The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-08-30

| pcdCclul1y dIOuItO ttiG1I 1IuSdl uIc
they rnourned for the tobacco they
had squandered in more prosperous
days.
Deprived of this, their only con-
ISOLATION, the three INDUCED in a
Barmecide feast Of the longed-for
weed. The scout descanted on the
beauties of well-cured Kentucky leaf
crushed in the pipe; Simmie spoke
up modestly for willow Killickinnic;
Bowie thought just one cigar-only
one-would make him perfectly hap
py. It was while this futile discus
sion was going on that Simmie, ly-
ing, like his companions, on his
back, pricked up his ears. Next he
sat UP and began to look around.
whats a matter, Injun?" asked
Pardaloe indolently.
whats that noise?" asked the
half-breed in turn.
"You tell" retorted the scout.
Bowie, lost in thought, only heard
the questions and listened for
sounds. Neither of the whites heard
anything, but as the Indian walked
quietly toward the edge of the long
ledge both men sat up. Simmie,
behind a pine tree, looked down the
great canyon and into the west. His
instinct was not at fault. He beck
oned cautiously to his companions.
When they joined him, he whispered
| to Pardaloe to scatter the emberS
| of the fire, come back and lie down.
Peering together from this partial
cover, the Texan could make out at
a considerable distance below a
struggling procession of men on po-
MES, winding their way up the long
canyon grade. Reaching wide
open space after some further trav-
ell, the procession broke and its
horsemen made ready for a halt.
For a long time the hidden men
watched the scene with lrapt atten-
| ton, speaking in whispers.
"Injuns," said Pardaloe at length.
After a further pause Bowie turned
to crawl back from the brink of the
ledge, signaling to his men to fol-
low. Reaching a point where they
could speak more freely, the talk
began. Bowie spoke first.
Indians, sure enough"
''And bunch of 'em," added the
scout.
''What do you make of 'em, Sim
mie?" The question was addressed
to the Creek.
SID have to get closer to make
| things out. Looks to me like raid
| ing party, maybe heading for their
mountain hide-out.
''What makes you think it's
raiding party?" asked Bowie.
'sMost of 'em don't know how to
handle their ponies. Looks as if
| they've been run off, Ell, Ben? And
no squaws as far as I can see. Some
of them are carrying loot" he add
ed. "You can see them unloading
stuff. And there was some mix-up at
the front when they halted
Cali right, what we going to do?"
asked Pardaloe, appealing to Bowie.
''Looks as if they're heading for
us, doesn't it?" returned Bowie. eff
they keep on up the canyon they're
bound to run foul of us. If we turn
back we've got good ten miles of a
| climb to get away from them. We
never could do it-they've got horses
I'll tell you, Simmie; get in
close and make sure what they're
doing"
Simmie was gone long time,
so long that the white men began
to wonder. Then they heard his
careful footsteps.
Thought they'd caught you, Sim
mie," said Bowie. ''What did you
find out?"
"Not much more than knew be-
fore. It's war party on tlreir way
home = not a squaw anywhere
around. Some of those ponies have
Spanish saddles. They've raided a
| rancho"
"Any sign of wounded?"
Simmie shook his head. eff they
had any wounded they must have
died on the way up-no sign of any
now. They've been chased-that's
sure. Some of those ponies are in
bad shape-they've been run to
DEATH"
''Horsesl' doomed Pardaloe, but
cautiously. He licked his chops.
"We've got to get chance at
them" He peered at Bowie. What
we going to do, Henry?"
Bowie turned to Simmie. Glow
many of them are there?"
"Near as could count, fifty or
fifty-five."
''The question is, how to keep out
of their way" said Bowie, reflect
ing. eff they come up this way in
/ the morning we'll have to mix with
them whether we want to or not.
Shall we turn back or try to dodge
past 'em tonight"
"Injuns got good ears" OBJ
served Pardaloe grinly.
"But no guns" retorted Bowie,
still thinking. 81 believe" he went
on, 1--WE can get around them to-
night without losing any hair.
''They've got what looks to me
like a couple of prisoners" re-