The citizen., 1913-09-12

nI 49,
clouds, black and ominous.
lhey advanced thus for two hours,
making no attempt to force their ami
mas and scarcely exchanging a word
ooth men watchful of the snow under.
ioot IN search of a possible trail. when
',ie character of the country began to
cnange. The level plain broke into
a series of ridges of irregular forma.
tloh' all evidently heading toward
some more southern valley. In the de.
pFesslons the snow lay banked in deep
TITUS, and, after plunging desperately
through two of these, unable to Judge
correctly in the dim light where to
ride. Hughes turned more to the
south, skirting along the bare slope of
ridge, trusting some turn lower
down would yield them the necessary
westerning
Its over the ponies heads down
thar. Sergeant" he said, pointing side.
ways into the dark hollow, an we're
bound to strike a cross-ridge afore we
come to the bluffs"
What bluffs? The Canadian"
Yep; it's badly broken kentry a
long ways west O. yere. Bad lands
mostly, an hell o a place for cattle
to hide out"
Hughes, do you know where Black
Kettles camp is?"
We'll. no. not exactly. Las winter
the Cheyennes was settled bout op-
posite the mouth O. Buffalo creek, an
thar re down thar somewhar now.
Thar S one thing sure-they amt any
east O. thet. AS we amt hit no trail,
| reckon as how lie Fevre's outfit
must hev drifted further then calc'la-
ted"
Il thought so at the time," COM
mented the other. quietly. However,
we will have to make the circle, and,
{ the country out yonder is as you de-
scribe, they will be no better off.
They'll have to follow the ridges to
get through. We may get a glimpse
when daylight comes"
They rode on steadily, keeping down
below the crest of the hills, yet pick
ing a passage where the snow had
been swept clear The slipperiness of
the incline made their progress slow,
as they dared not risk the breaking of
| a horses leg in that wilderness, and
the faint glimmer was most confusing.
The wind had ceased. the calm was
impressive after the wild tumult, but
the cold seemed to strengthen as the
dawn advanced. viciously biting the
exposed faces of the men. The strain
| ing ponies were white with frost. In
| the gray of a cheerless dawn they
reached the first line of bluffs. and
drew rein just below the summit,
where they could look off across the
lower ridges to the westward
1t was a wild, desolate scene. the
dull gray sky overhead. the black and
white shading below. Mile on mile
the picture unrolled to the horizon,
the vista widening slowly as the light
increased, bringing forth the details
of barren, windsweDt ridges and shall
low valleys choked with snow. Not
tree. not shrub, not even rock
broke the dead monotony. All was
loneliness and silence. The snow lay
cleaning and untrampled, except as
here and there a dull brown patch OF
dead grass darkened the side of hill.
Hamlin shadowed his eyes with gloved
hands, studying intently inch by inch
the wide domain. Suddenly he arose
in his stirrups, bending eagerly for
ward.
by heaven There they are.
Hughes" he exclaimed, feeling the hot
blood course through his veins. See,
on the incline of that third ridge.
There is shadow there, and they are
not moving. Here; draw in back of
me, now you can see 1t looks as
though they had horse down.
Hughes stared long in the direction
indicated, his eyes narrowed into mere
slits.
"Ah. that's it," he said at last.
Horse broke leg; shot it jest then
| seen the flash. Now they're goin'
on. See! One fellow climbin' up be-
hind mother, an the horse left lyin'
thar on the snow"
How many people do you make
out?" and Hamlin's voice shook lit
tie. There's four, amt there%
At that distance the fugtives looked
like mere black dots. 1t could scarce
ly be determined that they moved,
and yet their outlines were distinct
against the background of white snow,
while the two watchers possessed the
trained vision OF the plains. Hughes
answered after deliberate inspec-
tion. without so much as turning his
head.
"Thar's four; leastwise thar was
four hosses. and two-the Injuns like
ly-are ridin' double. Thar animals
are bout played, it looks ter me-1ust
able ter crawl. Amt had no fodder Is
bout the size o. It, We ought to be
able ter head thet bunch off fore they
git to the Canadian at thet rate o
travel-hey. SergeantT
Hamlin's eyes followed the long
sweep of the cross-rdge, studying Its
trend. and the direction of the inter
yening valleys. Once down on the
other slope all this extensive view
would be hidden; they would have 10
ride blindly, guessing at the particular
syale along which those others were
advancing. To come to the summit
again would surely expose them 10
those keen Indian eyes. They would
he searching the trail ahead ceaseless-
-. .,, obiact along the