Beadle's New York Dime Library (no. 1074) (1903 07)
The text was read from the page scans by machine (OCR), so it has mistakes and its columns may run together. See the pages · About this title · At the Internet Archive
Page 1
\ = 2 z = Ss = = Sos a poh ends Genes 0 Bs Nid Sere c\cphad bee stdig's Soap e eieeEN abe HD VY Fn Chae Mv pence Pees elaak Eee suas oeESe alls Li eens Ae M. J. VERS & CO., Publishers No 1974 cranny eis wi (JAMES SULLIVAN, Proprietor), : 10 Cents a Copy. Vol LXV x4 z onth. 379 Pearl Street, New York. $1.00 a Year. ” * SETH SLOCUM, RAILROAD SURVEYOR; **onowe on SITTING BULL, A TALE OF THE GREAT NORTHERN PACIFIC ROAD-BUILDING, BY CAPTAIN FRED. WHITTAKER, a0rmoR OF “NEMO, KING OF THE TRAMPS,” “RED RUDIGER,” “THE RUSSIAN SPY,” “THE RED RAJAH,” “THE IRISH CAPTAIN,” “THE MAN I8 RED,” “‘ DEATH’S HEAD CUIRASSIERS,” ‘‘ PHANTOM KNIGHTS,” ETO., ETC. ~~ > “ eee A, A ft I * ond * nee F. : AS, 2, 4 eo, ~ eS ty. Aes , ™ (RRS STR ESS ) 4 Ad: } ' . we < t . — 4: ' WN “in fe Ax - ; : AE Wy AS SOON AS THE DISK WAS BRAISED, THE BULLETS BEGAN TO PATTER,
Page 2
oe - - se | wish the cursed thi Seth Slocum, - x RAILROAD SURVEYOR; OR, The Secret of Sitting Bull. A Tale of the Great Northern Pacific Road-Building. BY CAPT. FRED WHITTAKER, AUTHOR OF “OLD DOUBLE SWORD,” “A YAN- KEE COSSACK,” “* ALLIGATOR IKE,” ““PARSON JIM,” ETC., ETC, CHAPTER f. THE LEVELING PARTY. Our in the valley of the Yellowstone, not aay ears ago, a column of cavalry had come to a halt about the middle of the afternoon. The horses of half the command had been turned out to graze, while the rest stood in line, saddled and bridled. Part of the men were cooking coffee over little fires of sticks; the rest. were. gathered under some ‘trees, near a line of saddles and arms. Four or five mounted men were riding slowly to and froin alarge circle, drawn round the com- mand, and the head of a very long string of wa- gons and mules could be perceived by the aid of a good fleld-glass, about six miles off, crawling slowly up the course of the river toward them. » A lovely valley was that of the Yellowstone, before civilization had approached it, with per- endicular cliffs, like the Palisades of our own udson, lining the course of the stream; but, unlike our Palisades, standing several miles apart, and bordering a green, smiling meadow that sloped down to the edge of the river, all sprinkled with flowers of every bue, a perfect paradise for game. Herds of elks, deer, and antelopes, with a few dark groups of buffalo were feeding in full sight of the cavalry horses, so near that it was evi- dent they had little fear of man, while more than one troop of wild mustangs, shyer than the rest, kept far on the outskirts, out of gun- shot, or pranced to and fro in frolic pursuit of each other, their spotted and pied hides making them look like a pack of hounds, Between the feeding cavalry horses and trains might be seen a little clump of horsemen, who rene up an irregular progress by fits and starts. very now and then this group halted and re- mained still for several minutes, a single man ee ahead with a long pole, to halt after a while at the waving of a flag in the group left behind, Then would ensue some mysterious signals \be- tween the poleman and the others, after which the party would come on ata very rapid pace to the ee ouly occupied by the single TB, who, in k turp, started away again, full A . careful scrutiny with the glass would reveal the fact that the course of this party was al- ways nearly on a level, and that it was marked as it went by little conical heaps of white stones red from the river-bed by men detached or the pu ¢ from the main party. § “They’re leveling Pn sie fast to-day,” said one of the cavalry officers, a handsome young fellow in a dandified buckskin suit, sometimes worn on the plains by officers who are vain of their personal appearance, and well provided with money. & He spoke to one of his brother officers, a tall, dark-faced man with a huge drooping mustache, theses short beard of a few weeks & . nin The young officer was Lieutenant. Kennedy, the older man Captain and Brevet-Major Ire- land; both of the cavalry escort of General Chester’s column, guarding the surveyors of the Northern Pacific Railroad. +) : eland nodded absently. He was a gloomy man to be with on a scout, for he was a hard drinker in t phtawas and the deprivation of his accustomed stimulants was apt to make him sullen and morose, till the march had lasted some time and his nervous system had got _ toned up. “Ay, ay,” he said, ‘‘ fast enough, I suppose, were over.” t Why?’ asked Kennedy, surprised. ‘TI think it’s delicious, this camp-life, with these pleasant marches, and all this me. The scenery, the bracing air, every thing I see, makes me happy.” . among the men, but they got Treland drew’ ble heavy brows together, as he aH d. forward, os a y went, into replied, ill-temperedly: oF eee - oh wobde ahead, from w the volley ‘Of course,of course. You youngsters are|hadcome. .§ ° | “ti always crazy on a first expedition, and we’ve| At oe onge Cen wood they now saw half a seen no Indians yet. You'll alter your opinion | dozen moun ndians, with long red streamers when you see them,” Bs wr ‘| in their war bonnets, waving their hands and “T hope I shall do my duty when I do,” re- | plied Kennedy, rather stiffly. ‘I don’t pretend to be an old Indian-fighter like yourself, major, but I really do hope I shall not disgrace the th when my time comes. looked at him more kindly. ‘was such a fine coutinuous St Seth Slocum, Railroad Surveyor. “I don’t beliéve you will, Jim. Don’t -mind | what Il say. I believe my nerves are going to | pieces since the general shut down on the whisky, confound bim for a temperance fanatic! | Hello! they are coming on fas‘, ain’t they? | We'll have to move on further, I expect.” The little party cf men with the leveling tripod and staff had indeed come up abreast of them, and had dismounted between the cavalry | and the river. One of them was setting up the leveling-stand | on its tripod, the bearer of the staff was gal- loping abead ; the sound of a bugle startled up the cavalrymen and set the horse-herders to driving in their animals toward the saddles while the men who had kept their chargers saddled began to tighten their girths and get ready to mount, Kennedy took his own horse and rode up to the leveling-party to ask: ‘*How much longer do you expect to work | to-day, Mr. Graves?” A stout, bearded man, with a field-book in bis hand, went on muttering and seribbling for several seconds before he looked up, to answer hurriedly: ‘* Just as long as the light holds and this level continues, sir, pected eorge tells me there’s | good camping-ground any place for twenty | miles further. Must make hay while the sun | shines, Go on, boys.” / Kennedy saluted politely, and_ went back to his party, where he reported to Major Ireland | the engineer’s determination to go on. Ireland frowned in his usual morose way, but made no observation, and gave the signal to the bugler. The cheery notes of the brazen clarion, sound- ing ‘‘ Prepare to mount—Mount!” were follow- -ed by the departure of the first company on the. road, while the men of the second saddled up as fast as they could, following their leaders in less than five minutes. The officers of the escort, except, perhaps Kennedy, looked ill-tempered as they set out on their renewed journey. Belonging to the regular army, they believed in taking life as easily as possible, and earning their pay with the least while the engineer-party, being in the pay of a raiJroad company, kept pushing ahead to get as much work done as could be crammed into a, ay. 53 The engineer, Graves, was a plain, hard- working man, with no affectation in his dress and manner, and the men around him were as plein as himself. Most of them were laborers and pioneers— sturdy, powerful frontiersmen—and only one. was young. ‘He was a good-looking youth, hardly more than a boy, with a downy fringe of beard round | his face, a fresh color, and bright, keen brown eyes. He wore a dress more dandified than most of the others, with a buckskin coat fringed and bead-embroidered, a broad-brimmed gray felt hat, a gay silk handkerebief round bis neck, and neatly-fitting boots on his feet. ee In common with every man around, he had’a, revolver in his belt, and wore a long sheath- knife like a sail weiss Lin _ As soon as Mr, Graves had taken his front and back sights, he spoke to this young man, * . which he was, when he’ ] d his Rives 4 : mn he wheeled roun mounted, within a very few seconds the new sight ¥#* on again, mae a en Graves came up the second tim, ” nodded to Slocum witha grimemile. © | foc’ _. As he looked, the Indians who had been dash-. | Graves was already waiting for bim, a0@ - taken, and the engineer’s party came galloping oa *' ee
Page 3
“T] remember you, my boy,” he said as he rearranged bis tripod. ‘ Did you ever take a sight, yourself?” tocum colored slightly. “* Yes, sir, at college.” The engineer favored him with a rapid, scru- Seng glance, as he settled the plumb-bob to Sfar of the ground. lege? Hem! What college?” "a « Coltetia,” was the answer with a still deeper flush, as the young man turned to go to his horse and ride on. The old engineer laid his hand on the boy’s . arm, as he was mounting. , bs Stop a moment,” he said. ' ate in mathematics or not?” Slocum bent his head and said, almost inaudi- bly: i * Yes, sir.” 7 Old Graves pursed up his lips 2 “Hem! hem! Go ahead. Keep insides the skirmish line. , lose you, just yet.” a: Slocum ipoumeed and galloped away with the fife staff, which he planted just as the cavalrymen again came to a halt. e uy t his back reso- lutely turned to the fray, though heheard a oe tremendous noise behind him, and attended i strictly to his business, till Graves waved his hand, Then, he hardly knew what impulse made him plant the pole deep in the ground, and begin to gather stones himself to form a monument, instead of waiting inactive till Grayes’s party came up. Whatever the cause of the impulse, be obe oa it, though the noise round him grew louder t ever, and not till he bad formed quite a potiee- : a able little heap of stones did he look up to find 2, what was going on. “Did you gradu- , but only said: on’t be rash now, Don’t want to | Ji = & = Then he saw that the cayalrymen were:on eae their knees or lying down, firing with the ut- mee most rapidity; that quite a number of horses ‘Jay dead on the line, and that’the Indians, in a dense body, were galloping along the front of the soldiers, full speed, firing as fast as they _ knew how, and coming ‘closer every moment. He looked for Graves, and saw the indomita- ge" engineer just coming up, no longer at a s ie . @anter, but walking bis borse and all alone, : es) without the tripod, around which the men were ep thered, making the monument to mark the oa) ae ‘AS he came up, Graves said qui aren A = oe “You did quite right to mark the last'station. Sit ‘T don’t think wecan do any more work to-day, eee “but I've got it all down, and thé company can’t et > complain.” =i : He was looking at the Sioux as he spoke, not BEpe pearing to be in the. least concerned about eir vicidity and young Slocum felt a’ thrill ‘of admiration he could not conceal as he an- daty satisfactoril t could: doitas coolly Fes pe Pve done m gay, se I ard wish low came you out here? I-didn’t know en, see, owe hada college. graduate among our TF must see you're oe omoted.”* Slocum colored bigh with pleasure. » “Thank edb sir. I came here because my professor o d me that if I wanted to be a d : engineer I I must ‘begin at’ the bottom. . I . ; have.” ° pr! The old engineer seemed pidaced with the an- \ swer; for be replied. “He told you right. You'll make a very f food hand at the business. © We want cool men ; for this sort of work among the Indians. Look hore. I'm going tosend you back to the chain- ¥ in n locum: reibhe glance at the contest that was raging so close to him, and bis voice had atinge ‘of reeret as he said: : good, sir, if you wish, but—” at you'd: rather stay here and join in this e, ” said the engineer, grimly. g man, when f was your age, I a might have the ‘same perhaps, but business ‘a vee gbting not business, except for woe 8 oare paid to do nothing | sleet carne out to run survey as - far rat we ee ——e go, and for no. other 2 P you bac the chainivg-party, ¥ Mike at, i Keep foe 0 sets of aeons t $ you like, to measure from monument to mouu- fe ment, 80 as to bring ‘up the work to this last station. I’m afraid we sha!) get no further this summer, and I want _ et the work complete, as far as it goes. sir,” ' Slocum touched bis hat and was wheeling his horse, when Gravés “ a minute. Sou & _ You've done this work before. How much of it?’ - Slocum answ: him modestly. ““T worked at it for two years before I went to college, sir, to get money to ar ig Be ye re . fees, T’ve leveled, surveyed, plot “a ae -all:sorts of railroad work, but only in he: me i” ~ * @raves bad been scribbling in a note-book while he Le talked, and now he tore out a Jeaf and handed it to the = man, (. phe object to obe ng sors be: said, | “If they do, show them mae ~ T want the “Shan ns ro up ae ia yay; y ite done well, Slocum. Let me. ) this yrs last station, un- = aS Res Seth Slocum, Rai lroad Surveyor. less you EE EGR ity POT pe Oe ag ee the Indians over it when you ar- rive. Slocum Neotbacedl no more, He took the paper and galloped away, read- ing as he rode: “Mr. Sera Sitocum’s orders will be obeyed as As- sistant Advance Engineer by all parties, he having been appointed such by me to-day. “ Samug. B, GRAVES, * Advance Engineer in Chief, It was a wonderful step for the young man, to be attained so soon, and his heart beat high with hope as he rode back, thougb the firing in his rear was growing fiercer with every mo- ment, Ahead of him, several miles off yet, he could see the wagons and pack-train, with two com- panies of infantry in the advance, coming up at a slow run, and increasing their distance from the wagons every moment. The chainiug-party, whose duty it was to measure the distance from station to station as Graves leveled, had long ago fallen bebind the rapid advance of the engineer -in-chief, and was on y 2 little ahead of the infantry soldiers, when Slocum dashed up. It was in ebarge of a thin, nervous-looking personage, Mr. Travers by name, who, as soon as Slocum rode up, called out: “ What's going on in front,my mah? We can’t goon any further, can wef It's getting to be too dangerous. What are the orders?” ‘¢The orders are. ri mse! Slocum, as he took out his paper, “ ~ ts take command of this arty and bring it on quicker—that’s all. Yon ve a spare tape, haven’t you?” Mr. Travers stared at him aghast. “You take charge of my party? Why, you're only av axman!” locum held the pa: “Read that! I'm Have you a spare tape?” ye di looked at the paper and muttered: * Assistant advance engineer! Good Heav- ro ae a have J done to be snubbed like this He handed it back sullenly, and said aloud: “All right, sir. Take ¢ arge. But Ill see if the xomReny tolerates favoritism of this sort. ve no spare tape. There’s only one here. The, other’s my + ae property, and the company don’t need it. Slocum nodded and flushed slightly. He was a young man, and Travers was forty. He was fresh at his duties, and Travers an o d hand. It wasadelicate position for him to be placed in, to bave charge of his senior; but bis luck had s him there, and he saw that ewes looked frightened at the rapid rifle-fir- ing in the front. He got off bis horse and took from the saddle- r out to him. eth Slocum mentioned in bags own steel tape, one of the few appli- ances he had been he 0 ap buy at the s fore coming out, ‘+ Let’s-go ahead, sir,” he said to Be os “T | will lend the company my tape, and we can al- ternate so as to double the work.” Travers sneered: “ Hum! how do I know whether your tape is to be de —— on?” ‘Youre not required’ to know,” was the sharp retort, for Siocum’s young blood was u at the tone of his jealous senior, “ ’'m responsi- ble for the work from thisstation. Give me BA - sergeant: and sign it as far as you have me.’ Without a word, but scowlin, with hatred, Travers: did. as “he was told, an the chaining- party set out, , going just twice as fast as before, and straight toward the scene of the battle that still r in the advance up the valley. The > further they went, the paler got Travers. CHAPTER III. THE INDIANS’ CHARGE.’ Ovt in the advance, meanwhile, the two com- | panies of cavalry were having all they could do to keep off the Indians, who had gatbered in front to the number of three or four bundred, and were sweeping to and ‘fro, yelling and fir- ing in the usual style of Indian warfare. Slocum kept steadily at his work till the’noise of. bullets, singing in the air over his head, warned him that he was getting near the skir- . mish line, when Travers, whose turn it was to go ahead, broke out: “Ts an outrage, sir—an outrage! We're not soldiers. It’s not our business. to go into a danger of this sort.. I'll not. stir another step. I’ve a wife and family to care for.” Slocum looked at bim with some contempt. “Go back to the train, then, and Vil tell Mr. Graves you didn’t dare come on.” Travers burst out swearing angrily. ““You! Yes, you think you're f, 4 Bee, don’t you? You’ve nothing to lose. If these men ee advice, they won’t go a step further.” At that very moment a. bullet struck the earth and knocked a shower of dirt into Trav- ers’s face, nearly Sipees him for a NPY 80, On he shouted: God, I'm bi And Dwi th that, Be dcp the cud ot bis : tape and fairly ran off, as bard as he could, ile the chainmer, old hands on the \ grinned to each other, and Slocum said to one of them: “Take Mr. Travers’s place, and go on. Til keep the field-book, while you chain.” F ‘Better leave the hosses Lehind, hadn’t we?” —.. : og said an old plainsman, doubtfully. : 2 Slocum started and nodded, 2 ‘“Why, yes, of course. I never thought of | that. hey belong to the company. You take them back, Bill Blunt.” | Another man, Herndon by name, gave a short 4g laugh as he took up the end of the chain, ob- ; | serving: a ‘Yes, boys, send the hosses back. They costs | money. Men doesn’t. We ain’t worth as 4 | much as the beasts, but it’s all in a day’s work, ee ain’t it?’ Slocum felt the implied reproach, the more that the speaker was a brave man, who obeyed orders coolly. He weat to him and took away the ta a “Yotcan go back out of danger,” e said, is. quietly. ‘I order no man on this service, It’s e a matter.of. volunteering, Ill carry this end a of the chain. _You can all go back, if you're afraid to go where I go.” Herndon. stared at him a moment in sur- prise, and then broke out with an oath of jolly profanit yi a * You're a man, you-are. Go back on ye? Ber) Not by a jugful! I ain’t that kind. Comeon, boys, and work lively.” : And on they went, on foot, with a rapidity, now that they were working on honor, and not Lo by compulsion, that fairly amazed Slocum, who a: became so absorbed in his work that he cid not é notice how close be was getting to the field of battle, till be came to the station beyond the dead body of the staffman who had first been killed, when the Sioux fired from ambusb, and realized that his task had been performed. The distances between the stations had been measured, and the ficld-book, in his breast pocket, joined to the other.in Graves’s posses- sion, gave the materials for a complete sec- tion of the country through which they bad passed, up the valley of the broad Yellowstone river. ; Ber As he jotted down his last figure, he had time eas to look up and around him, we ee The scene bad changed since he was there — before. Where the cavalrymen had » was 3 aline of dead horses, with quite a number of uman bodies and wouaded men, but the In- diaus had drawn eff from the immediate front, and the fire had slackened considerably. Major Ireland, on foot, was walki down gb line encouraging his men, @ ras | Graves was seated, a little way back of the skirmishers, i behind a big bowlder, his field-book on his knees, ; figuring away as calmly as if at bome. ZZ Slocans turned to his men to say: a" ‘* Get under shelter; the work’s done.” Then be walked over to where Graves was sitting, and, as be looked toward the train, saw that.t e infantry men, had halted and threwn out a skirmish line on the flaak away from the river, where the red war-bonnets of Indians, = and tbe pied and spotted hides of their chargers, o began to be visible. : raves looked up absently from his book as — locum approached; but nodded and s aaah as he recognized the young man. ‘“* Well?” he asked, Slocum showed him his field-book. ** The work’s done, sir, Do you want it?” ; cal We keep it yourself, hat. did Travers cee at first, but—” sa ; Well, sir, he looked ang “But gavein. 1 know what I’m about, He couldn't bave chained up to that last spot for | his life. Where is he now?” “T let him go back, sir, He was hit by the | dirt of a spent bullet, and half blinded, so he re was no use at the front.” : ¥! ves grinned in bis grim way. : “Never was much use, when there was hard work to be dove. There; that finishes my fig- ures, till we go to plotting. I make the. Pon Bang & Pisatiy the easy Epo for the last hundred— “Hallot w Their yA was attracted by a burst of firing toward the ages and, jeoking, back, they saw that. a ord Bien y of Indians had dashed out of the woods bordering the valley, and were circling round the infantrymen, who, on their ee bad collected in a circle and were fighting we or all they were worth, while beyond them ¢ again the wzgon-train had been corraled, and more Inciars were attackin: ne it, the little’ psf oa id escort in the advance ing left entirely alon Old Graves, for the first time that day, looked - q uneasy, and said to Slocum: ‘*Ceme to the line. This party will be wiped. to ona ome in five minutes if we don’t look out for our- \ aoe se. ¥ ene to Major Ireland, and said ina yo burried, anxious ways. , Magor,. bb hace a and the Indians are ; Major Ir Ireland looked Blocniy ee going on, ty over att Oe as ae you had stopped in the caer Ou The OGe5 eff My
Page 4
‘s phi —— first instance, we should have all been together. You heyy of the railroad don’t consider men’s lives as amounting to much, I see, and if this escort is destroyed, it will be your fault. Your men haven’t fired a shot to help us.” Graves looked as sour as himself. “We're not paid to do that sort of work, sir, You bave charge of that. You could have stopped, as wellas I. But it’s no use to stand here disputing. What do you propose to do?” “Fold my position till the infantry come up,” said the cavalry officer, stiffly. Js there anything I can do to help you?” asked Graves. Major Ireland laughed rather bitterly. “Ts there anything? What a question! Yes, of course there is. I’ve Jost nearly a fourth of my men. Put in yours to help, if you don’t want to lose your bair. Look over there, and see what’s going on.” There was no need to look, for the fast-increas- ing noise told that the battle was waxing furious. Graves oalled out to bis men: ‘Get carbines and all the ammunition that ou can, boys, and join in with these soldiers. e’ll ba attacked in ten minutes,” The frontiersmen needed no second bidding to do as they were told. One or two of them Red their own Winchester rifles belted to them, but the majority had but a single revolver and a knife, and it needed no experience to tell them that a desperate struggle was approaching. They ran to the dead bodies of the soldiers on the line and took all ‘the weapons and ammuni- tién they could find, not a contemptible quantity by any means. Sleeam managed to secure a Springfield sporting-rifle, that had belonged to one of the bemua shot dead at an early period of @ ‘ He took the pistol-belt from a dead soldier and hunted up in the saddle-bags of the horses nearly a hundred rounds of ammunition. When he had loaded himself up and was still at a little distance from the main party, he heard Ireland shout out: “Get together, boys, and give it to ’em! Here they come!” , The young engineer looked up and never afterwards forgot the sight he saw. Acloud of dust was betweeu him and the train, and it seemed as if the whole valley was full of Indians, riding straight for the cavalry escort, crouched over their ponies’ necks, flog- ging away with their short whips, and yelling as they came with a shrill intonation that was peculiarly appalling, mingled, as it was, with the incessant cracking of rifles, 1 0 RR. l He ! ! yup! yor! YUP! woo! Koma watt oot trot #100000!” “Orack! crack! crack!” went the rifles, and the bullets came singing over the soldiers, buz- sing like a swarm of bees, sla ping into the dirt all round them, while the yelling increased into a tempest of sound. ; Slocum, entirely unused to battle, and left alone about fifty yards from the command, felt bewildered for a moment, and then, seeing that he could not reach his comrades in time, dropped instinctively on the ground behind the dead horse, whose saddle be had been searching for cartridges, and opened fire on the Indians, The next few minutes were to him a mere whirling dream of confusion and blood, He pa as fast as he could with his rifle; saw the valrymen envelo in a perfect sheet of flame; found himself surrounded. with Indians, who came down on him like hawks on the wing, cluteb at bim as they passed, and nearly succeeding in ae him off, Twice he was lifted from the ground, and twiee be freed himself by firing with his two re- volvers into the faces of his foes, who dropped him among the horses’ feet. fe felt several wounds in the confused melee, but was conscious all the time that the Indians were in a desperate hurry, ure to escape from some one bebind them, while the firing on the other side had become a continuous rattle, He was on his feet again, firing on all sides, with no lack of aerer , and all the time run- ning toward the cavalrymen under Ireland: How many steps be had run he could not tell, when two stalwart Indians came swoopin down on him again, one on either side, an ach seized an arm and lifted him from the eac ' b bona while he kicked as hard as he could at |. rib; to make them let go their hold. A third horseman came rushing at him from bebind, and he felt bis hair seized by a strong hand, when he twisted in the air with a super- humxn effort, tore bimself loose from the first two, avd grappled with the man that had his hair, both rolling off the pe on the ground, y & enough, while the Indian, as it happened | nature, bu CHAPTER IV. THE LOST FIELD-BOOK, Wuen Seth Slocum came to his senses, it was night, the stars were shining down on him; and he lay on the grass, with his head on something soft, which he soon found to be a dead body— that of an Indian. Trying to turn his head, he felt a pain and stiffness in the back of his neck that reminded him he had been burt; but managed to look from side to side, and found bimself surrounded by camp-fires, tents and wagon-tilts, horses at picket-ropes, teamsters and soldiers stirring about in the usual routine of camp life, cooking and getting ready for bed. No ove seemed to notice him, till he managed to struggle ~ to a sitting posture, when a voice called out to him: ‘* Hello! I thought you were gone up.” Slocum tried to smile and rubbed bis bead: ‘I’m not dead yet, I hope,” he answered, ** Did we whip the Indians?” His interlocutor came up to him, one of the cavalry corporals, and said: “ Whip ’em? Well, yes, we drove ’em off, but they laid out a heap of us.” Slocum felt bis bead, then his limbs, to find if be was badly hurt, and finally made shift to ask: “ Who laid me out on that body?” * Reckon I did,” was the reply. ‘‘ We found you, after it was all over, fn on the ground, with the Indian on top of you. He was sbot through the heart, and had his hand in your hair, where be’d been trying to scalp you. His face was all mashed in too. Reckon one of the horses kicked him. And you had a bole in the back of your head, Thought you was dead, sure; but I didn’t like to see a red atop of a white man; so I yanked him off, and laid you out decent. Let’s see if you’re hurt much,” Slocum managed to scramble up dizzily, and stood leaning on the corporal for a moment, ‘*T think not,” be said. ‘‘It must have been 4 bullet stunned me. My head aches consumed- ly. _Wbere’s your doctor?” **Out yonder by the wagon.” And the corporal helped him over to where a couple of tired-looking gentlemen, with bare arms, stood by a table made of trestles and boards, that had been set out by the tail-board of one of the wagons. ' On the table lay stretched a man with bis eyes closed. One of his trowser-legs had been slit up to the middle of the pre ard showing a leg that had been just amputa below the knee, the stump neatly bandaged, The man wore a soldier’s uniform and was under the influence of chloroform, and one of the surgeons said, looking round: “ Here, steward, steward, get to work at this man. He’s pretty weak. Who's next?” Four men came and took away the insensible ring and the corporal saluted the doctor, say- S Here's one of the citizens, doctor, got hurt. Thought he was dead.” As The senior surgeon turned to Slocum, saying roar: ) ‘Well, my man, what’s the matter with you? You railroad men — on all this muss, and now we've got to foot the bill, Isuppose. Come, what is it s) a moment before, had been weak and trembling, but the callous way of the doc- tor stung him into drawing himself up and re- torting: 3 | fon't know that it’s worth while to trou- ble you, sir. If we brought on the muss, as you say, at least we took our share in it, and I had an idea that the first duty of a physician was to heal the sick, not to insult them.” lt was not the retort, but the language in which it was couched that see to impress the surgeon. He bad looked on Slocum in his frontier dress and unkempt hair as only one of the railroad laborers, but he found that he spoke like a per- son of refinement. So he looked a little 3 answering: . “Well, well, what’s the matter, sir? Are you sick or wounded?” “ I'm not sure,” replied 81 “T was hit on the back of the bead, and it aches very badly, by he kind enough to examine me? That’s all I ask. The oF gr said nothing more of a barsh 1 did as he was asked, and made a careful examination of the young man, taking every limb from head to foot. en he bad finished he said: “You had a narrow escape, sir. How were bo-3 greeged whn you were struck on the ea , “Po sure 1 don’t know,” said Slocum, in a weary way. “I think I was having a rough- and-tumble fight with an Indian, but I don’t remember yery much about it.” Here the Nid = saluted, saw the gentleman. He was fight like a wo, bucking w i aida F thcught be a accounts for it,” the doctor, 4 Seth Slocum, Railroad Surveyor. riously. ** That bullet was fired at the back of your bead, and it. has raked up and passed out under the skin. You've got a terrible headache, hey?” f, Slocum smiled ruefully, an Splating. “Well, you'll bave to go to sleep and shock worn off. What’s your name, sir ‘Slocum, assistant advance engineer,” : ae dvctor looked surprised and held out his and. “Mr. Slocum, indeed? I’ve heard of you.” ‘‘ Where?’ asked Slocum, listlessly, for he felt very wretched just then. ‘From my old friend, Professor .Nathans, He sent me word that a gentleman of your name had come out here to wield an ax with the com- mon laborers to learn to be an engineer, but P'd no idea you were in this party. 1 tell you what it is, Slocum, you must sleep in an ambulance to-night, and I'll take care of you for the old man’s sake. You've got several bullet Ze8, but we'll have you all right in a day or two. ll f fix you up.” Slocum felt grateful for the offer, but said: “Thank you, doctor, I must get back 'o my own people. Was Mr. Graves hurt?” The doctor’s face fell. “Graves? Why, don’t you know? No, of course, how could you?” : Slocum felt a thrill of fear. \" ‘“« He’s not—not dead?” get the it hh ng The doctor nodded. J ‘*Yes, He was killed in the rush, just out- 4 side the line, and the Indians, in their n ay managed to carry bim off and mutilate him shockingly in front of us all, His body, or what was left of it, was brought in an hour Poor Slocum broke down in his weak state and sobbed: 5 ‘‘Poor Grayes! My only friend! The red villains! Ob, if I only could have saved him! He was the only man who was kind to me of all of them!” ° ‘* Mr, Russell has come up and put that man Travers in charge,” said the doctor, in rather a disgusted tone. ‘‘Travers came gallopi ag back before the battle was fairly on and bi himself ina wagon, He’s a sneak, but I sup- cong be all right, We shall go back at once, bis fight has put a to the expedition and I hear that some valuable notes have been lost.” Slocum’s head was too dizzy to take much note of what was said, bu he managed to ask the doctor: ‘ ‘Ts Mr, Russell here?” a The doctor nodded. i “Certainly. He’s very much cut be about it. It seems there’s some appropriation Congress a that was conditioned on this survey and— 4 ‘‘ And what's lost?” asked Slocum. ‘‘ Not the f fleld- book, surely?” - *T believe that’s what they said.” ‘Then I must see Mr. Russell at once,” said aay Ag Slocum, with a great effort, ‘‘ Where is he now, a doctor?” ; The doctor shook his bead, cs ““You’re not fit to see him. You.can’t talk KK,” busines. fora day or two,” Rae (eter ‘*T must, doctor,” said the young man, tryin id to look straight before him, but four to fall Oa with dizziness, ‘I shall worry more, if you 5 don’t let me go, than if you go with me, I’ve 4 a few words to say.” » rk. he doctor looked at him keenly and closely Be re ee “You do. as if you were worrying over Be ae it. Well, come with me. I'll take care of you. ‘ Russell’s out here.” He led Slocum away to a fire in front ofa. RA large wall-tent, by which stood two gentlemen mek ml —one an Officer. d : ¥ Slocum recognized cone Chester, com- Were? veh mander of the column, a man, with gray res ea hair, and a stern, careworn face, in the officer; Tio acces while in the stout person with mutton-chop ee whiskers, be found the much-dreaded chief en- YL ASRS gineer, noted for bis sharp, exacting ways over _ A May yo 1 \ i” Saee;: 5 he general was pacing thoughtfully up and UN es down, talking ‘o Russell, when stor ap- SAE fe proached, an he wheeled round in his im- ¢ te re posing way to say: he a \ ee wn A “Well, doctor, well—what is it? We're ae, Os “But the surgeon, like all of bis class, was not | easily abashed, and answered: ay Sse ‘*Can’t help that, aur ong Here’s a gentle- th Pam he man who was badly burt to-day; one of the en- Me neers; wants to report to Mr. Russell, and . e'll bave trouble with his head if he don’t doit, He was with Mr. Graves.” Bi dtend re we Russell broke a isa f 3. wi \y eae xcuse me, general; e really | any- a a thing to say, I'd like to hear it.” oe he The general waved his band politely, <a ‘‘ By all means. On, sin? yo y Yee ae He turned bis eyes on Slocum pale aA St Sa for the pale face and bandaged head if young man Pay Pa 2 eee em Slocum, by a violent effort, cleared his head PO'far AES BOYS ee eas yk sae PN - 4% 2 “ HL (oy ent : be
Page 5
