The Red Cloud chief. [volume] (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923, 1921-01-13
CHAPTER viii-continued.

Shelby vidoned all this in his men,
ory. Questi0ning his chance Of ever
successfully invading such spot with
ont arousing suspicion. II was plain.
y proven by their testimony that
Macklin was taking his captive to this
apOt for safe hiding. He and his In
dian accessories Ind ridden on, anx-
lous to reach this security with as Ut.
tie delay N possible. But would Shell
by dare TO f0lIOwf To be sure. except
to the Kid, he was unknown. which
might make him welcome. Yet the
danger Of detection was great.
Apparently. there was no other
feasible way IN which he could hope
TO serve Olga. He weighed this, with
no conscious thought Of himself. cold
" and deliberately counting the
chances, and decided to make the at
tempt.
Convinced ms to his duty, and urged
to II by the personal interest he felt In
the girl, Shelby cast all hesitancy
aside. He would make the attempt:
fortune had surely favored him thus
far, and might again. He went back
to where the buckskin waited, mount
ed the animal, quiet enough by this
time, rode down to the edge of the
stream. and sat silently In the saddle
while the beast drank. It was a dark,
clear night, the stars overhead like
lamps in the sky, the air cool and
fresh. He turned the pony UP the val
ley, making no effort to hurry the AMI
NAL. DESTROYS only at present Of keep
ing we'll in the rear Of the two horse.
men ahead. He knew the course they
would take. must take. up the valley
Of the Dragon as far as the great
bend. and then across the plateau I'M
I'll they reached the Cottonwood. He
would simply follow cautiously until
daylight, then search for the trail to
make sure, and endeavor. from some
elevation, to pick them up with his
Geld glasses.
The grass In the valley was thick,
but not long. II presented no obstacle
to travel, but the horses hoofs made
no noise. Finding the rider undemon.
strative. the buckskin lowered his head
and moved forward steadily at a rapid
walk. Shelby swaying In the saddle
half asleep yet keenly awake to any
unusual sound.
Hour after hour passed. the valley
narrowing as they advanced. the hills
on either hand growing darker and
more sharply defined. and the ribbon
of the sky above constantly contrast
ing. The man endeavored to think
but found II useless; there was LITTLE
he could plan in advance-only con
tinue on and trust to fortune. Hi
mind leaped from point to point. We
settled upon nothing. He knew wher
he was in a vague way. recalling 4
memory the outlines Of this countr,
ns traced upon the map. but by thi
time he was well beyond the rang
Of his own cattle, or any region he ha
ever hunted over. All about stretche
the desert Of the Bad Lands; h
could picture In his mind the seen
presented from those bluffs, either @
broken. rocky country. or dismt
desert. white with alkali. II was
land devoid even Of animal or bird LII
waterless and foriorn, avoided even b
INDIANS except for c0uceaiment. !
nj those hours Of darkness he hear
mo sound of life except the distar
howl Of q coyote.
The f1rst faint gray Of dawn CAV
him glimpse Of his surroundings, an,
on . slight ridge Of land. be 6nall
drew Up his tired mount an gass