The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1912-07-22
CHAPTER xxvlIi.-continued,

Il say. Cap" he said. jerking the
words out to the mules hard trot. and
grasping his saddle pommel desper-
ately, Il sorter reckon as how ther'II
be some fun back thar afore long less
all signs fail"
Why?" l stared at him. now thor
oughly aroused to the thought that
he had important news to communi-
cate.
WAL" he explained slowly, "whin
We whit OF. l sorter TUX a notion ter
look bout bit. Used ter be an Oh
stomptn' ground O. mine. So Dutchy
an me clumb tibet big hill back O.
whar we halted. and by gum, down
thar in Their gully on t. other side
thar's burned big camp o fellers"
refined up short. and with uplifted
hand signalled the men behind to
halt
why didn't you tell me this be.
fore?" l questioned sternly. How
many were there? and what did they
look like?'
He scratched the back Of his head
thoughtfully. and answered with care
full elaboration. "Durn 1t, l didn't
jine We till after I'd started, an |
reckon as how 1t took me all O, tew
mile ter git this yere blame muel up
ter whar ! cud talk. Thar's quite a
smart bunch, but they had some pick
cts out, an ! cudn't git close 'nough
ter tell zackly. Dutchy thought thar
wus nigh onter two hundred O. 'em,
but l jist don't know. They wusnt
dressed like sojers O. either army, an
l reckon they're out O Their hills"
glanced at my little handful OF
men, scarcely knowing what decision
1t might be wise to make Undoubt.
eddy they would fight If occasion
arose. but the odds were terribly
heavy; besides. If Brennan came. and
his party got away that same even.
ing. as was planned for; them to do,
then 1t might not be necessary for us
to strike blow. | was certainly in
no mood to expose my small command
merely to save the empty house from
destruction.
"Ebers." l said. turning toward the
Sergeant. who sat his horse with OK.
pressionless face. '"you were with the
guide when he discovered this camp
How many do you think 1t contained !
and who were they?"
vel, dere vos more as two gom.
panies. Captain. und dere vos some
horses. but dey vos dressed-vot you
calls it?-all ober not ner same"
Not In uniform"
dot vos it"
Have any Of the rest of you seen
anything that looked suspicious?"
asked. glancing around into the diff
ferent faces.
Maybe did," answered one of the
troopers named Earl. LAS we rode up
the first hill after leaving the house
my horse picked up stone. and had
to stop and get 1t out l reckon fell
behind a quarter Of mile or more
and just as ! started looked back
and a party OF ten or twelve fellows
was just riding In through them big
gates onto the front lawn. But them
fellows was soldiers for sure; they
rode regular like. and all of them
wore caps. 1t was so far OF / couldn't
tell the color Of their clothes. but
them caps made me think they was
Feds"
chose my course at once This un
doubtedly must have been Brennan's
party.
Thank you, my man: 1t would have
been better If you had reported that
tn ,pe Mt once" l said "However
understand the situation much better
now. Sergeant, We will go into camp
here. Post pickets in both directions
but put your most careful men OF
that hill yonder. Let them report
promptly any signs Of IRE to the
southeast. or any sound of guns"
We completed all our cooking be