| JNA Seth Slocum, Railroad Surveyor. 5 “*Yes—vyes, two. Do you know anything of them? Who are you?” Slocum felt in bis breast, and drew out the field-book with Graves’s order in it, and handed it to the engineer, saying: “Vm Seth Slocum, sir.” Then he got so faint that General Chester no- ticed it and brought out a camp-chair, saying to him kindly: ‘“*Sit down; you’re hurt.” Slocum sunk into the chair, while the engineer eagerly looked over field-book and order, one after the other. When he had finished this, Russell said: “T don’t understand this, sir. This is Mr. Travers’s book, He told me that it was taken by the Indians, in the hands of one of the ax- men who was killed.” Slocum’s head was clearing as he sat resting, and he answered: “T had charge of it, sir. “You'll see where he signed bis work, It wasin my pocket when I got hurt. Mr. Graves sent me to supersede ravers.” Russell compressed his a “T see, I see, Hem! hem! You’ve done well, sir, as far as you go; but this is only one book, It gives only the distances. Where's the eleva- tion book? Do you know?” “Tt was in Mr. Graves’s pocket,” said Slo- cum, ‘1 saw him put it there before the fight ba ara ussel] pursed up his lips fretfully, “Then it’s gone for good, Heavens, what a misfortune! General, we shall have to do all the work over again, backward.” “Tt can’t be done,” answered Chester prompt- ly. ‘' My orders don’t extend to sacrificing this whole command for the sake of your company, The Indians are up, and we'll have to retreat at once, and keep well together. ‘‘I can’t let any more escorts go out. That’s flat.” Russell looked as if he bad lost all hope, for he said in a mournful way: ** And all our work’s thrown away. Well, if we are ruined, it can’t be helped. _ This book’s only half the work without the other,” Slocum here ventured to speak: “Ifa man went among the Indians to get that book, sir, what would the company say and do if he found it?” Russell stared at him doubtfully, “Say and do? Why, young man, do you know that a subsidy of ten millions hangs on that book? The man that gets itcould make his own terms with us,” CHAPTER V, MONTANA GEORGE. A WEEK later, the Northern Pacific Railroad Survey Expedition was wending its slow and sorrowful way homeward to Fort Black on the Missouri. Mr. Russell had e abead as soon as they got out of the Indian country; and Seth Slocum, pale and weak, but able to ride in, had left the ambulance in which he had n lying for three or four days, and was ambling ead of the colamn over a green undulating pee of rich grass, feeling bis health coursing ck with every breeze. They were out of danger from the Indians, for they were fast nearing the settlements, and the guides had little or nothing to do, the trail being as plain as a high-road. Slocum, whose tion as assistant advance engineer, though confirmed by Mr. Russell, had me one involving no duty since the recall of the expedition, was riding ahead of the long column in company with one of the guides, the same ‘* Montana George ” who had been trusted by Graves as giving the most reliable informa- nD. Montana George’s full name was, George F. Rockwell, but he bad lost that long Belews for his nickname, except on the pay-rol!s of the company, where he was set down by his legal ot on. rge was not » Government scout, and had a good deal of contempt for many of the men who were employed by the officers in the capac- A of guides, ‘ @ was a quiet, modest fellow, w ressed in a neat business suit when he went to Oulohes which he had to do every few months to make reports or receive orders. 0 one would have taken him at such times for a frontiersman, for his hair was eut short and bis manner was as quiet and unobtrusive as if be bad been a poor bookkeeper on a low gal- ary. On the plains he was a different man, dressed in leather, and armed with a long-range rifle and pair of revolvers. Slocum had grown to like him from the fact of Graves having trusted him, and the boy had a half-superstiticus veneration for any whim or liking of his dead chief; but in Montana George he made no mistake, for George was “a man,” in the quietly emphatic language of the West, When made a report, Slocum knew it could be depended upon. Row, as they were riding along, the youn engineer broke out after a musing silence that lasted for several miles. “ George, I wish I understood Sioux.” Ns SO SR EE, © ER APS ME Os SS EEE hae SC RS CES Se eed NS ESET 9 Montana George smoothed out a lock of his ) ** As nigh as I can recollect, in the first ficht, horse’s mane, answering: * Ay, ay, there’s a many wish that.” “But very few who can do it, I suppose.” George shrugged his shoulders, **Bnough, I reckon.” “ Why enough?” “For all the darned Jingo’s worth, I mean, Mr. Slocum.” “Worth?” **Yes, worth. They’re a bad lot, and it won’t be many years before they’re all gone.” “But there are white men who can speak their tongue; are there not?” ‘“* Ay, ay, as many as are wanted.” “Can you speak it, Rockwell?” Montana George nodded. “A little., Not enough to interpret, though, if that’s what you want.” Slocum looked at him curiously. “What I want? What makes you think I | want anything?” Rockwell smiled. ‘* That’s easy enough tosee. You want todo something, and you’re afraid to let anybody know what it is.” “You're right, George, I do.” ““T knowed it.” But Pil tell you, George, if you'll keep it still between us two. Rockwell nodded. “Go ahead, sir, I won’t tell any one, We don’t belong to the army, so we can afford to keep secrets to ourselves.” “George,” said the young man, drawing closer to the scout and speaking low, .though they were at least a quarter of a mile ahead of the column, “I have got something to say to you. DPve something on my mind, ever since the fight when Mr. Graves was killed by the Indians.” “*T thought as much.” “Yes. You were in the fight, were you not, George?” “IT think I was,” George dryly replied, “‘ At least that was my impression.” ‘“ Where were you?” ** With the scouts.” “ And they didn’t join the line?” Montana George smiled, “T reckon not.” ** Why not?” ‘*Knowed better,” said the scout in the dryest of tones. ‘Don’t suppose we'd fight Injans in the open, while there was plenty of cover round “I don’t quite understand you. I’m not an Indian-fighter, you know.” Rockwell nodded kindty, for he was one of thoss men who never make fun of the green- horns. He answered quietly: “Of course not, but you’re a darned good man for all that, Mr. Slocum. Isedn ye in the fight, when ye didn’t think it. Ill tell ye bow it is. These Injuns are men, the same as tbe rest of us, and they don’t want to get killed any more than we do. They’re not like sol- diers, who do as they’re ordered, and get killed like fools, because an officer tells them to go into a bad place. They’re like us scouts and plainsmen, every man for himself, and they don’t see no glory in getting killed, Neither do “T see that. Goon.” ‘Well, naturally, when they’re ten to one, they'll fight like blages; and, being as they're all born a-horseback, as one might say, they'll charge over a green plain like a pack of hounds after arabbit. But that’s all,” “ Well?” - “Well, you’ve seen a hound after rabbits that come on a bear of a sudden, baven’t you, Mr, Slocum?’ “ Can't say I have, but I can imagine it.” ‘Exactly. He'd turn and put like blue light- ning, wouldn’t be?” * Fay @ so,” “ Well, and that’s just what an Injun charge comes to, if it meets a few good men in the edge of a wood, and we all knowit. I’ve seen three men in a wood keep a hundred Injuns at bay. They'd bowl like hounds and go ramping about, but they wouldn’t come up ta the scratch, where some one was bound to be killed. Every one of ’em thought he was going to be the one that was to be fetched out of bis boots.” ‘And that’s why you took to the woods in the fight?’ “Sart’inly. As soon as we saw that the sol- diers were into it hot, we scouts lit out to the flank, where there was a nice lot of timber, covered in on all sides, and we just beld that place till the whole scrimmage was over. I had a glass with me, that I borrowed of one of the other scouts, and we watched the whole affair.” | “Then you must have seen Mr, Graves,” Montana George nodded mournfully. “Ay, ay, he was a good man, that--a very good man indeed.” “* Did you see him killed?” “ Yes.” “Describe it as near as you can for me, I have my reason for asking.” Montana t gan slowly; | thought for a little, and be- Mr. Graves never lifted a band. We could see him through the glass, sitting on the ground, writing away in a book—” “That book!” interrupted Slocum. “It is a very valuable one, George. . Think well; do you think he had it with him when he was killed?” George shook his head, “Couldn’t say. The last I seen of it was | when you came to speak to bim, and I saw him | put it in bis pocket. Jest after that the Injuns | came down the valley kiting, with the walk-a- | beaps after them.” ‘The what?” ‘The foot soldiers, I mean. That's what the | Injuns call ’em, and we get into the same way . ourselves, Then I seen you was all going to get ridden over; for the Injuns was trying to get out, and you jest remember: if you corner an Injun, be’ll fight like a streak, though he'll run like a bare it you give bim a hole to get out of. ‘‘And you in the woods! What did you?” “Oh, we was in no danger. There was room to git by us, and we knew they’d take it. But the cavalrymen was rigbt in the way. We seen the Injuns make their charge, and seen them divide and sweep round the soldiers, I seen you git up from behind a borse and run for the command, and then I seen the Injuns all’round ye, It wasn’t five minutes afore the bull thing was over, as far as I could see,” ‘But Graves? What of bim?”’ ‘Pm coming to that,” said the scout, slowly. “It must bave been nigh five minutes, when the devils broke and scooted off; and, as they pened us I seen they bad Mr. Graves a prisoner | between two of ‘em. They’d 1un bim thrcugh the shoulder with a Jance, and «rs carryin | bim along like a stuck pig, and the screayus him was awful tolisten to—” Slocum turned on bim a face of borror. “My God! you don’t mean he was alive?” The plainsman nodded gloomily. ‘Ay, ay, you don’t know Injuns yet, That was the best part of the hull thing to them, to hear bim screech, As they passed, two of us icked the Injuns was carrying him, and owned ’em. e fell too, but lay there, and we saw ’em trying to pick him up. We made things hot, I teil yu: and they couldn’t git the body. no further. “Yes, and then?” “And then, when they fcund they couldn't carry bim off, they began to circle past us, and fire into bim as be lay. Siocum shuddered, “* Poor fellow !” George nodded. “You may well say, pore feller! I tell you, Mr. Slocum, when a man’s wounded bad, be gets all broke up apnybow, and if he gets bit again and again, there ain’t a worse death to die, Tbe cruel devils kept on firing at bim, and he lying not fifty rods from us, and every shot fetched a screech, He must bave been a good ten minutes dying.” * Poor fellow! And then? Did they get his body away after all?” Montana George nodded, “ Ay, ay, we couldn't binder ‘em, for they was set on it, and we had all we could. do to take care of ourselves. I can’t tell ye how they did it, for the dust bid part of it, but by the time the infantry come up and they put up the valley, it was all over. We found his oer stripped, and all cut to pieces as might be.” * His clothes gone?” interrupted Slocum. ‘“Oh, yes; might ba’ knowed that. Injuns tekes every rag they kin get, of our clothes.” “Then they must bave the field-book that was in bis pocket, Tell me, George, do you thivk they would be likely to destroy it?” Montana George sbook his heud. “Think not, Make medicine of it, more like- ly, I sbould say.” ‘* Make what?” ‘“Medicine—witchcraft. Injuns make medi- cine cut of everything they don’t understand. Some chiet’s sure to take the book and put it in bis medicine-bag.” “ And con't you think a man might get it beck?’ asked Slocum, quietly. Rockwell looked at tim earnestly. “A man might; but be’d bave to be a very good man, Mr. Slocum.” “T am going to do it myself, George.” Montana George looked at the young man bsrdly more than a boy in years, and answered him slowly: ‘*T am afraid you can’t do it, Mr. Slocum,” “Why not? Tell me all the difficulties in the way. George, every one of them. l’ve made up my mind to go and try, but I don’t want to make mistakes.” Montana George nodded. “That’s right, that’s right: but you don’t know what you're a-talkin’ of, Mr. Slocum. You ain’t been out only this trip and you don’t know much about Injuns.” ‘* Suppose I were to tell you, George, that 2 was brought up among Indians, what would you say?” ’ George stared and laughed. — essences \
Page 6
—— *¢T should say you was coddin’ me.” “Well, ’'m not. I was born in Western New York, within two miles of an Indian reserva- tion, and I have an uncle who was adopted into the tribe of the Mohawks as a boy, and who 4 taught me the language.” ey ontana George scratched his head. .- ‘“‘ Mohawks, they ain’t Injuns, are they?’ (> ; “Certainly they are; did you never hear of a them? They used to be a great tribe, once.” Montana looked dubious. . “Maybe they was, but that ain’t nothin’ here. T’ve heard of most of ’em, but 1 never heard of a Mohawk Injun round these parts.” ‘*Where were you born, George?” “Durned if I know,” returned rge,in a good-humored way. ‘‘Reckon in Mlinois, but ain’t sure, Used to be Illinois Injuns once, I’ve heard say, but that ain’t no’countnow, Reck- on your Mohawk Injuns won’t help you mach pep: hero,” a “Perhaps not, George, but suppose I know the sign language?” “Well, that’s something of course, buf not 4 enough to take you among the Sioux, to get\a Be: chief's medicine-bag.” Ba “I’m aware of that, George. What I want to do is to get hold of a man who can talk Sioux, and who understands the people, to go with me. Do you know such a man?” » : Montana nodded. Bat “Yes, Lknow him, but you can’t get him.” bs Why not?” Ms ** Because I reckon you haven't Monen yorug” * to pay him,” was the dry reply. ‘ Bat Richards eo: ain’t the kind of aman to take his life in his a band for nothing.” ag “ And who is Bat Richards?” a ** A Canuck—Jobn Baptist Richards.” : “* French Canadian?” vy “ Rackon so, There used to be a lot of them Frenchmen round here, in the days of the old im fur song at so I've heard my dadsay. Used ee. to run bateaux up and down the river. Bat’s ££ quite an old feller.” i ** And you say he talks Sioux?” ‘Ought to. He lived among’em nigh ten years afore the war, and was with ’em in the { Minnesota massacres, It was after that he got over to our side, and the Government pardoned him. ** For what?’ Montana George gave him @ queer look. “For what? Weill, Mr. Slucum, me and you was both kids then, I reckun; but they do say as the squaw-men wus the worst of all in the massacre.” ** And what’s a squaw-man?” ‘A man that lives with Injuns and takes e squaws to wife. Mostly they’re a bad lot, but mk Baptist ain’t as bad as some, Ireckon. Any- ‘4 how he got pardoned and made the interpreter : for the Government, till the Sioux left Minne- sota for good. Now he lives at Gladstone.” ; ' Gladstone was the name of the town from 4 which they had started; the terminus of the P road as far as laid. “Do you think it would be possible to hire this Baptist for yuse and interpreter?’ the young engineer asked. Montana George looked doubtful. ‘Tf the company paid him and took care of his family, he might come, but yow couldn’t touch him alone.” _ Well, that’s what I mean, George. All I want you to do is to come with me and see this crt If he and you will go with me, I'm willing to take the risk.” Montana looked at him in his keen and scru- tinizing way. “I suppose your life is worth as much to you Sat asany otherman, If Baptist agrees to go with Te ye, soll I, but you can’t get him, I reckon.” ‘ Why not?” ‘*He’s gettin’ too old to face the winter, and I tell you, Mr. Slocum, we're going to have a rip-snorting old winter.” } ‘At least we can try, George.” And nothing more was eal till they got to Gladstone. » MA -_---—— CHAPTER VI. ; THE SQUAW-MAN, _ Tae town of Gladstone, ten years ago, was a collection of frame sbanties, sod buts, wall tents and all sorts of temporary erections, which were painted yellow and surmounted by the national flag. The store-houses belonged to the Quarter- master’s Department and Indian Bureau, and were the nucleus around which the town had nized itself, , ncle sent to Gladstone, every month, enough beef, pork and flour, with ail the etcet- AF eras of commissary stores, includin unlimited De whisky, to supply the posts on the Mi ri for cre “tie several hundred miles, and nearly a dozen In- dian reserva ions and agencies. Gladstone was the distributing yy cerned these tore a ae ee ee — - hen wae. clustered around some big framo store-houses | ipa 6 Seth Slocum, Railroad Surveyor. ee i fey a ployees of the departments and the bureau for “Vat you vant?” he asked, with a strong the service, Gladstone was therefore a thriving and grow- ing place, with nearly a thousand regular in- habitants, of whom fifty-seven kept gin-mills. Five poker parlors flourished on and after every pay-day, aud one faro table to every five gin-mills represented the gambling element of the frontier in its most attractive light. Out in the suburbs of Gladstone, the broad plains stretebed, without a tree, for miles and miles, till the flat was broken by a few prairie farms, surrounded with barbed wire fences, the nearest about half a mile off. Going down the bank of the river, however, one soon came toa little hollow, where there bad at one time been a break in the bluffs, making a deep bay or indentation. Some trifling cause, like the lodging of a float- ing tree in former times, had started the river into forming a new channel, and it bad cut an- other place at the opposite bank, which still ex- isted isted. The abandoned turn speedily filled up with alluvial soil, and had in course of time become higher than the stream, although lower than the luffs which line the Missouri river. In this little hollow, which was full of tim- ber, like all river bottoms in the West, the peo- le of Gladstone often saw a blue curl of smoke in the daytime, and it was a matter of remark that “some feller lived there” though no one troubled himself much about the hormit, who never came to town and was Very rarely seen outside the hollow, When be was visible, he appeared to be a dark, Indian-looking man, dressed in the tog- gery of the mountain-men of thirty years be- bg and carrying an old-fashioned, flint-lock rifle, One or two townsmen had visited his dwell- ing and found it to be an Indian toepee or wir- wam, which disgusted them so that they went no further, for, of all the things an average frontiersman hates, it is an Indian; and a man who lives in Indian style ranks even below a full-blooded savage in their estimation, Nevertheless it was to this little hollow, known to the Gladstonians as ‘‘ Squaw-man’s Hole” that Seth Slocum and Montana George tuok their way about three days after their safe arrival at the town of G:adstone. They rode over the ievel plain in the soft light of a September afternoon, and when the arrived at ‘Squaw-man’s Hole” George took tho lead, Slocum following. They found the little hollow, which only measured about three hundred yards across, densely filed with tim- ber and underwood, with no path visible. The leaves were: just beginning to turn and presented a protty peeae of brightly glowing colors, but at first there was no token of human habitation in the hollow of the bank. Montana sregames BAN GTW took the lead and plunged down t gh the brushwood, till he came to the black bottom, which was so near a swamp that the horses sunk up to the crown of the hoof in the soft soil. Slocum followed him blindly, and after a eat deal of thrashing about in the bushes, they emerged on an o space of about an acre and a half, planted with Indian corn and surrounded by trees, through which, on one sidé, the white gleam of the river showed. On this side, hidden from viow, alike from the bank above and from passing boats on the stream, stood an I teepee, covered with _buffalo-hides, which had been tanned white and painted with ali sorts of strange hieroglyphics. In front of this tespee sat two Indian women, one suckling a baby, the other skinning a dead coyote or prairie wolf, while tbrough an opened flap of a doorway. Slocum could see the form of a man crouched over a fire on the ground, from which tho smoke ascended to the top of the tee- pee and passed out, ‘ That’s the old man,” said George in a low tone fo Slocurs, ‘ Get off your horse and we'll see what he’s, got to say.” The two women in front of the tent never looked up at their approach, though Slocum saw that they were fully aware of bis presence, for they kept muttering to each other as they went on with their occupations. He and George dismounted from their horses and tied them to trees, then went forward to the entrance of the teepee, when George called out; - “ Hallo, Bat! That you?” There was no change in the attitude of the crouching figure inside the hunt, but Slocum heard a grunt like that of a pig, and Montana George, without further ceremony, walked into the a and gave the croucher a ringing slap on the back. “Hallo, Bat!” he repeated. ‘‘ What ye doin’ here, old man? Why don’t ye say how do?” The man at the fire slowly turned toward George a dark, haga ace, with a thin fringe of scanty black beard round his mouth, anc a pair of keen, glittering eyes set close to- gether. — ; Fite - It was a broa foreign accent, “* What do we want?” Montana George laughed at the question, and said to Slocum: “Sit down. IT'll manage the old cuss.” There was not much chance to sit down oa anything but tho ground in the teepee, but Montana George went to one side, where a Mey of furs were laid, yanked outa buffalo- robe and said to Slocum: “Sit down, sir, sit down, Beptist’s a darned hog; always was; but we'll bring him to his milk.” Thon he coolly seated himself beside his com- panion on tha skin ond continued: “Now, Cat Richards, I want to talk to you.” The other man had been squatting on his heels over the fire in the usual Indian attitude of esti and he did not deign to turn his ead, **T want to talk to you,” repeated George in a louder tone, ‘‘and I want you to attend to me. Do you bear that?” Bat Richards grunted. * This is the matter,” said George continuing. “This gentleman wants to pay a visit to the Sioux tribes at once.” Bat slowly turned his head till his glowing eyes rested on Slocum, whom he surveyed from head to foot. A grunt was his only comment on the news he had received, and Slocum felt that he could hardly bave experienced a keener or a more contemptuous one, Montana George went on as calmly as before tu the uncivil man: ‘* You can grunt all you please; but what we want to know’s this, what'll you take to go along as iatorpreter and take us to Sitting Buli’s. camp Bat Richards slowly rose to his feet, went to the side of the teepee and pulled out another roba,; on which he seated himself cross-legged before he answered. Then he turned on them a face no longer stolid and forbidding, but fall of ieonness, as he asked quietly; ** How much you give? Slocum was about to speak, when Montana George pulled his sikirt. ‘‘How much do you want?” he asked. Bat shook his head. ; ; ‘“‘ How much you give? Want a heap,” Tontana nodded; “TI know that, you old sinner; but I ain’t cheapening any man’s. goods, I don’t know whethor you can take us there at all.” Bat tossed his head scornfully. : **% take you dere, sure ; you pay.” “Ay, ay, 1 can do that myself,” answered Ceorge dryly. ‘* We've been there already and seen all we want to. What I’m after is this: can you take us there safely without any figbt- ing, and bring us back?” Slocum looked at the Frenchman in great anxiety. ; Bat Richards appeared to be consid over his answer, for it was nearly a minute before e said: 5 ' “doit. Bow much you give?” a euswered iv ifferently: F “Well, it’s worth "bout a hundred dollarz and a new rig and horse,” Bat Richards loolred at him from head.to foot and spat.in the Ore. ** No good,” he said sententiously... —. Montana George shrugged his shoulders, . ‘‘ Very well, then, what do you want?" Bat looked himintheeye, © eryimgus a Want thousand ape re hoss, for self. and squaws, wagon and oxen.. have ’em. Tired of ad ue, Can't move.” as ocum was asa aint | tos when Mon- tana checked ta a second ti 2g e, “Too much,” he said, * We may as vg fe \ the home, and you kin stay here and starve winter. ow!” Pgs that he slapalad Slocum to rise, and o two comrades were going to leave the teepee when Bat said in rude 4 te : “ Tien as si vite. Vat yougiff” . “Tve told you,” returned George pausing, ore dollars and a horse and rig, That’s “But vat become of my vife?” asked the Frenchman, with more animation than he b hitherto shown. ‘‘See, Monsieur must take care my familee,” . ; Montana looked at the two women in a doubt- ful way asking: : ‘“* What tribe are they?” tes ‘** Sioux,” was theeager reply. “ Great chief's daughter, dat one with baby. Sitting Bull him- self, fader.” Montana smiled scornfully. , ‘Oh, tell that to the greenborns, Well, I'll tell you what, we'll do. y shal) have rations while we're gone.” eaae ‘“ Who gif de ration?’ aswed Ba “ The railroad company,” was Bat shook bis bead. wi Doss know de company. r. # ‘will know the 1 _ retorted, Shorge, 1
Page 7
' suppose they’d give us the book, if they thought moat stolid. +t pn rE AS ROOT EO A SS eNOS shall have your rations delivered here by the bank, so no one won’t be able to cheat you. How rmaany people?’ “Five,” said Bat cunningly, “ coffee and sugar for five. Haf five bimeby. Ugh! No like stay here. No like it. Gif wagon; we all go to Sitting Bull’s camp.” **We don’t do any such thing,” retorted the scout coolly. ‘‘ Your wives and baby stay here, and don’t stir a step. Now then, will you go or not?” “Vat you vant me to go for?” asked Bat evasively.. ‘‘I vant. know. Isit soldat? You vaot fight? No, no, Ino go.” “No, it ain’t soldiering nor fighting neither,” said George grompely. “It’s just to take this gentleman and me to the camp. ‘Vat you vant dere?” “That’s none of your biz. We want to see Ritting Bull and give him a present.” Bat chuckled. “You gif him me. I take him dere.” ““Thank you for nothing. This gentleman ‘wants to study Injun life; take pictures; buy euriosities; trade.” Bat shook his head. “‘Dey no let him go, You know dat. No man allowed trade vid hostile. You know dat, Monsieur Shorge. Vy you make fool of me?” George could not help a laugh as hesaid to Slocum, aside: “Sharp old cuss, ain’t he? He knows that it’s against the law to trade, except at the agencies, with a permit,” Aloud to Bat he said: * That’s our business, that on ourselves, We take the risk of Maybe we'll get a permit, maybe not, but that’s nothing to you.” . ‘“Not’ing to me?’ echoed Bat. ‘All right, den, you find de way you self. I no go.” And he seated himself again at the fire and 4Jeoked at the smoke.. CHAPTER VII. HARD BARGAINING, Siocum began to feel discouraged, and whis- pered te Moatana: “ Why not, tell him what we want?” Montana George shook his head. ‘Leave him to me, The old cuss is keen to go; but he’s drivin’ a hard bargain.” “But why not tell him what we want?’ * Because, if we do, he'll sell us out as sure as fate. We've got to lie like thunder. You don’t 43 was worth money? No, steal that book somehow.” This conversation pee in a whisper, to which Bat listened with all his ears, while appearing sir, We've apt to Tien Montana George resumed. **Come, Bat, I tell you what we'll do with ‘yon, for good.” Bat looked at the fire without deigning to turn his head. “We'll give you a horse and rig, new rifle and revolvers, take care of your folks for the svinter, and promise you two hundred dollars, ‘when you come back with us.” Bat turned bis face toward them with all ex- pression discharged from it. “No good,” was all he said, _ Even Montana George, who kuew him well, seemed to be nettled as he asked: ., ** Well, what is good then?” Bat grivned etumpbes tly. *‘Me told vou. Me take five hundred dollar down, rest when come back. Me want t’ree ‘horse and wagon to move.” “Then darn your half-breed skin, you don’t get it,” cried Montana in high dudgeon, and as he spoke he moved resolutely to the door. “Come, Mr. Slocum, it’s no use talking to that old tarrier. He kin go to blazes, I'll find ‘you a man that’s got some reason.” im listened to what he said, but did not ya from the skin on which he had taken bis seat. He saw that Bat Richards was watching them ‘oth keenly, in spite of bis apparent stolidity, ‘and an idea came into bis head. Leaning forward toward the Frenchman, he avade a peculiar sign with the forefingers of both hands. : _ The moment be made it the other turned his dead Be ra 7a ig mak and a look of great surprise, asking in French: ‘© What is it?” a Mont rge, who at sound of the Fren | tongue, bad turned in the doorway to look at ejacul under bis breath: / is young Slocua turned to George. z Seth Slocum, Railrord Surveyor. ‘“You can come and sit down,” he said. “TI told you 1@ been with Indians before. Mr. Richards is a brother, and will tell me the truth and go with me,” Indeed, the change in the demeanor of the Frenchman from that moment was so full and complete that George could hardly believe his eyes, and returned and sat down on the buffalo- robe in a stupor of amazemeat. ** Well,” said Slocum, taking the lead now that he had effected such an easy conquest. “Are the brethren in these parts alive, brother?” Bat nodded eagerly. * Alive and full of work.” __ ** Are there any in Sitting Bull’s camp?’ “Yes, yes, Sitting Bull himself is the chief. What are you, brother?” Slocum made a peculiar sign. **Do you know that?” 4 Bat nodded respectfully. He made another. Bat shook bis head with a look of awe. ‘No, brother—I mean—chief—that is above me. Are you there?” ~ Slocum smiled. “tT am far above that. Now you will come with us to the camp; is it not so? Bat bowed his head respectfully. “T am your servant; but you will deal with me justly asa brother, What do you want at the camp of oieng Bull? I have my life to protect as well as this mad American, and be cares for nothing. To him Iam only a squaw- man, worse than a dog. You area brother and know me, I ask, as a brother, what wish you at the camp?” Slocum hesitated. The conversation took placein French, with | which he was well acquainted, baving been brougkt up among French Canadians and Indians on the reservation in New York, and Montana George sat listening, but understand- ing nothing, except that the young man and the half-breed belonged to some secret order, which had brought them together. Of the existence of such an order among the Indians Montana George had heard, and be had also heard that it originally came from the Eastern Indians, who bed probably established it among themselves in imitation of the white freemasonry, which first began to be prominent in history soon after the colonization of the North American colonies. Slocum had been initiated into one of these mystic lodges, early in life, by his uncle, and hdd taken all the degrees possible to be taken, without any expectation of using them. It was in a vague curiosity, as a last resort, incredulous of the result, that he had made the sign to Bat Richards; but the result had de- lighted and astounded him. The order into which he had entered among the Mohawks of New York, a moribund and almost extinct tribe, was flourishing out here among the Sioux, end promised him an easy entry into their secret haunts, But for all that, Slocum hesitated as to an- swering Bat’s question in full. He did not yet know how far the influence of the order extended in modifying the natural ferocity of the savage. “TI wish,” he said, “‘to see how the Brothers of the Cloud behave out here, and whetber their work is correctly performed. I am sent by the head chief of all, whose name is only spoken in the last circle,” Bat oy a fae to be satisfied. “My brother shall come with me, But it is necessary to fit me out for the journey. I must have what I said before, three horses and a wagon and oxen to move my family. I wish to live among my brothers again.” Slocum nodded, **That is well. If you wish to come with us and bring your wives, you can do so. I will see to it.” c Bat laid his hand on the young man’s arm, asking caterer ‘Ts that on the word of a brother?” “Tt is; but I donot want you totake your wives at all.” Bat frowned fretfully, ““Why not, brother?” “Because lam coming back here and sball want you with me.. The wives must stay here, that we may travel fast.” Bat looked sullenly at tbe fire. “My wives go where I go, brother. If you want wives, you can have oll you need at the camp of Sitting Bull, but I must have mine with me. I cannot leave them here by the town.” “Why not?” asked Slocum with some surprise and curiosity. Bat Richards looked uneasily out of the door- wan where the two women still sat. he one that had been skinning the coyote Was now cutting the animal into pieces and shedding them into a pot, evidently for the urpose of supper. — The half-breed ged bis shoulders. “You see the o oking. Her name is Red Feather. I bought her for five ponies from the | Arapahoes, and she would run away to town after some other manifTlefther” © = = 7 ‘Slocum could hardly help laughing. “In that case, it seems to me I would Je6 her go. She can’t be very fond of you, and you'll still have the other one. Who is she?” *“She is called 5 and is a good dd said Bat, gravely. “I need her to cook, ides with women we shall travel safer.” “ Wh ih Bat sbrugged his shoulders, “The Indians will see a lodge-trail and think it one of their own going into the camp. If we go without the lodge, we shall be taken for spies and be killed by the dog soldiers.” Slocum turned to Montana George, who had heen perfectly silent, and told him the result of the talk with Bat. The plainsmen looked doubtful. “T don’t know much about these societies and orders,” he said, ‘‘I don’t belong to any myself, but I suppose it’s all right. If we take the squaws and lodge we'll have to live Injun fashion, and run from our own people but maybe it will be for the best in theend. I bain’t no more to say about it myself.” His tone was constrained and Slocum saw gn ck oe net 6 ache ** Don’t be angry, George, e began, George shook bis bead. “T ain’t angry—that is, not with you, Mr. Slocum. Youre anxious to get back what you’ve lost. But I don’t trust that sneakin’ | Bat. He wants to git his bull family off to his | Injun friends and leave us to get out best way we know how.” | Slocum @rew him near to whisper. | ‘You forget. I havea pledge from him he | dare not break. He belongs to an Order.” Montana George looked obstinate, ‘**May be it’s all right. I’ve heard them as | was Freemasons talk the same way; but I’ve | knowed ’em cheat each other es bad as any | other kiud, though J’ll allow they’ll stick to- getber to cheat avy one outside of their lodge.” Then to Bat the frontiersman said: “ What’n blazes do you want with a wagon and oxen? You cax’t take ’em over the bad lands, and you know it,” ; Bat curled his lip, *“1f [take de wagon I go over all de bad = we find. You tink I never travel before? gh? ** But you know well enough that we couldn't get anyway nigh Sitting Bull’s camp with a wagon,” pursued George. ‘* The Injuns would trail us and come down on us Ifke a pack of wolves,” Bat sbrugged bis shoulders, ; ; “T "tend todat,” was all the answer that he deigned. Slocum addressed him again in French: ‘* My brother will tell me his plans,” he said, soothingly. ‘‘In the name of the Order T ask my brother whether he can take me to Sitting Bull’s camp in safety or not. That is all I re- quire of bim.” Bat Richards stretched out his hand to the young engineer, and met him with the grip of the Order. “On the faith of a brother, I will take you in safety to the camp of Sitting Bull,” he answer- ed. ‘*I will take you to himself, and you sbalf find him a brother. I can promise no more than this, If you have told me the truth, and desire no more than to examine the brothers, ycu shall come away as safe as you went; but warn you, brother, that if you have any de- ceit in your heart against the Order you had better stay at home.” The manner of the half-breed was simple and earnest, and bis language, now that he was speaking bis native tongue, devoid of the jerky abruptness he used in the English speech. Slocum was indeed so much impressed by it that he felt an involuntary tremor as he we! flected that his real object in going to the dian camp was other than that he aff: and for a moment had serious thoughts of telling all and throwing bimself on the honor of his half-breed confederate. aor It was with some disturbance of manner that bave no evil designs against an: he fivally said: “Of course I st a brother of the Order. I go to see if they have kept alive the sacred fire and to test their knowl- edge in the oracles of the Order of the Dark Cloud.” ’ Bat Richards bowed his head. \ “You will be welcome among them in that ~ ease. You will find many there far above me, and to them you will be more than welcome. lt is settled. take me and my wives to the camp.” ‘But the money?’ objected Slocum, “Tam not a rich brother, and cannot afford to pay a thousand dollars.” Bat Richards waved his hand. = : ‘*-You are my brother and will pay me what you can afford.” A Siocum besitated again, “No, no,” be answered, “I do not wish to de- I will go with you and you shall ceive you, brotber. I cannot afford to pay you | anything of myself. The sehet poop Sey eee Bat pricked up hisear, From what other people? The soldiers?” No. The soldiers do not wish me to go.” at » “ - i
Page 8
