ter than your damnable reasons tells
me tina the hour has st.uck-that
these very present econds are price,
less Whereupon he flung himself
face down in the grass and would not
speak again until the waiting time was
fully over and Yeates gave the word to
fall in line for the advance.
Having learned the lay OF the land
In his earlier reconnaissance. the old
borderer shortened the distance for US
by guiding us across the neck OF a
horseshoe bend in the stream. and a
half hours blind cropping through the
forest fetched us out upon the river
bank again. this time precisely oppo-
site the Indians lodge fire on the other
side.
Here there was a little pause for
three of us. while Ephraim Yeates
crept down the bank to try. with his
sounding pole what chance we had of
crossing.
Measured by what could be seer
from our covert, the narrow width OF
quick water seemed the last Of the
many obstacles.
Lulled to security, as we guessed. by
the apparent success OF their ruse to
throw us off the scent. six of the Cher
okees We're lying feet to fire like the
blaze was the hub. The seventh man
was squatted before a small tepee-
lodge of dressed skins, which, as We
took it, would be the sleeping quarters
of the captives. Whilst all the others
lay stiff n stark as il wrapped in
soundest sleep, this sentry guard, too.
1T seemed, was scarcely more than half
awake. for as we looked. his gun was
slipping from the hollow of his arm
and he was nodding to forgetfulness.
Richard was a-crouch beside me in
this peeping reconnaissance, and 1
could feel him trembling i'll impatient
eagerness.
1T should be easy enough-what
think you?" he w%hispered; and then.
with a sudden grasp upon my wrist:
You are cool and ste~ady-nerved. John
%Ireton: I swear you do not love her as
I dol"
Nay. I grant you that. Dick" said I.
making sure that his excitement would
obscure the double meaning in the ad-
tooAoA NJ 1911 = - -
enough: She has given me the
right to love her at ALL"
God help her at this pass!" he said.
more to himself tha to me: and then
he would go in a breath from blessing
Margery to cursing Ephraim Yeates
for this fresh delay.
1t was Uncanoola who broke in Upon
the muttered malediction.
"Wah! Captain Jennif russ plenty
heap, like missionary medicine a
Look-ee! U%ncanoola no can find white
squaw horse yonder. Mebbe Captain
Jennif' see 'um. hey"
At his word we both locke for the
horses, marking now that they were
nowhere to be seen within the circle
tawba grunted his doubt that the en-
envy was as inalert as he appeared to
be; then he set the doubt in words.
'Chelakee heap slick. Sleep only one
eye. mebbe, hey? Injun warrior no
hid horse and go sleep both eye on
w%arpath!"
Here our scout came gliding back, so
nolselessly that he was within arms
reach before we heard him.. Dick had
said l was owe cool. but the old mans
ghostlike temperance gave me such
a start as made me prinkle to my fin
gers ends.
How Will it be. Eph?" Dick querled.
tdScI W NC oI WIN. we IdIl
make it across? Never say we can't
pass that bit Of still water. mani"
But Ephraim Yeates did say so In
set terms.
II reckon ez how we've got to cross.
but not jest here-away, Cap'n Dick.
She amt makink any fuss about it.
but she's slipping along like creased
lightning. deep and mighty powerful.
faint saying we mought MT swim her
and come u somewheres this side o.
Dan'l Boone's country. but We'll make
it a heap quicker by protecting round
till we find the fore where them var
mints made out to cross"
"God!" said Dick, deep in his throat,
NOR time to be killed! BY" +.
The old man was parting tbs bushes
to have a better sight Of the encamp-
ment opposite, but at Dicks outbreak
he fell back quickly and clapped a hand
on the lips of cursing.
Hist! Lookee over yonder. will YET"
he cut in. And hen in q whisper
meant for no ear but mine: The Lord
be marciful to that little gal, Cap'n
John; We've fooled our chance away
the games afoot, and we amt in it,"
1 looked and saw nothing save that
the sentry guard had risen to throw a