Mower County transcript., 1907-12-18

abject fear. The man was no longer
violent; he had become a child, fright
ened at the dark.
Securely strapping Murphy to his
saddle and packing all their remain
ing store of provisions upon one horse,
leaving the other to follow or remain
behind as it pleased, he advanced di-
rectly into the hills, steering by aid
of the stars, his left hand ever on
Murphys bride rein, his low voice of
expostulation seeking to calm the 9TH
er's wild fancies and to curb his vio-
lent speech.
At dawn they were in a narrow
gorge among the hills, dark and
gloomy hole, yet a peculiarly safe spot
In which to hide, having steep, rocky
ledges on either side, with sufficient
grass Tor the horses. Leaving Murphy
bo'lnd, Hampton clambered UP the
front of the rock to where he was
able to look out. All was silent and
his heart sank as he surveyed the
brown sterile hills stretching to tho
horizon, having merely narrow gulches
OF rock and sand between, the sheer
nakedness of the picture unrelieved
by green shrub or any living thing.
Then, almost despairing, he slid back,
stretched himself out amid the soft
grass, and sank into the slumber of ex.
haustion, his conscious memory the
incoherent babbling OF his insane
companion.
He awoke shortly after noon, feeling
refreshed and renewed in both body
and mind. Murphy was sleeping when
he first turned to look at him, but he
awoke in season to be fed, and &C.
cepted the proffered food with all the
apparent delight of child. While he
rested, their remaining pack-animal
had strayed, and Hampton was COM
PEELED to go on with only the two
horses, strapping the depleted store
OF provisions behind his own saddle.
Then he carefully hoisted Murphy into
place and bound his feet beneath the
animals belly. Then he resumed the
journey down one of those sand
strewn depressions pointing toward
the Rosebud, pressing the refreshed
ponies into canter, confident now
that their greatest measure of safety
lay in audacity.
1t was already becoming dusk when
they swept down into little nest of
green trees and grass. 1t appeared so
suddenly and was such an unexpected
oasis amid that surrounding wilder
ness, that Hampton gave vent to a
sudden exclamation of delight. But
that was all. Instantly he perceived
numerous dark forms leaping from
out the shrubbery, and he wheeled his
horses to the left, lashing them into a
rapid rua. 1t was all over in a mo-
ment-a sputtering Of rifles, a wild
medley of cries, a glimpse Of savage
figures, and the two were tearing
down the rocks, the din of pursuit
away behind them. The band were
evidently all ON foot, yet Hampton con-
tinued to press his mount at a swift
pace, taking turn after turn about the
sharp hills, confident that the hard
earth would leave no trace of their
passage.
Then suddenly the horse he rode
sank like log, but his tight grip upon
the rein of the other landed him on
his feet. A stray Sioux bullet had
found it's mark, but the gallant animal
had struggled on until it dropped life
less; and the brave man it had borne
so long and so well bent down and
stroked tenderly the unconscious
head. Then he shifted the provisions
to the back of the other horse, grasped
the loose rein once more in his left
hand, and started forward on foot.