‘Very good. I am glad of that,” “ Why glad?” The haif-breed’s eyes glowed in the dark sha- dow of the teepee. The soldiers are dogs and cowards,” he said bitterly. ‘‘Tbey lie to us aad kill our women and children, when they caunet get warriors. We hate them.” “So do I,” said Slocum, “I come from a company of men who believe in peace. I wish to go among my red brothers and show. them that a white man can tell the truth and keep his word to them. I will pay you two hundred dollars, and provide horses for yourself and wives to go with us, but I cannot take a wagon with us. Do you accept that?” Bat looked at him furtively. The influence of the Order was strong over his mind, for he was ignorant and superstitious, and it is just such men that are most impressed by the oaths and ceremonies of secret societies, But for all that, the Frenchman was a keen bargainer and did not propose to be outwitted by ner. one, ** Will you tell me, on the faith of a brother, that you can pay no more?” he asked, Slocum drew a deep breath before he an- swered and then replied: “*T cannot provide a wagon, on the faith of a brother; and two hundred dollars will take al- most all my stock of money.” Which was literally true as regarded his pri- vate means, though be knew that the railroad company stood bebind him, in the person of Russell, chief engineer, to back him up in any expense necessary to recover the lost field-book, on whose p»ssession hung a Congressional sub- sidy of land and money worth at least ten mil- lions of dollars, Bat looked more doubtful still. ‘*My brother can get money from some one else, from the railroad company, for instance. This mad American said\ that the company would give us rations.” é ve aesgt gh said Slocum. ‘The company will do so if I ask for it, but they will not give me any more money than I can earn for them.” ‘“My brother will have to beg, then,” said Bat obstinately. ‘Iam a poor man and it will be a hard journey. I must have five hundred dollars and seven horses, with new things and rations for us all.” Slocum besitated apparently, though in reality he was delighted with the cheap consum- mation of the bargain. He did not dare to appsar eager, for to do so would be to give the half-breed a clew to the value he placed on his expedition, “T will think of it,” he said slowly. ‘It’s a great deal of money, and you ought not to treat a brother thus. I'll try to getit for you. After all, what interest is it to me, save for my own blag I might better give up the expedi- on. Bat pretended to be conscience-striken. “I will go for four hundred and fifty then. I don’t want to be hard on a brother, Will you yn F ¥ a “*T suppose I must,” answered Slocum dryly. “5 shalt. tell the bead chief on my pehenk Gein ardent the brethren are in the cause of the Or- der, and they will all know the name of the brother who drives bargains with the emissary of the chief.” Bat looked frightened. “Call it four bundred then,” he exclaimed “and tell us the higher secrets of the Order! I will go for that.” Slocum saw he had touched the right chord at The ignorant half-breed was as anxious to in- vestigate the secrets of the upper circles of the Order as wasever a dry-goods drummer to wear a skull and cross-bones on his watch-guard, or to tell his friends that he had taken the thirty- second degree. So he bowed his head, observing: “IT have authority to organize lodges of all the degrees, and if you are examined and found worthy, you too may become a member of the supretne council, I will give you three hundred dollars,” Bat reached out his hand, his face glowing with satisfaction, “*T will go,” be said, Slocum did not allow bis own relief to ap- pear, but said coldly: “* When will you be ready?” “ To-morrow—to-night, if you wish; as soon as I see the ponies to pack my goods. I have but one, and he is lame,” “You shall bave them to-morrow, and we will start to-morrow night,” said Slocum. ‘‘We must get out of here before the soldiers see us, or we shall be stopped.” Bat laugbed., * The soldiers are fools,” he said. CHAPTER VIIL SLIPPING OUT, Tue full moon hung over the dark, barren |. ns that surrounded Fort Gladstone, opposite town, the next night after the interview between Slocum and the squaw-man, when a bateau. that generally lay ‘beside the _Whart at Giadstene for a ferry, got adrift from 8 Seth Slocum, Railroad Surveyor. its moorings without any one noticing it, and floated away down-stream. At tbe time the accident occurred, the citi- zens of Gladstone were congregated at Andy Miller’s * shebang” to see a dog-fight, on which | much money was bet; and those who could not get into the room where the pit was set were waiting outside to hear the news, or betting on the reports as they came in. Consequently the boat, which at first only | chafed on the wharf by its moorings, when it ) finally got adrift, swept round in the swift cur- | rent of the Missouri, and went drifting down- | stream, turning round and round as it went, It was not till it had drifted past the extrem- est shanties of Gladstone that 1t became appar- | ent some one was on board. Then a man, who had been lying down in the | bottom of the batean, rose cautiously up into a | crouching position and peeped over tie side. As soon as he saw that he was bidden from view of the town by a projecting point of tim- ber, he developed into a marvel of activity and strength, Seizing from the bottom of the boat the long push-pole used by the ferryman, he put it out | on the side away from the land and shoved the boat close inshore, where the current was slower than in the middle of the river, and let | it drop down nearly a mile, till it arrived oppo- site the dark wooded hollow of ‘ Squaw-man’s Hole.” Here a light was shining, deep inside the wood, glimmering at intervals between the trees, and the man with the pole uttered a long, low cry, which was instantly answered from | the shore, where the branches and dry sticks | cracked and rustled under footsteps, The boatman, with a powerful effort of min- | gled skill and strength, sent his boat in a mo- | ment to the shore, and called out in broken En- | glish and French; ‘Hola! Vite! Queeck! Take de line! Sa- | erere nous! take eet—take eet! You cink I von elepbant?” . A yin we of dark figures leaped on the boat and picked up the lines on board, which had | been cleverly cast off at the time she appeared | to be breaking from her moorings at the Glad- stone wharf. They leaped ashore with them, and had them fast to trees before the force of the current could break the boat loose, which it threatened to do every moment, Then the man with the pole let it fall into the bottom of the boat, crying: *Ouf? que cest loird )—dat is heavee, ven man not use to hcem. I have not pole boat for | ten vear, Ouf!” ‘* Well, she’s here anyhow,” replied the voice of Montana George, ‘Now git yer traps on, and all the cattle ye have.” The half-breed stepped on shore, while Slo- cum and George, who were the men who had | been waiting for him, secured the boat firmly. “He got the bateau off very well, I must ad- | mit,” said Geores, rather grudgingly. | Slocum laughed at his tone. ‘Of course he did. I see you don’t like to trust him, but you'll see he'll not play us false.” Montana George grunted, ‘“Umph! No, I don’t like to trust bim. He’s jest half an lnjun anyway, and they're always the worst. I don’t intend to do much trusting | for my part, to anything but my rifle and re- | volvers, But I supposo you know best. I don’t expect never to come back alive, so I don’t care ) much.” “Then why do you go with me at all?’ the | young man asked. “I’m not afraid to go | alone.” Montana George uttered another grunt, this time of angry incredulity. ‘“ What a’ve take me for? A milk-and-water | babby that’s afraid to follow a man? No, sir! If you go, I go; if you lose your bair, I lose mine. The company pays me to go with you, | and agrees to take care of my old mother if [ get wiped out—and I’m going through. Here | comes Bat, and all his bageages aud baggage.” The cracking and rustling in the bushes were | renewed, and, one after another, nearly a dozen little Indian ponies came out of the thicket, in single file, each carrying a pack on its back, and tied head to tail, The first. pony was led by Bat, and bore on its back a muffled figure, riding astride, while the last two dragged long sticks, trailing on the ground bebind them, and were conducted by | the squaw, Red Feataner, who seemed to be in | a sulky humor, for she was growling to herself | all the way. , “That’s the women who’s going to give us | trouble.” remarked Montana George in a low | tone, “You mark my words—she’s a ’Rapa- | hoe, and they’re p’ison mean.” “What's the matter with her, do you think?” the young engineer asked. | ontana sbrugged his shoulders, ‘*T won’t tell you, Iswear, P’raps she’s got a feller in the town, and wants to go to him, or else don’t fancy going out on the plains with winter coming on. Hard to say why she’s | sulky, but sulky she is, you can bet your bot- tom dollar.” The half-breed here led the horses on board the bateau, one by one, finally getting them all ina bunch at one end, tilting the otber up in the air, when he called out angrily to Red Feather some Indian words, which caused that redoubtable cook to bestir herself and get them straightened out and the bateau on an even bottum again, for keel she had none. ‘Eh bien ?—vat you say? Here ve’ vas,’ cried Bat. ‘Now, messieurs, take de poles and do vat you vas told. Ve cross queeck.” There were four poles lying iv the boat, and all were very long, with broad, rounded ends, made of thick plank, fastened on to prevent them sinking in the black mud at the bottom of the Missouri, The old voyageur—for it was easy to see that Baptist was used to bateuux—took bis position at the stern, the lines were cast cff, and away went the loaded boat down the raging current, at the rate of seven or eight miles an bour. Now out came the poles, and under the direc- tion of Bat, they began to shove the boat over toward the other shore. Rapid as was the current, it was so shallow that they could feel the bottom al) the time, and all they had to do was to shove in their poles, let the current swing them round, and so cross the river in a diagonal) direction, going down- stream, To push the boat upward, be it ever so little, against such a current, would bave required the strength of a score of men. Slocum noted but little where they were ing, in bis own struggle to hold on to the pole, for it seemed to bim very often as if the current and beavy boat to gether would tear it out of | his hands, or drag bit: overboard with it, but at last he beard Bat ery out: ‘“ Arretez! Stop! Now, all togeder! Vite / Houp-la!” With that, all three poles were dug in to~ gether, and with a grand sbove, the boat sud- devly struck an eddy, for which the war Frenecbman had been pe which sent it. whirling round and rcund hke a top, but stopped its downward progress at once and sent it across stream. Then Slocum looked up and saw that they were close under the oiher bank, before a bend in the river, while Bat and George were holding their poles poised ready to shove when, the oaty carried them into a proper position, A moment later Bat seid: ** Alions! Push vonce more—now !” With that came another united shove, and the boat skinsmed into the bay and grated on the pebbles, while the be dl braced himself to old it there with all bis skill, calling out in low, guarded tones: “Ashore! Queeck, queeck! De line! Feste? I am not strong encugh to hold him for evaire. De line, de Jive!” Montana George leaped ashore with the end of the line first, and had it round the trunk of a sapling, just as the current drove the boat away so hard that the Frenchman lost bis bold of the pole and was almost pulled overboard, Away went the bateau for nearly twenty feet, when it was checked by the line, and then the force of the current bent over the stout sapling even with the ground, ‘or several seconds it was a question if the line would not tear cut the sapling: but erat it was a very tough one and beld long enoug for Slocum to jump out with another line and get it round a tree a foot thick, when the united cfforts of all bands dragged it close to the bank: and it rested stationary. / Then Montana George said in a low tone: ‘Keep still, all of ye, and in 4 the ponies quiet too. We're nearer the fort than 1 hike to boi ong we don’t want to be spotted by no- e disappeared in the bushes that fringed the bank, and climbed up in silence to the top, The river was low at that time of year, and. the bluffs on the side towered up a good bun- dred feet from the surface of the water, though a few weeks later would probably see the cur- rent flush with the prairie above, and over flow- ing it in many places. Down by the bank, the half-breed and Red Feather Jed the loaded ponies very careinlly over the side of the bateav, and got them om the ground as silently as they could; the fevor- ed squaw, Ripple, sitting quietly on ber own pony, with tbe babyin her arms in its cov- ering of bark, her care being to keep it {rom erying. ndian mothers never allow their babies to cry from the time of their birth; and the pro- cess they adopt is one which can be recommended to civilized mothers as effective if not very bu- mane. Slocum noticed as he got to the shore that the little thing was restless and whinipering in a low tone, and at last it burst into a wail. In a moment the mother, who had been, up to that, soothing the ig little thing, covered its mouth with the os m of one hand and seized ite nose with the forefinger and thumb of the other, effectualiy preventing the escape of the, least particle of sound. To be sure it choked the baby, which strug: gled with all its feeble force to get rid of the aoe ae
Page 9
Wea inl —— , and nearly died in the struggle; but as soon as it dropped its little hands from weak- ness, the mother removed the constraint, and the lesson had been so severe that the poor baby found it best to keep quiet and to confine its uneasiness to low whimpers and much wrig- gling of body. In the position in which they were, t g to slip out past a fortified post, guarded by sen- a with a baby in the party, the young sur- er coald not but admire the simple means n by the mother to secure silence, and no r wondered that she was allowed to ride, w Red Feather did all the work. It was a matter of necessity to silence the baby, and there was only one alternative be- sides leaving it behind, which was to make it wae person’s work to mind it. Bat Richards, while they were waiting for the retarn of Montana George, kept near the child, petting and fondling it, evidently exceedingly affectionate and proud, both of baby and mo- ther, while Red Feather held sulkily aloof, at- tending to the horses, jealous of ber rival, but not daring to make open objection. - At last came a rustle in the bushes, and Mon- tana George stole out with his finger on his lips, whispering: “You must keep stiller, or we'll be found out sure, I heard the kid squall just now, and we’re not a quarter of a mile below the fort.” Bat Richards waved both hands in a fashion o signify contempt. ‘Vat mattaire! Dey are soldat and no hear noting. It is time ve move, if you do not see any von coming,” ‘No, there’s no one coming, and there’s a prairie crack ’bout fifty rod below here, as we can move out by,” refurned Montana George. “Time to turn the boat adrift, if we’re to cover our trail,” They proceeded to where the boat still lay. “Faatene to two saplings, and began to hack at the loops “of rope which were passed round the trees, till they parted, and the boat went swinging away down the current, whirl- ing round in the eddies on her way to New Orleans, Then they started up the bank. CHAPTER IX. RUNNING THE GUARD. ARRIVED at the top of the bank, before them stretched a bare plain, flat as a table to all ap- pearance, with little or no tokens of herbage, the season being dry. About a quarter of a mile off to the right; up the stream, was a group of houses and a stock- ade, which showed the position of Fort Glad- stone, and extreme caution was necessary to > ming without being seen in the bright moon- ‘o Slocum indeed, who, with all his ability and Eastern education, was as yet but a child in matters of, prairie-craft, the task seem hopeless; as they clustered under the shade of some trees that grew at the edge of the bank. The plain lay there in the moonlight without so much as a bush for coverand they had eleven ponies, in the party, with five people and a baby arms, While he was hesitatiog over the prospect, Montana George called his attention to a dark streak in the prairie, that ran off to the left front vanishing in the distance, but not appearing to end in the plain. “'There’s a canyon,” he said, in a low tone. “Reckon it runs out several mile. We got to git there, one by one.” The party remained in the shelter of the trees as lone as was possible, and skirted the river- bed till opposite this dark line, when Bat Rich- ards took his pony, threw himself over its side, banging by one arm and leg in the Indian fashion, and rode boldly out at a walk toward the dark ravine that spanned the plain. He had not gone twenty steps in the light of the moon when his identity disappeared and one might have fancied it only a stray horse moving to the ravine for a change of grass, stig te Sieenare Bek Save’ ote ce oe ae, 8, rew a lon as be Bia g sigh of relief, @ sentry ain’t looking this w f bave Coton” Go ahead, Ri le.” 0 Diet a Ripple, with the ‘baby, followed suit in a less ha ous fashion, but lying as close to her horse as she could go and moving slowly, the animal picking at the grass as it went. Ripple got hap 4 into the canyon, and Red Featber followed In asimilar oo a with three egg? abreast, all without notice from the ort. ‘“That’s enough,” observed Montana George toSlocum. “‘ Them Injuns can take care of them- selves, baby and all, It won’t do to take it for granted that sentry’s never going to look this way. We'll wait a bit.” Hive of the ponies had gone and of the six that remained two carried Slocum and _ his friend: three their things; and the other was the lodge-bearer of Bat Richards, They were all beginning Reese: engenty fter their companions, threatening to neigh. ? “Get to that one’s head and hold his nose,” whispered Montana George, and he set the ex- ample by firmly compressing the nostrils of one pony in the same way as the squaw had done with the baby, and with similar success. ““They’re cunning brutes, these ponies,” he observed presently, when they were quiet. “The Injuns teach ’em to keep still and I reckon Ss know the reason. Now go it, you old ras- cal,’ As he spoke he dismissed the pony with a slap, and the animal went off at a trot to the edge of the track, paused a moment to look into its dark recesses, and then disa tbe ‘He'll follow his mates,” sai orge. They watched tbe fort, and Slocum took out his field-glass, a very powerful instrument, and scanned the’ buildings in the light of the moon, He saw the houses and a white palisade, and caught the gleam of a bayonet, carried by a soldier on the end of his rifle. He told Montana George, and they both watched for some time to see if the man would move. “Maybe he is watching us,” whispered Slo- cum. “I can see him standing there, and he seems to be looking this way.” * Keep still then,” whispered back the scout. ‘He saw the last hoss, and he’s waiting to see if any more come.” Slocum kept his eye to the glass, and at last saw the man move slowly off, frequently turn- ing to look back, é told Montana George, whose only reply was: ‘Keep your eyes skinned there, and don’t talk. A little goes a long way on a still night. I see him too.” - They held on to the remaining pack-ponies, which were becoming very restless, wanting to follow their companions, For nearly five minutes more the distent sentry paced up and down, frequently pausing to look their way, and at last he seemed to come to the conclusion that it had been a false alarm, for he turned his back and stood still. locum was about to let another pack-pony go, when he caught. sight in the glass of several moving figures coming toward the sentry, and Montana rge hurriedly whispered: “Lay low. There comes the relief. If he suspects anything, some of ’em will come this i If not, we’re all right. Listen sharp!” ey listened attentively and beard the low murmur of voices as the sentry exchanged or- ders with the new-comers. Then came the clinking of arms and brass buckles as the relief moved away, while the new sentry commenced his walk with the brisk- ness of a man w. 2, his corporal’s eye, and Montana wh d: “It’s all right. We'll move as soon as his back’s well turned.” In fact, after a few turns, they saw the sentry o into abox provided for the purpose, from whicb he did not emerge for so long that Mon- tana said: ** He’s goin’ to sleep. Let the broncho go.” Slocum released the uneasy pony, and the little creature started off at a trot, dashed into the canyon, and they could hear if trotting and neighing all the pt down the ravine, answered from far away in the advance by the others. George uttered a vicious curse as he listened, muttering: “The brute "ll give the alarm, sure as fate, and we'll have to run for it. Git on yer hoss, Mr. Slocum, or we gits turned back sure.” But Slocum, who was watching through the glass, saw no movement in the sentry box, and retorted: ‘Don’t get flurried, man. The sound comes to us up the ravine, but it don’t go to the fort that way. Hark! it’s stopped.” The neighing had indeed subsided toa dead silence, and still there was not a sign of motion in the fort. After waiend five minutes more, Slocum threw himself down on his horse’s neck and bet for the crack, followed by the paek- nies, Whetber he was seen or not he could not tell, but be saw no motion in the fort and was soon sheltered in the ravine, which he found to be a crack in the earth formed by the accumulated cracks of thousands of years, where the winter's rains had washed away the soft strata of the soil and formed a torrent-bed, dry for half the quite regularly, with a smooth bottom of sand about two feet wide, and rugged, nearly per- pendicular sides, while the hard-beaten state of the sand showed that it had been used as a road by wild animals of all sorts for 2 long time. * As soon as Slocum was fairly hidden from view, he made his horse trot out, and) before long caught me of the dark figures of his In- dian friends ahead. Before he bad time to come up with them he heard horses’ feet behind him, and saw Mon- tana George coming up. ‘““Wellf” he asked, as the scout rode to his side. ‘‘ Were you seen?’ ° “Reckon not,” said George hurriedly, * but for all that we want to put, the best we know year. ; Tt descended from the level of the prairie, . Seth Slocum, Railroad Surveyor. 9 how, for they’re sure to bont up this barrance in the momen and if they find our trail it won't need no Injun to read it.” ‘“‘ Bat why should they follow us?” “To keep us from going cut to the Sioux, of course.” ** But it’s no business of theirs.” “Maybe it ain’t, but they make it so, if so be they get a chance. They’ll take us fur’ Injun traders.” “‘That’s just what I want every one to do, George. It’s our only chance to get into the camp safely, you say. Moutana George nodded. ‘* Ay, ay; that’s all true enough; but you don’t remember what it is that Injuns wants in trade.” “1 know what we've got, what Bat told me was necessary.” ‘* Ay, ay, it’s Bat this, and Bat that,” said the scout ill-temperedly. ‘“*I ain’t saying he ain’t giving you good advice, mind you, but you must remember that what’s good fur a In- jun’e bad fur a white man. I ain’t no lover of ae but I must say if I was a sojer I'd hate a in gle pd worse than a Injun. “Why George gave a sbort laugh. “Why? Well, I swear I thought you knew. What have you got in the packs of the three ies we own in this outfit.” : **Tobacco, and brass cartridges for Win ehester rifles,” replied Sloctm innocently. What of that? I suppose they need the cart- ridges for hunting; don’t they Mountain George snorted, : “Ay, ay; for bunting. They need em bad, and they'll be ane oe to see us, you bet; but you can bet too that the sojers wouldn’t like it over much if they knew we was out with sich’a cargo.” “Of course I know all that,” returned the young engineer calmly, ‘‘ but just now all I’m thinking of is how to recover that field-book, If I get that back, and the company get the ap- propriation, we can afford to let the soldiers wl. They owe us more than we owe them.” ** How's that?” ‘ ‘** All they do for us is to protect our advance surveys; but where we go, the Indian’ has to leave the country, and one railroad will do more to open the West than all the lazy soldiers that ever lounged round a fort.” Slecum spoke warmly; for he was a plain, hardworking man, and had noticed, since his trip out West, what a useless set as a class army men were. Montana George seemed to be satisfied with his sentiments, for he replied: “* By gosh, that’s about so; but for all that the sojers thinks they does a heap fur the coun- try, and I will say that they bring a lot of grub and money round,” ‘ They dropped the conversation right there, for they began to see ahead of them that the rayine, barranca or cany as it might be variously called, had ended.abruptly in a wall, and that the Indians had turned round & corner and disappeared. : _ Trotting up to the place they found that the side ravine ad merged into a amp se one, from which branched off at intervals, like the limbs of a tree, side ravines and torrent-beds. To Slocum, who had seen these mazes of ravines before, the problem of threading them without a mistake had always seemed a diffi- cult one, but Bat Richards went on without the slightest hesitation, and before an hour ‘had passed led them out on the level plain again, a — six miles from Fort Giadstone in a straight ine; but, as Montana George observed: “ Nigher thirty the way they'll have to go unless they follow our trail dead, and I don't believe they'll do that. I tell ye, Mr. Slocum. this Bat Richards is a darned guide, if he is a half-breed. He'll keep us bid, if man can till we git to Sitting Bull’s camp. After that look out.” Poa toned at his warning tone. ' ust him , George. ou can’t eae or done, ll #0 far.” en's ‘It’s his grumbled George, “‘ but we ain’t crossed the last Mne yet, and there’ scout- in’ parties out. We may ron on one of ’em and get sent beck yet.” “Tl risk that,” replied Slocum. “I’m going fo make a or spoila horn this George, and don’t you forget it.” CHAPTER X. THE SOCOUTING-PARTY. WHEN the little party emerged on the open plain the moon was within an hour of its set- ting, but they could see a long way abéad, Bat Richards waited til) bis friendseame up and said, pointing to a dark spot far ahead on the plain. ‘Ve stay dere to-morrow, and march at night only, till we get out of dis. Ve hef to go fast, og : th that pon res é by on his pack-he and away went the whole string, amble of the Indian pony on a journey, bale yd wana after bour, the t reveal to be a clump of wood, standing is like on the prairie, and promising a shelter fron
Page 10
i be 10 the night wind, which had begun to come up, cold and cuttin , The moon had set and the faint eray streaks ef early dawn were beginning to lighten the eastern sky before they reached the wood, and Rockwell observed with much satisfaction; “That’s nigh on two days’ march for the sojers from the fort if they follow, but I don’t bilieve they will. They’ll trust tothe scouting- rties. I’m more afeared of them than being trailed.” The wood turned out to be clustered at the entrance of another system of ravines, most of which were fed by small streams and densely wooded. Bat Richards led them down one and up another, the light of dawn getting stronger and redder all the while, till be finally came toa halt by a little pool, surrounded with deep grass and a heavy thicket of trees. Here be got off his pony, saying: ** Ve stay here all day. No fires.” He condescended to unsaddle his own pony and turn it loose, with the ‘long lariat-rope trailing, but it devolved on Red Feather and Ripple to unload the pack-animals and set u the lodge, which they did with speed and skill, showing them to be old hands at the duty. Tien Montens George and Slocum took the saddles and packs from their own animals, and turned them loose to feed, which the hardy little ponies did with an avidity that showed they were far from being tired out with their long march of a whoie night at a trot. ‘“How far do you suppose we’ve come?” asked Slocum, taking from his packs a map and spreading it out. Rockwell considered. “Durnedif I know. Reckon this is the place they call Sweet Water Gulch, and they used to say it was fifty mile from Gladstone.” Stocum pored over his map which was a pen and ink sketch made up from military surveys. “Tf it’s Sweet Water Gulch,” he said aftera while,“ you’r’ pretty near right. It’s here mark- ed fifty seven miles by the odometer.” ‘Odometer! That’s the wheel thing they use, ain’t it?” “Yes.. It records all the ups and downs, so it doesn’t give us an idea of the straight line, but fifty miles is about the distance I think, as the crow flies.” ‘“‘ Enough to make us safe,” said George. ‘‘They won’t find out about the bateau being ie, tilt about now, and then they won’t get fairly into the hunt for less than three hours, If that sentry tells all he knows and they get on the trail, they can’t follow it over fast, and they can’t come up with us till to-morrow, if we Me still, If we-move, we’re a day ahead. Slocum an to nod while friend was apeoking, and Montana George, observing it, said : You better go tosleep. Bat andl are used to being on scouts, and you'll be all the fresher after 4 nap. Slecum followed the advice and went fast asleep ina few minutes, to wake up with the warm sup shining on his face down the narrow ravine and to ize that it must be noon and he alone in camp. He rubbed bis eyes and rose up to look. The had all sunk down in the and were ing at full length, stretched out like dogs in the sunshine, fast asleep. ; The stood close to him, and he judged, from the snoring of the tes, that some one was asleep there too. The flap of the doorway was open and he saw Ripple, with her baby in her arms, rolled up in as buffalo robe, while Red Feather was snoring on the opposite side of the teepee, all alone. Bat and George were away. Around him towered the rugged sides of the guich, clothed with bushes, and he saw that some one climbed up it very recently, from the way in which the bushes had been torn up by the roots in more than one place. To ascend by the same path was the work of but a short time to the young man, and be arriv- ed at the top, pretty well blown, to find Mon- tana George and Bat ae, Greneed on the short grass on the summit, fast asleep, so that they did not bear bim. They lay on what he realized to be the sum- mit of the principal divide between two systems of ravines, and the ground slo away all round them to the dead level of the prairie, above which they were raised possibly some fifty feet, so as to command a view of several miles, Slocum saw, lying by the sleeping George, the fleld-glass, which had evidently fallen from the plainsman’s band whiie taking a view, from sleepiness. He took it up and swept the horizon all round, when be caught sight, almost instantly, of a troop of horsemen, in columns of four, ing round the edge of the systems of ravines in which bis little party was, and moving straight toward Fort Gladstone. The direction of their course took them away from him, but he could see tarcagh the glass that they were soldiers, from the g aecouterments. eam of their A natural instinct of caution made him throw himself flat on the ground as soon as he saw the soldiers, and he pulled Montana’s sleeve, whis- pering: ‘*Wake up! Party of soldiers!” Montana George came broad awake in a mo- ment, with a coolness that showed that he was used to night alarms and asked in a low tone: “ What is it?” “Soldiers, I say. Over yonder.” Montana rolled over on his face and scanned the distant party. Then he called to the Frenchman: ‘*Halloa ! Bat! Soldiers!” Bat instantly came awake in the same cool, collected way, Yemg eres “ Peste ! it is too bad. I most sleep. Vat you say? Soldats! Mordieu! Vere?’ e caught sight of them before the question could be answered, and answered himself: ‘** It is a scout from de fort, and dey vill strike our trail before t’res minute, Ve must saddle up and be off,” ** Don’t be in too much of ahurry,” said Mon- tana George. ‘‘Give the beasts a good chance to rest while ye can. They can’t strike us fur several hours yet.” Bat Richards’s only answer was to roll over and over to the edge of the ravine. As he lowered bimself from the top of the declivity, he said: “It is dat. dronk capitaine. I know him. Heis diable, He willfollowushard, Yousee.” Slocum looked over at the dark spotson the plain at least five miles off. To the naked eye they were faintly visible as dark dots, The field-glass, which was a splendid instru- ment, separated the-dots into horsemen and showed the glitter of arms, but that was all he could see, Yet here wasa man who, with the naked eye, unassisted, pronounced confidently on the iden- tity of the leader of the party, as ‘‘ dat dronk capitaine.” * Whom do xe mean?” he asked as Bat began to lower himself. “Dey call him Irlande. . He drink all de time. De men call bim Devil Major,” was the hurried response. ‘‘ You wait, you see he strike de trail and come straight here at once. Au revoir.” And the balf-breed rolled down the side of the ravine in much haste, so that once or twice he nearly fell. Montana George had made a motion for the glass, and lay watching the distant scouting- party. * Reckon Bat’s right,” he said presently. “* Tt does look like Major Ireland’s party.” “But how the deuce can you tell?” asked Slocum impatiently. “Rasy enough, Nir. Slocum. The mejor al- lers rides a big roan horse and that’s him at the head of them all.” ‘“ But there are wae of roan horses besides his, are there not ‘You're right there; but, for all that, the major’s the only officer rides a roan, and that roan yonder’s rid by an officer,” ‘* How do you know?” ‘Easy enough. Ain’t he all alone, a fone six ahead of the rest? That’s the Devil Major, or I'll eat my hat.” * Well, ye it is, what of it?” Montana rge shook bis head. ** Well, I'd sooner have any officer in the regi- ment after us than the Devil Major, that is, if he’s got any whisky left in the canteens,” ‘* What's that got to do with it?” Montana George laughed, ¥ ood deal. I’ve been out with him afore, and he’s a splendid officer till the whisky runs out,’ ‘* What does he do then!” “Pats for the fort, the best he knows how. You don’t ketch bim out without whisky to float a small ship.” “ Do you think he’s short now?” Montana George made no answer tiJl he had earnestly watched the distant column for near- ly a minute. Then he laid down the glass ob- serving: **T reckon not,” “ Why?” . ‘* He’s moving along slow and easy, and he’s got scouts out, looking for trails. He’s a rip- pin’ good man on a scout, and keen as an aver- age Injun. Ha! Look!” Slocum saw the distant party halt and close up in a bunch, like a cluster of bees, while a single figure rode out. Through the glass he saw the roan horse, and saw its rider dismount and come straight toward the place where Slocum and George were ying. the roan horse following. “ He’s found the trail,” said Montana George coolly, ‘‘and it ain’t no use hiding np A more, Mr, Slocum, We've got to git up and git,” ‘* Wait a bit,” said Slocum. ‘I want to see if he’ll really follow us.” “Follow us? Of course be will. Put it to yourself, Mr. Slocum, if you were sent off asa scout to find if any Injuns were missing from their agencies, and you come across a lodge-pole trail, wouldn’t # investigate to find where that went Seth Slocum, Railroad Surveyor. ss re ee SE es es Sr ae ntaendihiliteane RN ee ne See ee ee ee = S ** Possibly I should,” ** And that ain’t all neither.” “What is it, then?’ ‘Major Ireland ain’t no slouch of a trailer neither, and be’s come round the edge of this lot of guiches and divides. He knows we bain’t got out on the otber side, or be’d have struck our trail. He knows we’re in here, and don’t you forget it. Look.” Slocum, looking through the glass, saw the dark party resume its march and come straight for the ravines at a fast pace. Montana George hesitated no longer, but roll- ed over to the edge of the ravine, sa ; “Til go down and saddle up, . Slocum, while you watch. When I holler, you come down, but don’t show yourself. If they’ve got an injun trackers we’ll be found, sure, look out you don’t lift your bead.” With that he slid down the side of the ravine and Slocum returned to bis post of observation. keeping his head behind a tuft of grass, and peeping through the blades of the ——— e saw the tracking-party come steadily on, following the plain trail made by the scraping lodge-poles, and before lung, he thought he could recognize the tall figure of rp eland in the advance, his horse going at a slow trot. But there were no indications of Indian scouts with the troops, and before he could make up his mind on the subject, he heard the bi of Montana George hailing him from be, ow. CHAPTER XI. A FORCED MARCH, THE young engineer rolled over as he had seen the others do, and made the best of his way into the ravine, where he found Montana George and Bat waiting, the ponies all loaded up and the long poles of the lodge trailing from the saddles of two of the animals in the jan fashion, called by the French trappers the fra- vois, with the load fastened on the sticks about half-way between the pony and the ground. His own riding animal had been brought up ome tied to a bush, while Montana George was saying: ‘** Come, burry up h 1% We can’t wait any longer, or they il ketch us before to-morrow night. Saddle up, Mr. Slocum.” *T should think you might have done that for me,” returned Slocum, ‘ seeing I was watching for you. I’d have done it for you.” ontana George stared. “Well, you are green. You don’t ketch us prairie men doin’ no groom’s dooty, I kin tell you, Mr. Slocum. It’s every man fur himself on the plains, Did they have any scouts head?’ ‘* Not that I saw,” was the rather stiff reply, as Slocum began to saddle up. ** Then you foller on, while we go ahead with the lodge,” said Montana briskly. ‘‘ Dou’t lose sight of us. Goon, Bat.” he little procession moved off, Bat Ricbards leading, Montana George the last man, to drive up the packs, while the two Indian women were as useful as men on their ponies, Slocum saddled up his own pony—a little sorrel, as tough as hickory, and as vicious and obstinate asa mule—and started off on the trail. He had to dig in his te savagely to make the animal follow, for Indian ponies peculiarity that they will be stubborn and self- willed under kind treatment, and as gentle as lambs under the most brutal punishment. When Slocum finally got up to the of his little party, Montana George observed, with a glance at the pony: “ You're agiving him too little work, Mr. Slocum. He’ll be a-goin’ back on you.” “Going back on me? Why?" ** It don’t do to treat a brorcho like a reg’lar hoss. They ain’t used to it and don’t under- stand it. You've got to lam ’em all the time like the Injune does, and then you'll get on with ‘em. Don’t you know what they say in Texas!” “No, What's that?’ “They say that, a white man’ll ride a boss half a ay: and leave bim fur dead. Then'll come a Mexikin and take him twenty mile fur- ther and leave him as dead as the white man did. Then comes a ——_ and rides him for a week mors, and takes him into camp alive.” oe ye leughed ble, How d very ingenious parable, How do you suppose they do it, George?” sorge shrugged his shoulders, ‘‘Lamming, [ reckon. Leastwise, that’s the only way Lever seen ’em doit. A Injun ain’t got no feelin’ fur a beast, no more’n you've spot for a log you're a-splitting for wood. ell get all there is out of a hoss till it drops, and hat’s the truth of it, Mr. Slocum, Bat’s jest like an Injun, and rides like em. ~ Look at him. You’d never think he wasa man fit to take part in their drills, would ye, now?” Slocum looked at Bat Ricbards as he rode in the advance, and could not help being disgusted with the figure he cut on bis borse. The animal was accoutered with the regular Indian saddle with a high pommel and cantle, both hollowed out for convenience of hangin by arm and leg and shooting under the hopes meck in the Indian fashion,
Page 11
