Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-02-01

They are Indians, right enough" he
said, at last. Here. take a look. Muir
ply. could count about 20 in that
bunch and they are travelling north"
The older man adjusted the tubes TO
his eyes and looked long and steadily
az the party.
They seem-to be a-elosin' in." he
declared. finally. staring around into
the others face. all bravado gone
There's anuther lot-bucks. all o. EN-
-out west yonder-an' over east a
smudge is-just startin'. Looks like
we WIS IN a pochet-an' thar might
be some-har-raisin' fore long"
We'll. Murphy. you are the older
hand at this business. What do you
advise doing?"
Me? Why. push right 1ong-whre
we kin ke@p under cover. THEREAFTER
dark-trust ter bull luck an make
'nuther dash. It's mostly luck. any
how.
You mean we should start now"
'Better-let the cattle rest-frst.
An'-if We ever feed prisoners-Td
like ter eat a bite-mesilf"
They rested there for over two
hours. the tired horses contentedly
munching the succulent grass OF the
! coulee. their two masters scarcely ex-
changing word. Murphy. after salts
Tying his appetite. rested fat upon
bis back. one arm flung over his eyes
to protect them from the sun.
At last they saddled up and passed
down the coulee into the more precip-
itOus depths OF the narrow canyon
Their early advance was slow and
cautious. as they never felt certain
what hidden enemies might Turk be
hind the sharp corners Of the winding
defile. and they kept vigilant eyes
upon the serrated skyline. The saw
ages were moving north and so were
they.
Il was fully three O'Clock when they
attained 20 the hank % the Powder
and crouchsd among the rocks 20 wait
for the shades Of night 20 shroud their
further advance. Murphy climbed the
blur for wider view. bearing Hamp.
tons neld-glasses slung across his
shoulder. for the latter would not
leave him alone with the horses. He
returned finally 10 grunt out that there
was nothing special In sight exccpt
shifting Of those smoke signals to
points farther north. Then they Law
down again. Hampton smoking. Muir
ply either sleeping OF pretending to
sleep. And slowly the shadows OF an
other black night swept down and
shut them In.
IL must have been two hours later
when they ventured forth. Silence
and loneliness broodcd everywhere.
not so much rs a breath OF air stir
ring tho leaves. Murphy continued 20
lead. the light tread OF his horse bare
ly audible. Hampton pressing closely |
behind. revolver In hand. the two pack |
horses trailing In the rear.
Midnight and they pulled IN amid
the deeper gloom OF great. overhang.
ing blud. having numerous trees near
its summit There was the glow OF n
distant Ere upon their LEFT which red.
dened tho sky. and reelected oddly on
the edges ~ vast cloud mass rolling
up threateningly from the west
Their horses stood with heads hang
ing wcarily down. their sides rising
and falling. and Hampton. rolling sun
~ from the saddle. hastily loosened |
his ciT,h
They'll drop under as n We don't |
give them an hour or two" he said |
quietly. They're both dead beat"
Murphy muuered something. inco-
herent and garnished with oaths. and |
the moment he succeeded I'm releasing |
the buckle. sank down limp az the
very feet of his horse. rolling up into
a queer ball The other stared and
took a step nearer.
What's the natter Are you sick.
Murphy"
"No-tlred-don't want ter see
thet thing agin."
What thing?"
Tibet green. devlish.-crawiin face
II ye must know. And he twisted
hts long. ape-like arms across his eyes.
lying curlcd up as a dog might.
For a moment Hampton stood gag
ing down upon him. listening 10 hts In.
coherent mutterings. his OWE race
grave and sympathetic Then he
moved back and sat down Suddenly
the full conception of what this meant ]
came 20 his mind-the man had gene
mad. The strained cords OF that dir
eased brain had SNAPPED Ga ITO .r~
ence OF imagined terrcrS ara u-
was chaos The how 20
whelmed Hampton; not only did this
unexpected denouement leave him
utterly hopeless. but what was he TO
do with the fellow? They were IN the |
very heart of the Indian country
the country OF the savage Sioux. He
stared at the curied-up man. now ST. |
tent and breathing heavily as If asleep. |
II ne only might light pipe. or boil |
himseH a cup OF black Coffee Mnr-
phy never stirred; he horses were |
seemingly too weary TO browse. Then |
Hampton nodded and sank into an IN
easy doze.
CHAPTER Xxx.
Alone with the Insane.
Beneath the shade OF upllfted arms |
y