The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-06-19

anu w Coiu. tut on your neaVy
stuff, and bring up the two best
horses. Come. now; you'll step off
quicker than that, Hughes, IL you ride
with me. I'll have everything ready
by the time you get here. Eat! He'll!
Well eat In the saddle! What's that,
Carroll?"
Eye amt a-goin' to leave me yere
alone, are we, ~Sergeant?"
mo; thereTl be two horses to keep
you company. You've got a nj
man; plenty to eat, and a good fire.
what more do you want-a nurse?
Hughes, what, in the name Of Heaven.
are you standing there fort Perhaps
you would like to have me stir you
up. I will if those horses are not here
in ten minutes"
The cowman, muffled to the ears In
q buffalo coat, plunged profanely into
the drift, slamming the door behind
him. Hamlin hastily glanced over the
few articles piled in readiness on the
bench-ammunition. blankets, food.
paying no heed to CAROLS muttering
Of discomfort. BY the time Hughes
returned. he had everything strapped
for the saddles. He thrust the cow
mans rife under his W flap, but
handed the latter a revolver, staring
straight into his eyes as he did 30.
Il reckon you and l have got enough
In common in this chase to play
square," he said grimly. Were both
out after lie Fevre. amt we7"
You bet"
All right, then; here's your gun. II
you try any trickery, Hughes, I'd ad-
wise that you get me the first shot, for
II you miss you'll never have an
other"
The man drew the sleeve of his
coat over his lips, his eyes shifting be-
fore the S%ergeant's steady gaze.
II amt tibet Sort" he muttered I'M
easily. Eyer don't need to think tibet
o. me-"
Maybe not" and Hamlin swung
into the saddle carelessly. only l
thought I'd tell you beforehand what
would happen If you attempt any fool
gun play. Take the lead, you know
the trail"
Carroll. supporting himself by the
table, crept across to the door and
watched them, reckless as to the en-
tering cold. The glare of tbe white
snow revealed clearly the outlines of
the disappearing horsemen, as they
rode cautiously down the bank. The
thin fringe of shore ice broke under
the weight Of the ponies hoofs, as the
riders forced them forward into the
icy water. A moment later the two
crept up the sharp incline Of the op-
posite shore, appearing distinct
against the sky as they attained the
summit. Hamlin waved his hand, and
then, on a lope, the figures vanished
into the gloom. Crying, and swearing
at his helplessness, the deserted SOL
der closed the door, and crept back
shivering into his blankets.
Hughes turned his horses head to
the southwest, and rode steadily for
ward, the buffalo overcoat giving him
a shaggy, grotesque appearance in
the spectral light reflected from the
snow. Without a word Hamlin fol-
lowed, a pace behind. Their route lay
for the first few miles across a COM
p~aratively level plateau, over which
the fierce wind Of the late storm had
swept with such violence as to leave
the surface packed firm. The night
shut them in silently, giving to their
immediate surroundings a mournful
loneliness most depressing. There
were no shadows, only the dull snow
CLEAN across which they passed like
spectres. the only sound the ~crunching
of their horses hoofs on the crust.
The Sergeant, staring about, felt that
he had never looked upon q more de-
pressing spectacle than this gloomy
landscape. desolate and w~ind-swept,
still overarched with lowlying storm
clouds, black and ominous.
They advanced thus for two hours,
making no attempt to force their ami
mails, and scarcely exchanging q word,
both men watchful Of the % under
foot In search Of q possible trail, when
the character of the country began to
change. The level plain broke into
q series Of ridges of irregular forma-
ton, all evidently heading toward
some more southern valley. In the de-
pressions the snow lay banked In deep
riffs. 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
q ridge, trusting some turn lower
down would yield them the necessary
w~esterning.
Its over the ponies heads down
thar. Sergeant" he said, pointing side
ways into the dark hollow. IAN we're
bound to strike q cross-ridge afore we
come tc the bluffs"
what bluffs? The Canadian"
yep; It's badly broken kentry q
long ways west o. we're. Bad lands
mostly, an a hell o. a place for cattle
to hide out"
Hughes, do you know where Black
Kettles camp isf"
well. NO, not exactly. Las winter
the Cheyennes was settled bout op-