Fg a ce aed The wooden stirrups were exceedingly short, and Bat sat crouched up like a monkey, his knees above the pommel, while his body rested on the small of his back, and he marked the ~ time of every step of his horse with a light blow of the long buffalo whip he carried in his right hand, witb a strap round the wrist, to let it hang on occasion. A more prosaic and unimposing figure could hardly be found, for he was muffled up in an old buffalo-robe, from which half the bair had been worn off, and looked as if he was half asleep. ” Wo,” said Slocum to George. “I should not think of him as fit to do any riding at all. He looks like an old woman.” smiled. “He can beat both of us on a horse, Mr. Slocum, and don’t you forget it. Old Bat was adopted into the Sioux, I’ve heard say, because e could beat ’em ail at the pick-up ** What’s that?’ “Don’t you know? Why I thought you was Mt | nigh picked upfyourself in the Yellowstone ht,” Slocum shuddered at the remembrance. ** Yes, I was, but that was no e.” “‘Tt’s jast this much of a game, that they practice at it a)l the time and drill like so many soldiers a-doing of it.” “What do they practice at?” “ At picking up each other.” “os why ?? ‘ “You see an Injun don’t like to leave his dead bodies to be scalped any more’n a white man would; that’s nateral,” “Yes. I don’t wonder at that.” “* And if one of ’em gets killed or hit in a fight they'll do all they can to carry him off.” “Yes; and that’s why they drill?” “Sartinly. Two of ’em ‘ll rush past any common man and give him a swing upin the air, so as tocarry him off over the saddle of one. They drill at it reg’lar, in all their camps, They take turps to play dead or wounded.” “To play dead” : “Sarvinly. They go charging away, and one makes out he’s shot and tumbles off his boss ata dead run.” “Don’t he get burt?” “Some of ‘em do at first; but they arn how to tumble arter awhile. It’s practice, practice all the time.” ; “Well?” ‘¢ Well, as soon as one tumbles, all the others make out they’re skeered and run like bl tilltwo of’em in passing stoop over him anu yank bim up. If he makes believe he’s onl wounded it’s easy enough, for he’il hold out bis hands, but if be shams dend he jest lies flat, and they've got to do it by main strength and prac- tice. ““T should imagine they were pretty perfect, from what experience I had.” “ That's ing. I’ve known men—and this Bat’s one of them—that can pick up a man all alone, and hoist him.” “ He must be strong then?” “Reckon be is; but it ain’tso much that as knowing how to doit. He uses the hoss a good deal to help him and the body comes up quick is wink.” pat snot looked over at the slouching and in- el t of tbe French half-breed, and could hardly believe the stories he heard of his skill in the saddle, wel @ was destined before the end of his journey to credit all or eer = = heard. ; They passed along throug e same maze 0 eiblens as that by Which they had come in, and Slocum could not but admire the certainty and skill with which the Frenchman piloted them, At last, about an hour before sunset, they emerged on a green plain, clothed with ~- much longer and ricber than any they had yet he Bat Richards told them: “Dis MB Prairie du Lapin, ve call it. You say ‘Rabbeet.” Ve must _ on to i to de end fter dat, Ve r= ba de cavalrie.” > “Why before the moon sets?” asked Slocum. Bat made him no answer, but spoke to his pet ree beat < o ata oe Slocum no at, since they had got out into the wilderness and Bat had ph Sy achaey and goods, he had become Mout scornful and disrespectful to the claims of the Order on which the engineer built ench pi! He made no remark on it, but trotted on after the train, and for several hours they continued on their way through the long and very rich SS. ao erThe ponies would have dearly liked to stop atid feast; but Bat’s pace was so fast and his resolution so inexorable that they bad no chanee; and the race, at a trot and canter, was kept up for bour after hour. : The sun set and darkness came on with the stars overhead, but Bat never faltered in his ection, steering by a star till the moon rose them, at about ten o'clock pt night. a any veek at the same pace © moon w _- Aageokaneey and all the ponies were cov- before de moon set. sweat; but the couductor had no all - tr _ - \ 4 ~~ Ps “ Seth Slocum, Railroad Surv mercy, and Slocum could see him armbling | eyor. “4m men in the party, as soon as they strike the away at the head, the same crouching, monkey- | trail,” like figure, with his squaws following, and the pack-ponies jogging along to the tuneful sound of cracking whips. He got ashamed of punishing his own pony | with his spurs, but found tbat be had to do it or be left behind; for as soon as he ceased to urge the animal, it stood stock-still and tried to he down and roll, seeming indifferent as to the companionship of its fellows, so long as it had a chance to rest and feed, So he made up his mind to follow Bat’s ex- ample and Montana George’s advice, and do as the Indians did. From the moment he became reckless and cruel, spurring savagely and having no care for his beast, the broncho was another creature, stretching away at a free hand gallop, appar- ently as fresh as when it started; and when the dawn at last supplanted the moon, Slocum saw before him, about a milé ahead, the yellow line of a sandy desert which he recognized as hay- ing passed on the Yellowstone Expedition on the sixth day out, and knew to be more than a hundred anc thirty miles in a straight line from Fort Gladstone, which they had left only the night before. ere Bat Richards halted, before reaching the sand, at a pool of water, and gave the signal to go into camp, by stripping his reeking horse of saddle and bridje and turning it out to graze, as carelessly as if he bad never heard of ounder or colic. Slocum was so horrified at the idea, that be remonstrated on thé imprudence of not keeping the animals from eating till cool; but Bat met bim with the unanswerable argument, in broken English: ‘*Vat for no? You see dat horse. Sup he be sauvage, you say wild. Ver’ well. We chase and chase and he beat us. Well, we stop and let him go. Vat dat borse do? He stop and valk about so he no get cold before he eat and drink? No sare, be rush to de water. He drink, he roll in it. He get up, he kick, he jump. Hesay ‘ha! ha! I beat you mon ami.’ en he go to eat. You leaf him alone, Dé horse be know: vat be vant bettairedan de man. Vat you say, Shorge?” ; Montana George was unsaddling his own horse, and now he turned it loose with a slap, observing to Slocum: “Horses on the plains, ” ially bronchos, ain’t like horses in the t, . Slocum. They’re im the open air all the time, get fat on ss, and no one keers whether fhey live or ie. Reckou ey get on as well as if they was stabled. But there ain’t no half-way ’bovt it, Turn him loose and let him take his chance, or feed him with grain and keep him in a'stable. Tll let my feller chance it.” And, after watching some time, Slocum saw po symptoms of sickness among the hard-driven beasts. Reeking with sweat as they were, and mark- ed by cruel whips and spurs, they began to roll as soon as they were relieved of their burdens, kicked and bit at cach other in vice and play, and behaved in anything but the style in which animals tired out would act. “‘Tough as hickory saplings,” said George when Slocum commented on the fact. ‘' An we'll want all their tougbness. Old Ireland’s coming after us for all be’s worth.” CHAPTER XII, A BOLD SCHEME. Tanx let the meee food where they chose while the squaws the teepee and began to cook, miekit a fire with dry sticks, almost destitute of smoke, : Their provisions consisted of Indian dried beef bought at Gladstone, and Slocum was not sorry to break into some canned meat for bis own feed, having had nothing but the raw dried beef singe tie day before, Bat ate but sparingly, and Montana George | the same; while they were on their feet most of the time, scanning the plain round them for signs of some enemy. : Slocum, now that he was fairly out on the fiat treeless plains, with an unrestricted view all round bim, began to feel, for the first time, what a small party they bad, and how far they were from human habitations. “Tt’s pretty lonely out here; isn’t it?’ he re- marked to George Rockwell. “Montava George nodded absently: “Ay, ay. lonesome enough, Wish it was more so, for my part.” po hy?’ “Cause as long as we don’t see no one we're all right; but when we meet any humans they’re pretty dead sure to be enemies, Mr, Slocum.” “What? The Indians or the wbites?” “ Both,” replied George, laconically. ‘“Why should the Indians burt us?’ ‘*"Cause they'll want what we've got.” % “But they see the lodge and take us for ns, f “Maybe they will and maybe they won't. Tnjuns ain't so eeey footed op a tra ny ye we've no shod horses us, “‘Dhat’s true; bu t they'll know there’s white | young engineer so much that ae Why ? * From the way we ride.” “*Way we ride? How’s that? I don’t quite understand what you mean. How can a man tell from a trail the character of the rider of an animal unless be bas a shod horse?” Montava George smiled, and said to Bat ‘* Here, Bat, you tell him. I ain’t as good as you on a trail, though I don’t give in to no common white man onit. Tell Mr. Slocum bow you could find out whether a Injun or a white man rode a pony.” Slocum seconded the request by saying im French to the half-breed: ‘*My brother is at home on the plains, as I am at home under the Black Cloud. When we reach Sitting Bull’s camp I will give bim of m knowledge. Now let him give to me of his. am a child that waits to be instructed,” Bat Richards instantly relaxed from his scornful superiority and became as gracious as sible. but patronizing to a degree that would nave irritated some men, though it only amused Slocum. “You come vid me,” he said. how ve trail.” He made a circuit with Slocum in the grass, till they came on the trail they had taken to come to camp, “You look dere,” he said, “and te]l me how many borse pass?’ ‘*But I know that already,” objected Slocum, oe at the track and feeling bopelessly con- Bat laughed. **Ver’ goot. Now you tell me vich vas de first horse pass here, and vich vas de last. Pick out de track.” Slocum looked some time, Bat watching him with a smile on his dark face, Presently the young man said: “7 think this “one must have been the last, because it’s plain all the way through.” Bat nodded and smiled. “Tres bien—ver’ well. You haf eyee and — _ Yes, dat is de last. Who rode m?”’ é **T don’t know,” Bat laughed heartily. “Eh, mon Dieu! you ride him,” “ How do you know?” Bat stooped down and pointed to the hoof: track, saying: ’ ‘‘Datiseasee, You see de shape of dat foot. It was different from de rest, I know dat borse —he have a foot like a mule, Dat was your “T show you horse. You go look when you go back, you see. You learn ajl de track cf all de horse. Dat is first t’ing. pose you get lose from de camp, how you get back you no tell de track of your own horse—ba?” Slocum colored slightly. ’ : “1 know I’m ignorant, but I want to learn,” he answered, ‘‘ Now tell me if there is apy dif- ference between the track of a horse ridden by a white man and an Indian?” “ Certainement,” replied Bat, looking as if no one but a fool could dispute the statement under any circumstances. ‘ Certat . Vy not? You ride like de white man, bard on de horse shoulder. He make deep track front, light one behind—dat is easee.” Slocum was puzzled, * What's that you say?” he asked. “I ride hard on the borse’s shoulder. I don’t under- Dat ooghed equi end anid tol Gecege Bat again and said to Montana Gi who was listening with a grin on his sunburnt face: ve Is “You tell heim vat I mean. I am not good viz ze Engleesh.” ; Montana translated. 39 ‘*Reckon Bat means that you and be ride different ways. You sit up in your seat and ride in a Whitman saddle that comes well on the borse’s shoulder. You carry your well down and sit fer forward, with most your weight on the beast's forelegs, so they makea deep track. That’s how he knows a white man rides the boss,” “* But don’t every one ride the same?” Montana laughed, f “Not much. Bat rides Injun-fashion, so to let all four legs get it even on the march, with the hind legs a little the most weight, hoe ngewe the — ee nieenrs i! sh he ets bis pony go like a oss, only we him on dhe ieee and his track ain't as straigh as yours, unless he’s on the war-patb. beng od ’s one hoss arter the other in one track, so it takes a master hand at trailin’ to tell bow many’s passed. That's how he tells whether a Injun rode it or not.” RA This first lesson in byes 3 interested the e spent an bor on the trail of his own ty, with Bat and Montana for, mentors, trying to interpret from the signs what the different animals had done at times, panes hes | great pleasure from bis ac- quisitions in knowledge. ee Ho "He was éo intent Say te track that he forcot everything else, and was recalled from his ab- = a sharp cry from Bat, who ex-
Page 12
12 Seth Slocum, Railroad Surveyor. —[————————————————oo——~—eeee=E=eeEeEe=eEeeEeEeEeEee=eEGu_eeG—_e—eGee—=e=e=e=S=S=S=S=s=Sa=E=E=S=Ss=S=S=S=S=a=au=aaEEEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeeeEee—e————————SS=S “ Peste |! Mordieu! It isde Devil Major! Ciel, wut he haf made haste.” Slocum looked up and round, but could see page | on the prairie to justify the exclama- tion, till Montana, who had the glass at his eye, corroborated Bat. ** By gosh! It is the Devil Major and no one else. He must have put like a streak. What’ll we do, Bat?’ The half-breed looked regretfully at the pou, feeding so greedily upon the rank erbage, and then shook fist in a vengeful manner at the distant major, whom Slocum could not spy, even with the glass, us nom,” he growled. “If be vould leaf me alone till de night, I vould not care; but ve haf to cross de sand, and dey must be fet, to last it in dis veddaire.” Montana George looked glum. ‘Who'd have thought he’d march like that?” he said, savagely. ‘‘I wish I could get at his canteen I’d spill bis whisky fur him, darned quick, and then he’d put for the fort sure.” Bat made a gesture of disgusted and unwilling veges nm, as he said: ‘7 faut aller—ve most go. It is no,use to vait. He vill catch us. t us go and saddle u 7? tried to make out the party of whose advance they seemed to be so certain. After sweeping the horizon in vain for some time, he caught sight of some dark dots and counted five in a row, with something dark be- hind them that he took for the column, He had hardly spied it when he heard Montava George shouting: } “‘Come, hurry up, Slocum, no time to fool if ‘ou don’t want to go back to the fort. I didn’t ire to do all the work.” Then he went back and helped pack and sad- dle the ponies, who grunted their disapproval of the move as they were being girthed, and made all the resistance they could, in_ their obstinate Me Inside of half an hour they were all packed and moving out, when Montana George, who had been talking earnestly to Bat, approached Slocum, saying: ‘*Mr. Slocum, Bat and I have been holding a wwow.” “ Yes?” ‘¢ And we think it’s a darned shame the sogers should try to spoil our game.” si So do I; but what are you going to do about ? ih Pil tell you, sir, if you’re game for a little u3s. Siocum looked surprised. “A muss? What do you mean? We can’t ht y iP , t inter eagerly. ‘No, no, I no say fight. Not fight. But I say — dem, so dey go no furder.” ‘And how will you do that?’ The balf-breed laughed. ‘Steal de horse. Let dem go home on de two feet.” Bieeum started. The idea had not occurred to. him before. “* Hew can you do that?” be asked, Montana George answered him, ‘* All we want you to dois to go on with the squaws to the next.camp, and we will steal the horses.” “ Thank you,’ answered Slocum dryly. ‘I'd let you go on, and I'll stay bebind with one of you, aud see the stealing is done without bloodshed. I am the man who will suffer it we are found out, and it is a serious thing to steal horses out here.” Montana George shrugged his shoulders. ‘* As you please. I ain’t anxious to undertake es ig? myself I assure you. But you ain’t able or * ee what og hoy 8 you can; but I suppose you Ww what you'll have to do?” ‘*No, But I can be told.” ‘* You'll have to stay here without a. hoss,” 6, looking bim in the eye. ‘‘ Lay out all night while the rest of us go on, with the sogers looking fur ye, and then stampede the a Ss git off the best way ye know how, ‘* Will Bat be with me?” “Sart’in he will. Ye’ll have to stick pretty close together, too, and if they ketch ye Pu be all day with ye.” Slocum drew a deep breath. The scheme was a rove | one, but he was young and full of pluck, and it was the only one that promised a cessation of the pursuit of the scouting-party. “Til do it,” he said, “if Bat will trust me to help him.” Then turning to the Frenchman, he pursued, in the language the latter best understood: “T trust my brother with my life. On his faith Lre Wil) he give me the pledge?” Bat hesitated a moment. . ‘Tt will be a hard task, brother,” he said, ‘and you will aced to have a hard heart.” “ Yet you trust this man, whois nota Brother of the 4,” returned Siceum, steadily eying bim. They went back to the ponies, while Slocum ‘It is not that I doubt your faith,” he said, **but you are from the Hast. Can you ride a horse without saddle or bridle and change at full speed?” “TY can. I haye ridden bareback many a time,” said Slocum promptly. Bat bowed his head gravely. ‘My brother shall go with me,” he said; *‘and I promise not to desert him,” Then turning to George, he said: ‘Go. I vill stay vid my brodair.” Montana George nodded rather in a doubtful way. As he was about to ride off he said to 1m: ‘*You’re clear grit, Mr. Slocum, and no mis- take, if you come out alive, Good-by, if I never see ye again. I'll take the hosses and go. You don’t need nothing but a whip and a bit of rope for a balter. Put yer duds; where they won’t shake off and God bless ye.” Ten minutes later the cavalcade was moving off over the sandy desert at a trot, while Ba Richards and Slocum, alone and unarmed, were sneaking away along the edge of the grass to a safe hiding-place to await the approach of the cavalry scouting-party. CHAPTER XIII WATCHING. THE place where Bat Richards had elected to hide was a quarter of a mile from the spot where the teepee had been pitched, and the half-breed made his approach thereto with true Indian care and caution, The ground where the grass melted into the sand was so hard that it Jeft no impressions of footsteps, and Bat told Slocum to take off bis boots and follow him, turning his toes in as he walked, a matter of some difficulty with the young engineer, They saw nothing of the cavalry scouting- party, but succeeded in hiding themselves in such a position that they commanded a distant view of the pool, and the place where the teepee bad been pitched. Then they lay down in the light of the noon- day sun, and Slocum found it difficult to keep awake after his fatigue. The night before had been cold, and the sun was very grateful with its heat. ** Sleep, brother,” said Bat gravely. ‘“ They will not be here till sunset, and they will camp by the pool.” ‘* What makes you think so?” ‘‘ Because their horses will be tired, and the men, foo, The sand-trail is so plain, they will think to follow it easy by the light of the moon but they will need to give their borses rest and food. before crossing the sand. They are right. No one but the Devil Major would have got 8O far so soon. Sleep safely. I shall sleep And the half-breed set the example by clos- ing his eyes, when Slocum followed suit in a few moments. How long he slept he could not tell; but be was waked bya pull at the sleeve, and found Bat lying by him, while the sound of voices not far off, told bim that the soldiers had come, He turned his head slowly in that direction and could hardly repress an exclamation o surprise, e sun had set, but it was still bright twi- light, and below him, not three hundred yards off, a berd of horses was feeding, while the guards were cracking their whips to keep the animals from straying, and the voice of Major Ireland was calling out: “Get your suppers quick, boys. As soon as the moon rises we move out, We'll have the scoundrels before noon of to-morrow.” Slocum caught sight of the tall figure of the major moving about, and thanked bis stars that it was growing dusk as fast as October evenings admitted, The soldiers of the escort seemed to, be tired, for they moved about slowly and wearily, pick- ing up sticks or pallies up bushes for on and Slocum heard a good deal of exemiing. Some of them in their search came within twenty yards of wheré he lay, and he heard one say to the other: ‘* Be gob, Mike, fur tin cints the ould horse w’n’d go lame so op ot “ And fur five I’d stick a spike in the ould roan’s hind leg,” returned otber in the same grumbling tone. “ Divil Jack ought to get shot.” “And so he is, bedad, shot in the neck, and bad Juck to him fur an ould soak,” the first man retorted sayagely. ‘‘Ava man c’u’d only get at the crater’s canteen, and put a bole in it, we’d go back; but as long as he’s crazy, he’!l march us and march us till we drop.” Slocum saw the men distinctly close to him, and the glare of a fire, just lighted, showed the yellow stripes of a corporal on the sleeves of the one who had just spoken so magyar The second man shook bis fist at the fire at which the tall figure of Ireland could be seen, and Slocum saw that the big major was just taking a drink from a canteen. “ Ay, ay, swill away ould thief,” said he savagely. “ And w t we all like to see ye gone in the jim-jams, so we’d have an excuse to gs Pe ere the voice of the ‘‘ Devil Major” himself broke in on the colloquy, shouting: ““Holloa there, you two men up there, Come in. What are you hanging out there for? Do pe want to get laid out by Indian prowlers? k to those horses. Don’t you see they’re scattering? Confound your lazy carcasses! I'll make some of you walk to-morrow and lead your horses into the bargain,” The men addressed seemed to be cowed by the major’s tone, for they sauntered off toward the fire muttering and swearing the whole way, but obeying the order for all that. Bat whispered to Slocum in Freneb; ‘They will not keep good watch. You mark the word. He will bave trouble when the moon rises, to wake them up.” Slocum thought he was right, but he noticed that the major seemed to have perfect control over his men and was well seconded by two younger officers who were with him and very active. Ths two spies watched from their covert till ho men had all had their supper and heard the order: ‘* All fires out now, and no talking. Get your saddles in line and lie down on your arms, The horse-guard will be held responsible if the herd get out of this bottom. hen the moon rises we start. Till then all can sleep but the guard.” Slocum heard these orders in the still night air, as distinctly as if they had been spoken in the same room, though the speaker was several hundred yards off, and Bat whispered to him: “It is well. We begin now very soon.” “When?” asked Slocum, his heart beating more rapidly with excitement than it had since he! was watching the sentry at Fort Gladstone. ** When they are asleep,” replied Bat. *t You will see, they will sleep well.” He began slowly to creep cut of bis lair in the ass as he spoke and the younger man followed n the same cautious way. Both were stripped for action. Bat wore only a breechcloth and had painted his body dark by rolling in the mud and letting it dry on, so that it served the double purpose of a disguise in the dark and a protection against the nipping night air. Slocum had a dark-blue, skin-tight rowivg- sbirt, and bad rubbed his arms with the same mud so that he was practically invisible in the dark, though he retained his leather breeches and boots, the latter against Bat’s advice, Each man had with him bis whip, with a short handle like a policeman’s club and the long lash that goes by the name off‘ black- snake” or ‘‘quirt,” in different parts of the country; and each bad round his waist a piece of thin tough rope for a halter. They moved a few feet and then Jay still watching, whMe.the cavalrymen were putting their saddles in a line and preparing for a slee Within ten minutes after one might hear the snoring all over the camp and tbe only persons left awake were the three officers who sat at one end of the line, talking in low tones and apparently watching the ho rds who kept moving about armed with whips to keep the horses from aise ing ‘ Every now and thencamea vicious squeal from the berd, followed by a hollow ‘ thud” “ thud” as two of the horses got into a squabble over some patch of herbage, and then came a burst of scolding and whip-cracks from the horse- guards as they chased the fighters away. Bat lay and listened for nearly. half an hour - and then whispered: “ Suivez moi.” (Follow me.) He slipped off like a snake through the grass, going only a few feet ata time and frequently stopping to listen. : was quiet in the camp and the voices of the officers grew less and less frequent as the spies got into the hollow, Presently they were down within a hundred yards of the horses,and within fifty feet of one of the borse-herders who was slouching along muffled in his overcoat evidently sleepy an from sulkythe vicious way in which he slapped at any horse that bappened to stray outward from the herd. Bat crept on like a snake till he was less than ten feet from the man’s long beat and waited till the soldier had gone to the other end, Then he whispered to Slocum, ‘*Now, my brother, you shall see how we of the Black Cloud in the West steal h There was something in his tone that alarmed Slocum who whispered back: ‘No murder, remember.” “No, no,” answered Bat. “No murder. It is not necessary with these fellows.” a he spoke the horse-guard came slouching back, ‘ es let him come close by and pass within ten eet, Slocum, unused to such closeness to an enemy, felt his heart beating hard, but 3 Aer till man passed, when to his surprise Bat whispe “ Now, forward.” With that, both men got forward into the path of the sentry bebind his back and Bat whispered:
Page 13
“Tie the grass,” Slocum understood him and obeyed the order, ‘bending over the long grass on either side the path and tying it together in haste. = rete hardly completed his task when Bat w ; “ Retire toi, donc—retire |toi.” (Come back then, come back.) Oveying without hesitation, he slipped back to the side of the path and Bat lay beside him. “Now,” whispered the Frenchman, “ take tke lash of your whip and wind it around your wrist. When he falls, hit him on the head hard with the butt. Hard, mind, hard!” ‘* But we may kill him,” objected Slocum. Bat Richards clutched his arm savagely. “Do ga want him to kill you?’ he asked. “Tt is kill or be killed here, brother. Are you going back on the Black Cloud? Here he comes now. Be ready.” Thus urged, Slocum had no choice but to obey, for he realized that Bat’s advice was sound, and he had promised to obey the French- man’s orders implicitly. ‘* Pm ready,” he said softly. The horse guard came sleepily on every now and then stumbling, till he came opposite to them. Then Bat drew up his legs for a spring and Slocum followed suit. The next moment the doomed man caught his foot in the tied grass and fell prone on the ground with a muttered grunt and curse. ‘Holy smoke!” he ejaculated. ‘Is it tight Tam that I can’t walk straight?’ With that he began to get up again on all- fours, looking instinctively toward the horses which had started at the falland calling sooth- ingly: ‘Whoa there! Whoa! What are ye ’fraid off Whoa! Steady!” To Slocum, bearing the accents of his own tongue thus innocently spoken, the task of striking down the defensele-s man was very re- pugnant, but be had no choice. Before the horse-guard could look round, Bat Richards had leaped to his feet and made one spring to the poor man’s side, “Orack! thud!” Slocum saw the half-breed strike him on the head with the loaded butt of the whip, and the man fell like a log and lay still, when Bat raised the whip to repeat the blow with all his force and malignity, about which there was no anistake. In that moment the young engineer sprung to ‘this comrade’s side and caught his wrist, whis- ering: You promised not to kill _ “Enough! enough! ‘him and you shall not,’ He saw. the fierce glare of the half-breed’s eyes as he looked up, but Bat only said: ‘“Comme tu veux.” (As you please.) CHAPTER XIV. STAMPEDING THE STOCK. FURTHER contention was cut short by the voice of a man calling out: ** Corporal of the guard, number four!” Bat beard it and instantly dropped to the earth, whispering: “Hn avant! en avant! On nous entend.” (forward! forward! They hear us.) Slocum followed bim, and they crept for- ward like snakes to where the horses were feed- ing. As they came close, Slocum began to fear he would be trampled on, but his comrade glided boldly into the herd, and i a few moments more they were both hidden from view, Then Bat rose to his feet, the horses snorting and starting away from him and threatening to make a stampede before the time came, They heard excited voices calling to each other outside the herd: “Tnjuns! Injuns! Look out!” Then came a hubbub in camp, and Major Treland roared: ‘Stand to your arms! Don’t leave the sad- dies! Horse-guards, drive in the herd.” Slocum hardly knew what to do in the emergency, but followed Bat’s example by moving quietly toward the nearest horse, and keeping his hands down. Presently he stood beside a big roan horse that put its ears back and threatened to bite. Hardly knowing why he did it, he dealt the animal a cut with his whip which caused it to retreat, while it startled several others in the vicinity, and set them huddling together for protection. “* Allons !” said Bat. : With that he walked straight to the huddled group, caught a horse by the fore lock, andina moment more bad the noose of bis rope round its lower Jaw, in a rude but effectual bridle. Slocum followed his example with equal skill, for be had often practiced the act with colts at pasture. The noise outside had increased and the eracks of the stable-guards’ whips were audible as they tried to drive the horses together, not yet dreaming that their foes were in the midst of the herd. The horses came closer in, tumbiing and plunging, leaving an open space in the center m OO Seth Slocum, Railroad Surveyor. of the herd, where the two men were standing, : Pay, to be looked on with contempt by the rich and backing away from it instinctively. Bat Richards still stood by his captive, glanc- ing keenly round but not offericg to mount, though Slocum expected to hear him yell every moment, Suddenly he raised his whip-hand to his horse's mane, crying: ““ Houp-la !” Ina moment both men had leaped up, Bat uttered a shrill war-whoop, and away went the whole herd in a wild rush, right over the sol- diers by the saddles, the horses. huddled close together and wegay with wild bounds as if try- ing to jump out of their skins with terror. o Slocum the next ten minutes were a whirl of confusion. He was sensible of being carried off at a tre- mendous burst of speed, while the. pressure on his legs, as the animals rushed on, huddled close together, became so agonizing that he yelled unconsciously with the pain and struck round him like a madman with his long whip. The huddling ceased as soon as they struck the sand outside the grass, and then away the went, as hard as the horses could gallop, squeal- ing and/snorting all the way. Every now and then came a fearful howl in the midst of the herd, and Bat was seen there, flourishing his whip and laying it on for all he was worth, to keep from having his legs broken. They kept up this tremendous burst of s A hour after bour, till the moon rose behind them, and then the excitement abated somewhat, while Slocum managed to make his way to the front, beside Bat Richards, and found the re- doubtable balf-breed mounted on the very roan horse Siocum had failed to catch at the first stampede, Bat looked round and grinned in high good humor, observing: “Ve got dem goot, dat time, ha?” Slocum was ont of breath with his rapid ride, and asked, panting: ‘* What are we going to do now?” Bat laughed scornfully. *‘Dot Ve do vat ve please now. All de Devil Major no catch us now,” ‘* But whereare our friends?” Bat pointed ahead. ‘in avant—forward. You did not see why I wait, till de herd was head in de right way. See de trail. Wecome up before day.” He pointed over his horse’s head to the sand, where the broad plain trail of the party, with the scratching imprint of the lodge-poles, was as easily to be seen as a common wagon road. ‘You change horse; ha?’ he asked presently, as they galloped on. ‘*No. Have you?” ‘* Oertainement. Dis isde Devil Major’s horse. You know him. Bonne bete. t beast. Goot! You take—ha—let me see—oui—you take dat black. He is strong.” ; The black be referred to wasa very handsome creature, looking like a thorougbred, leading the herd with ease, and frequently looking back and neighing to the rest to come on. Slocum tried to get alongside of it, but his own horse was not equal to the effort, and Bat had to speak to the big roan and slacken the pace of the whole herd, when the black stopped rad - own accord and came running into the nd, Evidently it was a docile, gentle beast, for it made no resistance when the young engineer got beside it and patted its neck soothingly. In a very few moments the rope-halter had been transferred from one. horse to the other, and the whole mob set off again at an easy am- ble of some six or seven miles an hour. “Well, brother,” said Bat, in French, “ and how do you like the life of the Brethren of the Black Cloud? Have we not taken all the horses as I said?” Slocum nodded thoughtfully. ‘“We have done it,” he answered, “and every one has the Government stamp on it, too. wie eg we do if we meet another scouting- arty Bat laughed at the idea. ‘* We meet no more 64 go igh now, and in another day we shall be in the hunting- grounds of our friends—of the Sioux and Chey- ennes.” ts ‘But what shall we do with these horses when we get there? They are not ours, and we can’t sell them.” Bat, laughed louder than before, “Brother, you are green as the grass we left, but we will teach youintime. Each of these horses is worth a squaw, and we can be sure of a welcome in any tribe where we go.” ‘But we shall be unable to return to civiliza- tion. They will call us borse-thieves,” ‘‘ What is to hinder us from staying where we are, brother? I have tried the white man’s life and the Indian’s, and am nowhere 80 bappy as on the plains. You wil) say thesame when you have tried it.” The half-breed’s tone was serious, and he was evidently in earnest. “You are a Brother of the Black Cloud, bigh in the council,” he ued. ‘* Why should you eves? You may bea prince among our peo- ple if you wish.” " ** How?’ asked Slocum. He began to recognize in the half-breed, now they were alone in the desert, a much superior type of man to the dirty, degraded savage who had crouched in his squalid poverty ~d the ~~ fire in Squaw-man’s Hole. Richards, out in the wilderness, was a mao in the full sense of the word, bis erect and supple, his voice clear and ringing, devoid of the gruff, guarded intonation he used when among the people of civilization, and. al- together, the young engineer was surprised at the change in his comrade. “« But how is it ible,” he said, “‘ for a man who has been used to living among people who know about railroads and steamboats to be happy among men who cannot even read and write? You are not an Indian, Baptiste; you have seen better things, have you not?” Baptiste threw up his head proudly. ‘* It B just,” he answered. ‘Il am notall you think me; no more are some of those you call rhs, Did you ever hear that the great Sit- ting Bull, and Chief Joseph of the Neg Perces, were educated among white people?” Slocum smiled, “Yes, I’ve heard the story, but surely it is not true, That is absurd.” Bat laughed rather yp naps ‘* We shall see, some day. you talk the Latin, by chance?” “ Latin?” echoed Slocum, ‘No, . I can trans- late it, of course, but it is a dead language now- adays, except among Catholic priests.” “Exactly. And did you never hear of the pious Father de Smedt?” “Yes, I’ve heard be has been among the Indians many years, and is much respected by em, The half-breed bowed his kead with a gesture of great respect.- “Tt is just. Father de Smedt can ae on foot and unarmed to any tribe on the plains. He , can go to the agencies among the white men, } | > 2 a and travel through the midst of war-parties, and no one will burt him. Father de Smedt is a man that knows no fear, and we love him.” ‘‘But what has he to do with Sitting Bull? | Shall we see him, by chance, where we are now Aba! Morbleu! I was not born yesterday. | going?” “You will.” Slocum was surprised. “T did not think that.” ‘Father de Smedt is in Sitting Bull's camp, and we shall doubtless see him. You will see there many things that will cause you sur- prise.” *‘ As for instance?” Bat shook bis head and laughed as he replied: “Study up your Latin. ou will need it and our French too with the good father and org Bull.” ‘* With Sitting Bull! Where in the world did he learn Latin?” asked Slocum, more in- credulous than before. But Bat only angrad and replied: ‘* We shall see, You have thought, doubtless, that you were the only Brother of the Black Cloud that had the knowledge of the whites; but you will find that there are others that know as much as yourself, and yet prefer the life of the plains.” As he spoke he gave a swing of his great wae and lapsed into the wild Indian again, with a yell aud a crack of the long lash, that set the horses off at a gallop which asted till the moon was high in the sky, and they saw, ahead of hepiry ae dark outlines of their own little party of pack- Then Bat called Slocum alongside, and said to him, pointing abead: “You are a Brother of the Cloud, and will know much that no Gentile knows, Remember that, on your secrecy depends your life, Not a word to George.” CHAPTER XV. LONE CALF, Outin the valley of the Yellowstone the air was warm and filled with the dreamy softness of the October baze, when a hunting-party of Indians, that had been lying in wait for the fall buffalo, stopped on the summit of one of the ridges overlooking the valley, and scanned the pe ns with eager eyes, looking toward the Bad nds, They were at the edge of a district of this remarkable formation, and bad news from their scouts that the buffalo from the North were coming up that way. One of the Indians bad no sooner reached the top than he pointed out to the east. “Traders coming in with borses,” he sald. “ They will seare off the buffalo if they are not to ‘Let Lone Calf go and stop them,” said the leader of the party, an old Indian with a horri- bly scarred face and oneeye. He had been dis- ured by an explosion of gunpowder once on a time, and bad acquired the dahon of Powder Face, by which was renowned for deeds of stay among the whites and work bard for small ' desperate da: is =
Page 14
