Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-08-31
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CHAPTER I.
The PIainsman.

Tho man was riding just below the
Iummit Of the ridge, occasionally up
lifting his head so as to gaze across
the crest, shading his eyes with ono
hand, to thus better concentrate his
vision. Both horse and rider plainly
exhibited signs of WEAKNESS, but
every movement of the latter showed
Ceaseless vigilance, his glance roam
Ing the barren ridges, q brown Win
chester lying cooked across the saddle
pommel. his. lest hand taut on the
rein. Yet the horse he bestrode
scarcely required restraint, advancing
slowly. with head hanging low. and
pnly occasionally breaking into
brief trot under tho impetus of the
spur.
The rider was man approaching
thirty, somewhat slender and long of
limb. but possessing broad, squared
shoulders above deep chest, sitting
tho 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
shaven, Drowned by sun and wind,
and strongly marked, the chin slight
ly 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, n gray wooden shirt turn
ed low at the neck. with a kerchief
knotted loosely about the sirewy
bronzed throat. At one hip dangled
the holster of 4 "forty-five." on tho
other hung canvas-covered 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 off tho
crest Of it's higher ridges, the wide
level sweep of the plains was visible.
extending like vast brown ocean to
the foothills of the far-away noun
iains. Yet the actual commenc oment
Of that drear, barren expanse was
fully ten miles distant while all
about where he rode the conformation
was irregular. comprising narrow val
ieys and swelling mounds. with here
and there a sharp ravine, riven from
the rock and invisible until one drew
up startled at It's very brink. The
general trend of depression was I'M
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
gudance--no tree, no upheaval of
rock. no popularity of summit. no
snake-like trail-all about extended
the same dull, dead monotony of
brown, sunbaked hills. with slightly
grcener depressions lying between.
interspersed by patches Of sand or the
white CLEAN Of alkali. II was q
droary, deserted land, parched under
the hot summer sun, frightened by no
vegetation, excepting sparse lunches
OF buffalo grass or an occasional
stunted sage bush, and disclosing no
where the slightest sign OF human
habitation
The rising sun Redeemed the crest
OF the hills. and the rider, hating his
willing horse, sat motonless, gazing
steadily into the southwest. Appar-
entity he perceived nothing there I'M
usual, for he slowly turned his body
about In the saddle. sweeping his
eyes, inch by inch. along the line of
the horizon, until the entire circuit
had been completed Then his COM
pressed lips smiled slightly, his hand
unconsciously patting the horse
neck.
Il reckon we're still alone. old girl"
he said quietly, a bit OF Southern
drawl in the voice. wen try for
the trail, and take it easy"
He swung stifiy out Of the saddle.
and with reins dangling over his
shoulder. began the slower advance
Oh foot. the exhausted horse trailing
behind His was not situation in
which one could feel certain of safety,
for any ridge might conceal the wary
foemen he sought to avoid. yet he pro.
ceeded now with renewed confidence.
II was the summer of 1868, and the
place the very heart of the Indian
country. with every separate tribe
ranging between the Yellowstone and
the Brazos, either restless or openly
on the war-path. Rumors of atrocities
We're being retold the length and
breadth Of the border, and every re-
port drifting in to either fort or set.
tlement only added to the alarm. For
once at least the Plains Indians had
discovered q common cause, tribal diff.
ferences had been adjusted in war
against the white invaders, and Kio.
was, Comanches. Arapahoes, Chey,
ennes and Sioux had become welded
together in savage brotherhood. To
oppose them were the scattered and
unorganized settlers lining tho more
eastern streams, guarded by small de
tachments of regular troops posted
here and there amid that broad vii
deness, scarcely within touch OF each
other.
Everywhere beyond these lines Of
patrol wandered roaming war parties,
attacking travellers on the trails, raid
Ing exposed settlements. and occa-
Eionally venturing to try open battle
with the small squads of armed men.
In this stress of sudden emergency
avery available soldier on active duty
civilians had been pressed into serv'