The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1911-12-29
CHAPTER !.



summit of the ridge. occasionally up
lifting his head so as to gaze across
the crest, shading his eyes with one
hand, to thus better concentrate his
vision Both horse and rider plainly
exhibited signs of weariness, but
every movement OF the latter showed
ceaseless vigilance. his glance roam
ing the barren ridges, brown Win
chester lying cooked across the saddle
pommel his left hand taut on the
rein. Yet the horse he bestrode
scarcely required restraint, advancing
slowly. with head hanging low, and
only occasionally breaking into a
brief trot under the impetus Of The
spur
The rider was a man approaching
thirty, somewhat slender and long OF
limb, but possessing broad squared
shoulders above deep chest. sitting
the saddle easily in plainsman fash
ion, yet with an erectness of carriage
which suggested military training.
The face under the wide brim OF the
weather-worn SLOUGH hat was clean
shaver. Drowned by sun and wind,
and strongly marked, the chin slight.
~ prominent. the mouth firm. the gray
eyes full OF character and daring. His
dress was that OF rough service plain
leather Chaps" showing marks OF
hard. usage, a gray woolen shirt turn
ed low at the neck. with kerchief
knotted loosely about the sinewy
bronzed throat. At one hip dangled
the holster OF "forty-hye." on the
other hung canvas-coyered canteen.
His was figure and face to be noted
anywhere. a man from whom you.
would expect both thought and action,
and one who seemed to exactly fit
into his wild environment.
Where he rode was the very west
ern extreme OF the prairie country,
beloved like the sea, and from on the
crest Of its higher ridges, the wide
level sweep of the plains was visible,
extending like vast brown ocean to
the foothills OF the far-away noun
tains. Yet the actual commencement
OF that drear, barren expanse was
fully ten miles distant. while all
about where he rode the conformation
was irregular, comprising narrow val
legs and swelling mounds, with here
and there a sharp ravine. rfven from
the rock and invisible until one drew
up startled at its very brink. The
general trend OF depression was un-
doubtedly southwark leading toward
the valley of the Arkansas, yet irregu-
lar ridges occasionally cut across,
adding to the confusion. The entire
surrounding landscape presented the
same aspect, with no special object
upon which the eye could rest for
guidance-no tree. no upheaval OF
rock. no popularity Of summit no
snake-like trail--all about extended
the same dull, dead monotony OF
brown, sun-baked hills. with slightly
grcener depressions lying between
interspersed by patches OF sand or the
white CLEAN OF alkali 1t was a
drearys, deserted land. parched under
the hot summer sun, frightened by nc
vegetation, excepting sparse punches
OF buffalo grass or an occasiona
stunted sage bush, and disclosing no
where the slightest sign OF human
habitation
1.-THE rising sun reddened the cres'
OF the hills, and the rider. hating hii
willing horse, sat motionless, gazini
steadily into the southwest Appar
emily he perceived nothing there un
usual. for he slowly turned his bod,
about in the saddle. sweeping hi
eyes, inch by inch, along the line o
the horizon, until the entire circui
had been completed. Then his com
pressed lips smiled slightly. his han'
sunconsciously patting the horse
neck
II reckon we're still alone. old girl,
he said quietly. bit OF Southern
drawl in the voice. wen try 70
the trail, and take 1t easy"
He swung stiffiy out OF the saddle
and with reins dangling over hi
shoulder, began the slower adyanc
on foot, the exhausted horse trailin
behind. His was not situation i
which one could feel certain OF safet.
for any ridge might conceal. the war
foemen he sought to avoid yet he pr
ceeded now with re6ew6d conidenc'
II was the summer of 1868. and tn
Mace the very heart OF the India
country. with every separate trit
ranging between the Yellowstone an
the Brazos. either restless or openl
on the war-path Rumors Of atrocitit
were being retold the length an
! breadth Of the border, and every r
mort drifting in to either fort or Sc
Element only added to the alarm FL
once at least the Plains. Indians ha
discovered common cause, tribal dl
ferences had been adjusted In WI
AGAINST the white invaders, and XII
was. Comanches, Arapahoes, Che
ennes and Sioux had become welde
together in savage brotherhood. ?
oppose them were the scattered az
unorganized settlers lining the nc
n,rastern streams, guarded by small d
,hments OF regular troops pest'
and there amid that ;proaN "
~. scarcely within touch Of en-
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