Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-28
BOB HAMPTON OF PLACER.
BY RANDALL PARRISH,
AUTHOR WILDERNESS
Copyright 10 BY A. ccIurg&C Coz
BY RANDALL PARRISH,

the sheer nakedness Of the picture unre-
lieved 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 exhaustion.
his last conscious memory the incoherent
babbltng OF his insane companion.
He awoke shortly after noon, feeling re-
freshed 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 accepted the proffered
food with all the apparent delight OF a
child. While he rested, their remaining
pack animal had strayed. and Hampton
was compelled to go on with only the two
horses. strapping the depleted store of pro-
visions behind his own saddle. Then he
carefully hoisted Murphy into place and
bound his feet beneath the animals belly
the poor fellow gibbering at him, in APP
pearance an utter imbecile, although exhib-
iting periodic flashes of malignant passion.
Then he resumed the journey down one of
those sand-strewn depressions pointing to-
ward the Rosebud. pressing the refreshed
ponies into canter. confident now that
their greatest measure of safety lay In
audacity.
Apparently his faith in the total desertion
Of these bad lands by the Indians was
fully justified for they continued steadily
mile after mile, meeting with no evidence
of life anywhere. Still the travelling was
good. with here and there little streams Of
Icy water trickling over the rocks. They
made most excellent progress. Hampton
ever STdSplnB Wle DIX OF Murphy morse, his
anxious thought more upon his helpless
companion in misery than upon the possible
perils Of the route.
1t was already becoming dusk when they
swept down into a little nest of green trees
and grass. 1t appeared SO suddenly, and
was such an unexpected oasis amid that
surrounding wilderness, that Hampton gave
vent to sudden exclamation of delight
But that was all. Instantly he percev ed
numerous dark forms leaping from out the
shrubbery, and he wheeled his horses to the
left, flashing them into a rapid run. II was
all over In momeHt-a SUFFERING OF rifles
wild medley Of cries, a glimpse Of savage
figures, and the two were tearing down the
rocks, the din of pursuit dying away be-
hind them The band were evidently all on
foot yet Hampton continued to press his
mount at 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
a log, but his tight grip upon the rein of
the other landed him ON his feet. Murphy
laughed, in fiendish merriment; but Hamp-
ton looked down on the dead horse, noting
the stream of blood ooZing out from behind
the shoulder stray Sioux bullet had
found It's mark. but the gallant animal had
struggled on until it dropped lifeless; and
the brave man 1t had borne so long and SO
we'll bent down and stroked tenderly the I'M
conscious head. Then he shifted the pro-
visions to the back OF the other horse
grasped the loose rein once more in his
left hand, and started forward on foot
Go be Continued Tomorrow