Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-12-12
CHAPTER xv-contlnusd.

-lO-
Indians, you sayl Here7" her eyes
widening In horror. "when do you sup
pose this happenedf how long ago7"
within twelve hours certainly
probably soon after dawn"
caught the rein of her horse, and
Elsie. who was now wide awake, and
trembling with fear. pressed forward.
close to my side, moaning and casting
her frightened glances backward. Ken
nedy was already started in advance of
us on foot, leading his animal, and
seeking to discover the quickest pas
sage to shelter. On a narrow terrace
the deputy halted us.
Il reckon maybe this yere Is as gud
as eny place fer ter stop" he said
rather doubtfully. "It1l be mighty dark
I'm an hour, an then we kin go on
only my hoss is about did up. Whut
ye say. CapT
I'VE are probably as safe here as
anywhere in the neighborhood. Is that
all you have to report, TimT
He lifted his hat, and scratched
gently his thin hair.
"Only thet them Injuns went south
done run onto their trail after yer
left-lt wus plain as the nose on yel
face. Thar must'r bin a slew o. 'em
an sum hossback; they wus 9
strikin' straight across yonder, an
reckon they fetched a prisoner long
sumbody wearin' boots enyhow, fer
saw the tracks In the mud" He hesi
tated, as though something was on hi;
mind, glancing toward the girls, ant
lowering his voice. 81 amt so very
dern tired, an reckon I'll scout 'rount
a bit Them red devils might'r over
looked a rifle er two back thar in the
timber, an I'd sure like ter git my I'm
gers on one"
I nodded indifferently, too complete
iy exhausted myself 10 care what h,
did, and then dull-eyed watched hin
disappear through the trees. No on,
spoke. even Eloise failing to question
me, as l approached where she an,
Elsie had flung themselves on tn,
short grass, although her heavy eye
followed my movement. and she mad,
an effort to smile.
"One can easily see by your fac
how tired you are" said. compassion
ately, looking down at her. II am 20
ing to sleep for an hour or two, an,
You had both better do the same. Tin
Is going to keep guard"
She smiled wearily at me, her hea,
sinking back. / did not move %
speak again; indeed 1 had lost con
sciousness almost before touched tn
ground.
could not have slept long, for Their
was glow of light still visible In tn
western sky, when a strong grip on m.
arm aroused me, causing me instantl,
TO sit up. Tim stood there, battered
old. long rifle In his hand, and besid
him boy Of eighteen, without a hal
tousled headed, with an ugly re-
wound showing on one cheek.
mighty sorry fer ter wake ye, Cap,
the deputy grinned. "This yere youn
chap Is one O. them sojers; an |
strikes me, he's got a d. queer tai
ter tell"
glanced backward across my shoul
der toward the others. Both girls wer
sleeping soundly. while beyond then
down the slope. the three horses wer
quietly cropping away at the herbag,
managed to rise.
Let's move back to the sprin,
where we win not wake them up"
suggested. 'Now we can talk"
My eyes sought the face of the la
questioningly. He was a loose-lippe,
awkward lout, trembling still from
fright he could not conceal.
you belonged to that squad kille
out yonderT"
-Yes. sch; reckon Use the only on
whut amt ded." he stammered. {
tongue-tied could scarcely make o,
his words. II wus gone after wahte
an when them Injuns begun fer I,
yell. never dun nuthin' but just ru
an hid in the BUSH"
IL understand. What is your name
"Asa Hail."
''Well, Asa, / suppose those we
militlamen; you belonged to the cor
panyT
He nodded, his eyes dull, his III
moving. as though 1t was an effort