Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1913-05-01

Plunged ProfaneIy Into the Drift.
posite the mouth o. Buffalo creek, an
thar re down thar somewhat now.
Thar 3 one thing sure-they amt any
east O. tibet. AS we amt hit no trail,
reckon as how LIE Fevre's outfit
must hev drifted further then calcIa-
ted"
Il thought so at the time." COM
mented the other, quietly. However,
we will have to make the circle, and,
if the country out yonder is as you de-
scribe, they will be no better of.
They'll have to follow the ridges to
get through. We may get a glimpse
when daylight comes"
They rode on steadily, keeping down
below the crest of the hills. yet pick
ing passage where the snow had
been swept clear. The slipperiness of
the incline made their progress slow,
as they dared not risk the breaking OF
. horses leg in that wilderness, and
the faint glimmer was most confusing.
The wind had ceased. the calm was
impressive after the wild tumult, but
the cold seemed to strengthen as the
dawn advanced, viciously biting the
exposed faces of the men. The strain
ing ponies were white with frost. In
the gray Of cheerless dawn they
reached the first line of bluffs, and
drew rein just below the summit.
where they could look of across the
lower ridges to the westward.
1t was wild. desolate scene. the
dull gray sky overhead. the black and
white shading below. Mile on mile
the picture unrolled to the horizon.
the vista widening slowly as the light
increased. bringing forth the details
of barren, wind-swept ridges and shall
low valleys choked with snow. Not q
tree, not shrub, not even rock
broke the dead monotony. All was
loneliness and silence. The snow lay
cleaning and untrampled, except as
here and there dull brown patch of
dead grass darkened the side Of hill.
Hamlin Swallowed his eyes with gloved
hands, studying intently inch by incn
the wide domain. Suddenly he arose
in his stirrups, bending eagerly for
ward.
"By heaven! There they are,
Hughes" he exclaimed. feeling the hot
blood course through his veins. See.
on the incline of that third ridge.
There is shadow there, and they are
not moving. Here; draw in back of
me; now you can see. 1t looks as
though they had horse down"
Hughes stared long in the direction
indicated, his eyes narrowed into mere
Sits.
"Ah! that's it, he said at last.
Horse broke leg; shot it jest then
/ seen the flash. Now they're goin
on. See! One fellow climbin' up be-
hind mother, an the horse left lynn
thar on the snow"
How many people do you make
out?" and Hamlin's voice shook a lit
tie. There's four, amt there?"
At that distance the fugitives looked
like mere black dots. 1t could scarce
ly be determined that they moved,
and yet their outlines were distinct
against the background of white snow,
while the two watchers possessed the
trained vision of the plains. Hughes
answered after deliberate inspec-
ton, without SO much as turning his
head.
"Thar's four; leastwise thar was
four bosses, and two-the Injuns like
ly-are ridin' double. Thar animals
are bout played, it looks ter me-just
able ter crawl. Amt had no fodder is
bout the size O. it. We ought to be
able ter head tibet bunch off fore they
git to the Canadian at thet rate o.
travel-hey. Sergeant?"
Hamlin's eyes followed the long
sweep of the cross-ridge, studying its
trend, and the direction of the inter
vening valleys. Once down on the
other slope all this extensive view
would be hidden; they would have to
ride blindly, guessing at the particular
swale along which those others were
advancing. To come to the summit
again would surely expose them to
those keen Indian eyes. They would
be searching the trail ahead ceaseless-
ly, noting every object along the
crests Of the ridges. However if the
passage around was not blocked with
snow, they ought to attain the junction
in ample time. With twice as far
to travel, their ponies we're strong and
fit and should win out against LIE
Fevre's starved beasts. He waved his
gloved hand.
we'll try it," he said. shortly;
come on. Hughes"
He led off along the steep side of
the hill, and forcing his horse into a
sharp trot, headed straight out into
the white wilderness; Hughes, with.
out uttering word, brought down his
quirt on his ponys flank and fol.
lowed.
CHAPTER Xxx.
The Fight in the Snow.