Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-30
CHAPTER ~.
On the Naked Plain.


1t was two hundred and eighteen miles.
as the crow flies, between old Fort Bethune
and the rock ford crossing the Bear Water.
| every foot of that dreary treeless distance
Indian hunted the favorite skuking place
and hunting ground Of the restless Sioux.
Winter and summer this wide expanse had
to be suspiciously patrolled by numerous
military scouting parties, anxious to learn
more regarding the uncertain whereabouts
of wandering bands and the purposes Of
indictments. or else drawn hither and
thither by continually shifting rumors of
hostile raids upon the camps of cattlemen.
All this involved rough. difficult service
with small need of honor attached, while
never had soldiers before found trickier
foemen to contend against or fighters more
worthy Of their steel
One such company, composed Of dozen
mounted infantrymen. accompanied by
three Cree trailers, rode slowly and YEARLY
across the brown exposed uplands down
Into the longer, greener grass of the wide
valley bottom, until they emerged upon a
barely perceptible trail which wound away
in snake-like twistngs toward those high,
barren hills whose blue masses were darky
silhouetted against the western sky. Upon
every side Of them extended the treeless
Wilderness the desOlate loneliness Of bare
brown prairie, undulating just enough to be
battling to the eyes. yet SO dull barren,
grim, silent and colorless as to drive men
mad. The shimmering heat rose and fell
In great pulSating waves although
slightest breeze came to stir the stagnant
air. while thick clouds of white dust, I'M
pregnated with poisonous alkali, from
out the grass roots, stirred by the horses
feet. to powder the passersby from head
to foot. The animals moved steadily for
ward. reluctant and weary, their heads
dropping dejectedly, their distended nostrlls
red and auivering. the oily perspiration
streaking their busted sides. The tired
men. half blinded by the glare lolled heav-
lily In their deep cavalry saddles, with in
crusted eyes staring moodily ahead.
Riding alone and slightly in advance 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 pleasant-faced. stalwart young fell
low, with the trim figure Of trained ath-
lete possessing a square chin smoothly
shaver. his intelligent blue eyes half con-
cealed beneath his hat brim, which had
glare. one hand pressing upon his saddle
holster as he leaned over to rest. No in
sigma Of rank served to distinguish him
from those equally dusty fellows plodding
gloomily behind, but broad stripe Of yell
low running down the seams of his trous-
ers, together with his high boots, bespoke
the cavalry service, while the front of his
battered campaign hat bore the decora-
lions Of two crossed sabers with a gilded
''7' prominent between. His attire was
completed by coarse blue shirt unbut-
toned at the throat. about which had been
loosely knotted a darker colored silk hand
kerchief and across the back OF the saddle
was fastened a uniform jacket. the single
shoulder strap revealed presenting the plain
yellow of a second lieutenant
Attaining to the summit of a slight knoll
whence a somewhat wider vista lay out
spread. 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 indi-
Gates the course of the Bear Water, Car
son." he questioned quietly, where are we
expected to hit the trail leading down to the
ford?'
The sergeant thus addressed a little
stocky fellow wearing closely clipped
gray moustaohe. spurred his exhausted
horse into a brief trot and drew up short
by the officers side, his heavy eyes scan
ming the vague distance. even while his
right hand was uplifted in the perfunctory
salute.
There's no trail I know about along this
bank. sir. he replied respectfully; but the
cottonwood with the dead branch forking
out at the top is the ford guide"
They rode down In moody silence into
climbing the long hill opposite. apparently
the last before coming directly down the
banks Of the stream. AS his barely moving
horse topped the uneven summit the lieu
tenant suddenly drew in his rein and, utter
ing an exclamation of surprise bent for
ward. staring fntently down in his imme-
diate front. For a single instant he ap-
peared to doubt the evidence Of his own
eyes, then he swung hastily from out the
saddle. all WEAKNESS forgotten.
MY Godr he cried sharply. his eyes sus-
piciously sweeping the bare slope. There
are two bodies lying 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 to-
ward the glaring sun. Their strange |
strained. unnatural posture. the rigidity Of |
their limbs. the CHASTITY pallor of the ex-
posed young face accentuated by dark |
dtsheveled hair, all alike seemed to indi-
cate death. Never once questioning but ]