Eastern Colorado times., 1913-04-04
CHAPTER viI-contlnusd.


CHAPTER vll-Contlnued.
Certain facts were clear-to remain
meant death. torture for him II they
were taken alive. end worse than
death for her. Precipitation burst out
upon his face at the thought. Mol
Great God! not that; he would kill
her himself nrst. Yet this was the
truth, the truth to be faced. The
nearest available troops were at
Dodge, . 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
neyer have lighted that IRE nor re-
NAMED on guard. Moreover II the two
of them should succeed In stealing
forth from the shelter Of the coach,
should skulk unseen amid the dense
blackness Of the overhanging BLUM.
eluding the watchers. what would it
profit In the end? Their trail would
be clear; with the first gray Of dawn
those savage trackers 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 rihe-barrel In an
agony of indecision, his eyes perceiv-
ing the silhoutte of the girl against
the, lighter arc of sky. No. not that
not thatl 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 faint hope,
a dim recollection Of that narrow gul-
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-
ficient depth to hide them In the dark
ness. He was uncertain how far 1t
extended, but at some time 1t 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 lit" she questioned.
startled. do you see anything? Are
they coming"
mo, no." almost impatiently. ut Is
still as death out there, but almost
believe 1 have discovered means OF
escape. Do you remember gully we
ran over while was on top Of the
stage?"
II am not sure; was 1t when that
awful Jolt came?"
"Yes, 1t fung-me to the foot-board
Just when had untangled the lines.
We could not have travelled a dozen
yards farther before we struck this
bluff-could wei"
"I hardly think 3d." yet evidently
bewildered by his rapid questioning.
"Only l was so confused and fright
ened I can scarcely remember. Why
are you SO anxious to know?"
because" he returned earnestly.
bending toward her. Il believe that
cash in the earth Is going to get US
out of here. Anyhow it is the only
chance can figure. If we can creep
through to the river, undiscovered, I'll
agree to leave Mister Indian guessing
as to where we've gone"
The new note of animation in the
mans voice aroused her, but she
erasped his arm tighter.
"But-but, oh, can we? Won't they
be hiding there too?"
.It's chance, that's all-but better
than waiting here for certainty
See 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
out the game, "the trend Of that gulf
is to the west; except up here close
to the bluff 1T runs too far away for
guard line. The Indians will be lying
out here on the open prairie; they will
creep as close in as they dare under
cover Of darkness. Ill bet there are