The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1912-06-07
CHAPTER II
Tn. Scene o, TRAGEDY

The Scene Of Tragedy
Whatever might be tho nature OF
the tragedy II would be over with long
before this. and those moving black
spots away yonder to the west. that
be had discerned from the blun vero
undoubtedly the departing raiders.
There was nothing left for Keith to
do except determine the fate OF the
unfortunates. and give their bodies de
cent burial That any had escaped.
or yet lived. was altogether unlikely.
unless. perchance. women had been In
the party. In which case they would
have been borne away prisoners.
Confident that no hostiles would be
Lsft behind to observe his movements.
Keith pressed steadily forward. lead
Ing his horse. lie had thus trayerscd
fully half a mile before coming upon
any evidence OF n fight-here the pur
suers had apparently come up with
tho wagons. and circlod out upon
either side. From their ponies tracks
thsre must have been n dozen In tho
band Perhaps hundred yards furth'
or along lay two dead pouieH Keith
examined them closely both had
boon ridden with saddles. the marks
OF the cinches plainly visible. Evil
scntly one OF tho wagon mules had
also dropped in the traces here. and
had been dragged along by his mates.
Just beyond came n sudden depression
In the prairie down which the wagons
had plunged 40 heavily as to break
one OF the axles: the wheel lay few
yards away. and. somewhat TO the
right there lay the wreck OF the wag
on itself. two dead mules still in tho
traces. the vehicle stripped Of con.
tents and charred by FIRE. A hundred
feet further along was the other
wagon. it's tongue broken. the canvas
top ripped open. while between the
two were scattered odds and ends Of
wearing apparel and provisions. with
q pile OF boxes smoking grimly. Tho
remaining mules were gone. and no
semblance OF life remained anywhere.
Keith dropped his reins over his
horses head. and. with Winchester
cooked and ready, advanced eau
tiously.
Death from violence had long since
become almost n commonplace occur
renee to Keith. yet now he shrank for
an instant as his eyes perceived the
figure OF a man lying motionleHH
across the broken wagon tongue. The
grizzled hair and beard were streaked
with blood. the face almost unrecog
nizable. while the hands yet graspcd
bent and shattered rife Evidently
the man had died lighting. beaten
down by overwhelming numbers after
expanding his last shot Then thos,
fends had scalped and left him wher,
he fell. Fifty feet beyond. shot IN
the back. lay younger man. doubled
up In a heap. also scalped and dead
That was all. Keith secuted over q
vide circle. even scanning the stretch
OF gravel under the river bank. befor,
hs could fully satisfy himself Their,
voro no others In the party II seem
Cd impossible that these two travelling
alone would have ventured upon suci
. trip in the face OF known IndiaI
hostility. Yet they must have don,
%, and once again his lips muttered
-Of all the blame FOOLS"
Suddenly he halted. staring Rbou
ovor the prairie, obsessed by a new
thought, an aroused suspicion, Their
had appeared merely the hoof.print
OF the one horse alongside OF tho fee
ing wagons when they first turN,
out from the trail. and that horse Ia
been newly shod But there were tw
dead ponies lying back yonder: Meth
er shod. yet both had borne saddles
More than this, they had been spur
red. the blood marks still plainly VII
ible. and one OF them was branded
he remembered II now. a star and al
row. What could all this portend
Was II possible this attack was n
Indian AFFAIR after all! Was the dill
figuring OF bodies. the scalping. mer,
ly done TO make II appear the act O
sayages1 Driven TO investigation
this suspicion, he passed again owe
the trRmpled ground. marking thi
time every separate indentation. e'
cry faintest imprint OF hoof or foo
There Was no impression Of a moccI
ain anywhere: every mark remainin
was OF booted feet, Tho inferenc
was sufficiently plain this had bee
the deed OF white men. not OF red; foI
murder. and not savage war.
The knowledge seemed TO sea
Keith's brain with hre, and he spran
10 his feet. hands clinched and eye
blazing lie could have believed thI
OF Indians, II was according TO the
nature, their method OF warfare. b'
the cowardliness OF It, the atrocity
the act. as perpetrated by men OF b
own race, instantly aroused With
him a desire for vengeance. II
wanted 10 run the fellows down,
discover their identity Witho'
thinking OF personal danger he ra
forward on their trail which led d
IcCtIy eastward, along the line