Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1912-05-17
CHAPTER I.
The Plalnsnan,


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 WEAKNESS, but
every movement Of the latter showed
-ceaseless vigilance. his glance roam
ing the barren ridges. brown VIM
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
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 a deep chest, sitting
the saddle easily In plainsman fash
ION, yet with an erectness of carriage
which suggested military training.
fThe face under the wide brim OF the
weather-worn SLOUGH hat was clean
itshaven, Drowned by sun and wind,
land strongly marked, the chin slight
nv prominent, the mouth firm. the gray
eyes full of character and daring. His
dress was that of rough service, plain
Heather chaps" showing marks OF
hard usage, gray wooden shirt turn
bed low at the neck with kerchief
tknotted loosely about the sinewy
bronzed throat. At one hip dangled
the holster of "forty-fve," on the
pther hung a 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 ut
.snto his wild environment.
Where he rode was the very west
Eern extreme Of the prairie country,
billowed like the sea, and from off the
crest of its higher ridges, the wide
level sweep of the plains was visible,
extending like a vast brown ocean to
the foothills of the far-away noun
1tains. Yet the actual commencement
4of that drear, barren expanse was
fully ten miles distant, while all
Iabout where he rode the conformation
WAS irregular, comprising narrow val
1eys and swelling mounds, with here
land there sharp ravine, riven from
1the rock and invisible until one drew
up startled at its very brink. The
general trend of depression was un-
1doubtedly southwark leading toward
1.-THE valley of the Arkansas, yet irregu-
liar 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
1Buidance-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
igreener depressions lying between,
hnterspersed by patches of sand or the
white CLEAN Of alkali. 1t was a
+dreary, deserted land, parched under
tthe hot summer sun, frightened by no
vegetation, excepting sparse punches
fof buffalo grass or an occasional
fstunted sage bush, and disclosing no
where the slightest sign of human
thabitation
The rising sun Redeemed the crest
fof the hills, and the rider, hating bis
willing horse, sat motionless, gazing
steadily into the southwest. Appar
Eently he perceived nothing there I'm.
usual, for he slowly turned his body
about In the saddle. sweeping his
teyes. inch by inch. along the line OF
1.-THE horizon, until the entire circuit
had been completed. Then his com
pressed lips smiled slightly, his hand
funconsciously patting the horses
meek.
81 reckon we're still alone, old girl
y ihe said quietly bit of Southern
sdrawl in the voice. "Well try fol-
the trail. and take 1t easy"
He swung stiffly out of the saddle
and with reins dangling over his
shoulder, began the slower advance
ON foot, the exhausted horse trailins
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
%COoCu uoW Win IcucWeu commence
1t 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
were being retold the length and
breadth of the border, and every re
port drifting in to either fort or set
Element only added to the alarm Fol
once at least the Plains Indians hac
discovered common cause, tribal diff
ferences had been adjusted in wal
against the white invaders, and Kio
was, Comanches. Arapahoes, Chey
ennes and Sioux had become welded
together in savage brotherhood. Tt
oppose them were the scattered ant
unorganized settlers lining the more
eastern streams, guarded by small de
tachments Of regular troops posted
here and there amid that broad will
derness scarcely within touch of eaci
other
Everywhere beyond these lines o.