Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-07-07
CHAPTER X.-Continued.)

that would stop the pursuit. In another
twenty minutes at the most, the en-,
emy's lead would be reaching them, Ill
aimed, of course, but in such hail
they would be sure soon to have a
mule down, at least.
And then, great God! No alterna'
tive but to shoot his bride and fight
them until he fell.
A crisis to paralyze the bravest and
most resourceful. But that little wild
one was equal to it.
First he tossed overheard two small
mail sacks he was carrying to Fort
McRae. Sure enough, two Indians
stopped and picked them up, but 1t
was for them only task of seconds.
Meanwhile the band raced on.
Then he began to throw out their
valises, one by one at intervals. This
device worked better, both as tighten
ing load on his team, and as bait to the
savages, for as each lot fell two or
more stopped, jealous of too rich ap.
propFiations by any one, and the
valises were too bulky to throw on
their mounts and permit of their
further Immediate participation in the
chase. 8 -.
Thus nearly half of the Indians
dropped back out of the immediate
chose, but those still remaining were
more than he could hope to dispose of
single handed.
The pace was killing. The mules
were in lather, although they fresh
ened a bit when lightened Of the
valises But Fountain we'll knew the
gait must soon be abated, or down
they would go in the harness.
Never had Fountain loved his bride
SO much-never been SO proud of her.
From the start of the pursuit she had
not turned a hair, had shown no fear,
had scarcely spoken-had left him free
to study and work out their safety as
best he could.
And yet he knew that she, 'as a
border bred girl, understood only too
we'll the horrors Of the death impend-
ing. ......
Only. as the Indians drew nearer,
and laid her hand upon his knee. That
was all.
But it was enough for Fountain.
The lead was now falling around
them.
His last card must be played without
further delay-his ace sof trumps,, on
which alone hung their lives. '4F.e
Overheard, into the ,swirling dust of
the road behind them, he dropped his
trump, five gallon key of whisky!
Would they stop? Did they?
They did; every last red devil OF
them refined in as quickly as the half
hitch of their rope around the under
Jaws Of their ponies, that constituted
their crude brides, permitted; refined
up to the key. bounced off their
mounts and pounced upon it like hun
gering wolves upon a fresh kill! =,
Then, almost instantly, a. knowing,
as we'll as bold player at all Indian
games, Fountain took the deadly
strain of his team, pulled down to an
easy gallop, within another, mile drop
ped to an easy trot, at two miles gave
them brief halt ,l. a.
He knew that 1t would be slow work
digging the hard wood bung out of that
oak keg with. their knives, and that
once the Indians had taste of it's
contents not one would leave until the
last drop was gone. A. -,
And, cunning in more ways than
one, but scarcely venturing to hope
meeting help to play the hand out.
Fountain had contrived to; hold the
key until he could drop it few yards
to the south of where the first lava
lodges set in-in other words, near to
an easily stalkable position.
After breathing his team few min
utes, on north again he bowed, the
mules again at gallop.
It was shortly thereafter that, travel
ing south from Fort Craig with my
usual detachment as stage escort, In
my turn saw a column of dust off in
the south that made me pull up at the
next good defensive position, an iso-
lated upheaval of lava with no cover
near it. ..,~,
OF course, the dust might be that Of
but the road was so tortuous l could
not be sure; and since we had several
passengers and heavy mail, 1t was
better to take no chances.
For nearly an hour we sat watching
the approach; and since heavy wind
was blowing out of the south that com.
pletely shrouded the makers of the
dust, it was not until they had come
within few hundred yards or my po-
sition that l made out racinE buck
board.
Then up rolled Fountain, his mules
dropping as they stood in harness be-
fore they could be freed from the
traces.
Briefly he told me the story Of their
experiences, and then smilingly added:
Got to make 'em pay for the five gal
Ions they held ME up for-no, corporal?
Fine stuff it was. Leave two of your
men with the coach, come along with
the rest, and I'll bet l show you as
funny fiesta and altogether the
easiest bunch of scalps you ever saw
or heard Of"
And then, turning to his bride, who
had been given shelter from the sun
within the coach, he said: You'll not
mind remaining here with the stage,
will you, dear? Well be back early
in the evening, you can depend. Moth
ing to fear; you'll be perfectly safe.'
"Too safe whilst thou art in danger;
dear, must go with thee" she re-
Piled.
But there's no danger" he an
swered; "still"-turning to me with a
n11tzzica1 smfle-"What do Won saw to