Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-01

Now Indian and white ally continued
upstream. Beyond the northern sentry
line and beyond the sod huts of the
scouts they spied the first sign of the
horse herd they sought. herd COM
posed of the suffers spike team.
four-in-hand used on the wood wagon,
Lieutenant Fraser's Buckskin and
dozen or fifteen second choice mounts
belonging to absent officers. That sign
was a spark on the ground long way
ahead. They knew it for the lantern
of. the remaining herder.
Matthews turned aside toward the
, landing. I'VE meet here" he whis-
pered
The Indian grunted an assent and
made off In the direction of the distant
spark.
When he came back some time had
passed. A fash of lightning disclosed
him to Matthews, who saw that the
| other was wiping at his face with his
skirt.
How did it go. Canada John?' ask
ed the interpreter.
Canada John laughed. "The herder
| was glad to see Squaw Charley" he
answered, '.but he fought like a
| badger
Here is the small boat. When you
| have finished on this side remember
the Man who Buys Skins is on the
other He will be glad to see Squaw
Charley too"
Have you the oilY'
! Yes" The interpreter felt for the
others hand and gave him can. They
parted for the second time.
| Canada John now started for the
post. AS he went he pulled dry grass
until his arms were full. Arrived be-
! side the barracks. he began to pile the
! grass against the pine wall.
| In the blackness Brannon lay peace
i full. The sentries were announcing
their CHEEKY "Alfs wellr'
The interpreter had reached the herd.
! where he was taking the rope hobbies
from the fore legs of several horses.
i This done he climbed into a herder's
saddle and headed the band slowly up
the bottom land. Nearly all the anil
mails had seen long service. so they
went tamely enough. Where the road
along the bank turned west to cross
the bluffs through q break they took
1t and were soon over the ridge and
out upon the prairie. There Matthews
started them south. Finally a mile OF
more below the line of the stockade he
completed his wide detour by driving
them due east. Beside the Missouri he
rounded them up and brought them to
a stand
He tied the horse he had ridden tC
some willows. Next. having unwound
several rope lengths from about his
waist. he began to catch and tie 9th
ers of the bunch He had rope fol
only ten. The hobbies fastened three
more. The remaining horses were gen
tie. all but the one belonging to Fra
ser. Matthews. swearing in English
and Uncapapa, tried every device he
knew. but failed to catch her.
He dared not waste another minute
Quickly he wound some grass into a
twist, lit it and waved it back and
forth above his head three times. after
which, as precantion. he took fiasl,
from his hind pocket and going from
horse to horse of the string, to the
hobbled three and to. the half dozen
that were standing loose, rubbed their
muzzles with the liquor. But again
he was unable to touch the 'She
Devil In fury he threw the empty
flask at her.
From his hiding place beside the bar
racks the Indian in squawis dress saw
the signal torch of the interpreter. Al
once he sneaked from side to side &c
; listen. Then he took wisp of grass
bound round it strip of oily cloth
and kneeling beside the bundle farthest
from the river set match TO 1t. In
stantly flames leaped up. He ran tc
other grass piles, lighting them one by
one.
. The next moment an amazed sentry
who was pacing his beat by the scouts
huts saw the growing bonfires and
called out I'm alarm to another Before
the latter could reply the end of thu
| barracks was burning. Both sentrie:
fred their guns. The sergeant of the
; guard answered with revolver shots
The Cuttings spoke from the lookouts
. A trumpet shrilled the fire alarm
From the suffers sounded the clang o.
the mess gong.
In the midst of the tumult one spot
the stockade-kept strangely quiet. IT
} guards were collected at the slidins
panel. from where, not {, ring to leave
they watched the growing blaze. S.
intent were they upon the sight tina
! they took no heed of their prisoners
Therefore no one knew or hinderet
: when the Indian braves. led by Stand
t ing Buffalo. and noiseless as shad
/ ows, fled into Brown Mink's wickiup
5 crawled through the breach in the lol
wall and sped away into the shleldin
l dark.
Behind the squaws and childre
a were gathered, with the Indian gil
! walking boldly among them. OF;
. sudden they parted. From under til
shingle roof there was sound @
Q struggling, thump as body hit tn
: ground. an old woman's squeaI 9
9 rage. Then into the faint glare refiec
r ed from the fire came a STOPPING ifs
: ure in squaw's dress that sped throug