The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-02-13

NoAS oAocc aho UAAIIkOs I6AA
to the sandy edge of the river. which
flowed silently In a broad, shallow,
yellow flood beneath the star CLEAN.
Under the protection Of that bank, but
somewhat to the left, where a handful
Of stunted cottonwood trees had found
precarious foothold in the sand,
cleaned the solitary Indian fire.
About its embers, no doubt, squatted
the chiefs and older warriors, feast
Ing and taking council. while the
younger bucks lay, rifles in hand,
along the night-enshrouded slope,
their cruel, vengeful eyes seeking to
distinguish the outlines Of the coach
against the black curtain of the bluff.
This had proven thus far their sal
vation-that steep uplift Of earth
against which the stage had crashed
in It's mad dash-for It's pr~ecipitant
front had compelled the savages to at
tack from one direction only, a slight
%overhang. not unlike a roof, making it
impossible ven to shoot down from
above. But this same sharp incline
was not likewise q preventive Of es-
cape. Hamlin shook his head as he
recalled to mind its steep ascent,
without root or shrub to cling to. No,
1t would never do to attempt that; not
with her. Perhaps alone he might
scramble up comehow, but with her
the feat would be impossible. He dis
missed this as hopeless, his memory
Of their surroundings drifting from
point to point aimlessly. He saw the
whole barren vista as 1t last stood re-
vealed under the glow Of the sun-the
desolate plateau above, stretching
away into the dim north, the brown
level Of the plains. broken only by
sharp assures in the surface, treeless,
extending for unnumbered leagues. To
east and west the valley, now scarcely
more green than those upper plains,
bounded by its verdureless bluffs, a
c%rookedly, following the river course,
it's only sign of white dominion the
rutted trail. Beyond the stream there
extended miles of white sand-dunes,
Enthusiastically shapen by the wind,
gradually changing into barren plains
of alkali. Between crouched the Wig
liant Indian sentinels, alert and re-
vengeful.
Certain facts were clear-to remain
meant death, torture for him II they
were taken alive, and worse than
death for her. Precipitation burst out
upon his face at the thought. No!
Great God! not that; he would kill
her himself first. Yet this was the
truth, the truth to be faced. The
nearest available troops were at
Dodge, a company Of infantry. If they
started at once they could never ar
rive In time to prevent an attack at
d~aybreak. The Indians undoubtedly
knew this, realized the utter helpless
ness Of their victims, and were acting
accordingly. Otherwise they would
never have lighted hat fire nor re-
NAMED on guard. Moreover II the two
Of them should succeed in stealing
forth from the shelter of the coach,
should skulk see amid the dense
blackness of the o%verhanging bluff,
GLIDING the watchers, what would 1t
profit In the end? Their trail would
be clear; with the first gray Of dawn
those savage crackers would be at
work, and they would be trapped in
the open, or foot. utterly helpless
e to fight.
The mans hands clenched and TN
clenched about his rifle-barrel In an
agony of indecision. his eyes perceiv-
inc tho of1hnrtto 10 Tho civil anoincf
the lighter arc of sky. No, not that
not that! They must hide their trail,
leave behind no faintest trace of pass
age for these hounds to follow. Yet
how could the miracle be accom-
plished? Out from the mists Of tor
tured memory came, as a faint hope,
a dim recollection of that narrow gull
ly cutting straight down across the
trail, over which the runaway had
crashed in full gallop. That surely
could not be far back, and was of suf-
fcient depth to hide them in the dark
ness. He was uncertain how far 1t
extended, but at some time it had
been a water-course and must have
reached the river. And the river
would hide their trail! A new hope
sprang into his eyes. He felt the sud-
den Strengthening up of his body.
"What-what is it," she questioned,
startled. do you see anything? Are
they coming"
mo, no." almost impatiently. 1T is
still az death out there, but I almost
believe / have discovered a mean of
escape. Do you remember a gully we
ran owe while I was on top of the
stage?"
81 am not sure; was 1t when that
awful Jolt Gamer"
"Yes, 1t flung me to the foot-board
Just when I had untangled the lines.
We could not have travelled q dozen
yards farther before we struck this
~blun-could wef"
Il hardly think 20" yet evidently
bewildered By his rapid questioning.
only ! was 30 confused and fright
ened I can scarcely remember. Why
you 20 anxious 70 knowf"
Because" he returned earnestly.
bending toward her. Il believe that