Gunnison news-champion., 1913-04-11
cAAprEe X.
The Ripeaino - Aesusiatsaes.


steps to be entirely concealed, yet so
situated as to command view across
the muddy stream. The sun had not
risen above the horizon. but the gray
dawn gave misty revealment Of the
sluggish-fowins river. the brown slope
opposite. and the darker shadow of
blufis beyond. The popping of those
distant guns had ceased by the time
they attained heir new position, and
they could distinguish the Indians
mere black dots against 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
viciously, the brown smoke plainly
visible, the advancing savsges 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,
leaped forward with a Wild yell, which
echoed family across the water.
The girl hid her face in the sand
with q half-stified sob, but the Ser.
seant watched grimly, his eyes barely
above the ridge. What would they do
when they discovered the dead bodies
when they realized that others had
eluded their vigilance during the
night? Would they b able to trace
them, or would his ruse succeed OF
course their savage cunning would
track them ss far 40 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 q crossing. would any
warriors among hem 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 hey were caught. IL
the Indiana suspected the truth and
esssyed the passage. Behind them
vas sand. ridge after ridge, o. far as
the eye could discern, and every step
they took in nirht would leave its
plain trail. And noW the test wos at
hand.
He 80 them crosl about the coach,
leapins and yellins sitA fury: watched
them 3erh open he Aoor, and drag
forth the two dssl bodies. dancing
about them, lii. - many Demons.
brsndishinO their 0sas. 4 moment
they vere bunehee thus. their ~ild
yelling shrill ~ith triumph; then some
among them bross evay. bending low
- they circled in aoainst the bluff
They kne~ ALREADY that there had
been others in the stage, others Who
had escaped They Nere seeking the
trsil. Suddenly ons Strengthened up
gesticulatinG, and the others rushed
toward him-they had found the
"sien," They ve~ silent now. those
main trsilers. two OF them on hands
and knees. Only back where the
bodies lay some remained yelling and
dancing furious Then they also. in
response 10 q shout and the wave of Q
blanketed arm. scattered. running
west toward the gully. There was no
hesitancy now some savage instinct
seemed to tell hem where the fugi-
tives had gone Thsy dragged the dead
warrior from the ditch, screaming saw
aeely at the scovery A dozen
scrambled for The river bank. Others
ran for the POM herd, while one or
two remained baside the dead warrior
Even at that dstsnce Hamlin could
distinguish Roman Nose. and tell what
we're his order by every gesture o.
his arm. The =argeant grssped tn
-z-ps hand. his 1En eyes barely abora
-a sand ridge. his lips whispering
back
o. don't r--e; I'll tel yo1 ever
Tho has been gurred ard
hey are coming Wiz