The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1908-01-30
CHAPTER XXIy.

tllClE StilScb. 4Ut} DOtu ISiicd So llhpiiS-
itly on the success of Dunwoodie's exer-
tions, that they thought the act, on the
part Of their relative, extremely impru-
dent but II was now too late to mend it.
While listening to the conversation of
the officers, both were struck with the in
creased danger of Henry's situation, if re-
captured, and they trembled to think of
the great exertions that would be made to
accomplish this object. Miss Peyton con-
lsoled herself, and endeavored to cheer her
niece, with the probability that the fugi.
tives would pursue their course with un-
renitting diligence, SO that they mighc
reach the Neutral Ground before the horse
would carry down the tidings of their
flight. The absence of Dunwoodie seem
led to her all-important, and the artless
lady was anxiously deyising some project
that might detain her kinsman and thus
give her nephew the longest possible time.
But very different were the reflections of
Frances. She felt certain that, instead
Of flying to the friendly forces below, her
brother would be taken to some mysteri-
Gus hiding place to pass the night.
Frances and her aunt held long and
lanimated discussion by themselves, when
the good spinster reluctantly yielded to
the representation OF her niece, and, fold
ing her in her arms, she kissed her cold
cheek, and feryently blessing her, allowed
her to depart on an errand of fraternal
love. - 6
The night had set in dark and chilling
as Frances moved through the little gar
den that lay behind the farm house which
had been her brothers prison, and took
her way to the foot of the mountain.
Young. active and impelled by her gener-
Gus motive, she moved up the hill with
elastic steps, and very soon emerged from
the cover Of the woods into an open space
,0f more level ground, that had evidently
been cleared of it's timber for the pur.
pose OF cultivation.
The white tents of the militia were
stretched in regular lines Immediately be-
meath her. The light was shining in ths
window of her aunt, who, Frances easily
fancied, was watching thesmountain, rack
ed with all the anxiety she might be sup
posed to feel for her niece. Lanterns were
playing about in the stable yard, where
she knew the horses of the dragons We're
kept, and believing them to be preparing
for their night march, she renewed her
toll. Kf
Our heroine had to ascend more than q
quarter of a rnile farther, although she
had already conquered two-thirds of the
height Of ths. mountain. But she was
now without a path or any guide to de
rect her in her course. Fortunately, the
hill was conical, like most Of the noun.
'tains In that range, and by advancing up.
ward. she was certain of at length reach.
ing the pinnacle. Nearly an hour did she
struggle with the numerous difficulties
that she was obliged to overcome, when,
having beea repeatedly exhausted with
her efforts and, in several instances, in
great danger from falls, she succeeded in
ginning the small piece OF table land on
the summit.
Faint with her exertions, which had
been unusually severe for so slight
frame, she sank on a rock to recover her
strength and fortitude. A few moments
suficed for this purpose. All Of the
neighboring hills were distinctly visible
by the aid of the moon, and Frances was
able, where she stood, to trace the route
iof the highway from the plains into the
mountains.
The chilling air sighed through the leaf
less branches Of the gnarled and crooked
oaks, as, with step so light as hardly
to rustic the dry leaves on which she
ltrod, Frances moved forward to that part
of the hill where she expected to find
some secluded habitation; but nothing
could she discern that in the least resem-
bled dwelling of any sort In vain she
examined every recess of the rocks, or
inquisitively explored every part of the
summit that she thought could hold the
tenement. No hut, nor any vestige of a
human being, could she trace. The idea
Of her solitude struck on the terrified
mind Of the affrighted girl, and approach
Ing to the edge Of shelving rock, she
bent forward to gaze on the signs of life
In the vale, when ray of keen light daz-
sled her eyes, and warm air diffused
itself over her whole frame. Recovering
from her surprise, Frances looked on the
ledge beneath her, and at once perceived
that she stood directly over the object of
har search. A hole through its roof Of
forded a passage to the smoke, which, as
II blew aside, showed her clear and
cheerful fire cracking and swapping on
a rude hearth Of stone. The approach
to the front Of the hut was by wind
ing path around the point of the rock on
which she stood, and by this she advanced
TO its door.
Three sides of this singular edifice, if
such It could be called, were composed of
logs laid alternately on each other, to a
little more than the height of man;
and the fourth was formed by the rock
against which 1t leaned. The roof to its
caves, the assures between the logs had
been stuffed with clay, which in many
places had fallen out, and dried leaves
were made use Of as substitute to keep
out the wind. A single window OF four
panes Of glass was in front, but i board
carefully closed 1t, in such q manner as
lts emit no light from the fire within. Af-
ftr paasins some time to view tAis sim