14 Seth Slocum, Railroad Surveyor. Lone Calf was the young hunter who bad sy, = spoken, @ made no answer but to bow his head and | . set off at a break-neck pace, over found where an American horse would bave fallen a dczen - times inside of the first mile, his pony skipping over the cracks and lumps with as much safety ' as over a smooth meadow. These ‘‘ Bad Lands” into which he was enter- ing were a sufficiently desolate place for any _ man to eee before daring their recesses. Ages before their top, which was some seven- ty-five feet above the level of the ravines be- tween them, had been the bottom of a great in- land lake, which had dried up, and in drying had cracked open the soft strata in chasms that ran clear through the clays of which the bed was formed. The rains and snows of winter and spring had widened these chasms and deepened them, by carrying off the soil at the bottom, till the whole face of the country was cutiinto thou- sands of sbarp ridges and ravines, crossing each other in a maze of tracks, but every year grow- ing deeper, with theridges between them sharp- er. - It{was’ like the ordinary network of prairie guiches and divides, only ten times worse; for the ordinary prairie ravines are passable at the bottom or along the summits of the divides, but the Bad Lands are not practicable for a wagon, and very difficult for borses. Nevertheless, Lone Calf made bis way from bottom to bottom at a keen run, only slacken- ing his pace when the ground was strewn with bowlders fallen from tbe banks, and totally re- gardless of the grand scenery round him. For the Bad Lands to a passenger are full of wonders. All around Lone Calf towered cliffs of yellow clay, banded with broad belts of sky-blue, creamy-white, vivid scarlet, black and golden yellow, till they resembled an artificial erection in the Chinese taste. Every band was as straight and clearly defined as if drawn with a ruler, and the colors were the same on both sides of the ravine, and in every ravine that crossed them as be rode on. Not a spear of grass, save on the top of the ridges; and everywhere these unnatural-lookin bands of colored clays, clay-slates, and coal, with beds of ee that would be worth many thousand dollars, could they be transport- ed East for the color-market. To all these the young Indian was sublimely indifferent. He bad seen them before, and lived among them from boyhood. The of nature and the beauties of scenery affected him nothing, save that he was Say: Sroquguedpencttial “places, "bas tops , en utiful places, but kep cleay of Bad Lands. On he went, winding and twisting among the ravines, but never losing sight of his direction them. onite bad caught sight of whet be knew to bea trading party, nearly ten miles off, and knew they were entering the Bad Lands, while he also knew that the buffalo were migrating to the south through those very Bad Lands, and that if notstopped, he and fellow-hunters would have all winter meat they wanted, while, rpendicular often when only a boy, looking for glory that they bad nicknamed him the Lone Calf—a name he psy hinge to change some day to eget ttl I a i | the palm toward the new-comers, and waving his lance with the point downward. He used his eyes well on the advance, and | saw that the party consisted of two white men, a half-breed and two squaws, with quite a little loose, All the animals looked gauntand half-starved, while their feet were in very bad condition from traveling on bard ground, but the driven horses were for the most part shod, and the In- dian saw on their shoulders the brand that he bad seen so many times and knew to be the se any, mark, though he‘could not read a etter. To him the brand **U. 8.” was notbing but a “ bow and snake,” and as such he called it to himself, while he advanced, his dark eyes glow- ing with envy at the treasures be saw before m, The half-breed, who was dressed in the In- dian costume, rode to the front and made the sign of amity, while bis party halted and he ad- vanced to meet the young Indian. Tt was interesting to see the way in which they eyed each other, both trying to seem indif- ferent, but watching like cats, their rifles lying across their knees, as they advanced sidewise, keeping the left front to the stranger, ready for a shot on the first suspicious motion or look. The balf-breed spoke first: “Whence comes the Cut Throat?” Cut Throat is ‘the meaning cf Dakotah, the Indian name of Sioux. Lone Calf answered with a question: “ Whence comes the stranger?” “From the East, with cartridges for the war- riors and horses for chiefs to ride on to battle,” said Bat. ‘*My tribe is on the fall hunt and cannot trade till the beasts are all skinned,” said Lone Calf, stiffly. ‘‘The stranger must come no further, or he will frighten them away.” x Bat made a gesture of assent. “Tt is good. But we canvot turn back, and this is no plece to — We bave come far, and taken m horses from the white soldiers. Is the Sitting Bull with the hunters?” Lone Calf smiled slightly. The question was an impertinence, and he knew it. “The Sitting Bull is a chief in council,” b answered, evasively, ‘‘and his way is under the cloud. The stranger must pess out the way he came, or wait till the hunt is over.” “Who speaks?” asked Bat, im “TItis a boy that never heard of Chief.” Lone Calf looked confused. He had heard of the Horse Chief before, as a celebrated warrior, who bad married a daugh- ter of Sitting Bull; but he hated to give his own name till it had been gilded with some re- nown, So he affected disbelief and retorted: **Tt is easy to say you are the Horse Chief, ps adh 1am no boy to believe all that a stranger says, Bat curled his lip. ‘* You are a boy that never took a scalp,” he said, party ek “Throw down your wea- a toy I will show, you if I am the Horse Lone Calf instantly pointed bis rifle. “Tf you are the Horse Chief, show it on some one else,” he answered. “I have heard the Horse Chief ¢an raise a man single-handed, and has the Ripple for a squaw. Let me see it proved,” “ Fall back then,” said Bat, imperiously. “T will show you who I am, and after that, you shall take the whip.” ously, e@ Horse thout a scalp at his belt, even so much as a, more politely, “I would not be wanting in wee : , om Latte Bh br out he a an a that he might a scalp emong tbe traders, ‘buta mtdedite-reflection convinced him that ~~ = not do, C a ers, especially carrying guos and am- unition "were held sacred by a decree of the _combined councils of the five tribes that had confederated in the Yellowstone Valley to re- i bim, be stood a chance of being disci- piinod “ dog-soldiers,” and they bad a ' way of skinning men alive for punishment if (}) ~~ Be Fon Calf rode on to meet !the and respect; bat Powder Face sent me to stop you, “ Powder Face is a warrior, and rides in the night. If khesent youit is well, We will re- tire. But you are a boy and should not talk so ) lond before men.” Lone Calf let bis rifle fall instantly. © “ Powder Face sent'me, I will lead you to the valley if you wish,” be said. string of pack-ponies and a large herd of horses | tims at every stride. riven —— emerged, and a crowd of mounted Indians were harassing their flanks, spearing and shooting, so that the onward path of the vast herd was marked by a stream of dead bodies, past whieh the hunters rode as fast as ever, taking new vic- Bat uttered a yell of delight, ‘*Now you shall see life,” he cried. CHAPTER XVI. THE TEST. Lire indeed it was, wild life, full of the most maddening excitement, that met the gaze of = young engineer, as he looked on at the unt. Everything was on a grand scale, and in such rapid motion that the scene was indescribably thrilling. The buffalo at the bead of the column were running ahead, while those in the rear rushed frantically from side to side, to escape trom their persecutors, or else charged desperately at the flying horsemen, who hung round them like s0 many wasps, evading the charges and sting- ing al] the time. fat Richards seemed beside himself at the sight, and called to Slocum: ‘Now, brotber, strip and come in, We shall have meat as well as the rest.” He began to strip off his clothes as he spoke, throwing them on the ground, while the two squaws, without waiting for orders, gatbered their pack-ponies into a bunch, and began to hopple them securely,"before unloading to go into camp by the Bad Lands, Montana rge looked disturbed, and called earnestly to Slocum: **Don’t ye go in there. It’s as much as a white man’s life’s worth,” Bat beard him and screamed in French: “T tell you to come. It will make you a name among them. You are with us or against us, The Black Cloud itself will not protect you, if you do not keep close to me,” Blocutn hesitated no longer, He knew that he was entirely at the mercy of the Indians, and must gain their confidence at any hazard; so he hastily stripped to the waist, and, a few minutes later, was following Bat into the fray,, his horse, that bad been so jaded but a Jittle before, now wild with excitement and crazy for the hunt. Slocum had hunted buffalo before; but not like an Indian. One old bull, the shaggiest and grandest he could pick out, had been his solitary victim on the Yellowstone Expedition, but here he saw the Indians, with their bows and arrows, dropping only the fat cows, and thinking no more of a single victim than a butcher of a sheep. Faithful to the plan be had formed of sticking at his heels, and learned a ‘alo-hunting in this, his first Bat never fired a shot till he had picked out bis victim, and not then till the muzzle of his Winchester rifle nearly toucbed the side of the ye Handled in this way, every bullet had its billet, and by the time the huge herd finally passed into the Bad Lands, and were lost to view, the valley was full of carcasses, of which Slocum felt proudly that one had fallen to every shot that be bimself bad fired. Then be found himself in the midst of a fran- tic, yelling crowd of Indians, stripped for their work, covered with blood from the buffalo, and coming racing down toward him, bowling like demons as they saw bis white skin. ' For one moment his nerve shook, for Bat Richards bad vanished from sight. The next, he set his teeth, with determination not to be cowed by them if they were only test- ing bis courage, and — up his horse, faced a ae and made the sign of the “ Black oud. . The effect was not what he expected. : If any of the oncomers recognized it, they peid no attention to it, but came racing on harder than ever, yelling: . ‘“ Hil yip! yip! yip! war yan!! HI YAH!!” Indeed it was an appalling sight toa man vbo had seen their cruelties in battle, but the young surveyor was strung up toa pitch of nervous excitement in which be had become perfectly reckless, and he brandished bis rifle, echoixg the yell, and met tbe foremost Indian with a blow of the stock that would have knocked the savage off his horse, had he not dodged over, hanging by one arm and leg with a taunting augh. t The next moment Slocum was set upon by a dozen warriors, clutching et bim with their open bands, and two of them seized him from behind unawares, and pulled him off his beast with a Se See ad been a child, a
Page 15
| . | ‘dignified Indian. ot OV] understood the game, he lay as flat as he could, to spake the exploit of picking him up the more diffizult. For all that, the very first pair of men that swooped over him caught him up and swung him across the saddle-bow of the left-hand In- dian, when he immediately turned in the sad- dle, clutched his captor in his turn, and pulled Then he began to comprehend they were only | go into the making game of him, for no one had drawna weapon on him, and to show that he also | him off his horse, so that they rolled on the | nd together. A howl of delight showed that the act was appreciated, and Slocum, who was a gocd boxer, ve his captor acrack in the eye that broke Eis hold, then sprung up and ran to the pony, that bad halted the moment its master fe With an active bound he reached it and swung himself into the saddle, then waved his hand with a shout and dashed off, followed by the Indians, yelling with laughter. He began to realize that their seeming] ferocious yells were only part of their roug play, most of which was evidence of their joy at the success of the fall bunt. Away they went after bim, and he turned and wound way through the midst of them, evading their grip and every now and then sweeping an Indian back over the croup of his n ~ Pore found that he was far stronger than most of the Indians he met, being a six-footer and a trained gymuast, though he bad never had any rience in the ar sports of the Sioux. t last he had threaded his way clear through the whole gang, when he saw before him, in the ree Bat Richards, riding slowly toward ™m, geem to have been in the hunt at all, for he was wrapped in a rey! Eomees buffalo-robe and wore on his head a lofty crest of eagle-plumes. No sooner did the young surveyor see his friend, than he made toward him; while the Indian by Bat’s side raised bis head with a slight repellent gesture, which seemed to be completely understood; for the rush bebind Slocum instantly ceased, and be was left alone. Then he rode up to Bat, expecting to be reoted politely, and made the sign of the Order the dignified chief, It was instantly returned, and to his surprise he was ad in French, with the same Canadian accent as that shown in Bat’s talk. “You have done wrong, brother,” said the “You have not trusted to the Black Cloud, and you have struck a brother in the face.” His tone was stern and harsh, and he con- tinued in the same way: ‘* You say you come from the rising sun to teach us the mysteries of the Cloud. You will find you have much tolearn yet. How shall! we know you are nota spy, come to help our foes?” Slocum bad come prepared for this, He knew that the Indian Order, in imitation of Masonry, had adopted various emblematic de- into all of which, but one, had he been duly initaived, among bis friends the Mobawks. t one degree was said to be in the great sion of only three men in America, one of them being the head survivor of the Six Nations of ancient fame; the other two unknown. Tbe only bar to Slocum’s success in his quest See Sc gate the oabaaton at he Gael i ° c an the only bar to this latter was the sibinity that one of the two men who held the-higher soe reat eee his he ardly ve possible; for the reason that the taking of this d involved the possession of a knowledge o reading and writing, as he had heard, and of some other ac- complishmonts difficult to acquire in the case of an an. He answered the question of the dignified In- dian by saying boldly: “Test me ands +, The Horse Chief is a bro- ther, of a lower rank than I,” The Indian fixed his eyes upon Slocum, and made the sign of one of lower degrees, ask- ings, do we place our hands thus on enter- ing the lodge?” Slocum answered him readily, and gave him back a question in a higher degree to which the digni Indian answered: “~ That too I know; but cannot answer in the presence of a brother who is not a chief in the ” orpat Richards instantly took the hint and rode away, when the strange Indian answered SJo- cum’s signal, retorted with avother in a higher rade, and carried him up to the limit of his owledge, in less than five minutes, Then the Indian looked the white man in the nd asked: °o What is the crown of all” As he spoke he made a circle of his forefinger is head. go colored deeply and was forced to an- swer that he did not know. Seth Slocum, Railroad Surveyor. clutched at him as they passed, leaning from | ‘‘Then you are my son, not my brother, and the saddle. | bo und to obedience, Dismount from your horse; lain; lie. down,and trust to the mercy of the brethren. 1 have spoken.” The youn this Indian Order, as in the allied branches of Masonry, the strictest obedience was required of the member, to be rendered to those above the rules, and he saw that the Indian was only trying bim. ith a gesture of respect, he rung from his horse, advanced to the midst o the plain be- and threw himself down on his face. He heard the chief call out some orders in an / tween his commander and the body of bunters, | unknown tongue; which was followed by a | tremendous yell from the Indians, who came | man knew that in the rules of | | him in degree, when commanded according to | brain. ) oe & savage | 15 Evidently Sitting Bull was a man of superior intelligence to those around him, but how much did he know? - French was nothirg. He had known Indians who talked English well, and yet were but igno- rant men. He must be on bis After all, he had no fear of bis ability to out- wit the Indian in a contest of brain against in. He was civilized man, and Sitting Bull ith these thoughts in his mind, be assumed . his most smiling air, observing: “Tf, as [ apprebend, you are one of the three men in whose hands rests trrt secret, ama - bumble disciple to you. I ca:. . Lere to see with my own eyes whether the Brothers of the Black Cloud are gees a **And for no otber purpose?” asked Sitting ae. down on him, firing pistols as they | Bull, keenly eying him. { came, over him, but tried bard to control his nerves, and lay still, his beart beating rapidly. Then the rapid patter of feet came nearer and | nearer, with the incessant cracking of fire-arms, and he felt himself unable to lie where he was. Inad rate state of excitement he rolled over on his back, and saw the whole body of the hunters close on him, the men leaning over | from their saddles and firing at him, asif deter- mined to kill him, for there was no mistaking the murderous look of their faces, : At the head of all, on Major Ireland’s big | roan, came Bat Richards, who had oulaarigned the rest by a length. Slocum beard bim yell: “ Ne bougez pas! Ne buogez pas!” (Don’t budge! don’t moige i) Then he saw the half-breed, when just over him, set his teeth, make a dive from the saddle, company with an Indian who did not | and clutch him. The next moment he was swung up, single- handed, by Bat, in front of the saddle, and the big roan scoured away like an antelope, under bis double load, followed by a yell of admira- tion from the hunters, who ceased firing, and | | gave up the chase forthwith. “It was just in time I picked you up,” re- marked the half-breed, when be had slackened | his pace, ‘‘ They would bave killed you!” CHAPTER XVII. THE INDIAN CAKP. As he spoke, they came upto the dignified Indian, who still sat on his pony, stoical as a statue, Slocum’s black horse cropping the grass | by bis side. “* Monsieur le Taureau Seant,” said Bat po- litely, ‘j'ai sauve notre frere, Il va obeir de- sormais vos ordres,” Siocum was astounded as he looked at the | wa Indian, who carried not so much as a | n knife, Bat had said: ‘*My lord the Sitting Bull, I havesaved our brother. He will henceforth obey your orders.” | The quiet Indian, with the grave, dignified face, was the great Sitting Bull, the Sioux Na- poleon, who had driven back General Chester’s column and stop’ the progress of the North- ern Pacific Railroad, ides ra 4 destined to achieve greater fame yet, in a later year. And this was Sitting Bull! Slocum could ha believe his eyes. He had heard of Sitting Bull as a great warrior, and had expected to find a brutal-looking giant, with a whole arsenal of weapons in his belt, like Powder Face, Instead of that, he beheld a man of medium hight, with a gentle, quiet look; features rather small than prominent, with nothing about bim but an air of authority to denote that he was anything out of the common, eyes were keen, to be sure, but not so keen as those of many a young-warrior, and his bare arms were straight and by no means mus- cular. His mouth wore a gentle, woman-like smile, and the jaw was rather small than otherwise, though it bad a way of closing that denoted a good deal of firmness.on occasion. And this was Sitting Bull, smiling and gentle, talking French like a native, and unarmed! His dress was rather plain for an Indian, and the only marks of rank sbout bim lay in the | circlet of Has acengeun ig on his head. ; In his girdle was not so much as a knife, any a small bag made of the skin of an ocelot, whic bung on the right side, while he beld a pipe in his hand, ornamented with the scarlet feathers | of tbe sacred ‘‘ medicine bird.” Slocum, as soon as he recovered from his as- tonishment, said, as politely as if he were ad- dressing a gentleman at home: “Tam charmed to meet the cbr - Bull, and a to have the honor of bis friendship.” itting Bull waved his hand. “That is for the future to determine, mon- | sieur. You belong to a race that is driving | mine to the wall so fast that we bave not much | more room to turn ourselves, You have come | here, thinking to find ignorant savages, and | bave found your mistake. pk yet know the crown of all our Order, the secret of the The strange Indian allowed a grave smile to | Black Cloud? I think not.” eross:his face as he said: Slocum did not quite like his way. @ heard the bullets whistle by his head | But Sloe | and body, felt the sting of the dirt knocked | coolness, had bis nerves in control. um, now that he bad recovered his ‘‘For no otber purpose,” he answered, “I know that my mentor, Pe-to-pe-kiss, head chief of the Six Nations, made two brothers of his inner circle, when he was here twenty years since, You are one, it seems, but I know not the otber. J am desirous of becoming a Sitting Bull looked at him in the same pene- trating way. The young man had got off the horse in front of Bat, and was standing at the chief’s saddle- bow, looking up. “Why did you not ask Petopekiss?” asked the Sioux chie gets 2 ‘He could have given the degree bad he wished.” **T have asked bim; but he has always told me that I was too young, and I have uot seen him for a year ipa “Yet you told our brother he sent you,” was the instant reply, indicating Bat. Slocum nodded his head, ‘That is true; but I doubt if I could prove it to you, because his authority is written in Latin. It is here,” He felt in the secret Peay of his double girdle and prodaced a small piece of folded parchment, which he handed to Sitting Bull. It was written in the clumsy, monkish Latin taught in French-Canadian schools by the priests; bis mentor, the Mohawk chief, uaving received his education in Lower Canada, like many other rich Indians of the East. To his surprise Sitting Bull took the ment, glanced over it, and read it aloud. This wonderful Indian understood Latin, and Slocum felt as if he could bardly believe his senses. Sitting Bull perused the parchment with per- - fect gravity, and then returned it withtheob | servation, in a more gegen tone: “You are entitled to visit our lodges, and — none sball hinder you. So I #8 you are faithful to the Black Cloud, the threa will be faithful to you. But to know the bigher mystery is not for one of your race. That is reserved for one of the true blood.” Slocum felt dixappointed. “Do you mean that no white man has ever attained it?” Tbe chief smiled gravely. “One did, but it was long ago, in the days when our in the East lived in the forest. He was adopted one of us, and as I bave heard, warred inst your ple a hundred years ago ata place called oming.” “ Was his name Sir William Jobnson?” asked Slocum, reroembering that singular character, half feudal baron, balf savage, who had been so distinguished among the Tories. Sitting Bull shrugged his shoulders: “Tt is not forme tosay. I am # savage who lives by the hunt, and cares not for the learning of books, though once I knew as much as some. We call him the White Father Chief, and revere his name, togetne with Thayendanegea.” o Soa yondenenee? Brant? Have you heard of him, too?’ asked Slocum, still more aston- ished, for it upset all his preconceived notions of Indian savagery to find a Sioux who hada knowledge of history, even of his own race. Sitting Bull smiled rather scornpfully, “You are too curious, my son, for one who has known what our race can do for itself. Have you never heard that a red-man wase trusted officer with your great fatber at Wash- ington?” ““ With the President?” “* Certainly.” “Yes. I’ve heard that Captain Parker, the . head chief of one of the Six Nations, was on our President’s staff in the war, and served ag Indian Commissioner.” Sitting Bull nodded. “You see we are not ignorant savages, all of us. Have you ever visited the Cherokee Na- tion, and read their books?” Slocum shook his head. ion poe been ‘er hat Bh ae their and newspapers. ut that is no up bere. These men are not like the peeen Hng who are civilized.” “ The chief threw up his head proudly, “No, they are not. They live as their fathers, an ay the white man. Whon our time comes to live like Cherokees, we will sub- | fourth,” et ee
Page 16
16 Seth Slocum, Railroad Surveyor. wit; but until then, let the white man keep clear of us.” Slocum could not help pursuing the conversa- tion, for there was a fascination about this sin- lar man he could not account for, and he saw in Sitting Bolla man who could be argued with on a basis of civilized knowledge. “But you must know,” he said, “that the warfare can only end one way. For every white man you kill, the Government can send a thousand to take his place, and you must be hemmed in, within a few years, when the rail- road advances,” Sitting Bull laid his finger on the young man’s arm, and pointed to the north. ‘“*Away in the land of the snow,” said the savage chief slowly, “lies a fair country, where red-men and white are equal: and the White Mother over the sea makes all alike her chil- dren, The Echipeta. the Piegans, have gone there, and the Nez Perces will follow. hen our last bunting-grounds are ruined; when the eaceful ox takes the place of the maned buf- alo; when the red warrior gives place to the | cowboy, and no home is left to us bere; there | is a refuge yet with the White Mother. When | that time comes, we will go there. Till then we ) will kill all we can. have spoken. My brother is welcome to my lodge, and the Brothers of the Black Cloud shall make him welcome also.” He made a slight, imperious gesture to the young surveyer to mount, and ‘added to Bat icbards, who had waited humbly by: “Send for your goods, The white bunter shall not be burt, unless he tries to leave the camp. In that case the dog-soldiers will teach bim the rules.” Slocum felt relieved when be heard the order, for he had begun to feel serious doubt as to the safety of Montana George, in the midst of the Sioux bunting-parties. But Richards went away, and the young sur- veyor, feeling decidedly nervous and ill at ease, in spite of his success so far, followed the Sioux chief through the midst of a crowd of squaws, who were skinning and cutting up the buffalo slain in the bunt. ; Sitting Bull rode slowly and with lordly indif- ference through the crowd, never deigning a lance at the women, who were chattering over heir work and casting curious glances at the white man whom they saw in such close com- munion with the renowned chief. They passed on up the valley and followed its windings for several miles, till they turned the corner of a wooded bluff, and Seth Slocum for the first time in his life saw a large Indian pt undisturbed by enemies, and in full tide af life, Several hundred teepees were scattered irregu- larly along the northern bank of the river in a lovely spot, sheltered from the cold winds so s00n to come. They were ee in little clumps belonging to the different bands, and in each band stood a large lodge with a lance stuck in the ground be- fore it, feathered all along the shaft and sup- ge thos a Shield festooned with scalp-locks, and longing to the chief of the band or techy As they passed through, Sitting Bull with the Brave courtesy of a host showing a guest over is place, pointed out the different bands to his companion, saying in French: “These are the Bois Brules; yonder are the Arapahoes; these are Cheyennes; those under the bluff are Tetons; the bind yonder are Yank- tons; and these are my own Uncpapas.” The last band was the largest in the camp, comprising nearly a hundred lodges, many of them having low shelters of brush beside them, known as “ wicky-ups” among i foe Standing beside the chief’s lodge, between wo of the bands, was a large tent of skins, somewhat resembling a marques, and capable of holding several hundred a ait In front of it stood a row of poles crowned with flags, each adorned with the red fea- thers of the “me cine-bird,” and Slocum re- cognized it at once as a similar erection to the one which he had seen among the Mohawks at their annual festivals, known as the great ‘‘ Med- icine ge, * As they passed it, the chief said: “The Brothers of the Black Cloud will meet there to-night, See that ee: are prepared to apswer questions before all., We keep the sacred fire alive, and death is the doom of the man who gpnnct maintain his place. This is my lodge, CHAPTER XVITI. FATHER DE SMEDT. Tz further Seth Slocum advanced on his perilous quest, the more was he impressed with aH insecurity of, his position among the In- ans, ; There was an ominous something in the air of pets BP in the vely averted glances of every Indian he met that showed him he was far from being trusted yet. The constant warning language of the chief Jed him to expect a severe and searching exam- imation when the brothers of the Order met at night, and he had sufficient penetration to see ee Abe ANB! | Silt ayatery vy $ ie a that these wild Indians were very different men from the semi-civilized Mohawks and Senecas of the New York reservation, whom he had been accustomed to think of as representative Indians. But for the proud prospect that lay before him if he succeeded in ee yr off the precious field-book on which so much depended be would | have wished himself safe back in Gladstone. But he was too far advanced now to go back, and he set himself to rack bis memory forevery | word and phrase of the ritual of the Order in which he had been instructed, modelled, like ; that of most secret orders, on Masonic lines. : He had received his original initiation in the Mohawk Ll with which, asa chi'd, he had become familiar, and later in French, common to the Canadian Indians and those of the Hud- son’s Bay Territory. It was in French ‘that he expected to be | catechised, and he was racking his brain to get his answers correct, sitting in the corner of the eat chief’s lodge, with the squaws around im at their various occupations, when he heard the tones of a cultivated, educated Voice at the open doorway, saying, in French: Dien te benise, mon fils. Ot est cet etran- ger dont on me parle?” (God bless thee, my son, Where is this stranger of whom they speak to me?) It was to Sitting Bull the question was ad- dressed, and Slocum heard him reply: “ He is in my lodge, father, and safe if he an- swers the questions to-night. If he falters, you know the rule.” Slocum looked up and saw the form of an old man, white haired and closely shaven, dressed in the dark cassock of a Catholic priest. “Father de Smedt,” he thought at once. The old priest bad a singularly kind and benevolent face, and his voice was as gentle as & woman’s as he answered: “You know, my son, that the Holy Church sanctions no secret societies, and cannot assent to any rules that call down bloody vengeance on a man that has done no barm to tS any.” The Indian shrugged his shoulders slightly as he replied: ‘The customs of our people are one, and those of yours are another, father. We have a custom, and it says that if a traitor enter our lodges with a dotible face and a false tongue he es, The old priest bowed his head with a depre- cating smile., ‘* And we have a book, come from the Great Spirit, which says: love your foes. Do good to them that hate byes But I do not argue with my children, can only tellthem what is Tight, and if they will not heed my words theirs is the blame before the Great Spirit, May I see the stranger?” Sitting Bull bowed his head, ‘* May I speak with him alone?’ Slocum waited anxiously for the reply. Sitting Bull looked up at the priest, and there was a tune of warning in his voice as he an- swered: : ‘* Why should you see him alone? It is not necessary.” “T ask to do ‘86, nevertheless,” returned Father de Smedt, Manag be The chief appeared hesitate for a little while, and Slocum was surprised to see that be was mi The lord of the encampment Jooked sullen and rebellious under the eye of the quiet priest, but it was easy to see that he was under the in- fiuesce of Father de Smedt, for tie tried to evade the missionary’s eye as he answered: “T donot see why you should, Do you wish to help him to escape?” Father de Smedt drew himself up with the first emotion he had yet displayed. “Have I shown that I am your foe?” be asked with a quiet severity that proved his utter fearlessness. ‘‘T have lived among your people for how long that I should now be asked such a question as that? If you have sworn to kill a prisoner, bave I interfered with you? You know better, I have told you often that it is not for this life Ilabor, but the next. Tor- ments endure but for an hour, but the life of the next world is forever. I desire to see this stranger and prepare him for the world to come, if so be he fail to satisfy your people ia this, Can I go in or not?” Sitting Bull listened with averted head, and his tone was one of grumbling acquiescence as he answered: **You have the liberty of the camp. Give | your word as a priest that he shall not be al- lowed to escape, and you can take him where yon will.” Father de Smedt made the sign of the cross | over the Indian’s forehead. “T accept the trust. He shall be brought back to this lodge before sunset." Then he looked into the lodge and beckoned to Slocum, saying in English: “Come here, monsieur. I would speak with you a little. Are you a Catholic?” Slocum rose and greeted the prises politely. “T am not, father; but I hope I ama fair sort of a Christian.” Father de Smedt looked atbim with some curiosity as he advanced, and replied: “TI hope so too, my son; for ours is the on] religion that ean sustain a man in the trials about to befall you.” Sitting Bull did not look up from the place where be was sitting at the door of the lodge; but Slocum, obeying the priest’s signal, accom- panied him from the place and walled out into thecamp. Not re Mag from the lodge, be saw the teepee of t Richards, and Montana George was seated before it on a stone} invan attitude of deep dejection, his weapons taken from him; while the half-breed, dressed up in all the Indian finery of which he-was possessed, was standing by the lodge door, the center of a up of warriors with whom he was convers- ing in the silent sign language of the plains. As they passed the lodge, Montana George looked up at Slocum in a despairing way, and rose from his seat to say: “Ob, Mr. Slocum, I_ knowed this would end in bad. The devils are as sweet as honey, now they’ve got us. They’ll roast us alive. You'll see. Ob what a fool I was to come here with you.’ The man, generally a brave, determined fel- low, seemed to be completely demoralized, and Slocum asked him: *What’s the matter, George? You have been the bravest of friends so far. What hae happened to change you thus?” ontana George cast a suspicious look at the priest, and answered: ‘*Never mind; you'll see. God forgive you for bribing me to come bere. I don’t know nothin’ *bout your Injun societies, and I don’t wanter. If ’d knowed you was a squaw-man I'd never have come here. But you'll see some dey what it'll all come to.” ‘What do you mean?’ asked Slocum with some indignation. ‘*Do you suppose I’m going to betray you?” Montana laughed bitterly. *T don’t s’pose nothing, but don’t you trust too much to your societies. Life’s as sweet to me as it is to you, and don’t you forget it neither. If I want to tell what I know, I can tell it.” é, Slocum looked him in the eye, and saw that the plainsman could not meet his glance uarely; while there was a wild, frenzied look about him that showed his reason was tempo- rarily unbinged. The fact was that Montena George was frightened half to death, and bad reason to be. e knew the Sioux well. The young surveyor tried to soothe him by telling bim: ‘*George, we have nothing to conceal. We came here to trade, and it’s no one’s business what we buy. You've no cause ’to fear if I am friends with the Indians; for we are bound to- getber, as you’know.” Montana George shook his head oon ee & “That's all right of course. You’re eddicated, and know how to talk. See if your eddication will get you out of this muss, I ain’t much on French, but I kin tell when I hear Bat Richards telling folks what fun they’ll bave making a terget of me. It’s all right, but [ know this. If they put me to the torture, I won’t be the only one. And with that he turned away and went to sit down on his stone, while the Indians, who had been watching the colloquy, began to talk to each otber on their fingers, witb great rapid- ity and marks of intense enjoyment of the joke of torturing Seat : Father de Soiedt had listened with the im- passive gravity of a statue to the whole tirade of the uneducated plainsman, and now he plucked Slocum’s arm and said: “Come, my son, we have no time to waste,” The young man walked away with bis con- ductor, eset throvgh the midst of camp after camp, till they came to an open meadow by the river, beyond which the ponies were herded. ' Everywhere they passed, Slocum saw that furtive eyes were watching them; but no one offered any opposition to their progress, and the priest said nothing till they got to the meadow, out of earshot of anybody. Then he took a seat on a rock, waved Slocum to another, and said: “Do you speak French?” “Yes, father,” was the answer, in that tongue. oT am glad of it, for my English is not easy from want of use. at have you come here for, my son?” Slocum evaded the reply. ‘Has not Sitting Bull told you?” “T have not asked him.” ~ ‘Has no one else told you?” ‘Yes. The Horse Chief and Powder Face bave said that you belong to the Indian Order of the Black Cloud. Is that true?’ ** Certainly, father.” ** And bave you come here and put your head into the jaws of the bear, merely ‘for love of a silly and superstitious ceremony? To be called achief by a few savages in a dark lodge, and RA ay gm signs and words that mean no- ng ; Slocum was nettled at the scornful tone.’
