The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-05-16

hours away from the ngnt III pom
OF time. and yet their ears still
roared with the sound of crashing
volleys. the clatter OF hoofs. med
ley OF yells and shrieks: yet while
these sounds had been in actual con
tinuance they had scarcely heard
them.
When they had eaten a few cold
mouthfuls, Rogers said:
I'm going to take the first watch
Mr.. Landray you'll relieve me; your
brother can follow you: and Bingham
and Walsh can finish out the night
together. | reckon | needn't tell you
all. that you'd best get what sleep
you can" And with this he took up
his rife. crossed the barrier, and
with noiseless step made the circuit
OF the wagons.
The enemy had withdrawn 10 the
cottonwoods as where their blazing
camp-1res were now plainly visible.
At his back in the shelter OF the lort'
ed wagons, his companions had huo'
Idled close together In the darkness
and were now talking In whispers;
he heard nothing OF what they SAID
and presently the murmur OF their
voices ceased entirely.
Until this day he had known never
a doubt as to the success OF their
tourney; the reasonable uncertainty
he might have felt had long since
faded from his mind; others might
fail. but he never; and now their
way was blocked. pwenty white
men alone he would not have feared; ,
the Indians by themselves he would
have feared even less but together,
the cunning Of the one supplemented
by the intelligence OF the other. was
something he had not reckoned on.
Even should they beat them on, their
whole plan must be changed. He
was quite sure that II would not be
safe to venture into Salt Lake. He
had heard too much OF the justice
the Mormon leaders were wont to
mete out to such OF the Gentiles as
came under their displeasure, espe-
cially when these Gentiles had In
their possession valuable property;
and Basil knew, and probably by this
time RAYMOND knew, that they had
with them a large sum OF money.
The needy saints would never let
them out OF their hands while any
pretext remained on which to detaln
them; and what better pretext could
be furnished them than that some OF
their co-religionists had been killed
by members Of the party. Then his
brain became busy with the problem
OF immediate escape. They could
mount the mules and make dash
for the mountains: but his reason
warned him that any such desperate
measure must be attempted only
when their need Of water had rem
dered the hill absolutely unten-
able; for the chances were that they
would be surrounded and butchered
before they had gone mile. No,
clearly such an attempt should be
made only in the last and direst ex-
tremity.
In the stiffness of his own thoughts
the noises of the camp In the cotton
woods came to his ears. He heard
the neighing of horses. the voices OF
men: now 1t was a burst OF laughter.
q fragment of song, that reached
him. the white men were carousing
with their red allies. He stood In an
attitude of listening; he seemed TO
ind something insulting In these
sounds, and scarcely knowing what
he did he fell to threatening the
camp: he shook his gun at 1t and
waved his free hand menacingly. than
he fell to cursing under his breath,
softly 40 as not to disturb the others.
How long he continued thus he did
not know; he was finally aroused by
hearing Stephen call his name; and
Stephen stepping to his side placed
q hand on his shoulder.
why, Rogers, what's the matter!"
he asked in q whisper.
Matter. Landray? They're having
water when better men are going
he said stupidity. and his
utterance was thick and dihicut.
That's matter enough ] reckon, he
added, with something Of his usual
voice and manner; he was like man
waking from a dream.
"You have seen nothing" question
ed Stephen.
"Nothing-have you slept?"
"A little: not much
Here a burst of sound from the
camp reached them. longcontinueo
and sustained: 1t was strident. fierce.
primitive: Stephen turned to Rogers.
I'D almost say they were singing
hymns" and he smiled at the fancy.
They are dancing our scalps," said
Rogers.
That's premature" said Stephen.
Rogers moved of toward the wag.
ons. moment later he had stretched
himself on the ground at Bennys
side.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN.
Stephen fell to pacing about the
wagons as Rogers had done. He saw