Los Angeles herald., 1906-01-21

time for daylight to appear.
At last 1t came. and with the first peep
aWoke my companions. | felt brave enough
now, and said nothing in regard to my feel
ings during my watch.
Jud looked at me quizzically several times
while we were getting breakfast, and l had
strong suspicion that he had been Through
| the mill in much the same manner as my
self. The colonel was an old soldier, and
thought no more of standing guard than OF
any other disagreeable duty.
We travelled all this day without meeting
or seeing anyone. Our route took the prairie
after leaving Platte Creek and we arrived at
Fort Thompson Just at dark, tired, dusty
and nearly worn out. Here we found a let
ter, written by Charlie just forty eight hours
before our coming.
The thieves had lodged the fort, but gone
on, and, as usual, he was after them There
were no particulars this time and he had
evidently gwen up the thought of our follow
ing as far as this.
"This thing is growing monotonous," said
the colonel, after reading Charles note
He's always just going to catch them, but
like the IIishman's flea, when he gets his
hands on EN-, they're gone"
But Jud and | could not help feeling
great admiration for the indomitable will and
pluck of our chum.
In conversation with some of the officers of
the post they informed us that Charlie had
arrived about eight o'clock at night; that his
horse was giving out, and they did not be
lieve he could hold out two days longer, at
the rate he had been going; that he was, no
doubt, right in regard to the destination OF
the thieves, as mules were IN great demand
at the upper posts and would bring large
price, If they were good ones; that the route
between this post and Fort Rice was dan
gerous one, on account of the present disposi-
ton of the Indians, and that they would
have furnished our friend an escort, if ithad
been possible.
The colonel's army life again served us
good turn, and we were furnished comfort
able quarters at the post. We had a good
nights rest, and early the next morning, as
we were proceeding to care for our animals,
the commandant of the post came to us, with
the information that shortly after we had
gone to bed, a man from down the river, by
the name of Jerry Blake. had come to the
fort; that he had been trapper and govern
ment scout for the last ten years; that he
for Fort Berthod-a post seventy-five miles
above Fort Rice-and we had better see him
at once, as he would make valuable addi-
ton to our force; for if he took it into his
head to assist us, no man could do more in
tracing up the parties we were after than
he. We thanked the officer, and assured him
that we should be very glad of Blake's COM
pany.
Il know him we'll" said the commandant,
"and | will tell him your case and send him
around"
| lie kept his word, and just after breakfast
there appeared before us a rather small man,
apparently about thirty-five years of age He
wore a long, light coat belted around him.
and a pair of buckskin breeches. His hair
was long and black his eyes were of the
same color, and his face was smooth, pleasant
and intelligent.
All in all he was little like the idea
had conceived of Western trapper, hunter
and scout was my own father.
Gentlemen" said he, touching his slouched
hat, after the military fashion, my name is
Jerome Bonaparte Blake, at your service"
We each returned the salute and as he
seemed to wait for of us to speak, the
colonel gave our names and briefly informed
him of what he had probably heard in regard
to mission.
well, gentlemen said he, "I am going
as you've been travelling at: Forty miles a
day is enough for me, and if that'll suit you,
| reckon we can stick; but if fifty or sixty
is the kind of a racket you keep to, Pm out
But let me tell you" he added, "that you
won't hold out clear up to Fort Rice at such
a hurricane galop, nor the fellows that you're
after either"
We had become satisfied of this fact the day
before, and told him that we thought forty
miles a day would be all that our animals
could stand.
IAN right" said he, abruptly turning away
Get on to your horses, and I'll be with you.
You needn't wait if | am not ready by the
time you are"
We took his advice, and, after buying as
much bacon and crackers as we could carry
without inconvenience, mounted and set out
again-not in a very cheerful mood, though,
after all.
To be sure, Charlie had got on brayely
his courage and endurance. But he was now
in all probability alone in the heart of hos