Page 17
“| might retort on you; have you come here at L pw of your life to mumble Latin prayers and have tbe pleasure of seeing a few ignorant their heads at the tinkle of a bell?’ savages bo , angrily. ‘‘ You are asking ques- he reto . tions you have no right to ask, sir.” The priest smiled imperturbably. “T see Iam right, You did not come here for any such purpose.” Slocum colored slightly. “You've no right to say any such thing, father. You are taking liberties with me. I| am not confessing to you,” Father de Smedt sighed. “Tt might be better for you if you were, my son, The Church has consolations of which you do not dream.” ‘* Perhaps it may have, father, but I am not asking for them.” “It is well, my son. I am sorry to see such a spirit in you; for, to tell the truth, I should be glad to help you,” “ T must do that myself, father.” The priest shook his head, “You are mistaken. You are the only man here who can. not help himself; and I the only one who can help you. What if I told you that I know for what you have come?” ‘‘You would be a magician, father,” said Slocum carelessly. The priest raised his finger. “You have revealed it, yourself.” ‘“How so?” “ A moment since you said you came for the sake of curiosity, and this foolish and debasing mummery you cal] a ritual. Now you say it takes a magician to find why you came. My son; you are afraid to confess it, and your life will be the forfeit.” CHAPTER XIX. A KEEN CONFESSOR. Siocuu could not avoid being impressed by the acuteness of the priest; for he bad never en- countered a trained disputant of his kind be- fore, and Father de Smedt was one of that fa- mous Order of Jesus, which employs none but the finest minds in its service. He tried to retract by saying: “T mean that you’ll have to Be a magician to see into my mihd, father.” “Oh, no, my son, that is not hard. I see be- fore me a young man of varied education, who is not a soldier, and who has yet come into frightful danger for purposes of his own.” “ For trade, for trade,” interrupted Slocum, without ceremony. ‘‘ Haven’t I a right to want to make money, father?’ : The priest looked at him with his penetrating eyes, saying Guietly: “My son, you did not come here to make money. YOu are not an Indian trader, I know them all well. You have the open brow and entbusiastic face of the student, but you are no student, You are not here to study language or habits. You are here for a purpose, and that pur is the mine—ambition per ‘Like yours?” echoed Slocum, ‘Like mine, but different. Ihave the ambi- tion of my order, to advance its interests, and be praised by my chiefs. But you, what is your ambition? It is not hard to guess it.” “ What is it then?” asked Slocum, in a spirit Ae cnk'ts thi “You see recover something which was lost,” said the priest, quietly. “It is of value to yous but none to these savages, Am I right?’ “Phat is not for me to say,” returned the young engineer, striving to control his face. Fatber de Smedt put up his forefinger again, as he said slowly: ‘“You have come to seek what was Jost. I know well what it must be. It has reference to a survey. that was being made when a man was killed. I have seen his watch: Sitting Bull bas it. It isa chronometer, such as none but engi- neers wear, But that is not what you want,’ “How do you know?” asked Slocum. ‘Because you were not of kin to the dead man. Your name is known to us,” ‘Tam not ashamed of it, father, Seth Silo- cum is my name. How did you know it?” The priest smiled and_ held out to him a small ket. diary, which Slocum remembered to beve had in bis poorest when he stripped for the buffalo-bunt, but had not looked for when his clothes were brought back to him by one of Sitting Bull’s squaws. It was full of short-hand notes, and Slocum seized it eagerly, when the Jesuit observed in his smooth ala, ; “ Stenography was one of my studies at the Propaganda, my son. You should not keep your notes so they can be read by others,” Slocum colored deeply. He bad never thought of finding among. the wild Sioux a man who understood short-hand, and he had written many things in his diary that would be eure to expose secret, if wd a reer ncluded to speak boldly, and throw him- self on the priest’s generosity. Turning on him, he said: ‘Well, father, what have I come sfter? I ise to tell you, if you guess right.” “You have come,” said the priest slowly, “in search of a book of engineering notes, that was " seein aan aa ee! Se Seth Slocum, Railroad Surveyor: 17 taken by the Indians when Engineer Samuel B. Graves was killed.” “Do you know where it is then?” asked Slo- cum, forgetting all caution. “ft do,” was the answer. ‘* Will you tell me where it is?” “* Certainly.” “ Where is it?’ uae Safe with Sitting Bull, in his own medicine- x7? ‘** Will you help me get it?” “i No.” The answer was short and decided. 4 “Why not?” asked Slocum, as boldly as be- ore. “ Because my business is to save souls, not to recover goods captured in war.” ‘But this field-book is no good tothem. I am willing to buy it of them, and pay all I have for it.’ ‘* Possibly,” said the priest dryly, ‘‘ but that is not the question now,” ‘What is, then?’ “Why do you want, this book?” asked the priest, Siocum hesitated. ‘** Because—because it completes a survey, and witbout it the work cannot be done,” ‘* Why should it be done? There is work that should be performed, and oftentimes there is other work that might be better left undone, my sou. Of which class is this?” ‘Work that will benefit the world.” ‘What kind? Isit a railroad?’ ‘*Yes, Make the most of that,” Father de Smedt looked at him earnestly for several seconds before heanswered, He seemed to be struggling with some feeling that he was trying to repress, At last be said slowly: ‘*My son, you think you are right; but the buman heart, as you know, is deceitful and desperately wicked,” ocum retorted rather sharply: ‘* Father de Smedt, my life is in your hands, If you choose to betray a white man to these red devils take the responsibility; but spare me any cant about religion.” he priest compressed his lips and was silent for another short space, during which he crossed himself and seemed to be undergoing another inward struggle. When he spoke again he said: ‘* My son, | perceive that you are still in the bonds of iniquity. Bethink you that the In- dian torture is sharp, and do not throw away any chance by insulting one who wishes to serve you. Iam buta fallible man as a man, but in my office I should be sacred from insult at the hands of one who calls himself a Chris- tian, as you did,” “7 had no intention of insulting you,” the young man replied more quietly. “ But you must remember my position and not e t me to listen to homilies on religion, delivered by a man who is in league with Indians,” The priest bowed his head. ‘* Your reproach would be just, if I were in league with the Indians, but you must know that I am only their friend and teacher, trying to lead them, as I try to lead you into the right ath, I do not wish to betray you to any one. Your secret is known to me and to the Sitting ull.” Slocum could not repress a start. “How does he know?” ‘* My son, the Sitting Bull and Chief Joseph, of the Nez Perces, were both sent as children to one of our schools, and learned the ways of the whites. As men, they have returned to their fathers’ way of life, but they have not for- gotten all of the past. Sitting Bull can read, and the nature of that book is plain on its face to any one who can.” “Then why did he not tax me with a design to get it back?” be priest smiled, ‘My son, the question is a foolish one. Sit- tiog Buil is at war with your people and has you in his power.” Slocum bit his lips. ‘“ You mean that he wishes to make me lie to him, and take that as a pretext to murder me } p spite of the protection of the Order? Is that “You are good at divining, my son.” “Well. let bim do as he pleases,” said the young man doggedly. ‘I have ants a des- perate game. I knew. it when I came here. If L lose it, I lose it; that’s all. They shall never triamph over me,” The priest looked disturbed for the first time in the interview. “You mean that you are prepared to com- mit suicide to escape torture. My son, would you rash into the presence of your er un- prepared?” **No father. I have prepared. Mind; Ido not believe as on do, I come here on an erran tbat should commend itself to your pa. sone as a civilized man, I come in the service of civilization, to harm no one. Look at this lovely valley, tenanted only by a miserable borde of squalid sava come in the van of progress, bringing with me the smiling grain- fields, the herdsman, the shepherd, to replace A a | the ferocious murderers around us. Yon calf ourself the emissary of Christianity and you y / are on the side of the savage against me. It ayy may suit your conscience, father, but I cannot see how you reason it out.” He spoke warmly and bitterly, but his words made no more impression on the priest than on a rock, In the coldest tones he answered: ‘*My son, I have lived with these men for nigh forty years now. When I came to them first, your civilized men were not within a thousand miles of here. In all those forty years no Indian ever gave me an insult or in- ury. They saw that I came to do them only Cioibes and that I asked nothing of them. You come, as you say, in the interests of civili- zation. How? Slocum hesitated a moment. ‘By opening the country to settlement,” “For whose benefit?’ “For that of humanity.” ‘“'The Indians are men, are they not?” ‘Yes, after a fashion.” ‘Have they not the same organs as you? Are they not men and women?” - tS T sup so.” “And bave they not owned the land they hold from time immemorial?” “I don’t know they have, They fight with men of their own race.” “Then why do you not preach peace to them and show them its advantages?” “ Because it is not my business. I am nota missionary.” ‘“*You say truly. Well, then, tell me, to in- troduce this civilization of which you ; will it not bé necessary first to drive out these Indians from this valley?” ‘“No, we are willing to pay them for their lands, father.” “But suppose they do not want to sell them and prefer to keep them?” “Then they must be forced. You do not. surely expect fifty millions of civilized people to be checked by a handful of savages, do you?” ‘Tbe priest smiled, “Then you admit that Mae, mission is @ hostile one, that you desire to force these ple against their will to give up their lands to others,” ‘* Perhaps so,” answered Slocum, in a reck- less tone, for he began to feel that it made no err how he answered the keen-witted riest. Father de Smedt nodded and rose. “You have showed me your design, my son. You are an enemy to the people of my flock desiring their extirpation and the possession of of civilization yet your designs show that you come in the interest of unscrupulous robbers. I feel that I cannot interfere in your bebalf, It would be taking the part of the Evil One. You have put your foot in the trap and must take the consequences. It is hard for me to say it, for you are young and my heart yearns over you, but my duty forbids me to listen to my heart or I should be an unwortby member of my order. We will return, if you please.” Slocum ground his teeth angrily. ere was something in the attitude of the priest that he had never thought of. Full of the common Western prejudices against Indians as a species of wild beast, he had never realized that any educated person who knew them could have a different opinion and own them to be human beings. He rose also, sayin + ea? A “As you please, father. You can give me over to the torture if you please. It will be like the practices of your church in former times when they had power.” The Jesuit’s only reply was: “You have your opinions, my son, and I can- not argue with you on_points of bistory of which you are ignorant. But you are mistaken in one thing. J am not for you, but neftber em I against you. Only you must take care of yourself. I bave done with you.” Then they walked to Sitting Bull’s lodge. CHAPTER XX. THE ORDEAL OF QUESTION. As they entered the lodge the chief looked up ea bars i but Father de Smedt made no comment on the interview, and merely took his leave as a courteous rmamal Then Slocum sat down in his corner and col- lected bis thoughts for the ordeal before him in the evening. If the priest chose to betray all be knew to the Indians, nothing could save the young engineer. But would he betray it? Slocum could not be certain, but thought it likely. Father de Smedt seemed thoroughly to srepathie with the Indians, and as thoroughly to distrust tbe whites. Seth Slocum was in a sufficiently downcast mood. when he heard his name pronounced, and saw Sitting Bull at the door of the lodge, beckon- ing bim forth, oo e obeyed the gesture, and the chief said to him in French: Come with me, I wish to speak to you.” their lands, You say you come in the interests. Ses ae
Page 18
18 Curious to know what was coming, the youn ‘man followed the chief out of the lodge an through the camp to the borders of the river, when Sitting Bull sat down and fixed his eyes on Slocum, saying: “ Be seated, if you are a friend. If you area foe, stand up.” Slocum sat down on the ground at once, and the Sioux began: * You bave come here fora purpose, Have “you. told the father?” Slocum shook his head. . He had not told De Smedt, though the Jesuit had divined his amission. The Sioux chief looked him ‘full in the eye. “‘Monsieur, as you are aware, I have lived among your people, and learned to hate them; but you are different from the rest, You are young, and have not yet injured us. I offer you your life on a condition.” ‘* Name it,” was Slocum’s only reply. * Join our tribe; become one Of us, and let all your knowledge be ours,” said the chief, slowly. ‘Bebold, monsieur, I am not a fool as you think. I know well that this struggle can only end one way. I desire to throw out anchors, to save my people from extermination. JI know that they are poor and ignorant, and that our foes. are many. You are a member of our Order, and Jack one step of the Supreme Mys- tery. Join us, and you shall bea prince like auyself,” * | am desirous of joining you,” said Stocum, fecling much relieved at this address, “I am a foe to.none here.” **Tnen why do you come?” asked Sitting Bull, quick as a flash. ‘*To trade, as well as to behold how the Black Cioud prospers,” “Beaitso. I will give you full value for all our goods,” said Sitting Bull. ‘‘ You shall go k rich and make a fortune, if you will.” ‘“*How?” ** By becoming our friend and spy, and being the man to bring us arms and ammunition. We need it, and the Government keeps a sharp look- out on the traders. You, as a manof the rail- road, will not be suspected, and can be made useful to smuggle rifles and powder.” Slocum answered instantly: _.‘\ IT shall be glad to belp you; but I fear that they. will not trust me any more.” * Why not?” ** Because I stole away from Gladstone in the night, and stampeded the horses of a whole scouting: panty which are here.” Sitting Ball looked surprised. ‘The Horse Chief told me nothing of this. How did it happen?” ‘ . He kept bis eyes fixed on the young engioeer while be told his story of the march, and when Slocum had finished Sitting Bull observed: ‘*T am glad you told me this. Itmakesa difference, for it makes you one of us, whether you willor no, You will prepare for the?council to-night.” So saying, he rose and stalked back to bis loige, followed by Slocum, who knew not quite what to make of the change. When they arrived there, the great iron pot, which hangs in every Indian lodge, was sending forth its most savory fumes, and the chief beckoned to Slocum, saying: ‘My brother is hungry, and there is meat in my lodge. Enter and eat.” lt was the first time he had extended any sort of an invitatiun, and Slocum was proportionate- ly encouraged by the fact, for he could not but think that hospitality would not be extended to him, were further barm meant toward him. He ate with the chief and quite a little crowd of warriors and hangers-on; for an Indian lodge is common property, and dead beats in an Indian camp are as.common as at acountry ‘tevern, By that time the sun was setting, and the clouds were gathering in the north, high and dark, with a faint southerly breeze blowing. Slocum saw one or two old Indians point to the north and make signs to each other that a storm was coming before long, but he had no time to think of it, as the hour for his ordeal approached, soon as it was dark, Sitting Bull said to Aim; : . ‘+ Come, my brotber, the council will assemble in the Great Medicine Tent. There you will meet all the brethren, and they will question ou. ‘JT am ready,” replied the young man, and he followed the chief to the temple of mystery. It stood by itself, between two of the bands, and was surrounded by a circle of guards, each hav- ing a little fire at bis feet. Bitting Bull went forward alone, and was ad- mitted within the circle, when the young en- gineer followed. He was instantly confronted by one: of the guards, who calied out in Sioux a question he did not. understaud, pointing a rifle at him as he ke. **locute, without any hesitation, made the entrance sign of the Order, and pronounced the ord in Mohawk, following it by the same wordin Freuch. .- 2 , _ ‘The Sioux guard hesitated a moment, but the voice of Sitting Bull from within the circle Seth Slocum, Railroad Surveyor. ) of the ordeal, for the Indians’ were anything but called out some words, and the Indian threw up | clean, and the odor in tbe tent, closely his rifle and made the sign of amity, extending his hand. Slocum answered it with hisown, and they ex- changed the peculiar grip of the brethren of the | Order, when the young man passed on, feeling that he had surmounted one peril. Within the circle he met several other guards, of whom some challenged him in Sioux, others in French dialect, learned from the Canadian voyageurs and hunters who are still common in the Northwest. All seemed to understand him when hé an- swered in French, and he finally made bis en- trance into the Great Medicine Lodge, and took bis stand in the midst of a circle of dark chiefs and warriors. They were crowded round a ring less than twelve feet in diameter, from whence they radiated outward, closely packed in circles, to the edge of the tent, in twelve rows. Asthe young man entered, he made a basty computation that there were nearly five bun- dred people in the lodge, but he bad no time to do more than glance at them, when Sitting Bull told himin French to take his post in the inner circle to be questioned, He advanced therefore and took bis stand, looking all round the circle, and finding every és fixed on him in a keen watchful geze that bad nothing of the usual stare of an audience. There was something in the glare that told him every man in that circle was an enemy trying to pick some flaw in his conduct, and not one kindly giance met his. However, he was used to meeting the Hastern Indians in their councils, and knew that they always affected this stony glare to intimidate new candidates, an element of ber joking pervading the Black Cloud Brotherhood, similar to the ways of all secret societies, , He therefore faced them boldly and began the speech he had prepared, telling them how he had come from their brethren in the East by the great lakes, and how pleased he was to see such a prosperous membership in the Order, with other soft words, to which red eas well as white men are susceptible. _ He spoke in Cana- dian-French and seemed to be pretty fairly un- derstood by most there, At the end of every sentence he paused, and saw that Sitting Bull and several other warriors were translating his words into the sign language as he went. Having received all instruction from astern Tidtebe, who do not use this sign lan- uage he felt ata disadvantage in not knowing it more fully than he did, but continued his address till he came to the place where he asked to be examined, and, if found worthy, to be ad- mitted as a visiting brother to the illustrious circle of the Biack Cloud. . When be had finisbed there was a long silence, after which an Indian arose in the inner circle, and made a speech in Sioux, which Bat Richards translated into French, word by word, as it was given. @loouin had not seen Bat among the rest when he entered, and only recognized him now by bis voice, for all the Indians bad their blankets over their heads, and be could only see their gleaming eyes and a little of the dark faces, so that all looked exactly alike. The old Indian said: “T am Standing Bull, who have taken as many white scalps as I have fingers and toes on my hands and feet. I bave been a Brother of the Black Cloud since I first went on the war- path. I bave met warriors of ali Indian nations and we have spoken to each other as brothers; but never yet met I a white man that belonged to cur Order. This white stranger does not speak our language. How can he be one of us? Tot | him tell us that?’ : Slocum instantly answered him that he came frow the East, where were many men who be- lon to the Order who had never seen the plains, and where white men and red were equal in the Order. He wished to be ex- amined, Standing Bull gave a grunt ag he listened and called aloud; “Let the head medicine chief examine him then, and let the Horse Chief give us bis answers as he makes them,” “Tam ready,” replied Slocum, as soon as the request was translated, xthwith Sitting Bull began questioning him in French, and Bat Richards repeated the sub- stance of the examination in Sioux, till Slocum had answered all questions ever put to a candi- dates in the lower grades. The further he advanced, the cooler he be- came, and he was satisfied, from the occasional emphatic grunts of the dark brethren around that they were surprised at the clearness an precision of bis answers, As soon as the answers had progressed to a certain point, there was a general grunt of satis- faction: and, asif by one consent, nine-tenths of the Indians rose and came up to Slocum in single file, each offering his hand and saying in an emphatic way: ‘‘How! How!” This wes to the young man the hardest part ny! tx’ So x) DM. eee ee kee ae Ne NEY ee ee ee es ee ee ee ee = ESS Ss with their bodies, was, by this time, feurly sick- ening. He was pee rind encouraged, however, b bis success to stand it, and he noticed that Leeks Indian, after giving the grip, filed out of the tent, leaving less than fifty men, ell chiefs of bands, still squatting on the inner circles; never moving their beads or eyes, _ No sooner was the tent cleared than the Sit- ting Bull gave some orders in Sioux, which re- sulted in the place being surrounded by a dark circle of Indian brothers of the lower degrees, acting as guards to prevent any intrusion from the camp; as, just before, the neophytes and apprentices of the Order had. guarded the plece for them out of earshot of what was going op. Even Bat Richards was left outside, and the examination commenced in the higher degr before an audience of chiefs, of whom almost seemed to understand more or less French, Ia this examination Sitting Bull and Stand- ing Bull officiated as examiners and interpreters to each other, and the success of the stranger was still more marked, the ritual being fresher in bis memory. When it was over, he had been taken through several more d s, and al}l but five of the chiefs rose to depart, greeting bim as they went. The men of the last degree were Sitting Bull and four others Slocum bad not yet seen. CHAPTER XXI. THE NORTHER, Tue tent was closed again, and Sitting Bull said in French: nd ‘*Messieurs, we of the upper circle are now together. So far as the rules of the Order are concerned, I bave already found that this gen- tleman answers all the requirements, and will vouch for him as a member, regularly entered. But to us, who know whet is not revealed to the lower ranks of tbe Order, there is more = needed. Brother Giraud, what think you Slocum looked round him more carefully now, at the five men who were left. Three of them were evidently of mixed blood, for they had not been able entirely to eradicate their beards. The fourth was a young Indian of slender build and handsome boyish face, with dark; melting eyes like those of a girl. The man addressed as Giraud—a short, very broad-shouldered half-breed—spoke in a thick Canadian patois? “T think that we need to find why he came here?’ What say you, Canot?’ Another half-breed replied in the same tone and language: ‘Why did he come bere? Yes, why?” “To see how the Order was géiting on in ibis part of the world,” said Stocum, ‘boldly. The three half-breeds grunted, and Canot re- torted, grvfily: **No need to come here to see that, You are not of us if you area member. You are not the rigbt color. “What of that, if Ican answer all the ques- tions you put to me? Under your oath, you are bound to receive me,” returned Slocum, as boldly as before, oe Giraud allowed an ugly smile to contract his face as he replied: “That is true, if the the answers are true, but how if they are false?’ ‘““Then you must prove they are riot true,” answered Slocum, “I demand to be examined in your degree.” — ull speke out: “Tbe brother demands an examination. : He shall bave it. Form the circle. Let Le Mar- moset keep the door.” The handsome young Indian, who had not said a word, bowed ard went to the tent door to see that no one approached, and the examin- ation in the last degree was taken up witb a merciless severity that compelled Slocum to tax his memory to the utmost, the ritual being long and very complicated and mystic, Its general tenor was different to all the lower degrees, in that the member was obliged to ess great love of the red race and batred of e white, and to anticipate with joy the time when all the whites should be exterminated, To Slocum, who had learned it as am empty formula, the words had never sounded so fierce as now, when they were pronounced with earnestness and conviction by men whom he knew as the relentless foes of his race. When the last ordeal was over, Sitting Bull look round and asked; ‘What is the judgment, brothers?” There was a deep silence. He spoke again. ‘“‘What is the judgment, brothers? Is the stranger found worthy?!” Still no answer till he had repeated the ques- tion to each individually, when each man slow- ly end grudgingly said: £ “ He is worthy, if he has told truth.” | Ouly ‘Le Marmoset, wher questioned, an- swered without qualification: : ;
Page 19
| - answer. “He is found worthy.” Slocum. cast a srabetal glance at the boy ‘when he spoke, and Sitting Bull pronounced ‘the verdict: ‘The brother from the Hast is found worthy, if he has told the truth. He will sit at our council-fire henceforth and be one of us. The circle is broken.” Then he extended his hand to Slocum, and ‘one after another the five brothers of the inner cirele gave him the grip and pronounced the ‘words; “‘Brother, you are welcome.” All spoke slowly and grudgingly save Le Marmoset, who smiled and uttered bis weleome ina peculiar! soft and melodious tone, while the Serr of his hand was friendly and reas- rien Sitting Bull said; “The brother is free to go where he will in our camp, and to-morrow we will open the trade with him. I have said.” He stalked out of the tent, and Slocum took his departure to the lodge of his friend, Bat Richards. As he came ont he noticed that the black clouds had mounted to the zenith, and within a quarter of an hour from that time a tremendous storm of cold wind and sleet set in, which changed in a short time into snow, and sent every member of the camp into his or her lodge, to huddle together for warmth over the smoky embers of the little fires. Within an bour the temperature had sunk to ‘within a few degrees of zero, to judge from the feelings, and the hides of which the lodges Were composed were froze hard as boards. Only the shape of the lodges preserved them from | ond overturned; for the strength of the wiud was something tearful, even under the shelter of the bluffs. Slocum found Montana George next to him in the darkened lodge, and George whispered to him; ‘A reg’lar norther, Now's our time to git, if you’re a white man. If you're turnin’ squaw- man, siay and see what’!l happen to you, when they’ve got all they want.” It was the first time George had spoken to him since they parted in anger in the morning, and Slocum had wrapped himself in a buffaio- Seth Slocum, Railroad ___________ Seth Slocum, Railroad'Surveyor. 19 she was Uae wt oa wars | ee aoe cid gin deities mae ‘anal, wah Wacetn me ae Sitting Bull’s daughter. I didn’t b’lieve it till we got here, but [ seen it was true. then, She went off on a visit to her family, as might be, and I reckon Bat knows she won’t come back to him, while there’s lots of young bucks wants to have her.” Slocum felt considerable excitement at this iece of news. He had been so much absorbed n his own perils and ordeals since he had been an inmate of Sittin vi Mar ihe lodge that he had almost forgotten about George, whom he had left at the other end of the va ey, when he had started in for the nee ee hunt. ““Tell me, George,” he said. you here, unarmed!” ‘‘Basy enough, You seen me stay by the squaws when they sot up the lodge a the Bad Lands, I knowed the dog soldiers would give you all you wanted.” “Who are thesé dog soldiers you mean?” “The hunters of the camp. citing Bull bim- self daresn’t cross ’em too much, an hey jest raise Cain if any one breaks the rules on ‘em. I seen you a-ketchin’ of it, and thought you was dead till I seen Bat scoop ye up. Then | knowed ye was safe.” ‘“* How did ye know?” “Cause that was the game. You'd broke their rules and he stood out to saye ye. If he hedn’t clutched ye when he did, they’d ha’ cooked your goose, sure.’ “But you said he bad betrayed us. Why should he save my life?” George laughed rather one y. ‘“‘There’s ways of saving life that’s eee than killing. ong they cut off yer arms an legs, one arter the other and scar the awe with red-hot irons so ye wouldn’t bleed to death, that ain’t much to be thankful for; is it?” Slocum shuddered slightly. ““T should say not,” “ That’s why Bat saved ye then. Ob, I know them half-breeds and Fnjuns. You’ve trusted him and he’ jest sucked ye dry.” ** How so?’ “He seen ye wanted suthin’ here, and he don’t know what it is yet; but he seen that ye wanted it bad; and he’s bound to make a good thing out of y &. He got ye to put out money in guns and cartridges, dead ag’in’ the Govern- ment laws; he got ye to stampede Major Ire- “ ‘How came robe to get through t ; night as he best could, | land’s horses; and he’s got ye here, he’s sud ye when ig heard the plainsman’s whisper close to | to the Indians sure,” his ea ed Hush v he answered, “Bat will bear you and betray us.” ‘Montana George’s answer, in the same whis- per as before, was this; * Say the word and we'll be one too many for “Bat. Dead men tell no tales, He’s sold us out and deserves death.” Slocum could not hel P.adenitting the truth of this last remark, but asked ‘“* How about the squaws? They would make a noise, wouldn’t they!” had not noticed when he came in, who was in the lodge, it being dark, with only a few embers in the middle, Montana Geor ge's answer electrified him, as the lainsman sai pple’s gone. back to her dad, and Red _ Feather’s with me.’ “ And Bat?” 2 Slocum, breathless, * Bat’s og so sound he wou’t wakeina eather gave him the dose in a at mins hecame in, I knoweda ngrther pee co Then tt remembered that he had had a bottle of laudanum in his baggage, and asked anxiously: “Did you give ‘him laudanum? How much, for heaven’s sake?” at "Bout a quarter of a pint,” was the cool an- aca “ He didn’t get all of it though.” not?” «Belt it didn’t taste right, and made Red Heather drink the rest,” Slocum started up into a sitting posture, ‘Do you mean that they’re poisoned?” ~ Montana George chuckled, “Mighty nigh if. If you don’t believe they’re asleep, go sbake’em. But don’t speak above your breat “ Why not?” « Cause there’s lodges all around us and ears ds sharp.” The young engineer verified his co nion’s tale by whrowing some dry buffalochips and bones on fea ee When the smoke ceased, and | a little blaze paor’ pags there lay Bat on his back, snoring loudly, with Red Feuther beside ‘both unmistakably so fast asleep that they subtaitted to pulling and pinching of consider- able severity, with no symptoms of wakening, But Ripple and the baby were gone, “ How did Reps come to go?” he asked, “Got tired of ‘ Sauaws change busbands whenever and nothin’ s said about it, they’ve a mind f¢, That's way Pat got drunk.” 2 : aw shook him.” ae fond of each other.” but ’twarn’t vo to goed to oe ie fi. ue Ay, £¢ "he was fond of her, and a “se Feather, I s’pose,” was the. | SS genta’ ecu aaeh it’s in Sitting * Are you sure of that?” “Sure! You bst. I understand a ne deal ‘of their lingo, and heard him telling ’em.” _ . Telling them what?’ ‘* How he’d fooled you into coming here, an that the rifles and ammunition. would all b = theirs now, if they wanted.” “You heard that? When?” “This arternoon. Didn’t you see him, tellin’ if when I spoke to you, and that darned old black priest was a scowlin’ at, us?” “I saw him making signs.’ “That was his story, and ‘ey was all laugh- ing at ye. & But you forget one thing, George.” “' What's that, sir?” . ‘That since that time I've proved to them that I belong to their secret Order, and that every man in pap 5 amy friend.” don’t care “bout that,” returned George doggedly. ‘‘They ain’t mine. The dog sol- diers come and took away my wee eepons, and beat me like a dog, and I didn’t dare resist, for lLknowed that was all they wanted to get a chance at me. _ 1 ain’t a-going to stay here and be made roast meat of for fun. I'm a-goin’ to git out of this came this night.” é ** But you'll freeze to dea 1 outside,” “So much the better. 1 won’t feel them burning me then. I tell ye ’ma-going. If I stay bere J’ll be burnt sure. If I get out, T've a chance for my life, and that’s worth a good deal nowadays. Tbe Injins will bug their fires close, you bet; unless the stock stampedes, and it ain’é likely to zo out of shelter to-night.” So saying the bardy plainsman began to make his preparations to face the awful tempest out- side by meveing.s on extra clothing, and when he was ready asked “Well, are ye ‘going or not?” “No,” said Slocum, “I came for the field- book of Mr, Graves and I go back with it or not at all.” ie CHAPTER XXII. THE FIELD BOOK. Montana GEORGE uttered an impatient curse, “I tell ye this is our only chance. This porther wil last three days, and not an eines will stir out-of bis lodge till it’s over. git out and hide our trail till we've out of dan- ger; but if ye stay here, ye’ll be BY sure |” “'T cannot go without the field-book,” was Slocum’s og | reply. : * Will ye go if > get it?’ asked George sul- Te moment I lay hands on it, ore of nothing but escape,” I, “Dye know where it oe eee it, I's at | ' a iit medicine-bag, and if so, there’s no hope of my getting it till T gain his confidence.” ‘ Gain his confidence! You’re darned likely to do that. No, Mr. Slocum; there’s only one way to doif you want to get out of this camp alive with that book.” “*And what’s that?’ ‘* Steal it to-night, and run with it,” Slocum was struck by the advice. ‘‘] swear I think you're right. But to it, I must enter Sitting Bull’s lodge. That not a possible thing, I anticipate.” ‘** You're right there; but ain’t there no way in your darned Order to make him come to ou! A thought struck Slocum. “There is one way; but I fear it cannot be done to-night.” “What is it, sir? If it wants a man to do it, here I am.’ mt You ould not do it. I must do if my- 8e “What must you do?” “T must go and tell Sitting Bull that Bat is sick, and ask him to come and see him. I shall also tell bim you are missing; he will eens. order bg ursuit at once.” e won't.” rs Why not?” S haces no Injun would stir out on a dark night like this. They believe that if they die in the dark they'll stay dark forever.” “Tben you think he would not come out!” “Sart’in, no. But Pil tell you what we kin do, if you're a mind to take your life in your hand—” **Go on.” “We kin both go to Sitting Bull’s lodge, and knife him as be sleeps,” said George, coolly. “ He’s a medicine-chief, and they’re allers alone, except for the squaws. If it was another ehief's lodge we'd find a dozen bucks sleeping there, but be’s sure to ba alone.” ‘‘ Stop,” said Slocum; ‘‘’ve another idea.” He began to bunt in his baggage, and soon rummaged out a bottle, saying: “That's cbloroform—” He had only got that far when they heard a knocking at the flap of the lodge, and the object of their conversation himself put bis head in and said in French: ‘Where is the Horse Chief? What is that noise, brother?” As he spoke he put aside the flap and walked inside, closing the entrance after him, while Siccum was too much amazed to saya word till the Sioux bad taken a seat at the fire, and ob- served quietly: “Monsieur Slocum, in our camps we to bed in the dark, and don’t sit up to talk, Oe is a cold ni at, but ears are open in the lodges of m Ae si George had thrown himself down by the fire at the first noise on the lodge-door; but Slocum. still remained, ov wered by sur- bas 7 sitting og UP where he had been. Sittin had evidently come in to spy on bim, ry the midst of a norther, so severe that na en "else would have dreamed of going out The chief’s long hair was white with sleet and snow, in the short distance be had come from his own lodge, and his er tn buffalo- robe was gathered close sat there on. the other side vt the fire, where he could see Slocum perfectly, and watch Montana George, whose Pasta sia, 2 sleep evidently did not in the least deceive him. As soon as Slocum recovered his coolness, which be did by astrong effort, be said: ‘* I was talking to the hunter =~ came here with me, He is afraid that your people will regard bim oan on ree yn and I have told him that be is reg Be and that the Brothers. of the Black Cloud oma not barm the friend of their brother,” The chief slowly raised his gleaming eyes | and fixed them on Slocum, ‘You made a mistake, monsieur. This man belongs to our enemies, and is therefore a fair prize. We do not go into your camps and ex- pect mercy. He will be given over to the mews for torture,” ol g-ege over at George to see if he Bacon the speech, which was delivered in French, but the plainsman made no sign if he did, and the ew: | ne answered: ‘Then I presume it is also possible that I my- self am destined to the same agreeable « tion of providing amusement or eal monsieur?”’ ae — shook bis head, > * Not un rou a p ** And the hen? ee “In that case you would be held to have vio. | lated the oath of the Order, and we course punish you more severely than a po common enemy.” The chici’s tone was weeny coe. The thin early life had varnish of civilization e had receiv higher ‘to vail vis See eae at ear: ‘eae 19 around him, as he
