The Red Cloud chief., 1916-01-20
CHAPTER xxx.
The Trail to CovInoton.

As ! grpped the horses rein and
single shot fred In the gorge below,
the sound echoing among the rocks
and a spark OF fire cleaned through
the darkness. II was far enough away
to give me little concern. yet the re-
port must have been heard by the cav
for they wheeled their horses and rode
straight toward the ravine. Their
course would bring them higher up.
just to the rear Of the church. yet.
with suspicious once aroused. twas
likely they would patrol the banks.
ident the distance between US was
sufficient to hide my movements so
| long as kept well back In the shadow
| OF the trees. ! led the horse forward.
advancing as rapidly as dared to
travel, using one hand to steady Ray
monds body swaying across the sad
| die. II must have been "a quarter OF a
mile. or more to where the forest
| spread out from the bank into dark
! tanglc of trees. extending half across
| the ridge The winding Of the raviDe
took me out of sight OF the body oil
horsemen above. Yet knew they had
gallopcd to the edge Of the gorge, aud
were calling to whoever was below.
could hear the shouts without catch
ing the words. and even imagined
distinguished a faint cry In return By
slipping the lieutenant's belt over tr.
saddle horn. thus preventing his IimI
body from sliding on. , urged the aul
mai to a sharp trot
What was before us IN those dart
woods was all Conjecture-but | pos
sessed inhnite confidence In Noreen
The very silence. coupled with the fac
that no Sign OF the two fugitives ha'
been met with along the way. con
WINGED me that they had safely at
tanned the rendezvous. and were nov
there. anxiously awaiting my arrival
.. The time had not been long. and tn,
. girl would never consent to procee,
alone with Nichols. until she had los
, every hope OF my Joining her. a
|
:. close proximity OF danger. but | coui
. count on her to keep the fellow Their
until the last possible moment. W
\ went down into shallow gully. an
then climbed the opposite bank. ha,
ing to force passage through thic
;, scrub, ! pressing the branches asid
to prevent their scratching raymond
! face. lie gave utterance to a groal
" and | lifted It's head. supporting II @
= my shoulder as we topped the ris
J. The horse SHE'D ! caught glimpse
n shadow fitting across an open spac
q "Noreen!"
y rs It really you? | could not tell.
y the horse: the something across Il
u saddle"
~ She came forward with swi
:. spring. not satisfied until her hal
actually touched me.
!, "Oh. am SO glad-you are not ev'
- hurt?"
4 Not seriously: battered up q bit
~ Nichols?"
n Yes. he is here: there beside {
"a tree. Tell me what has happene
n What have you here? Why It is
81 man." she shrank back. IA de
d. mani"
IN mo. not dead" FASTENED to
a. plain. unbuckling the belt, and low
ID ing the still limp body to the grouI
he Here. parson, don't let the hor
a stray. We cannot waste many m
is utes here; there are cavairymen SEQ
We ing the edge OF the ravine yonder, a
~ they may come as far as this. II
ia is why | brought the fellow along
h, keep him from being found. DO y
at recognize the face. Noreen?"
ne II was dark and shadowy where
ID. were and she was compelled to be