Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-04

N"munueu FROM freCtNhh8 h"e
marks to be seen, Enthusiastically those Of the
indian pony, as they were small and unsnou'
Inns occurrence made us extremely uneasy
and alarmed for Charles safety again, ior'
OF course, he had passed through this dan
gerous locality, and we pressed forward again
with eager haste. The country grew mort
broken and forbidding all the time ,ano ene
scout, now riding in advance, scanned Win
keen glance every ravine and lurking piace
on either side.
We rode on several miles thus, without
speaking a word, each busy with his own
thoughts, and each keeping sharp lookout IN
every direction, when we came suddenly up
on deep, hidden gully The scout drew rem,
and, looking back, pointed to the bottom OF
the ravine. We hurried to his side, and saw
lying in the bed of the gully, the body OF
a dead horse. A seconld glance told Two oi
US that it was Charles;
"Its his pony" | exclaimed, in alarm;
There's no mistake about that" confirmed
Jud Poor Charlie" NJ,
Gave out. probably" said Jerry, "and he
had to leave it."
But we knew, from the tone OF hie VOICE.
he did not believe such was the case.
We hurried down to the PROSTATE pony
and, as we neared it, the shafts of two ar
rows could be seen, buried close to the Iea.n,
ers in its side. The colonel. Jud and turned
to each other, our looks full OF tear ana s Ie,j
before the dead animal, you all understand
that this here's bad sign, and no mistake.
Looks as if they corraled the boy at last.
| know it's hard thing to say, ne con,
tnued as he saw the gref in our faces ice n anu
beside the road, in a deep guleh, shot Win
arrows, his bride, saddle and halter gone, anu
pony tracks all around him in the grass, :,
"Poor plucky boy! killed at last, sald lh re
colonel, with something very like a sob chok-
ing his voice, while Jud and I bowed our
heads and wept silently. :. :,
II haven't said he was dead yet, replied
Jerry, getting off his horse, and don't pc
lieve he was killed here, either, because they
never carry off the body nor bury it,lqst leave leave
scurry around here, and, if we can't hnd any
thing Of the boy, why, then they've lussed him
off alive, that's all"
(which is worse fate than to be killed az
once" said Uncle Ben. :,
Sometimes it isl answered the scout "and
sometimes it isn't. It's the Assiniboins that
did this" he went on, examining the ends OF
the arrows. .''The've been mighty bold for
two years back, and come down here every
summer to raid and plumber. But if had to
be captured by the varmints at all, I'd rath;
er be in their hands than any of the Sioux.
"Come, boys" said Uncle Ben, I'VE must
be men, and ready to be up and dong; and,
if we do not find poor Charlie here, there re- is
oughly and, if we find no further signs OF him,
there may still be hope"
Hope of COUNSEL said Jerry, energetical
ly. ''ff you don't find him dead and scalped,
never give up, for, in that case, he's either
The words of the scout revived our courage
somewhat, but we prepared for the search
with forebodings of evil. The grass had been
trampled down by ponies all around the dead
horse The animal did not look as though it
had hoas, han run four hntlpc
and the wolves had not yet been attracted.
Jerry soon arranged the details Of our
search. Two were to ride up the gulch for a
mile, and two down it, about the same dis
on either side, keeping sharp lookout in ev-
cry direction.
II was difficult to tell which way the In
dams had gone after leaving the horse, as they
had scattered without leaving any trail. Jerry
and l searched the gully below, while the col
Never shall forget the feelings with which
/ set out upon that search. At sight Of every
buch of weeds. or stone | started with fear
and dread, and it seemed as though l must
but we rode on, one upon either side Of the
gully, for mile or more, without seeing
anything to further increase our fears. Al
length Jerry called to me to ride up the hill
and go back.
"Keep a sharp lookout on your side fol
indians or their trail" he said, as he turned
his horse to mount the opposite side.
In the course of half an hour we reached
the spot where the dead animal lay, and found
our two companions anxiously awaiting us.
ibid you find anything?" asked Uncle Ben
as we rode down to them.
"Not sign" replied the scout. "Reckor
YOU didn't, either%
@No." said the colonel eve reached tn,
head of the gulch, about a quarter Of mil,
above here, and then we mounted high hill
near it, and looked the surrounding country
il...o,. with the nlasa hut no,,ld I;noa -