Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1913-09-18
CHAPTER XVI.
Unseen Danger.

once ne paused, blinded by the
snow, flung up his arm, and fired
Imagining he saw the dim shape of a
man on the ridge summit. There was
no return shot, no visible movement
Reckless. mad with rage, he sprang
Ir the wind-swept side. and reached
the crest. 1t was deserted, except for
Tracks already nearly obliterated by
the fierce wind Helpless, bafied. the
Sergeant stared about him into the
driving flakes, his ungloved, stifen-
ing hand gripping the cold butt Of
his Colt, ready for any emergency.
Nothing but vacancy and silence en-
compassed him. At his feet the snow
was still trampled; he could see
where the man had kneeled to fire;
where he had run down the opposite
side Of the hill. There had been only
oue-a white man from the imprint
and he had fed south, vanishing in
the smother.
1t required IN effort for the Ser
geant to recover, to realize his true
position, and the meaning of this mys.
FERROUS attack. He was no longer
numb with cold or staggering from
weakness. The excitement had sent
the hot blood pulsing through his
VEINS; had brought back to his heart
the fighting instinct. Every desire
urged him forward, clamoring for re-
venge, but the aroused sense of q
plainsman held him motionless, star.
irg about, listening for any sound Be-
hind him, down there in the hollow,
were huddled the horses of his out
fiji, scarcely distinguishable from
where he stood. II he should venture
farther off. he might never be able
to find a way back again. Even In the
gray light OF dawn he could see moth
irg distinctly a dozen yards distant.
And WATSON had the compass. This
was the thought which brought him
t,amping back through the drifts
WATSON! Wade was dead, Carroll
little better. but the scout might have
been only slightly wounded. He wad.
ed through the snow to where the
nan lay, face downward. his face still
gripping the rein. Before Hamlin
t,:rned him over. he saw the jagged
wound and knew death had been in.
Simultaneous. He stared down at the
white face, already powdered with
snow; then glared about into the
Rurky distances, revolver ready for
action. every nerve throbbing. Godl
|! he ave met the murderer! Then
swift reaction came, and he buried his
eyes on the neck of the nearest horse,
and his body shook with half-sup-
pressed sobs. The whole horror Of 1t
gsipped him In that instant, broke his
i,Qn will, and left him weak as a child.
But the mood did not last. Little
b. little he gained control. stood up
aEain In the snow, and began to
think. He was a man, and must do
a mans work. With an oath he forced
himself to act; reloaded his revolver.
thrust 1t back into the holster at his
hip, and, with parting glance at
poor Sam, plowed GRO through the
drifts to Carroll. He realized nov his
duty. the thing he must strive to &C
complish. Wade and WATSON were
gone; no human effort could aid them,
but Carroll lived, and might be saved.
And 1t was for him alone now to serve
Molly The sudden comprehension OF
all this stung like the lash Of a whip,
transformed him again into a fighter
a soldier of the sort who refuses to
acknowledge defeat. His eyes dark
ened. his lips pressed together In a
straight line.
Carroll lay helpless. inert, his head
hanging down against the neck Of his
horse. The Sergeant jerked him erect,
roughly beating him into conscious
ness; nor did he desist until the fell
lows yes opened in a dull stare.
I'll pound the life out of you unless
you brace up, George" he muttered.
That's right-get mad II you want to-.
1t will do you no good. Wait until l
get that quirt; that will set your blood
moving. No! Wake upi Die. moth.
ing! See here. man, there's the river
Just ahead"