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

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.
II 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 barre en-, wind-swept ridges and shall
low valleys choked with snow. Not a
tree, not a shrub, not even a rock
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 a hill.
Hamlin Swallowed his ayes with gloved
hands, studying intently inch by incl
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 a shadow there, and they are
not moving. Here; draw in back of
me; now you can see. 1t looks as
though they had a horse down."
Hughes stared long In the direction
indicated, his eyes narrowed into mere
Sits.
"Ah! that's it," he said a. last.
Horse broke a leg; shot 1t jest then
I seen the flash. Now they're goin'
on. See! One fellow climbin' up be-
hind mother, an the horse left lynn
thar on the snow"
How many people do you make
out?" and Hamlin's voice shook a lit
tie. There's four, amt there?"
At that distance the fugitives 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 a deliberate inspec-
ton, without so much as turning his
head.
"Thar's four; leastwise thar was
four bosses, and two-the Injuns like
ly-are ridin' double. Thar animals
are bout played, 1t looks ter me-just
able ter crawl. Amt had no fodder Is
bout the size o. It. We ought to be
able ter head tibet bunch off fore they
git to the Canadian at tibet rate O.
travel-hey. Sergeant?"
Hamlin's eyes followed the long
sweep Of the cross-ridge, studying It's
trend. and the direction of the inter-
vening valleys. Once down on the
other slope all this extensive view
would be hidden; they would have to
ride blindly, guessing at the particular
swale along which those others were
advancing. To come to the summit
again would surely expose them to
those keen Indian eyes. They would
be searching the trail ahead ceaseless-
ly, noting every object along the
crests Of the ridges. However. II the
passage around was not blocked with
snow. they ought to attain the junction
In ample time. With twice as far
to travel. their ponies were strong and
1T and should win out against lie
Fevre's starved beasts. He waved his
gloved hand.
"we1l try It," he said. shortly;
come on. Hughes"
He led on along the steep side of
the hill, and forcing his horse into a
sharp trot, headed straight out into
the white wilderness; Hughes, with
out uttering a word. brought down his
quirt on his pony's flank and fol
lowed.
TITO he CONTINIJED.1