The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1925-01-14

- ecu vi u uEW LEulfs i
hls Of peg leg Is goin' down to the
gate O hell tonight"
SOiOmon's face had darkeued with
There-were deep burrows
across his brow.
Standing before Jnck about three
Zee away, he drew out HIS ram rod
n tossed 1t TO the young man, who
caught it a little above the middle.
Jack knew the meaning OF this. They
were to put their hands upon the ram
rOd' n above the other. The last
manu- II would hold was to do the
killing. 1t was SOIOmOn's.
Thank GodI" he whispered, as his
face frightened.
he seemed to be taking careful aim
with lis right eye.
ITS nay job" said he. Il wouldn't
let ye' do it il ye'd arawed the
cnanst. It's my job-prOper. They
amt an hour ahead. Mebbe-it's Jest
p"SSthie-he may go to sleep tonight
fore do, an I wouldn't be surprised.
They'll build their FIRE at the caverns
on Rock crick an roast a captive.
Wen cross the bush an come up on
{ other side an see what's goin' on"
They crossed q high ridge, with Sol
ONION tossing his feet in that long,
loose stride Of his, and went down
the slope into a broad valley. The
sun sank low and the Unreasonable
green-rOOfed house Of the wild was
dim and dusk when the old scout halt
ed. Ahead in the distance they had
heard voices and the neighing Of a
horse.
MY son." said solomon as he pointed
with his finger, do you see the brow o.
the hill yonder whar the black thickets
beY"
Jack nodded.
"If We hear to me yen stay this side.
This ere business is kind o. ~neevarious.
I'm a-goin' clus up. II ] come back
yen hear the call O. the bush owl. II
1 don't come fore mOrnin' you pint fer
hum an the good God go with ye."
Il shall so as far as You 60" Jack
answered.
Solomon spoke sternly. The genial
tone of good c~Omradeship had lef.
him.
"Ye kim so. but ye amt Obleeged."
. he. Bear in mind, boy. Tonight
Am the cap'n. Do as 1 tell ye-exact."
SOLOMON toOE the lightning hGrlerr
out of the packs and unwrapped them
and tried the springs above the ham
mers. E&lrller in the day he had
looked to the ~prilAing. Solomon gave
n to Jack and put the other two IN
his pockets. Each examined his pis
tolls and adjusted them In his belt
They started for the lOw-lying ridge
above the little valley Of Rock creek
It was now quite dark and looking
down through the thickets of hem
locg they could see the freight Of
the Indians and hear the wash of thu
creek water. Suddenly a wild whOOp
ing among the red men, savage as thu
howl Of wolves on the trail OF s
wounded bison, ran beyond them, IA
out into the forest, and sent its echOe
travelling from hilltop to mountain
side. Then came a sound which n
man may hear without getting. as Sol
ONION was wont to say, "a scar on hi
soul which ne win carry beyond th
last cape" It was the death cry OF
captive. Solomon had heard 1t be
fore. He knew what 1t meant. TIL
fire was taking hold and the smOk
had begun to smother him. ThOs
cries were like the stabbing Of a knit
and the recollection Of them like blOa
stains.
They hurried down the Slant, bruSl
Ing through the thicket, the sound
. their approach being covered by tn
appalling cries Of the victim and tn
! demOn-like 'tumult of the drunke
! braves. The two scouts were racke
: with soul pain as they went on
{ that they could scarcely hold theI
I peace and keep their feet from run
. ming. A new sense Of the capacity II
evil in the heart Of man entered th
: mind Of Jack. They had com clos
to the frightful scene, when suddenl
/. a deep silence fell upon It. Than
! God, the victim had gone beyond II
I. reach OF pain. Something had hal
!, pened in his passing-perhaps the sa'
, ages had thought it a sign from heai
: en-. For a moment their clamor ha
ceased. The two scouts could plain
: see the poor man behind a rec We
! Of fame. Suddenly the white leadt
: Of the raiders approached the pyr
limping on bis wooden stump, with
!, stick In his hand. and prodded Il
]. face of the victim. It a his Ia
- act. Solomon was taking aim. II
rife spoke. Red Shout tumbled 10
= ward into the fire. Then what a scu
: ~ among the IndIansi They va
! ished and so suddenly that Jack wO
= dered where they had gone. SolomC
stood reloading the rifle barrel he hi
I. just emptied. Then he said:
:. Come on an do as / do"
Solomon ran until they had con
!. near. Then he jumped from tree
tree, stopping at each long enough
survey the ground beyond It. Tb
was what no called a~swa0nfng c0vai