Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-09-06
CHAPTER ~.
On the Naked Plain.

every foot of that dreary, treeless
distance Indian-haunted, the favorite
skulking place and hunting ground of
the restless Sioux. Winter and sum-
mer this wide expanse had to be sus-
piciously patroled by numerous mill
tary scouting parties, anxious to learn
more regarding the uncertain where
abouts of wandering bands and the
purposes of malcontents.
One such company, composed of
dozen mounted infantrymen, accom-
panied by three Cree trailers, rode
slowly and YEARLY across the brown
exposed uplands down into the longer,
grsener grass Of the wide valley bot
tom, until they emerged upon barely
perceptible trail which wound away in
snake-like twistings, toward those
high, barren hills whose blue masses
were darkly silhOuetted against the
western sky. The animals moved
steadily forward, reluctant and weary,
their heads dropping deJectedly, their
distended nostrils red and quivering,
the oily perspiration streaking their
. - sides. The tired men, half
blinded by the glare, lolled heavily in
their deep cavalry saddles, with en-
crusted eyes staring moodily ahead.
Riding alone, and slightly in ad-
vance Of the main body. his mount a
rangy, broad-chested roam, streaked
with alkali dust, the dropping head
telling plainly of wearied muscles, was
the officer in command He was a
pleasantfaced, stalwart young fellow,
with the trim figure of trained ath-
lete, possessing square chin smooth
ly shaven, his intelligent blue eyes
half concealed beneath his hat brim,
which had been drawn low to shade
them from the glare. one hand press
Ing upon his saddle holster as he
leaned over to rest. No insignia of
rank served to distinguish him from
those equally dusty fellows plodding
gloomily behind, but a broad stripe of
yellow running down the seams of his
trousers, together with his high boots,
bespoke the cavalry service, while the
front of his battered campaign hat
bore the decorations of two crossed
sabers, with a gilded ~" prominent
between. His attire was completed by
a coarse blue shirt, unbottoned at the
throat, about which had been loosely
knotted darker colored silk handker.
chief, and across the back of the sad.
die was fastened uniform jacket, the
single shoulder strap revealed pre-.
senting the plain yellow of a second
lieutenant.
Attaining to the summit Of a slight
knoll, whence a somewhat wider vista
lay outspread, he partially turned his
face toward the men struggling along
in the rear, while his hand swept
across the dreary scene.
IF that line of trees over yonder
indicates the course of the Bear Wa.
ter, Carson" he questioned quietly,
where are we expected to hit the trail
leading down to the ford?"
The sergeant, thus addressed, a lit
O tie stocky fellow wearing a closely
clipped gray moustache, spurred his
exhausted horse into a brief trot, and
O. drew up short by the officers side, his
heavy eyes scanning the vague dis
lance, even while his right hand was
uplifted in perfunctory salute.
There's no trail know about along
this bank, sir" he replied respectfully,
but the big cottonwood with the dead
branch forking out at the top is the
ford guide"
They rode down in moody silence
into the next depression, and began
YEARLY climbing the long hill opposite
apparently the last before coming di.
rectly down the banks of the stream
AS his barely moving horse topped the
uneven summit. the lieutenant sudden.
ly drew in his rein, and uttering an
exclamation of surprise, bent forward
staring intently down in his immedi
ate front For single instant he an
peared to doubt the evidence OF his
own eyes; then he swung hastily from
out the saddle, all WEAKNESS forgotten
my Cod" he cried, sharply, his
eyes suspiciously sweeping the bare
slope. There are two bodies lyins
g. here-white people!"
They lay all doubled up in the coarse
grass, exactly as they had fallen, the
man resting face downward, the
slender figure Of the girl clasped vice
like in his arms, with her tightly
closed eyes upturned toward the glar
ing sun. Never once questioning bu
that. he was confronting the closins
scene of grewsome tragedy, the thor
oughly aroused lieutenant dropped
g upon his knees beside them, his eyes
already moist with sympathy, his anx
ious fingers feeling for a possible
heartbeat. A moment Of hushed
GREATNESS suspense followed, and ther
be began hinging terse, eager com
mands across his shoulder to whert
his men were clustered.
Here! Carson, Perry, Ronk, la!
hold quick, and break this fellow
clasp" he cried, briefly. The cir
retains q spark of life yet, but tn,
mans arms fairly crush her."
With all the rightly of actual dealt
those clutching hands held their tena