The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1912-05-31

The man was riding Just below the |
summit OF the ridge. occasionally w
! lifting HE head 40 IA to gaEe acrots
| the crest. shading his eyes With one |
hand. TO thus better concentrate HIS |
vision Both horse and rider plainly |
| exhibited signs Of weariucas but |
every movement Of the latter showed
ceaselcss vigilance, bis glance roam
/ Ing the barren ridges. a 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 tho
spur
Tho rider was mnn approaching
thirty, somewhat slender and lons OF
limb, but possessing broad. squared
shoulders above u deep chest sitting
the saddle easily In plainsman fash
ion. yet with an erectncss OF carriage
which suggested military training
The face under the wide brim OF the
weathcr.worn SLOUGH hat was clean
shnyen, Drowned by sun and wind
and strongly marked the chin slight
Is prominent, the mouth Arm. the gray
eyes full Of character and daring HIS
dress was that Of rough service plain
leather chaps" showing marks OF
hard usage. gray woolen shirt turn.
ed low ut the neck. with kerchiet
knottcd loosely about tho sinewy
bronzed throat. At me hip dnngled
tho holster OF "forty'nyo." on the
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 nj
/. into his Wild environment
Where he rode was the very west
ern extreme Of the prairie country.
, beloved like tho sea, and from on the
: crest OF It's higher ridges. tho wide
level sweep Of the plains was visible
extending like n vast brown ocean IA
: the foothills OF the fAr.away noun
!, tains. Yet the actual commencement
y OF that drear. barren expanae wal
u fully ten miles distant. while nj
. about where he rode the conformation
l. was irregular. comprising narrow val
legs and swelling mounds. with herr
r and there sharp rayine. riyen from
= tho rock and invisible until one drew
q up startled at It's very brink. Thu
o general trend OF depression was IN
b. doubtedly southwark leading towar,
u the valley OF the Arkansas yet irregu
o lar ridges occasionally cut across
y adding 10 the confusion Tho entir
q surrounding landscape presented N,
!. same aspect. with no special objec
n upon which the eye could rest 70
;, guidance-no tree. no upheAval O
u rock, no peculiarly Of summit. M
l. snakeliko trail-Rll about extende,
II the same dull. dead monotony a
a brown. sun'baked hills. with slight
J. greener depressions lying between
q interpreted by patches OF sand or tn
n white CLEAN OF alkal II was
d dreary, deserted land. parchod unde
d the hot summer sun. frightened by m
b. vegetation, excepting sparse bunche
Il OF buffalo grass or an occasiona
10. stunted sage bush. and disclosing nc
whore the slightest sign OF huma
habitation
Tho rising sun Redeemed the cres
OF the bills, and the rider. hating H.
willing horse, sat motionless, gain
steadily into the southwest Appal
= emily he perceived nothing there NJ
usual, for he slowly turned his bod
about In the saddle, sweeping hi
- eyes, inch by inch along the line Q
the horizon. until the entire circuI
had been completed Then his con
pressed lips smiled slightly. his han
unconsciously pattlng the horse
!. neck
~ Il reckon we're still alone. old girl.
~ he said quietly. bit OF souther
drhwl in the voice Wen Try 70
- the trail and take II easy"
lie swung stlfny out OF tho saddl.
and with reins dangling over hi
shoulder began the slower adyanc
~ on foot the exhausted horse trailIn
y. behind. His was not a situation 4
!" which one could feel certain OF safet,
y for any ridge might conceal the war
y, foemen he sought TO avoid yet he Or,
w ceeded now With renewed confidenc,
II was the summer OF 1868, and IN
place the very heart OF the India
~ country with every separate trlb
~ ranging between the Yellowstone an
% the Brazos, either restless or openI
" ON the war.path Rumors OF atrocltie
VI we're being retold the length an
- breadth OF the border and every r,
10 port drifting In to either fort or sci
Element only added TO the alarm. Fo
once at least the Plains Indians hn
discovered a common cause. tribal di
70 ferences had been adjusted ia wa
~ against the white invaders and Kit
40 was, Comanohes, Arapahoes. Chez
a. ennes and Sioux had become welde
y, together In savage brotherhood r
oppose them were the scattered an
unorganized settlers lining the NOR
", eastern streams, guarded by small d,
" taohments Of regular troops poste
~ here and there amid that broad wi
W demess, scarcely within touch OF eac
sl other
u Everywhere beyond these lines q
patrol wandered roaming war 2artieI