Page 20
. medicine. 20 well that you never came here for r-ere.zeal for the Order, The crown of the degrees is ous that you can never take, unless you fight against your own people to the death. You came here to find a book, which I carry with me all the time. My people think if is a great I know what it is,and what it is worth. Come, monsieur, this lout does not un- derstand a word of French. Speak out, I know you come from some one to treat for the recovery of this book. I am quite willing to sell it for my price,” Slocum started slightly. ** Are you in earnest?” ‘*Why not? You do not. suppose that I do not see. what is coming as well as you?, A rail- road will bs built through here, and my people in time will be compelled to give up their wild free life and turn farmers, herdsmen or beg- gars as they have done elsewhere. , Well, when that time comes, I wish to secure a shelter for myself where I can do as I please. What will you give me for this book?’ Slocum hesitated. There was something in this strange man, half-Indian savage, half-edu- cated sharper, that made him dread exposing his hand to Sitting Bull if any manner. **What do you want for it?” he asked in re- turn. “Por what?’ The question was keenly put at once, but the young engineer evaded the gs . “For the article you are willing to sell, of course. I came hereto trade for furs, and all sorts of Indian work.” “And what will you do with it when you have bought it, brother?” * Keep it, of course.” ‘Why do you wish to keep it?” ‘To remember you by, perhaps.” The Indian smiled slightly. ‘*'You are a keen man, monsieur. How much ao you cffer?” ‘** How much do you ask!” “*T ask in the first place, a secure place for myself when this war is over, wherein I may reside in my own fashion,” “You cannot find that in these United States,” said Slocum gravely. “If you have been in the East, you know it as well as I.” Sitting Bull nodded gravely. “Very well, then, I can go across the line to the shelter of the white mother, Next, I want a promise of ten thousand head of cattle every year to feed my people when the buffalo are all swept away.” “You can bave it, I make no doubt,” the youn engineer replied. Sitting Bull leaned forward and touched his wrist, saying: “How am I to know that I shall get it?’ Slocum was puzzled. He had never expected to come toa regular bargain with the chief till after months or weeks of patient toil; but here came Sitting Bull to the lodge on his very first night in camp, in the middle of a northwester, to treat for a surrender or a bargain. **How am I to know I shall get it?” the chief asked him, and Slocum, still suspecting a t in every word, was casting about in ings min on what to say, when Bat Richards rolled over on his side with a snort, and Sitting Bull cried aoe le 7 t’s that? Is he drunk again? Have you apy rum here?” “Certainly,” op Slocum instantly, “the yar. best, great chief. Would you like to try The chief’s only answer was to rise and go over to Bat Richards, whom he kicked in the side with his foot, saying: “Dog, are you drunk again?” In that moment Montana George drew up his feet for a spring and leaped dn the Sioux chief from behind, throttling him in the ap- proved style of the garrote, with all his force and egy ** Catch bis legs; hold him tight!” It needed no such injunctions to make Slocum rush to his help, and do as he was told, Montana George’s right forearm was pressed firmly against the ‘‘ Adam’s apple ” of the Indian chief; the other arm being brought over to help it, and his whole strength was concentrated in the effort to throttle Sitting Bull. For an instant the struggle was tremendous; but when Slocum joined in the assault, caught hold of the Indian’s legs, and held them firmly hugged to his side sn as to take away the pur- chase that the victim had before, the contest was soon over. Sitting Bull could not utter a sound, his breath being completely stopped, and bis strug- gies became fainter and fainter till they ceased altogether, and George whispered: “Pm tuckered out, Mr, Slocum, but the var- mint’s gone under.” ' Then they laid him down and Slocum felt the ; » ie fit th feebl dh red was flutte eebly, and he w : ‘ He’s not dead.” wis apes Turn bim over then,” said George in the same tone. ‘ m. With that he looked about him for a weapon, Seth your ways and seen vour great towns. I know and spied in Bat Richards’s belt. a pair of re- volvers, Slocum, Railroad Surveyor. **We must git to the herd; and git it on the stampede, down the valley. Once started, He took one and deliberately hammered away , every darned hoss will run bis legs off, trying at the back of the insensible man’s head, blow after blow, with all his force, till Slocum stop- ped him, whispering: ‘There, there, he’s dead enough!” Montana George shook his bead. ‘Not a-bit of it, You don’t know Injuns. What would kill a: white man’s only fun to | them, He ain’t dead yet, but I reckon he won’t give us any more trouble to-night, Let’s go through him and git.” ‘Hadn't we better tie him and gag him, in case he comes to his senses?” ‘tRight there, boss; we'll do it,” For the next five minutes they wero busy in cutting thongs off the buckskin dress of the in sensible Sioux, and tying him so fast ho could not by any possibility uotie himself, if indeed he were alive, Then Montana George stuffed a leather gag into bis mouth, and observed: **There! reckon he’s safe now, if he does come to. Now, Mr. Slocum, git your book if it’s thar, and we'll skip.” Slocum went through the equipments of the rostrate, man, and hauled out bis medicine- ure enough, in the midst of the bag he felt the rectangular shape of the thing he sought, and finally drew forth the long-lost field-book, which he closely examined by the flickerin light of the fire, and found to be the identica volume, still stained with poor Graves’s blood. He beld out bis hand to rge. **God bless you, George,” he said. ‘ One good white man’s worth all the Indians on tae plains, I think.” CHAPTER XXIII. IN THE NORTHER, THE precious book was there, and to all ap- “og ew uninjured, though the cover was deep- y stained with blood, which bad soaked through some of the outer leaves and stuck them to- gether. Slocum hastily glanced over it, thrust it into his bosom inside his shir’, and then said to Mon- tana George: “Now I’m ready to go with you. What do you propose to do?” “Skin out gt cay Pan , as soon as I’ve look- ed outa bit. Say, Mr. Slocum—” “ What is it?” ** We'll have to put on two suits of duds apiece, or we'll freeza to death.” " Why, it’s not so cold in here,” * Put your nose outside though, and you'll find out if it ain’t. Jest try.” The advice seemed good to Slocum, and he crept to the door and put his head out from be- bind the flap. The lodge had been pitched as usnal with the door to leeward, and the wind had but little effect on the flap, Slocum peered out and saw nothivg but a white wilderness of drifting snow, already ankle deep, though the norther had set in for less than an hour. The snow was whizzing by, with a hissing sound, nearly horizontal; and the hoarse moan- ing of the wind through the branches of the trees under the bluff bad an inexpressibly dis- mal sound. The dark outlines of the lodges, bare on the leeward side, stood out distinctly against the white background, while all above was a dingy gray between the snow and darkness. The young man peered all round, and even went outside the lodge to feel for himself the coldness and force of the wind, As long as he was under the lee it did not seem so terribly cold; but as soon as he put his head out, the wind cut like a knife and the snow stung his face so sharply he could not stand it, He returned into the teepee, and said to Mon- tana George: “It’s a terrible night, We shall be frozen to death if we face it.” George had been busy in his absence with the packs, and now turned outsome Indian hunting- shirts of buckskin, saying: “T know that, Mr: Slocum; but you jest re- member this: it’s a choice for us between freezin’ to death, with a chance to escape, and being burned alive with nary a chance. If we stay in this teepee till morning, Sitting Bull will be missed and salt won’t save us. e’ve got to get up and dust, the best we know. See here, put on two of thése Injun shirts and an extry pair of leggins; strip old Sitting Bull himself, fur that matter, and let the varmint freeze, if he ain’t dead now, Here’s gloves and moccasins, and alla man kin need to keep the cold out, and whisky besides. Anything to keep warm, but out of this we go in less than an hour or there'll be trouble.” “ And when we get out, what then?” Slocum asked the question as he was burried] dressing himself, and preparing for the struggle to come, “T’ve thought of that and there’s only one way T see.” ‘What's that?” fry , «4 4 5 ; “ et tea at ee. iisn al wy lal iti) is tor ME , Pegi a . cae e- Te aT dae ee SN, ; e~ : — to keep ahead of the wind, and the Injuns are likely to lose every head of stock they've got.” ‘* But they have horse guards surely?” “So they have, but vou won’t find no horse- guards out to-night, Every darned one will he bugging his lodge close, and no blame to him.” ** Bui it will be a hard thing to get the ‘borses to leavo shelter; won’t it?” - “Youre right, it will, but we've got to do it, and I reckon we kin, The first thing is to git out, with all the weepons we kin lay ciaws on. “There are none but Bat’s pistols. They dis- armed me, as well as you.” ‘“*That’s pateral. Arter all, we don’t want weepons so much as ye might think; for if they do ketch us, all the weepons we could carry won't help us. A pistol each won’t be inv the we Bat’s got any of the cartridges round im, Gut.this, on examination of the snoring half- breed, they found wot to be the case; and the were confronted with tho certainty that all they would have to take them to the Missouri would be a pistol apiece, with exactly six shots in it, Then at last, bundled up in clothing enough to enable them to defy even the norther, with a handkerchief over each face, Jeaving only an opening for an eye to peer out, Mon- tana George and Seth Slocum stole out of the teepee, and off through the soft powdery snow which was now nearly knee deep. Closing the flap of the lodge they waded slow- ly off toward the direction where the herd lay. when Montana whispered: ‘“*Look! Snow over.” Right abead of them, in the northwest besaw a solitary star, under the edge of a dense black cloud, and the snow had already Jost a great deal of its thickness, though the wind howled louder than ever. “ We've got to skip lively,” muttered Gecrge, “ As soon, as they know the light’s come, some of em will be routing out the guards. Come on, Mr. Slocum. ‘Yonder are the horses,” The place he referred to was under the shel- ter of the woods, where they saw a dark mass, and beard the snorting of the horses, On thev stole through the camp, the soft snow muffling their steps, while the bowling of the nortber drowned every other sound, As they went, neither could avoid apprehensive glances around them, to see if any one wag stir- ring, but all was perfectly silent and not a fig- ure could be seen, The wind and snow were both in their faces, making vision abead difficult and almost im- possible, and so they siruggled on till they reached the edge of the camp, where the force of the tempest compelled both men to pause and turn their backs to it. The biting cold had not yet penetrated their thick leathern garments; but their faces felt as if human endurance was overtaxed in facing such an ordeal. Nearly a minute they bad to stand’ there, trying summon courage again to face the blast, then turned again desperately and floundered on another bundred yards, when they saw a dark form, coming through the snow before the wind, leaping and plunging. “*Tt’s one of the guards running for bis lodge, Leave bim to me,” muttered George, On they went, and as the plunging figure passed them, Montana George ravended to stumble in th» path, ceught bold of the Indian’s legs, and upset him, with his head buried deep in the snow, “Quick!” he muttered. ‘Give it him’on the back of the head, Slocum, quick!” Slocum drew his revolver and obeyed orders with such desperate strength that the unfortn- nate Indian Jay still as a log after the first crack, when Montana George searched the prostrate figure eagerly for arms, finding to bis great disappointment only a knife, ‘It’s only a boy,” be ssid in a growling tone. “Tf hed been aman bed bave had a pistol at least, He’s safe now,” The short struggle bad warmed them so that for a moment they had forgotten that the nor!ber was still raging. When they started on again it was blowin harder and fiercer than before, as the snow fell less thickly, and Slocum realized that it was growing colder and colder. On they struggled till they got under the shelter of the bluff and wood, when the wind left them, though they conid still hear it howling through the tops of the trees above them. A warm, damp atmosphere soon encircled them, with a thin mist that vailed objects near them, and they perceived that it come from the mass of ponies, several thousand in number, huddled together under shelter of the wood. Cold as Was the weather elsewhere, the heat from these bodies, huddled close together, trampling and crowding, was perceptible twenty feet away, while, close by, pot even the horses on the outside felt cold to the touch, They seemed to be rather alarmed and ftighty than otherwise, and George whispered; “Wind's going to change and drive ’em cuty pee eo. ae Rite Be RE ey Saige aay
Page 21
Seth Slocum, Railroad Surveyor. 21 and they know it. When it does they will make a break one way or the other.” ‘* And what shall we do?’ asked Slocum in the same tone, feeling a strange sense of mingled exultation and dread, as he looked at the pros- pect before them. ** We've got to git into the herd and be ready to go with ’em,” said George, coolly. ‘‘ You’ve b’en in one stampede already, but that was a fool to this one. t.a balter?” ‘Pye got the same thong I used before. been in my pocket ever since.” ‘¢Tt’s all ye’ll want, and not much use of that, once we git started, till they begin to break down.” Slocum surveyed the herd with some little dismay, saying: ; “ How shall we get into it?” ‘Til show ye,” said George. ‘We haven’t very much time to lose nuther, for here comes the stars. Look up now.” Slocum looked up, and sure enough, the black edge of the great cloud in which the norther had burst upon them stood like a wall overhead, clear and sharply defined, while outside of it the stars were blazing out with wonderful luster, though the wind roared louder then before. Almost at the same instant a cool puff of wind came round the corner of the wood, where all had been a dead calm up to that moment, The instinctive glance of the young surveyor sought for the North Star and found it, bigh in the sky, while the wind which had been north- by-east, was evidently shifting to the westward and increasing in coldness. That first puff set all the horses to shiver- ing and stamping, when Montana George cried out: “No time to lose. Climb on somehow, and keep near the head of the herd.” ith that, both men made a few steps back- ward, then a rush at the herd, and in two min- utes more were seated in triumph on as many barebacked ponies, buddled closely by the rest. They had 'y got there when another puff of wind came round the corner, this time icy cold, and all the ponies began to snort and plunge sonetiies, while a general shudder seem- ed to go through the berd, Slocum glanced toward the Indian camp where all was still quiet, and the third puff came, settling into a steady blast, icy cold, Eaat geemed to chill his very marrow within him. In that moment came a wild squeal from the windward side of the herd, and ponies began to break off and gallop to the front. ** Now!” yelled Montana George, ‘Then came a trampling and squealing, fol- lowed by shrill yelis from the Indian camp, as the men heard the borses and realized what was coming when it was too late to stop it. Then out of the lodges came tumbling a crowd of wild fi ,and came running and tripping, head-foremost, toward the herd; floundering in the drifts, but still coming on, waving their arms wildly, hoping to stop the stampede, but al] in vain. Slocum realized that their effcrts must be in vain, for already scattered ponies from the windward side of the herd were dashing wildly past him, and the whole mass had begun to move, prehed on from the rear, neighing, squeal- ing and kicking, all the way, as they moved. Already they had moved past the main part of the camp, when the wild blast of the norther came, fiercer than before, and the whole herd broke into a trot and gallop, moving straight down win Then came a howl from the Indians, and the stampede commenced in earnest, but not be- fore a number of men bad got to the ponies. CHAPTER XXIV. THE WIND STAMPEDE. Once fairly started, it did not take long for the stampede to develop its full force. No sooner had the frightened animals left the shelter of the woods, than they ran into the full wer of the wind, and dashed blindly on. go- ng down the valley, regardless of the windings of the river or projections of bluffs. Even a tree, standing in the way, was not heeded. and within the first five minutes Slocum saw horse after horse dash out its brains squant such an inanimate obstacle, till the dead lay in piles in front of wit hase Dew a Whenever he got a chance to glance round, he saw that he and Montana Some were not alone in the herd. More than a score of In- dians hed scrambled on the horses as they , and could now be seen striving to get to the head of the herd and turn it back, but with- out success. Whether these Indians suspected the real facts of the case Slocum could not tell, and there was no one to ask, for Montana George was separated from him in the herd, and noth- ing could be said in the thunder of flying hoofs, 55 the yOUDs, engineer was content hold his breath and hang on as best he might, as the herd swept on down the wind, quite regardless of the deep snow which moreover, seemed to have been all blown into the river, in the broader f the valley. Parvicnin what ceased to him a minute, but yaust. have been of course much longer, they It’s were out of sight of the camp, and had come / out of range of the snow-cloud which had ushered in the norther, for the country ahead was only sprinkled with little patches of white, and these patches were only a few inches deep | in places, ut the force of the wind and the cutting cold- ness increased every moment, and only the fact that they were running away from it made it even tolerable. To have stood against if would have been an impossibility, and it made the speed of the stam- peded herd nearly thirty miles an hour, as soon as they got fairly into its power. Every leap of the ponies seemed to be made from a spring-board, and the animals were car- ried through the air at least six feet further than they intended at every bound, while their riders had to lean back to keep from being blown over the penies’ heads, A strange effect followed the force of the wind, in that the herses with riders, having most surface to offer§found themselves forging ahead of the others, the riders actually carry- ing their animals with them, as they hugged them closely with their knees. The amount of lift was imperceptible save by its effects, and Montana George, who had brought a blanket with him, in a roll round his body, managed to spread his, like a sail, behind him, and went ahead of the whole herd, lean- ing back against the wind like a skate sailor, his pony going on in long, lofty’ bounds, thirty feet or more at a stride. Slocum saw him sailing off like a buge bat, and imitated his example, for the young man bad, in a momentary impulse, taken Sitting Bull’s painted robe as be left the camp, expect- ing to find it of service in the cold. t was tied up in a bundle on his shoulders with leathern thongs, and he made shift to let it down to his waist, take a firm seat on it, and spread it partially to the wind. The effect was immediate, for it seemed to him as if his pony began to fly, the moment it fel the sail, and he had to lean back at an angle of forty-five to the animal’s tail to keep from being blown over its head. After a few minutes’ riding in this style the sensation of flying became indescribably de- lightful, while Slocum found himself fast out- stripping the rest of the herd and nearing Mon- tana George, who still rode ahead of all. Glancing back occasionally, the wind out as fiercely as ever, and the dark mass of the herd could be s*en rolling along the now bare val- ley, the landmarks all unfamiliar, showing that they had gone a great distance. How long this lasted, Slocum could hardly tell; but it. seemed as if the rush would never cease, while the dark figures of the Indians could be seen in the midst of the herd, riding near the head, but unable to stop or turn the tide of horses. Hour after bour passed, and the sky was per- fectly clear overhead, nearly black in its cloud- less profundity, ngled with jewels that twinkled down on them, cold as ice. The tremendous wind drove them on with its relentless force, and only the violent exercise they. were undergoing, enabled them to resist the numbing influence of the cold air that sought every crevice. ; The horses seemed as if they would never tire, from the way in which they tore en, and still down the brvad Yellowstone valley they went driving, to the southeast. At t, when Slocum began to wonder whether he were asleep or awake, in this so strange experience, he saw a dark line abead of bim, stretching across the level plain, and no- ticed that, somehow or other, they had got out of the valley, for there were no bluffs near them, and the river had vanished. Wher? it had gone to seemed mysterious; but a moment’s reflection convinced him that the stream must merely have changed its course, while their own lay, straight as an arrow, about southeast. And what was the dark line ahead of them, directly in their course? Patches of snow still sprinkled the level plain, and beyond the dark line lay quite a broad sheet of snow, as if the capricious cloud of the norther had shed another part of its contents there in passing; but. the line in front of the snow was jet-black. A thrill of borror ran through his veins as he realized that it must be one of the prairie cracks that go by the names barrancas, canyons and what not: but which are always precipitous and of unknown deptb. There was no turning aside, The black line stretched directly across the path, as far as could be seen, on either side, and Slocum knew that the stampeded horses must inevitably wy over it. He saw Montana George, ahead of him, lean back and spread out his blanket on either side, till he looked more like a bat than ever. George was going to try and leap it. How broad it was, none could tell in the dark; but Slocum realized that his only chance was to fol- low George's example. The strength of the norther might jus; carry them over. / If it failed to do so, both would be dashed to pieces, unless the rift were much shallower than they had any reason to fear it must be. Slocum leaned back over his pony’s tail, spread out the painted robe of Sitting Bull to its full dimensions, so that it almost blew him off the animal’s back, and uttered a wild yell, which ivcreased the fright of the r creature, so that it bounded higher than before. The black line increased and yawned before them in a gulf of mystery that seemed to grow broader and broader, as they neared it ‘with huge springs. The wind had become a perfect burricane, and the riders were lying back, almost on the tails of their animals, the icy air whistling past them as if they were standing still, so great was its speed. ‘*A hundred miles an hour, surely,” thought Slocum, as he ground his teeth and leaned back against it. Then came a patter of feet, light as the rustle of leaves, and Montana George on his pony, sprung into air and was carried over the vast abyss, like a bird or bat, with his blanket spread out on either side by his extended arms. Slocum saw him going, gave a yell to his own pony, and the next moment found himself high in the air, really flying. There was no mistake about it this time. The force of the wind actually blew him and his companion over a gulf some fifty feet in diameter, as it seemed at a passing glance; and then on over the level prairie, hardly able to keep their seats or the horses’ feet, driven along as resistlessly as dry leaves, Whether the rest had got over the chasm they could not stop to inquire. They had spread their sails and could not take them in without danger of being carried off their borses. And in the hearts of both riders was a vague, shuddering sensation that to do that was to be dashed to pieces instanter. So away they sailed over the prairie, the ponies con big seeming to labor at all now, so much were they helped by the tremendous force of the wind, till before them rose a dark belt of woods, aud they knew they had come to the course of another river, some tributary of the ~ Yellowstone, in all probability. ; They had not long to look at it before the wind drove them headlong into the midst of the wood, escaping, as if by a miracle, the trunks of the trees, and, crashing through the’ under- brush, tore them off their horses and sent them headlong down tbe sloping bank, the ponies - tumbling after them, . By an instinct, Slocum, in falling, threw his arms over his bead with the stout buffalo-robe round bim, and found himself rolled over and over like a ball, tillhe was pitched into a thicket of tough brambles and mesquite bushes, where he lay still, in perfect calm at last. : Yes; be could hardly realize it, but when he managed to struggle out of the buffalo-robe in which he bad been entangled, be found himself lying in a thicket under a densely wooded bank, Somplstely sheltered from the wind, which was howling overhead, flercer than ever. He was safe out of the norther at last. He led out and surveyed the prospect arcund bim. On one side a lofty bank, on the other, be-. neath him, a foaming river, on either hand dense wood and underbrush, A crashing in the wood near him showed him his pony, that bad just struggled to its feet, looking ed and scared. The creature seemed to be glad of buman companionship in the terrible elemental war around it, and nestled close to the young sur- veyor, who, on his part, was equally glad to see the horse. Remembering that he might vet need its services pas, Th took out bis leathern thongs and manufactured a rude bridle which he used to secure the pony, then set bimself to find Montana George. He had not far to go to look for him, His first low call brought the answer: ‘* Hist! Don’t talk.” He found his comrade in a thicket of brambles, and George paleo alge “ They’re coming, all that’s left. Wind don’t pick and choose, you bet. We're in a box, and we'll have to fight as soon as it’s ligbt. Keep close now. Mehbe we'll have a chance. Listen, a a-coming.” ey were crouched under the shelter of bank and thickets, the cold no longer so piercing, now they were out of the wind. Their ponies, stand- ing beside them. felt warm from the change, and were already beginning to crop the twigs of the cottonwood trees. High overhead the norther bowled, and every now and then they heard the crash of a falling tree, torn up by the roots and sent plunging through the underbrush, : Occasionally a small tree was torn bodily and carried t rougis the air like a bird, falling into the river, which, they could see from the glimmer of foam, was broad and shallow. Then came a thundering of feet on the bluff above, and over the bank came crashing the stampeded ponies, all in a mass,
Page 22
