The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-02-06

where he had run down the opposite
side Of the hill. There had been only
one-a white man from the imprint
and he had fed south. vanishing in
the smother.
It required an effort for the Ser.
geant to recover, to realize his true
position, and the meaning of this mys-
FERROUS attack. He was no longer
numb with cold or staggering from
weakness. The excitement had sent
the hot blood pulsing through his
veins; had brought back to his heart
the fighting instinct. Every desire
urged him forward, clamoring for re-
venge, but the aroused sense of a
plainsman held him motionless, star
ing about, listening for any sound. Be-
hind him, down there in, the hollow,
were huddled the horses Of his out
fit, scarcely distinguishable from
where he stood If he should venture
farther off, he might never be able
to find way back again. Even In the
gray light of dawn he could see moth
ing distinctly a dozen yards distant.
And WATSON had the compass. This
was the thought which brought him
tramping back through the drifts
WATSON! Wade was dead, Carroll
little better, but the scout might have
been only slightly wounded. He wad-
ed through tho snow to where the
man lay, face downward, his face still
gripping the rein. Before Hamlin
turned him over, he saw the jagged
wound and knew death had been in.
Simultaneous. He stared down at the
white face, already powdered with
snow; then glared about into the
murky distances, revolver ready for
action, every nerve throbbing. God!
II he ever met the murderer! Then
swift reaction came, and he buried his
eyes on the neck of the nearest horse,
and his body shook with half-sup.
pressed sobs. The whole horror of 1t
gripped him in that instant, broke his
iron will, and left him weak as a child.
But the mood did not last. Little
by little he gained control, stood up
again in the snow, and began to
think. He was man, and must do
mans work. With an oath he forced
thrust it back into the holster at his
hip, and, with one parting glance at
poor Sam, plowed across through the
drifts to Carroll. He realized now his
duty, the thing he must strive to &C.
complish. Wade and WATSON were
gone; no human effort could aid them,
but Carroll lived, and might be saved.
And it was for him alone now to serve
Molly. The sudden apprehension OF
all this stung like the lash of whip,
transformed him again into fighter,
a soldier of the sort who refuses to
acknowledge defeat. His eyes dark.
ened, his lips pressed together in q
straight line.
Carroll lay helpless, inert, his head
hanging down against the neck of his
horse. The Sergeant jerked him erect.
roughly beating him into conscious.
ness; nor did he desist until the fell
lows eyes opened in a dull stare.
"Ill pound the life out OF you unless
you brace up, George" he muttered.
That's right-get mad if you want to
1t will do you no good. Wait until ]
get that quirt; that will set your blood
moving. No! Wake UP! Die, moth
ing! See here, man, there's the river
just ahead"
He picked up his glove, undid the
reins from Wasson's stif1ened fingers,
and urged the horses forward. Carroll
lurched drunkenly in the saddle, yet
retained sufficient life to cling to the
pommel, and thus the outfit plunged
blindly forward into the storm, leav.
ing the dead men where they lay.
There was nothing else to do; Ham
Inns heart choked him as he plowed