The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1913-10-17
cOeyRscHr 1878 eY A.c.Tciueo d co

forward, their heads lowered in utter
~eariness. The girl alone was in sad
die. so wrapped about In blankets as
to be formless. even her face con-
cealed. The manner in which she
swayed to the movement of the pony.
urged IN by one of the Indians. was
evidence that she was bound fast. and
helpless. At sight of her condition
Hamlin felt his old relentless purpose
return. He was plainsman enough to
realize what suffering those men had
passed through before reaching such
extremity. and was quick to appreci-
ate the full meaning OF their eXhaus-
ton, and 70 sympathize with it. He
had passed through a similar baptism.
and remembered the desperate clutch
of the storrn-klng.
But the sight OF that poor girl sway
ing ~helplessly in the saddle. a bound
prisoner in the midst OF those ruf,ans.
who had murdered her father before
her eyes and who were bearing her
to all the ~unspeakable horrors of In,
dian captivity, instantly stifed within
him every plea of mercy. No matter
what they had suffered. they were a
ruthless. merciless gang of cut
Threats, and thieves. fleeing from JUS
tce, deserving of no consideration.
Yet their distressed appearance. their
lack OF vigilance, rendered him care
less. They seemed too weak to resist.
TOO exhausted to fight; the cold pluck
ing at their hearts had seemingly al
ready conquered. II was this impress
sion which caused him TO act reckless
~, rising to his feet. rife In hand. di.
rectly in their track, hating their ad-
vance with stern command.
Hands up, Quick now, the three
of you, Don't wait, Dupont I've got
the drop"
The white man was in front, a huge,
shapeless figure in his furs. his black
beard frosted oddly. He stood motion
less. %astounded at this strange appa.
rition IN blIe cavalry %overcoat. which
had sprung up so suddenly in that
wilderness. For an instant he must
have deemed the vision confronting
him some illusion OF the desert. for he
stirred except to rub a gloved
hand across his eyes.
BY all the gods. Dupont" roared
the Sergeant impatiently. do you
want me TO shoot? Damn YOU. throw
up your hands,"
Slowly, as though his mind was still
in a dream, the mans hands were lift.
ed above his head, one grasping a
short. sawed-of gun. The expression
upon his face vas ugly, as he began to
dimly understand what this unexpect.
ed hold-up meant. There followed an
instant of silence, in which Hamlin
forgetful OF Hughes. who still re-
manned lying quiet in the snow, took
a step or two forward. rife at shout
der. The two Indians, swathed in
blankets, but with arms appraised.
were in direct line, m~otionless as stat.
ues. He could see the CLEAN of their
dark eyes, and ever noticed the figure
OF the girl straighten in the saddle.
Dupont gave fierce utteranoe to an
oath. Apparently he failed to recog.
nize the soldier, but as Hughes rose to
his knees. suspicion leaped instantly
to his brain.
"A holG-up. hey,' he said coollv.
hughes, you sneaklng old coward.
come out into the open once. What
is It you want"
Nothing to that. Dupont" returned
the Sergeant. glanoing back question.
ingiy toward his companion. Your
old partner is here under my orders.
am Sergeant Hamlin, Seventh Cav.
airy. Throw DOWN that gum"
What. YOU"
res you are my prisoner. I've fol.
lowed you from Dodge. Throw down
the gum"
1t dropped sullenly into the snow
Now, Hughes. go ahead, and dis.
arm those Indians"
The cowman shufied forward re-
volver in hand. c~ircling to keen safe
~ beyond the reach of Dupont, who
eyed him maliciously. The latter was
so buttoned up in a buffalo coat as to
make 1t impossible for him to reach
a weapon, and Hamlin permitted his
eyes 10 waver slightly, as he watched
the Indians. What occurred the next
instant came so suddenly as scarcely
to leave an impression. 1t was swift
instructive action, primitive impulse.
An Indian hand fell beneath its b,an.
ket covering; there was a flash of
fame across a pony's saddle; Hughes
sprang backward, and went reeline in.
to the snow. Hamlin fired, as the saw
& lodged between the horses legs.
sending him sprawling. and. ignoring
the other Indian. swung about to COW
er Dupont. Swift as he moved, he
! was too late. With one desperate