The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-08-09

CHAPTER ~.
On the Naked Plain.

- wac L hAlACof oo lHS SlOW ICE
between old Fort Bethune and the
o ford crossing the Bear Water,
every foot of that dreary, t~reeless
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-
p%iciously patroled by numerous mill
tary scouting parties, anxious to learn
regarding the uncertain where
abouts of wandering bands and the
purposes of m~alcontents.
One such company, composed of a
dozen mounted i~nfantrymen, accom-
panied by three Cree trailers. rode
slowly and YEARLY across the brown
exposed uplands down into the longer,
greener grass of the wide valley bot
tom, until they emerged upon a barely
perceptible trail which wound away in
snake-like twistings, toward those
high, barren hills whose blue masses
were dark%-iIhouetted against the
western sky. The animals moved
steadily forward, reluctant and weary,
their heads dropping dejectedly, their
distended nostrils red and Q%uivering,
the oily perspiration streaking their
odobSo SldCo- II NliCd AlCl- hdll
blinded by the glare, loIIed 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
pleasant-faced, stalwart young fellow,
with the trim figure of a trained ath-
lete, possessing a square chin smooth
ly shaver, 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 "7" prominent
between. His attire was completed by
a coarse blue shirt, unbottoned at the
throat, about which had been loosely
knotted a darker colored silk handker-
chief, and across the back of the sad
lie was fastened a 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 o~utspread, he partially turned his
face toward the men struggling along
IN the a 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
tie stocky fellow wearing a closely
clipped a moustache, spurred his
exhausted horse into a brief trot, and
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 l know about along
this bank, sir" he replied respectfully,
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
wearily climbing the long hill opposite,
apparently the last before coming di-
rectly down the banks of the stream.
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 intenEy down in his immedi-
ate front. For a single instant he ap-
peared to doubt the evidence of his
out the saddle, all WEAKNESS forgotten.
my Cod" he cried, sharply, his
eyes s~uspiciously sweeping the bare
slope. There are two bodies lying
people!"
They lay all doubled up in the coarse
grass, exactly as they had fallen, the
man resting lace 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 but
that he ~ confronting the closing
scene Of q grewsome tragedy, the thor.
arousea lieutenant dropped
upon his knees beside them, his eye
already moist with sympathy, his anx-
ious fingers feeling for n possible
heartbeat. A moment of hushed,
breathless suspense followed, and then
he began linging terse, eager COM
across his shoulder to where
hfm man ware rlpSforo7
Here. Carson. Perry, -Ronk. lay
hold quick, and break this fellows
clasp" he cried, briefly. The girl
retains . spark Of life yet, but h
mans arms fairly crush her"
With all the rigidity OF actual death
those cIutching hands held their tena-