The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-09-16

Ally he spoke of II to the old plains
man beside .iim.
What do you suppose those fellows
are heading 30 far west for. Ben!
They are taking q big risk OF running
into hostiles."
"Oh. don't know" returned the
other gravely. lifting his eyes to the
far-on sky line IL reckon from the
news thet como In last night from
Hays, thar amt no Injuns a rangin'
thet way jist now. They're too blame
busy out on the Arickaree. Maybe
them fellers heerd the same story, an
thet's what makes 'em so bold"
s'What story? I've heard nothing
why. It's like this, Cap" drawling
out TIE words, '1eastways, thet's how
It come inter Sheridan; Sandy For
sythe an his OUTFIT, mostly plainsmen.
started Q while ago across Solomon
River an down Beaver Crick, headin'
fer Fort Wallace. Over on the Aricka-
rec. the whole damned Injun OUTFIT
Jumped 'ein. From all I heerd, thar
must bin nigh onto three thousan'
q the varmints, droppin' on 'em all at
oncet. hell-bent-fer-election. with OF
Roman Nose q leadin' 'em. Il was
shore q good hght. fer the scouts got
onto IN island an stopped the bucks.
Two Of the fellers got through TO
Wallace yist'day. an courier brought
the news In ter Hays The Injuns had
them boys cooped up thar fer eight
days before them fellers got out an
reckon It'll b two or three days moro
fore the nigger sogers they sent out
ter help ever git thar SO thar won't
Be no Ihjuns long this route we'ro
travelin'. fer the whole hit an ca
Doodle are up thar Ut after Sandy"
And you suppose Hawley knew
about thisf~
why rot Capt He was hangin'
round till after ten O'Clock las night.
an Il was all over town by then.
-Tain't likely he's got an outfit 1ons
with him thet's lost any Injuns.
don't know whar they're bound. no
morn you do. but reckon they're
reasonably sure they've got q clar
road"
They pulled up On the banks Of .
small stream TO water their horses,
and ate hastily. Tho trail led d.
recuy across, and with only the slight
est possible delay they forded the
shallow water. and mounted the op-
posite bank. A hundred yards farther
on Bristoe reined up suddenly. point
Ing down at the trail.
1.( A> hs,~ 49, ~
declared positively. Keith swung him.
self out Of the saddle, aud lent over
TO study the tracks. There was no
doubling the evidence-a single horse
the only one shod In the bunch
with a Rider on its back. Judging from
the deep imprint of the hoofs, had
swerved sharply to the left Of the
main body, heading directly into the
southeast The plainsman ran for
ward for q hundred yards to assure
himself the man had not circled back;
at that point the animal had been
spurred into q lope Keith rejoined
the others
they reached here" he said, picking
up his dangling rein. and looking into
the questioning faces about him. "The
fellow that rode out yonder alone was
heading straight toward Carson City.
He Is going for fresh horses. figure
IT. and will rejoin the bunch some
place down on the Arkansas. The
others intend to keep farther west,
where they won't be seen What do
you say. Benz"
Thets the way It looms up ter me,
Cap; most likely twas the boss HIM
self"
We'll whoever Il was, the girl is
still with the others, and their trail
is The easiest TO follow. Well keep
after them"
They pushed on hour after hour. as
long as daylight lasted or they could
perceive ths faintest trace to follow.
Already half-convinced that he knew
the ultimate destination OF the fugi-
uves. Keith yet dare not venture on
pressing forward during the night, thus
possibly losing the trail and being
compelled TO retrace their steps. II
was better TO proceed slow and sure.
Besides. judging from the condition of
their own horses. the pursued would
Do compelled TO halt somewhere TO
rest their stock also Their trail even
revealed the fact that they were trav-
ciing Tar less rapidly than at frst. al
though evidently making every effort
TO cover tho greatest posoiblo dis-
lance before stopping. Just a. the
dusk shut In close about them thsy
rode down into tho valley Of Shaw.
nee Fork, and discovered signs OF .
recent camp at the edge Of the stream
Here. apparently. judging from the
campfire ashes. ard the trampled
Srass along the Fork, the party must
have halted for several hours. BY
lighting matches Keith and Bristoe