Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1913-05-01
A TALE gcMe
FRONTIER
By
RANDALL PARRISH
ulustra tions by
v. L. BARNES

Copyright, 1912, by A. @. McClurg q Co.
No; therein be two horses to keep
you company. You've got a snap,
man; plenty to eat. and good fire
what more do you want-a nurse?
Hughes, what, in the name of Heaven.
are you standing there for? Perhaps
you would like to have me stir you
up. l will If those horses are not here
In ten minutes"
The cowman, muf1ed 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
Tor the saddles. He thrust the COW
mans rife under his own Zap, but
handed the latter a revolver, staring
straight into his eyes az he did 80.
Il reckon you and have got enough
In common In this chase to play
square," he said grimly. We're both
ont after LIE Fevre, amt wef"
"You bet"
All right, then; here's your gun. II
you try any t1dckery, 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 sergeant's steady gaze.
Il amt thet Sort" he muttered un-
easily. Yer don't need to think thet
o. me-"
Maybe not" and Hamlin swung
into the saddle carelessly. "Only
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 the 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
crepe up the sharp incline of the op-
poslte shore, appearing distinct
against the sky as they attained the
summit. Hamlin waved his hand, and
then, on 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
shaggy, grotesque appearance in
the spectral light reflected from the
snow. Without word Hamlin fol.
lowed, a pace behind. Their route lay
Tor the first few miles across com.
paratively level plateau, over which
the fierce wind Of the late storm had
sW spt with such violence as to leave
the surface packed firm. The night
shut them in silently, giving to their
immediate surroundings a mournfu]
loneliness most depressing. There
were no shadows, only the dull snow
gleam across which they passed like
spectres, the only sound the crunchine
OF their horses hoofs on the crust
Tae Sergeant. staring about, felt that
ne had never looked upon more de
pressing spectacle than this gloomy
landscape. desolate and wind-swept
still oyerarched with low-lying storm
clouds. black and ominous.
They advanced thus for two hours
making no attempt to force their ami
mails, and scarcely exchanging word
both men watchful of the snow under
foot In search Of possible trail, when
the character of the country began tc
change. The level plain broke into
a 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, sklrt1ng along the bare slope OF
g ridge, trusting some turn lower
down would yield them the necessary
westerning.
TITS over the ponies heads down
thar, Sergeant" he said, pointing side
ways into the dark hollow, ian we're
bound to strike cross-ridge afore we
come to the bluffs"
What bluffs? The Canadian?"
yep; it's badly broken kentry al
long ways west O. yere. Bad lands
mostly, an hell o. place for cattle
to hide out"
Hughes. do you know where Black
Kettles camp is?"
well, no, not exactly. Las winter
the Cheyennes was settled bout op