Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-11-09

off his blanket and, despite the cold,
began to fill it also. For he knew.
and fully as well as they who watched
the thermometer hanging just outside
the entrance at headquarters, that the
night would require much fuel.
AS he hunted along the bare ridge
something more than the frigid gusts
that whipped the skirt about his lean
shanks urged him to finish his gath
ering and go riverward. In the little
snug cabin out on the prairie CHEEKY
welcome awaited him. Before the
glowing Goals in the stone fireplace he
could warm his shaking legs. There
was good food for his empty stomach.
But, better than all else, there kind
ly face always smiled a greeting.
The blanket piled so high with chips
that its weight balanced the grain
sack, he prepared to start riverward.
But first, prompted by an old habit,
he climbed to a high point of bluff
near by and standing where loOkouts
had maintained Il post before severe
weather compelled their withdrawal
carefully scanned the white horizon.
To the west, from where-the band i'll
the stockade boasted-warriors of their
tribe would come in the spring to
make rescue; TO the north. on either
side of the ice bound Missouri; to the
| east, in the wide gap between the dis
| tant ranges of hills. he saw no crea
ture moving. But facing southwark
his hands shading his eyes carefully
from the glare, he spied on the eastern
bank. and at not a great distance, the
| approach of Il familiar milk white
horse drawing heavy pung.
| The STOPPING pariah was transform
ed by the sight. He threw up his arms
| with an inarticulate cry and sprana
away down the slope to his sack and
blanket. Selling them he made fol
the level ground north of the barracks
| and dragged the fuel up TO the cotton
woods. Then he started down the riv
er, taking long leaps.
The upper part of the improviset
eleigh that was fitting. its way across
the drifts like skiff on angry water
was the green box of an ordinary
| farm wagon, set on runners. The
wheels of the vehicle lay on some hay
| In the rear of the box. On the brOaC
wooden seat was a man, facing rear
ward to get the wind at his back. He
| was almost concealed by quilts, hi:
arms being wrapped close to his body
and the milk white horse was taking
| his leisurely way unguided. Above
| the man. and nailed so loosely to the
wagon seat that it wavered from side
! to side and kept up squeaking, wa:
q tall board cross, rude and implanted
| When he came close to the sleigh
SQuaw Charley caught the sound o.
singing and stopped. The traveller wa:
comforting his lonely way with a sa
| cred hymn, the words of which, seat
tered by the wind, reached the Indian
in broken but martial phrases III.
| " Coward, Christian soldiers, q
Marching a Z. war. rr-
| = the cross of Jesus 40.
on before" .
| Again SQuaw Charley spurred him
self Into long leaps. And behind Shan
/ ty Town, on the open prairie, h'
brought the horse to a halt, sl.!r|
Once more he gave his voorhees, or.
"a Cry like the shrill hail of d. mute
/ 1t brought the man face about. An
fther second, answering. he stood up
shook off the quilts to free his arms
/ cached down and caught the partial
/ his breast. $3.50
| Tall and spare lie was and aged
over his shoulders flowed long whit
.air. A beard as white fell to hi
gaist. His sharp eyes were shades
10y heavy brows. lie Wore coat o
coarse cloth that touched his feet. ant
& bout his head was wound nubia
SIS with face appraised he embrace,