Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1913-06-19

I
they attained heir new position, and
they could distinguish the Indians
mere black dots sgainst the brown
slope-advancing in a semicircle to
ward the silent stage. Evidently they
were puzzled, fearful OF some trickery
for occasionally a gun would crack
vioiously, the brown smoke plainly
visible, the advancing savages halting
to observe the effect Then a bright
colored blanket was waved aloft as
though In signal, and the entire body
converging toward the deserted coach
leapcd forward with wild yell, which
echoed family across the water.
The girl hid her face in the sand
with half-stifled sob, but the Ser
geant watched grimly, his eyes barely
above the ridge. What would they dc
when they discovered the dead bodies
when they realized that others had
eluded their vigilance during the
night? Would they be able to trace
them, or would his ruse succeed? Of
course their savage cunning would
track them as far as the river-there
was no way In which he could have
successfully concealed the trail made
down the gully. or the marks left on
the sandy bank. But would they imag
Inc he had dared to cross the broad
stream, burdened with the girl, con
! fronting almost certain death in the
quicksand? Would they not believe
rather that he had waded along the
waters edge headed west, hoping thus
to escape to the bluffs. where some
hiding place might be found? Even II
they suspected crossing, would any
warriors among them be reckless
enough to follow? Would they not be
more apt to believe that both fugitives
had been sucked down into the treach,
erous stream? Almost breathless Ham.
lin watched, these thoughts coursing
through his mind. realizing the dead.
ly trap in which they were caught, II
the Indians suspected the truth and
essayed the passage. Behind them
was sand, ridge after ridge, as far as
the eye could discern, and every step
they took in fight would leave its
plain trail. And now the test was at
hand
He saw them crowd ABOUT the coach,
leaping and yelling with fury; watched
them jerk open the door, and drag
forth the two dead bodies, dancing
about them, like so many demons.
brandishing their guns. A moment
they we're punched thus, their wild
| yelling shrill with triumph; then some
among them broke away, bending low
as they circled in against the bluff.
They knew already that there had
been others In the stage, others who
had escaped. They we're seeking the
trail. Suddenly one Strengthened up
| gesticulating, and the others rushed
toward him-they had found the
"sign!" They we're silent now, those
main trailers, two Of them on hands
and knees. Only back where the
bodies lay some remained yelling and
dancing furiously. Then they also. In
response to a shout and the wave of a
blanketed arm, scattered, running
west toward the gully. There was no
hesitancy now; some savage instinct
seemed to tell them where the fugi-
tives had gone. They dragged the dead
warrior from the ditch. screaming saw
agely at the discovery. A dozen
scrambled for the river bank, others
ran for the pony herd. while one or
two remained beside the dead warrior.
Even at that distance Hamlin could
distinguish Roman Nose, and tell what
we're his orders by every gesture Of
| bfa or,n THE Caroaant oroanad tho
girls hand, his own eyes barely above
the sand ridge. his lips whispering
back.
mo, don't move; I'll tell you every.
thing. The stage has been Quilted and
set on fire. Now they are coming with
the ponies. Most of them are direct
ly opposite studying the marks we
left on the sand OF the bank. Yes.
they look across here, tut the chief is
sure we have gone the other way; he
is waving his hand up the river now.
and talking. Now he Is getting on his
horse; there are ten or twelve of
them. One fellow is pointing across
here, but no one agrees with him.
Now Roman Nose is giving orders.
Hear that yell! They're off now, rid
Ing up stream, flashing their ponies in
to a run. All of them? No; quite a
bunch are going back to the coach.
don't believe they are going to hang
around here long, though. for they are
driving in all their ponies"
But won't those others come back
when they discover we have not gone
up the river?"
II wish l could answer that" he re.
piled earnestly. But 1t all depends
on what those devils know of the
whereabouts OF troops. They are North.
ern Indians, and must have broken
through the scouting details sent out
from Wallace and Dodge. Some Of the
boys are bound to be after them, and
, there is more chance for them to gel
: back safely along the mountains than
in the other direction. don't sup
! pose an Indian in the bunch was ever
south of the Arkansas. Wait! Those
I fellows are going to move now; going
I for good, too-they are taking the
: dead Indians with them"
They we're little more than black
. dots at that distance, yet the sun was
up by this time and his keen vision
could distinguish every movement.
Creep up here, and you can see
ALSO" he said quietly. They are far
enough away now so that 1t is SAFE"
There was a moment OF breathlesi
quiet, the two fugitives peering eau
tiously over the sand ridge. To tht
girl IT was a confusion Of figures rush
ing back and forth about the smoking
ruins of the stage; occasionally fain
yell echoed across the river, and she
could distinguish savage on his
pony gesticulating as he rode bach
and forth. But the Sergeant compre