22 gots good and going it won’t — CHAPTER XXV, THE BULL BOAT. THE two comrades, as soon as they heard the crashing above, leaped up and took post behind as many sturdy cottonwood trees, which shel- tered them from the rush. For several minutes the terrified ponies came tumbling down the , head over heels, and quite a number blundered into the river, to be carried away like corks by the rapid current. Then the rush paused, and the animals that were left alive scrambled up and began to neigh to each other, as if congratulating them- selves on their escape. George and Slocum remained by their trees perfectly still, listening for human voices, and soon heard Indians calling to each other in the Sioux tongue. Some of the herders assuredly had escaped and were in the wood. George drew close to Slocum, whispering: “They don’t know who we are, I hear ’em. What are they saying?” ‘Calling names and asking who's there.” "Then we'd better get out of the way.” “You're right there, and now’s our only time while the noise is loud. We don’t get another such chance. Keep your eyes, skinned if we meet any one, and be ready to knock him on the head, Wé daresn’t fire a shot, Only got twelve between us, and there’s twenty of them me 38 ey stole quietly of, away from the sound ef yoices, till they came to a hollow in the bank, where some enormous tree, whose top rose above the bank, had been torn up by the roots and now lay with its head in the river, the butt having excayated in its fall a cavern that was capable of holding two men. ‘Hyar’s our place,” whispered George. “We kin hold ’em here, if anywhere. Ob, if we only had a couple of rifles! . But they hain’t got any nuther; that’s one comfort.” “How do you know?” ‘‘We’d ha’ seen or heard from’em! Hush! Hyar comes one. Sock it to him when he gets close enough.” The step of a man crackling among the dry sticks was audible, and they saw an Indian _slouching along by the shore, between them and the river. He did not see them, and had his face to the river which he was watching. he arrived opposite them a loud call from up. the stream attracted his attenti and he turned round to call back some words in Sioux, which opened a joud interchange of calls, and finally led to another man coming up to join the fi. : Neither was over ten feet away from the hol- low. in which crouched the white men, and Mawtann, (oorae had already dra vu his pistol and it clubbed for a blow, when the first Indian turned round auc walked away, still sa es: aud the second followed him: Outlined as they bad boon inst the river, Slocum had noticed that both were unarmed, and whispered to Georgo: ‘What did they say?” “ Hunting for Sitting Bull,” was the startling reply. ‘‘They must have see’d his robe on you an you for him. They think he was a What 2 Pod sap pdee theyll dav? 0. you suppose they’ll do “ Make a fire and stay out the norther.” “ How long will it last?” ‘Three duys, I reckon. _To-morrow will be the worst of it. The wind will get higher’n ever when the sun rises,” ss “Yes, ve heard signal service men say this is where all the cold in tho Union comes from," said Slocum, pooughitaly **1 begin to believe it, George.” ‘Cold! You bet your boots.it’s going to be cold, Mr. Slocom, . It ain’t_ nothing yot. It’s only cold in, the wind to-night, but when she @ much ifference where you are. It’s going to\be cold, even bere, without a fire.” “Will the river freeze, think you?” “ What rive ie this, d ?” hat river his, do.you su George looked round doubtfally, “1? T warn’t afraid of bein’ called 2 fool, Mr. : Slocum, Pd say ’twas the Little Missouri river. It’s flowing that way.” . “The Little Missouri! Why, that’s nearly a hundred miles from where we were this even- ing.” “We've come a heap of a way, Mr. Slocum. °Hst! ao | still, What's that?” A twinkling light in the underbrush, some little distance off, broadening into a flame, and settling intoa regular camp-fire, round which gathered quite a little group of Indians, Montana George rubbed his hands. ‘‘'Phey haven’t the least idea we're here, or they wouldn’t light that fire,. Lucky ‘it ain’t daylight. ¢ b ld “Why! Cause they’ll drop on us, fust pop, as soon as day dawns, if we let ’em.” “ How can we prevent it?’ * “'There’s only one way, Mr. Slocum,” The plainsman’s tone was serious, and Slo- = i TT } cum saw him thoughtfully feeling the edge of | his knife, “We've got to wipe out those Injuns when | they’re asleep, or theyll wipe us out when they wake up. Slocum shuddered slightly. He had not yet, like bis companion, become hardened to the shedding of blood, and it seemed to him terrible to think of killing men in their sleep, even Indians. ‘*Can’t we do any other way?” he said. Montana George pointed to the distant fire. “Count how many there are,” be said. Slocum counted thirteen men, and spied pis- tols in the belts of four or five, the rest seeming to be unarmed. ** Couldn’t we steal the arms of some of these men,” he whispered, “and get away, after stampeding them?” Montana George shook his head, “You won't stampede’em far. Remember | that they won’t leave this shelter anyhow, and no man fights like agginjun who’s cornered. We've got to wipe ’em ## out, or get wiped ouy ourselves, as I told ye.” Slocum eyed the Indians at the fire in a thoughtful way, saying: “Suppose we could get away ourselves, do you think they would follow us?” “Pollow us? I reckon not, while this here norther blows; but we wouldn’t be any better off ourselves,” “Why nov?” "Cause we'd freeze to death, if we went out, “Suppose we made a boat, and sailed off down the river, where should we come t#” Montana George scratchea his head. “Come to? Why, Gladstone of course. But how are we to make a boat?” “Why not take this robe of Sitting Bull, and make a bull-boat of it? There’s plenty of wood for a frame.” Montana George made no answer for a mo- ment, When he spoke, it was with an accent of sincere admiration. “Mr, Slocum, you’ve got a head on you, fit to be a mountain-man, some day. That there robe’s big enough to hold a dozen Injuns, at a inch, IDve see’d six go at a time, and think nothin’ of it, Yes, if we could get a boat and keep from freezing, there’s no saying but what we'd get the best of these cusses,’ “George,” said the yoRne man earnestly, “‘T’ve only one ambition left, which is to get home safely with this book. If I get killed, take the book to Mr. Russell, and he'll make you independently rich.” ‘* Why, bow much is that book worth?” the plainsman asked curiously. “There are subsidies in’ money and land- grants depending on that book, to the amount of ten millions of dollars, George. If Mr, Russell gets it, the money is safe; if not, all the money the company has spent so far will ees be thrown away. Now you see what the book’s worth, You can ask what you please, if ’'m killed, and Pll see you get all that you can de- sire, if I live through ycur efforts.” “ S’pose I was to ask a couple of thousand dollars, and a pair of fust-class hosses,” asked George doubtfully, “d’ye think they’d give it me, Mr. Slocum?” “T think so, George, if they saw you bad the right boo’:.” George said no more; but sat watching the distant Indians, and listening to the how] of the norther overhead, till the noise of talk by the fire ceased, and one by’ one the Indian herders lay ety to rest, quite exbausted by the nigiit’s work. Most of the ponies bad long ego done the same, very few rewining energy enou op the cottonwood twigs and bark, so Thet: the sheltered. bank of the river was very soon quiet, save for the mcan of the wind above. When all was still, and Slocum was about to nod, overcove with weariness, George touched his arm and said: “oey’re fas, now. If ye want tomake that bull-boat, ow’s the time. "We got to work quick, and guiot, too, or it’s all up. Hyar, Ive ig Ae knife, I cut—you weave.” ey stole cut of the hollow of the roots, and set to work at once. George, with the Indian hunting-knife, cut down , slonde:.’ boughs from the hazel bushes which abounded, and Slocum wove them up, with long bramblo croopers, into a sort of basket, shaped like half an egg, and strongly compacted. He did it as he had seen it done before, by first making a row of arches, the ends of the sticks in the ground on either side, and then weaving thinner twigs in and out, till the struc- ture was firmly framed, He uad to work with the utmost silence; for only the snorting of horses was there to keep the noise of his proceedings from the sharp ears of the Indians. ; He well knew that the Indians sleep lightly, and that unusual noises, however slight, awaken them instantly to look for an enemy. He could not hear Montana George cutting the sticks, so wary was the feather fm George would wait, with bis hand on a withe, ee err fil tS Seth Slocum, Railroad Surveyor. till he saw a pony pulling at a twig, and make the snap of his own crack seem but a part of the noise made by the pony. They worked on in this way till the basket was made, when Slocum lookei toward the east and saw the red streaks of dawn. He pointed it out to George, who said hastily; “Time we was off, then.. Thay won’t sleep arter it’s light. Hurry on the bide.” “They took the famous’ painted robe of Sit- ting Buil, and spread it out on the ground, with the basket in the center. When they wrapped it up and brought the ends in over the gunwale, they had a perfect boat of its kind—rather of a baggy kind—but quite capable of holding four or five people, and perfectly seamless. They secured the edges by cutting thongs off the border of the skin and sewing it to the frame, and by that time the top of tlie sun peeped over the horizon, and the horses began to get up, stamp, and snort to each other. “Now,” said Montana sg “we've got ’em, Mr. Slocum, if they'll keep still jest three minutes, while I get a pole. Take her down behind the tree, and keep your eyes skin- ed for those cusses over there. fi it comes to a ht, give it to ’em over the tree.” The plainsman stole away up the bank, and Slocum saw him cutting steadily away at the foot of a tall sapling, nearly two inches thick at the butt, Montana George cut away with all his force, using the knife with both hands like a cooper’s spoke-shave, and cutting round and round the tree, with marvelous rapidity, At last ‘he had got it cut nearly in half; and paused to glance over at the Indians by the fire. No sooner had he done so than he uttered a ery of alarm, snapped off the sapling with a loud crack, and plunged down to the river, call- ing to Slocum as he went: ‘Put her in! Hyar they come!” At thesame moment ‘crack! crack!” went a whole volley of pistols, and a dozen Sioux cams runing for the tree, yelling like a pack of wolves and firing as they came, CHAPTER XXVL DOWN: STREAM. THE bull boat lay on the ground at the side of the tree, away from the Indians, and Slocum saw them coming in a bunch, all yelling to- gether, as if wild ‘with rege. They had caught sight of George’s white face, and seemed to realize what had happened. The plainsman came plunging down the bank, stille nging to the sapling he bad cut, and threw himself down behind the prostrate tree, saying breathlessly : “Keep ’em busy while I trim the pole—coex ’em to fire. Don’t throw away a shot.” Slocum heeded no warning on the point) He was naturally cool and cautious, and he thor- ougbly appreciated the fact that he had’ ro re- serve ammunition, He saw tbe Indians rusbing on, the men with ag 3 in front, firing as they came, and trust- to take everything with their first rush. fe kept himself well hidden bebind the trunk of the huge tree, close to the butt, only the site of his head visible, till the foremost man made » leap on tho 5 bole, as it lay. ot till then did he . fire his pistol, almost touching the Indien, who staggered ard fe!} headlong, inside the barricade. stone dead. That shot checked the rush instantly, and the rest hesitated, when Seth Slocum Jeveled: his revolver over the free, and shot down & ‘second Indian, witbin six feét of the front of bis forti- fication. That turned the rush, and they ran like bares to cover, while Montana George, who was busy trimming his Jong pole, observed gleefully as be cut: “Mr. Slocum, you was born for a plainsman. Couldn’t ba’ done better myself. e’ve mado two revolvers out df that. Keep a took out, and I'll s’arch the dead one, when I get this pole trimmed.” Slocum remained on the watch, but saw uo movement of the Indians for nearly a minute. During all that time, the dead Indian ip fron’ of the barricade ley wheré’be bad fallen, on his face, a revolver in each hand, still “elotcked tightly. Presently Montana George said in alow tone: “Thar, the pole will do, I reckon, and’ we made two pistols. Hooray! hvar’s a box of cartridges in the brute’s belt. Now we're fixed, You watch, while I load up.” Slocum watched and caught sight of two In- dians flitting from tree to tree, to get round to the flank of the fortification. He told George. ’ “‘ Give the next one a shot if you're eure vou won't miss him,” was the reply, ‘One bit’s worth a million misses with Injuns, Watcu ae age and pull the moment be sticks out his ead, Slocum followed the advice’ by watching a — tree through the sights of his pistol. » Ma _ Indian put out bis head once end drew it ‘The next time it was protruded it remained :
Page 23
At that moment Montana George said: ‘*Here’s a pair, all loaded, Slocum, and there’s four more cartridges left. Hand me the pistol and Pll fill bim up.” Slocum reached out one hand; took the prof- fered pistols, aud resumed his watch, while the plainsman was busy behind him in reloading the smnpry chambers of the weapon, that had al- ready done such good service. Presently Slocum heard behind him the grat- ing of steps on the bank, and in a moment more | Ge said ‘Now, if we can only draw their fire, we have a chance to scrape clear!” “How shall we do it?” asked Slocum, As he spoke he looked around, and saw that the plainsman had takeh the bull boat to the water's edge, where it lay with the pole resting | on it, all ready to launch. Montana George stood beside him, behind the trunk, surveying the dead Indian in front of the barricade. ‘* How shall we draw their fire?” he asked. “jl show you, Mr. Slocum, Here, stick up old Injun here, and Ill make a dash.” So sayiug he stooped to the dead Indian in- | side the barricade, hauled him up, and trans- ferred to the Sioux’s head his own gray felt hat. ‘* Now stick him up,” he said, ‘‘and yell like blazes afore you do it.” Slocum understood the ruse, and they both oe. behind under cover and began to yell oudly. The yell was answered, and the two men rose and shoved up the dead Indian, as if he had made a leap. The appearance of the gray hat was the sig- nal for a volley, and they let the body fall for- ward over the tree, as if it had been struck by shots. The fall was a signal for a general yell and rush, the Indians thinking they bad only one foe left to dispose of. “Pull him m,” said George, and they hauled in the body again by the legs, as the foremost Indian was close to the tree. Then both men, rose suddenly within a few feet of their assailants, and blazed away with such cool precision that again the rush was checked, and two more Indians fell before the tree, “Only nine left,” said Montana George, as he coolly surveyed the bodies, ‘and every dead man’s got his pistols. Mr, Slocum, ef we can find who’s got any more, | yote we charge and scatter ’em.” “Try the scarecrow again,” suggested Slo- cum. ‘“Sart’inly—don’t cost nothin’,” was the re- IVs “ Again they hoisted the dead body, and again they drew a shot, this time a single one, and Sioccum saw that it came from aman in ad- vance of all the rest. ‘““There be is,” be said. “ Let’s charge him!” Montana George gave another yell, and ran out from behind the tree, dodging from side to side, and yelling, Slocum bard after him, a pis- tol in each hand. As he had expected, the charge shock the perve of the only Indian left who bad a pistol, and he fired hastily and aimlessly, while neither of the white men pulled a trigger as they ran. The result was that he missed both of his re- maining shots and turned to run after bis un- armed friends, when George halted, drew up his pistol over his left elbow, and fired a single shot, That shot dropped the Indian, ‘¢ Back! back” cried the plainsman, as soon as this was done. “ They ain’t dead yet; see the ” Slocum looked round and saw six men, with drawn knives, rushing to cut him off from the poat, that lay on the shore, Back rashed be and George, flustered for the first time; ff they knew how easy a thing it would be to ruin the boat by a singte cut. Sbot after shot they fired, but the men with the knives rushed on liked madmen. Every shot strack, bub seemed to have no effect, un- jess the Indian received it in head or heart. Slocum fired three shots directly into the breast of one young fellow, hardly more than a boy, without checking his rush in the Jeast, and had to parry the thrust of the Indian’s knife with his left-hand pistol, and use the other as a club, before any effect was produced. Then the man stumbled and fell on his face pis knife burying itself in the ground within a few inches of Slocum’s foot, where he lay pow- t. : OE on Conte received a light stab from another maniac, and before the white men got to the bull boat, the Laditaus hed Rot fe the dead i were picking up the pistols. botGet in? yelled George. “Got to take our chances now, best way we kin.” - Seth Slocum, Railroad Surveyor. 23 ne gee eee — Slocum helped him shove off the bull bent: | ‘*There’s a sight of game in these byar i both leaped in, ere a shove with the pole, and | thickets, if we want to hunt it up, but I reckon e craft whirling out into the as Slocum leveled his weapon; ‘‘not a shot. , They won’t hit us. Show all you kin and keep ; movin’,” | As for himself, he kept his body in constant motion from side to side, waving bis arms, and bobbing his head, yelling all sorts of insulting epithets in Sioux, and encouraging the Indians to fire away their ammunition, which they pro- | ceeded to do with intense industry. The bullets whistled over and on either side the canoe, and all round the men, but with such poor aim that neither was struck, and the / rapidity with whieh the current carried them | away soon took them from the reach of the bul- | lets, but also into the full power of the wind in | twenty seconds. | Keenly they felt it, after their short respite | under the shelter of the bank. The terrible norther caught them, and sent the bull boat drifting down the raging river, till George and Slocum spread the blanket, all that was left to them now. Then the power of the tempest seemed to be about to lift them out of the water, and they went plowing and skipping along over the foaming tide, nearly carried out of the boat most of the time. The cold cut them like a knife; but on they went, mile after mile passing rapidly away, till Montana George said to Slocum: ‘“Mr. Slocum, I reckon were safe out of the Sioux country now. There ain’s many of the | brutes left in these parts, and we'll be running on Uncle Sam’s posts pretty soon.” ‘Is it safe to land yet?’ asked Slocum, his voice weak and tremulous from the bitter cold- ness of the wind, which had at last penetrated even his double leathern garments, so that he felt numbed and ready to drop into the bottom of the boat. Montana had been watching the banks nar- pia for some minutes, and here he brighten- ed up. ‘Safe toland! Yesand no. It’s safe from the Injuns, but ’tain’s safe ’gaiust nothen else.” “What else do you mean? soldiers?” Montana George grinned, ‘* Ain’t likely to be many sojers.out now. They don’t go out scoutin’ in northers.” ‘Who then?” ‘* Waal, painters and grizzlies, and old buck elk; and’sech. Every shelter’s sure to be full of critters that hates the cold jest as much as, me and you do, Mr. Slocum, so I reckon we'll have to fight for it.” ‘Pm ready to do anything, so long as I get to shelter somehow,” r nded Slocum, bis teeth chattering in bis head. ‘ A little more, and you'll have to take in the book alone, George. I’m giving it up.” Montana George cast a glance of alarm at his companion, who looked pinched and. blue, and then scanned the sbore eagerly. ; The boat was drifting under some bluffs, and the river was taking a turn that promised to bring them under shelter in a short time. He pointed it out to Slocum who, at the news, livened up at once, Five minutes later, he was helping with the pole to shove the boat across the rapid current to_the shelter of the bluffs, It was a hard task, for the current was very swift and the river full of rocks at that point; but the work helped them both to withstand the cold, and, after a flerce struggle, in which more than once they were sent whirling round and round and nearly capsized over rocks, the shal- low little coracle in which they had journeyed | so far grounded on a beach of pebbles in a re- | cess of the river, and George said: * Thank God, we’ra all right now at last!” They could hardly stand for the numbnessof their feet, but they were out of the cold, cruel wiud, and Montana George drew up the boat on the shore, and rushed into a thicket, from which he emerged with the cheering news: **Lots of deadwood round; have a fire in no time now. Got a match?” In ten minutes later, he had redeemed bis peo and the two sorely-tried comrades were asking before an enormous fire of dry branches thorns and grass, that made a terrible blaze and threw out enough heat to roast an ox, while Montana George cried: “Blaze away, old fire, Don’t care if every | Sioux in the nation sees ye now.” CHAPTER XXVIL. CONCLUSION. THEY had come to a bluff of the Little Mis- souri river which had fallen at one place into a densely wooded recess very similar to Squaw- man’s Hole, below Gladstone. The underbrush was dry as tinder and they had some difficulty in keeping the fire from ; spreading while the change in their sensations from bitter cold to grateful warmth was almost instant. As soon as they were fairly warmed Montana George observed; we'd best not disturb it, unless we’re sure we don’t stir up the wrong fellers.” ‘* What fellows? Bears?” “Shouldn’t wonder. Don’t know how you feel, Mr. Slocum, but I don’t feel much like tackling an old grizzly with these here little pops of pistols. They ain’t bad things in a In- jun scrimmage, but, Lord! a grizzly wouldn't mind ’em no more nor so many pea-shooters.”’ “In the meantime,” remarked Slocum, ‘‘ I’m exceedingly bungry. I ate only one meal yes- terday and if I see anything I shall be tempted to shoot it.” It was the middle of the forenoon when he spoke, and the force of the wind seemed to be about stationary, while the recess ‘in which they were facing the southeast was almost warm from the rays of the sun that shone full into it. Slocum had hardly said ‘shoot it” when Montana George pointed up the bank. There in the midst of the brushwood and looking curiously down at them, stood a mag- nificent buck elk, with a pair of grand branch- ing horns. His. attitude .was.proud and noble and be tossed his antlers several times with a suort then deliberately came dowrtilthe hill toward them. ‘What does he. want?” asked Slocum, full of admiration for the stately creature, but puzzled at its boldness, Montana George had risen from the fireside and looked grave and serious. ‘By gum, Mr. Slocum,” be said, “I b’lieve the beast’s coming fur us. TDve heern tell they was dangerous this time of year, but I never b’lieved it. Get. cut yer pistol, bunt don’t give it bim till ye can put it bebind his shoulder. Look out !” The last. exclamation was calied forth by the antics of the buck, that had now come down to the beach and stood there pawing the ground, snorting. and. whistling, while he bowed his horns over and struck the pebbles violently, as much as to say: ** Look at that, now!” ; “‘He’s a-gittin’ up his mad,” remarked George sententiously. ‘‘ He'll chargein a minute. Yow o one side, Vl take the other, and run in on im, If we don’t, be’s wusser’n a grizzly. Look out! ws rite Again. the buck called forth a warning as, after lashing himself, into a sufficiently savage mood, he uttered an angry snort and rushed straight at the two men, fea It was touch and.go but what he struck one with his huge horns. locum came tbe nearest, for one of the tines actually caught the skirt of one of his hunting- shirts, and, ripped the tough buckskin as if it had been paper, The next moment Slocum, not. thinking of what he did, caught hold. of the antlers with poe hands. and was tossed up in the air like a L He hung on like grim death, and came down again with such force that only the elastic horu saved him from a fatal injury. . Then he managed to cling to the horns in such a way as to bring the buck’s head close to the earth, trying to toss him up but unable to lift the weight a second time on account/of the leverage, though it required all the man’s strength to keep his perilous position. Then be saw Montana George run in from the rear on the buck, put his pistol close to the beast’s fore-shoulder and fire. Crack! The elk dropped instently and lay still for several seconds, when George cried: “Git to a tree; he isn’t dead yet!” Instinctively Slocum obeyed, and nof a mo- ment too soon, The buck leaped up as if on steel springs at the sound. of voices, and dashed after Montana George with a savage vehemence about which there was no mistake. Montana ran and dodged his best, but the buck was too quick for him. The great horns rose and fell, and some of the outermost tines caught the fleeing plainsman on the shoulder and knocked him down. In a moment the great buck was on him, rearing up and striking down with its fore-feet, bringing the buge horns down with a clash, while George shouted for help, and tried to shield himself in vain from the antlers, Slocum, paralyzed at first by the sudden attack from an animal he had never before deemed specially dangerous, hesitated what to do, but the sight of his comrade’s danger overcame his doubts, and he drew both pistols, and rushed in, firing into the buck’s body shot after shot at less then six feet distance. He had_no time to fire three shots before the buck suddenly dropped again in the act of turn- ing and fell over the body of Montana George, where it lay stone dead, to all appearance, “= peliger opal hardly beliow it at first. ontana George lay panting and groaning: “Help, Mr. Slocum. By ab, I bieve Pa have b’en dun fur if you hadn’t come when you did. Haul him off.”
Page 24
24 Slocum took hold of the antlers, and this time there was no mistake, the great elk was dead as ac or nail. They got him laid out after George had been extricated with no worse hurt than clothes torn to rags, and measured bim, estimating his body as big as an ordinary cow, while the horns were large enough to hold a six-footer between their tips. The wasted very little sentiment over the animal, for both were very hungry, and set to work to skin and cut it up at once, Slocum found bis three bullet boles where he had fired them into the lungs and liver of the buck, and George observed: “ Darned strange those should kill him. Tve knowed bucks carry away a bull grist of lead in the hings and go never a bit worse fur ir. Reckon Pu look tur mine. It ought to be near the heart.” They cut into the covey of the chest behind the shoulder, and found that the first shot fired toy Georgo had passed through the very middle of the elk’s heart, yet the furious creature bad ‘leaped up and made a desperate fight for nearly a minute after. ‘* Now,” said George, when this was settled, “this critter’s got a dose somewhere near here, or he wouldn’ ’b’en so rambumptious about it. We don’t Want to look furit. Buek veni- son's good enough fur me.” So saying, he cut off a steak from the yet warm carcass, and began to broil it over the fire, an example followed by Slocum, and great was their rejoicing over the unexpected feast furnished them by this belligerent buck. They ate till their huoger was satiated, and then Slocum observed: ‘Tf the wind would only go down, I should believe in getting into the boat again.” Montana George looked keenly up the course of the river and to windward. “f{ d’n’o but what you're right,” he said. “The Sioux must ha’ found what we did to Sitting Bull by this time, and [I reckon they ain’t the boys to sit still norther or none.” “But they can’t get down to us,” “Mebbe they can’t, and mebbe they kin, Mr, Slocum. * We’ve come down one river ina bull boat and I reckon ’twouldn’t be much fur them to come down in another. If they do, look out fur trouble for they’ll be wicked as- blazes.” His prophecy proved true for that afternoon ‘when the sun was sloping to the west and the ‘wind was going down a dark speck was seen up the stream and soon developed into a bull boat of more elaborate construction than their own measuring over ten feet long, made of several hides and fall of warriors with rifles, Slocum saw it first and the two fugitives hastily took the skin of the slaughte buek into the boat for warmth, a lot of cooked veni- son for food and pushed off into the rapid stream, This time they were better fortified against the cold; for the elk-hide was a great protection, and the man who stood up to pole this time was Slocum. They. ed out into the stream some miles ahead of the Indians, and soon found that the latter were losing ground, on account of the crowd in their boat, The cold was no longer so piercing and the wind was falling all the the time, while the elear green sunset portended a calmer night. There was no moon; but for all that they could see their pursuers Rn in to the shore as soon as it grew dark and George told Slocum: “They won’t follow us no further now. If it was daylight they’d keep on forever, but the dark skeers all Injuns,” And again he proved to be right; for when the morning dawned on them at last half-be- numbed with the cold in spite of the blanket and elk-hide, the bull boat was floating on the broad stream of the Missouri, and they were all alone with the norther nearly blown out and white fleecy clouds dappling the blue sity all over its bright expanse. “We're gitting nigh Gladstone,” said George, heartily, “and if it hadn’t ha’ been for you, Mr. Slocum, we’d never have done what wo have. You was born to make a good plains- map, I reckon.” bh. surveyor, I hope,” answered the young man, cheerfully. ‘By Jove, George, now it’s all over, [ begin to think we've done something to be proud of.” ** Done something? Lreckon we have,” cried the plainsman, ‘‘ We've done what nary white _ man never did yet, got into Sitting Bull’s camp ec. got out alive, and that’s a good deal of tself.” * Bat that’s not all we’ve done,” interrupted Seth Slocum, ‘‘ We’ve got what we went for, gnd what you said I couldn’t get.” * Til own that; take it all back, I didn’t think ye could, but ye did.” ‘Aud now comes the best part of tho whole journey.”» * And what's that?’ “Gotting home again, Géorge. I wonder if they'll arrest us for running the geards and etampeding Major Ireland’s stock?” Montana George grinned. ‘* We don’t know nothin’ bout Major Ireland’s | 157 Movurap, THE Mametuke. By €ol. Thomas stock. ’Tain’t no biz of ours if he let his horses be tuk by Injuns. Reckon Sitting Bull’s got most of them now.” ‘You are wrong. You forget the norther.” **] don’t forget nothin’. That ‘ere norther is well-nigh over now, and you kin bet your boots that some of’em has got down to them hosses by this time, Jand’s hosses, and if be badn’t got em [ win’t so sure we could have skinned out as we did.” “Why?” ‘Cause it must have made them Injuns feel good, to see such a prize of hosses and packs coming in without the trouble of fighting for it. That’s what saved our lives in my opinion. If we'd ha’ gone in bare-handed, they’d. bavo roasted ustfor spite, to get some fun out of us,” The little bull boat floated safely down the | . No, no, Sitting Bull's got Major Ire. | broad and turbid stream of the Missouri and in | due time arrived at Gladstone, The two comrades did not make any triumph- al entry into the city with their curious craft, which might have attracted too much attention and comment, besides attracting the inquiries of Major Lreland and bis friends at Fort Glad- stone. On the contrary, they landed in the night far below the city, took the celebrated robe of Sitting Bull from ites basket frame and proceed-.| ed to Gladstone on foot. It was on the next day when Mr. Russell, ebief engineer, was sitting in his office, gloomily conversing with two of the rich directors, who bad already sunk a million in the road, and saw no chance of gaining the subsidy they had way at for on account of the mis-ing link in the last survey, that a tap came at the door, and a young man walked in, neatly clad and shaven, and said, quietly: **Good-morning, Mr. Russell, Ive come back with the book, sir.” Russell stared at him stupidly. For a little while be did not know him, asking: “ What book? Who are you?” “Tam Seth Slocum, sir,” said the young man smiling. “ 1 was an ax-man on the summer survey and Mr. Graves put me on as assistant adwance Me pam You gave me leave to g° to Sitting Bull’s camp and see if I could get back the lost field-book, It cost three thousand dol- lars to fit us out and it’sall gone. Buthere's the book !” And he threw it on the table before the three magnates, who clutched it eagerly when Rus- sell exclaimed: * By heavens it’s true. The road’s saved and your fortune’s made, young man. Ask what you wish you shall have it. Shall be not, Mr. Plutus?” Mr. Plutus was turning over the leaves of the book rapidly and he looked up to answer: ty rays, oy reason. Do you know the young man, Mr. Russell?’ “I do, sir, now he speaks. I sent bim out as a forlorn hope, never expecting to see him again, but he’s done what no other man ever did before. He ought to be superintendent of the road, or I shall resign my place at once,” **He shall bave the place,” hurriedly said Mr. Plutus, “ But how ju the name of wonder did you do all this, young man?’ Slocum smiled. “IT did it because I found out the secret of Sitting Bull,” was all the answer he made, THE END, Beadle’s Dime Library. 121 Tae Sea Caper. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 122 Sau Sapserpay, By Ned Buntline ..... 123 ALAPAHA, Tar Squaw. By Francis Johnson. 124 AssowauM, THE AvEeNGER, Francis Johnson. 125 Tae Buacksmita Ourtaw. By H. Ainsworth, 126 Tar Demon Duxznist. By Col, T. H. Monstery. 127 Sou Scorr, rae Maskep Miner. By Badger. 128 THe CurvaLucr Corsa. By the author of “Merle, the Mutineer,” 2°. isa ss 10¢ 129 Mississipr1 Mose. By Edward Willett...... 10¢ 180 Caprarn Votcano. By Albert W. Aiken..... 10c 131 Buckskiy Sam. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham... 10c 132 Nemo, Kine or THE Tramps. By Capt. Fred. Whittaker... .. is b2-n i:s'o eA ae ae 188 Ropy, tar Rover’ By William Carleton.,... 10c 134 Dargie Dan. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham,.. 10c 135 Tue Bus Rancer. By Francis Johnson.... 1386 Tue Ovrtaw-Hountrer. By Francis Johnson. 187 Lona Brarp, rae Giant Spy. By Oll Coomes. 138 Tne Borper Banvrrs. By Francis Johnson. 139 Fine-Hye, rHe Sea Hyena. By raham 140 THe THREE SPANIARDS. By George Walker.. 141 Equinox Tom. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.... 1 142 Caprain Crmson. By Major Dangerfield Burr 10c 143 THe Czar’s Spy.. By Thos, H. Monstery.... 10c 144 Huncusacs or Notre-Dame. Victor Hugo.. 19¢ 145 Pisro. Parps, By Wm. R. Eyster adv 2OG 148 Tux Docror Detecrive. By George Lemuel 10c 147 Gotp Spur. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. .. 148 Ong-ArmEp ALF. By Ol) Coomes 149 Tae Borper Rertes. By Gustave Aimard.. 0c 150 Ex Rupro Bravo, THE Kine or 'rHe Sworp- MEN. By Col. Thomas Hoyer Monstery.... . 151 Tae Frexpoorers, By Gustave Aimard.... 152 Capratn IRONNERVE. 153 Tax Wuire Scauppr. By Gustave Aimard. 100 1&4 Joaquin, Tar Sapoiz Kine. By J. E. Badger. 10¢ 1556 THe Consamr Queen, By Col. P. Ingraham, 10e¢ WA Vexver Face. By Major Dange Burr, 1c : 10¢ | 10¢ Oc. ont Ey Marmaduke Dey . 10c) | 160 Sort Hanp, SHARP. Seth Slocum, Railroad Surveyor. Hoyer Monstery ar peocy yy 4 158 Tax Doomxp Dozen, By Dr. Frank Powell... 159 Rep Rupierr. By Capt. Fred’k Whittaker.. 3y William R. Byster.. 161 THe Wotyes or New Yors. By A.W. 162 Tae Map Mariner. 167 168 171 Tiger Dick, THE MAN cF THE IRON By Philip 8S. Warne. . 172 THe Brack Pmare, 173 CALIFORNIA JOHN. B 174 Puanrou Kyients, By Capt. F. Whittaker. . 175 Win Bruw’s Trump Carp, By Major Burr, 176 Lapy Jaguar. By Capt. Mark Wilton... «. 177 Don Dtasto. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham... 178 Dark Dasrwoop. By Major $8. 8. Hall.....; 179 Conran, THE Convict. Prof. 8. Gildersleeve, 180 Oip *49. By Joseph EB. Badger, Jr.... ...-.. 181 Tue Scartet Scuooner. By Col. Ingraham, 182 Hanps' Up. By Wm. R.Eyster .__...... 183 GILBERT, THE GUIDE. go *. Dunning Clark. ngraham. By Col, Ingraham,.,.. Albert W. Aiken...... ( 184 Tur Ocran VAMPIRE. y Col. P. I 185 Man Sproer. By A, P. Morris .... .. ...... 186 Tex BLack Bravo. By Buckskin Sam.. ... We 187 Tue Deara's-Hrap Curnassiers, Whittaker. 188 Paantom Mazeppa. Major Dangerfield Burr. 189 Witp Bru's Gotp Trai. _ By P. Paes 190 Tuk Turex Guarpsmen, By Alex. Dumas.. 191 THe Terriste ToNKAWAY. By Buckskin Sam. 192 Tue Ligutnine Srort. By Wm. R. Eyster. 193 Tux Manin Rep. By Capt. F. Whittaker. 194 Don Sowsrero. By Captain Mark Wilton . 19% Tue Lone Star GamBier. By BuckskinSam, 196 LA MarmoseT. By Albert W, Aiken........ 187 Revotver Ros, By Joseph E. Badger, Jr,.. 198 THe SkELeTON ScuoonerR. By P. Ingraham. 199 Diamond Dick. By BuckskinSam.... 00 Tar Ririte cers. By Capt. Mayne Reid. 201 Toe Prrate oF THE PLACEPS. 7 Badger. 1 202 Cactus Jack. By Captain Mark Wiltoa..... 208 Tae Dovpte Derscrive. By A. W. Aiken.. 204 Bic Foor Watuace. By Buckskin Sam..... » LHe GaMBLER. RATE, By Col. P. Ingraham. } One Kye, THE CANNONEER. By Whittaker. @ Oty Harp Heap. yn es | 8. Warne... THe Waitt Curer. By Capt. Mayne Reid.. Buck FARLEY. Baamccpie oe Ce t, Whittaker. uckskin Sam ptain Mayne Reid. Wm. R, Eyster. . Whittaker. 212 THe Br-zos Trcers, 13 Tar War Tram. By 214 Tax Two Coo. Sports. 215 Parson Jt. By Captain 216 Tue Corsarrk Puanter. By Col. Ingraham, 1 217 Tue Serpent or Ex Paso By Buckskin Sam. 218 Tae Witp Huntress. By es Mayne Reid. 219 Tue Scorpion. Brorrers. Capt. Wilton. 220 Specrer Yacut. By Col. P. Ingraham. 221 Desperate Duke. By Buckskin Sam.... ... 222 Brut, Tax Buiizzarp. By Edward Willett... 223 Canyon Dave. By tain Mark Wilton.... 10c 224 Buack Brearp. By Col. Prentiss ag 225 Rocxy Movuxtars Au. By Buckskin Sam... 226 Map Hussars. By Captain Fred. Whittaker. 227 Bucksnor Bey. By Captain Mark Wilton. 228 Taz Maroon, By Capt. Mayne Reid 229 Captain Crirsirrve. Sy William R. Kyster. 230 Tue Fiyive DurcHman or 1880, By Ca’ Frederick Whittaker ........ 281 Tus Kip Guov& Miner. By Col. B 282 Orson Oxx, THE Man or Iron... By Isaac Hawks, Ex-Detective.......0 .. es: , 10c 238 Tax OLD Boy or Tompstoys. By Joseph E. Bader, JP. - fois 20, me tn 284 Tur Hunters’ Feast. By Capt. Mayne 21 we weee 240 A Coo Do? es 241 Sprrrrre SAUL. Jos. E. Badger, Jr....... 242 Tur Foo Devin, By Capt. Fred. Whittaker. 2423 Toe PmormSxrare. bb y Buffalo Bill....... 244 Merctuess Mant. By buckskin Sam. ...... 245 PRarranca Buu. By Capt. Mark Wilton .. 246 QuEEN Heren. B 1. Prentiss Ingraham. M47 AvuicAToR Ike, By Capt. Fred, Whittaker. 248 Montana Nat. By Edward Willett... . ... 249 E_epaanr Tom. By Jos. BE. Bad 252 Toe Wart Street 253 A Yankee Cossack. 261 Buack Sam, 262 Frentine Tom. By Col. T. H. Mo aK...) 263 {ron-ARMED ABE. By Capt. Mark Wilton... 10c 264 Tam Crooxkkp Turex. By Buckskin vat 265 Op Dovess-Sworp. By 4 F, Whittaker, 266 Leoparp Luxy. By Capt ton. . 22 Sern SLocum. By Captain Fred, Whittaker. 273 Mountarw Mose. By Buckskin Sam.... .... 274. Fivsn Prep. By Edward Willett....... ... A new issue every week. Bendle’s Dime Library 3% for sale by all Newsdealers, ten cents per wt | or sent by mail om receipt of twelve cents each. FADLE & ADANS, Publishers, 98 Wilham street, New York, .