The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1913-08-15
CHAPTER vti.-Contlnued.

vtI.-Contlnueo.
Certain facts were clear-to remain
meant death. torture for him II they
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. q company OF infantry. II they
started at once they could never ar
rive In time TO prevent an attack at
daybreak. The Indians undoubtedly
knew this, realized the utter helpless
ness Of their victims. and were acting
accordingly. Otherwise they would
never have lighted that fire nor re-
manned on guard. Moreover II the two
Of them should succeed In stealing
forth from the shelter Of the coach,
blackness Of the overhanging bluff,
eluding 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. on foot, utterly helpless
even to fight.
The mans hands clenched and un-
clenched about his rifle-barrel In m
agony Of indecision, his eyes perceiv-
Ing the silhoutte of the girl against
the lighter arc Of sky. No. not that
not that! They must hide their trail,
leave behind M faintest trace of pass
age for these hounds to follow. Yet
how could the miracle be accom-.
plished7 Out from the mists OF tor.
kured memory came, az q faint hope.
D dim recollection Of that narrow gul.
~ cutting straight down across the
trail, yer which the runaway had
crashed in full gallop. That surely
could not be far back. and was of sui
11cient depth to hide them In the dark
ness. He raj uncertain how far II
extended, but at some time 1t had
been q water-course and must have
reached the river. And the river
would hide their traili A new hope
aprang into his eyes. lie felt the sud
den Strengthening up Of his body.
"What-what II 1T" she questioned
startled. do you zee anything? Are
they comingf"
mo, no." almost impatiently. 1T ii
still q death out there, but l almost
believe l have discovered q means o
escape. Do you remember 4 gully We
a over while l wal on top OF thu
stagef"
Il am not sure: was It when tina,
awful Jolt camel"
Yes. It flung me 70 the foot-boart
just when | had untangled the lines
We could not have travelled q dozer
yards farther before W struck thii
Iblu6-could we1"
II hardly think So" yet evidently
Fbewildered By his rapid questioning
only / was % confused and fright
Aned l can scarcely remember. WHY
are you % anxious to know?"
'Because." he returned earnestly
bending toward her. r believe thai
cash In the earth ID going to get III
out Of here. Anyhow It ID the only
chance / can figure. II we can Greer
through to the river, undiscovered. m
agree to Leave Mister Indian guessing
- 70 whore we've gone"
The new note Of animation n the
mans voice aroused her, but che
grasped his arm tighter.
'But-but. oh, - wof Wont they
be hiding there too?"
Its I chance. that's all-but better
than waiting here for Z certainty.
Bee here, Miss Mcdonald" and he
caught her hand IN his own, forgetful
of all save his own purpose and the
necessity Of strengthening her to play
ont the game. the trend Of that gulf
~ 70 the west: except up here close
ia the blum 1t runs too far away for q
guard nne. The Indians will be lying
out here on the open prairie: they will
creep - close II - they dare under
poYor Of darkness. I'll bet there are
kWonty rcd snakes now within . hun
ND feot of us-oh, don't shiver and
MAKE SOMETHING or LIFE