The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-12-12
CHAPTER XIII.

| freshed, and, without awaking any OF the
group around him, he wandered into the
open air in search of relief. The soft
rays of the moon were just passing away
| in the more distinct light of the morn
| ing. He strolled toward the scene OF
| the SINNERS punishment, musing upon
| the embarra ssments of his situation, ana
| uncertain how he should reconcile his
sense of duty with his love. In this dis
| turbed state of mind, the major was stop
ped in his walk by arriving at the base
of those rocks which had protected the
SINNERS in their flight. He was about
to turn and retrace his path to his quar-
| ters, when he was startled by voice,
bidding him:
"Stand or die!
| Dunwoodie turned in amazement, and
beheld the figure of man placed Mt a
little distance above him on shelving
roct, with a musket levelled at himself.
| A second look was necessary before he
discovered, to his astOnshment, that the
peddler stood before him. Comprehend
| Ing the danger of his situation, the youth
cried firmly:
eff am to be murdered, fire! l will
never become your prisoner"
| "No, Major Dunwoodie," said Birch,
lowering his musket, 1T is neither my in
tention to capture nor to slay."
"What then would you have, mysteri-
Gus being?" said Dunwoodie.
"Your good opinion" answered the
ped&ler, with emotion; II would wish all
COOS men to judge me with lenity."
TO you it must be Indifferent what
may be the judgment of men; for you
seem to be beyond the reach of their
sentence" IA
'God spares the lives of his servants to
his own time" said the peddler, solemn
ly; "a few hours ago l was your pris-
oner, anti threatened with the gallows; |;
now you are mine; but, Major Dun
woodie, you are free. There are men
abroad who would treat you less kindly.
OF what service would that sword be to
you against my weapon and a steady
hand? Take the advice of one who has
| never harmed you, and who never will
| Dc not trust yourself in the skirts Of any
wood, unless in company and mounted
"And have you comrades, who have as
sisted you to escape"
| "No-no, l am alone truly-none know
mo but my God and Him"
"And whoW asked the major, with an
interest he could not control.
"None," continued the peddler, recov-
sring his composure. But such Is not
your case, Major Dunwoodie; you are
young and happy; there are those that
are dear to you, and such are not far
away-danger is near them you love most
danger within and without: double
your watchfulness; strengthen your pa
trols-and be silent. With your opinion
Of me, should / tell you more, you would
suspect an ambush. But remember and
guard them you love best"
The pefdler discharged the musket IN
the air, and threw it at the feet of his
astonished auditor. When surprise and
the smoke allowed Dunwoodie TO look
again ON the rock where he had stood, the
spot was vacant.
| phe youth was aroused from the stu
Dor created by this strange scene by the
trasnpiing of horses. A patrol was drawn
to the spot by the report of the musket.
| Without entering into any explanation,
the major returned quickly to his quar-
tern, where he found the whole squadron
under arms. The officer whose duty it
was to superintend such matters, had
directed party to lower the sign of the
Hotel Flanagan, and the post was already
arranged for the execution of the spy. On
hearing from the major that the musket
was discharged by himself and was prob
ably one OF those dropped by tho Skin
pers, his officers suggested the prcpriety
of executing their prisoner before they
marched. Unable to believe that all he
had seen was not a dream, Dunwoodie
went to the place which was supposed tc
contain the peddler.
"well, sir" said the major to the sen
tinsl who guarded the door, Il trust YOU
have your prisoner in safety"
ale Is yet asleep" replied the man
"and he makes such a noise, l could hard
ly hear the bugles sound the alarm"
open the door and bring him forth.
The order was obeyed; but to the utter
amazement of the honest veteran he fount
the room in no little disorder-the Goa
of the peddler, where his body ought tt
have been, and part of the wardrobe O.
Betty scattered In disorder on the floor
The washerwoman herself occupied th'
pallet, in profound mental oblivion. TIL,
noise of their entrance and the exclana
tious OF the party awake the woman. =.
''Is It the breakfast that's wanting ?
said Betty, rubbing her eyes; but pa
tience a little, darlings, and yell see sicl
q fry as never was"
"Fry!" echoed the sergeant; 'we1
have you roasted, Jezebel you hav
helped that peddler to escape"
"Jexebel back agin In your teeth Miste
Sergeant p cried Betty; what have t
Do with pidlers, or escapesT
.Silencew said Dunwoodie. "Thi
must be inquired into closely, gentlemen
there Is no outlet but the door, and b
cssld not pass, unless the sentinel cor
nfvsd at his escape, or was asleep on L
pasl Call up the guard"