diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old/60633.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/60633.txt | 3904 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 3904 deletions
diff --git a/old/60633.txt b/old/60633.txt deleted file mode 100644 index d2f9472..0000000 --- a/old/60633.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3904 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Wolf Ear the Indian, by Edward S. Ellis - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Wolf Ear the Indian - A story of the great uprising of 1890-91 - -Author: Edward S. Ellis - -Illustrator: Alfred Pearse - -Release Date: November 5, 2019 [EBook #60633] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WOLF EAR THE INDIAN *** - - - - -Produced by Al Haines - - - - - - - - -[Illustration: Cover art] - - - - - WOLF EAR THE INDIAN - - A STORY OF THE GREAT - UPRISING OF 1890-91 - - BY - - EDWARD S. ELLIS - - Author of "Captured by Indians," "A Hunt on Snow Shoes," - "The Mountain Star," etc. etc. - - - - WITH FOUR FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS BY - ALFRED PEARSE - - - - SEVENTEENTH THOUSAND - - - - CASSELL AND COMPANY, LIMITED - London, New York, Toronto and Melbourne - - - - -ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - - - - - CONTENTS - - CHAPTER I. - "The bullet had passed startlingly near him" - - CHAPTER II. - "He's up to some mischief, I'll warrant" - - CHAPTER III. - "There are fifty hostiles" - - CHAPTER IV. - "We are enemies" - - CHAPTER V. - "What will be their next step?" - - CHAPTER VI. - "Ay, where were they?" - - CHAPTER VII. - "It came like one of them Kansan cyclones" - - CHAPTER VIII. - "The bucks were coming up alarmingly fast" - - CHAPTER IX. - "He has made his last scout" - - CHAPTER X. - "Oh, there is Wolf Ear?" - - CHAPTER XI. - "I'm off! Good-bye!" - - CHAPTER XII. - What happened to Wolf Ear - - - - -LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS - -"I'm off! Good-bye!" . . . _Frontispiece_ - -"The figure of a Sioux Buck" - -"Hurrah!" - -"Oh, there is Wolf Ear!" - -[Transcriber's note: the first three illustrations were missing from -the source book.] - - - - -WOLF EAR THE INDIAN - - -CHAPTER I. - -"THE BULLET HAD PASSED STARTLINGLY NEAR HIM." - -Before relating to my young friends the incidents which follow, I -think a few words of explanation will help them. - -Perhaps some of you share the general mistake that the American -Indians are dying out. This is not the fact. There are to-day more -red men in the United States than ever before. In number, they -exceed a quarter of a million, and though they do not increase as -fast as the whites, still they are increasing. - -It is true that a great many tribes have disappeared, while others -that were once numerous and powerful have dwindled to a few hundreds; -but on the other hand, tribes that were hardly known a century ago -now include thousands. - -The many wars between the United States and the Indians have been -caused, almost without exception, by gross injustice towards the red -men. They have been wronged in every way, until in their rage they -turned against their oppressors. The sad fact at such times is that -the ones who have used them so ill generally escape harm, while the -innocent suffer. The Indian reasons that it is the white race that -has wronged him, so he does them all the injury he can, without -caring whether the one whom he slays has had a hand in his own -persecution. - -The Indian, like all savages, is very superstitious. He loves to -think over the time, hundreds of years ago, when the red men roamed -over the whole continent from ocean to ocean. He dreams of those -days, and believes they will again return--that the pale faces will -be driven into the sea, and the vast land become the hunting ground -of the Indians. - -Some years ago this strange faith took a wonderfully strong hold upon -those people. The belief spread that a Messiah was coming in the -spring of 1891, who would destroy the pale faces and give all the -country back to the red men. They began holding wild dances, at -which the dancers took hold of hands and leaped and shouted and -circled round and round until they dropped to the ground, senseless -and almost dead. These "ghost dances," as they were called, were -carried on to please the new Messiah. When the dancers recovered, -they told strange stories of having visited the other world. All who -listened believed them. - -The craze spread like wildfire, and before the Government understood -what was going on, the Indians were making ready for war. They were -well armed, eager to attack the whites. The principal tribe was the -Dakota or Sioux, the most powerful on the American continent. - -The leading chief or medicine man was Sitting Bull. He was a bad man -who had made trouble for more than twenty years. He could not endure -the white men, and, when not actively engaged against them, was -thinking out some scheme of evil. - -As soon as the new Messiah craze broke out, he turned it to account. -He sent his friends among the tribes and urged them to unite in a -general war against the whites. The officers and soldiers were very -patient, and did their best to soothe the red men, but matters grew -worse and worse. Trouble was sure to come if Sitting Bull were -allowed to keep up his mischievous work. - -So it was decided to arrest him. In the attempt several people were -killed, among them Sitting Bull himself. Danger still threatened, -and many believed that it would require a great battle to subdue the -Indians. - -Now, if you will look at your map of the United States, you will -notice that the Missouri River runs across the middle of the new -State of South Dakota. On the southern boundary of the State, a -large tract of land, reaching one-third of the way westward to -Wyoming, and with the White River forming in a general way the -northern boundary, makes what is known as an Indian reservation. - -There are many of these in the West. They belong to the Indians, and -the Government has an agency at each, to see that no white people -intrude. The Indians are forbidden to leave these reservations -without obtaining permission, and at the agencies they receive the -annuities or supplies paid to them by the United States Government -for the lands elsewhere which they have given up. - -Half of the reservation directly west of the Missouri is the Rosebud -Agency, and the other half the Pine Ridge Agency. It was at the -latter that the grave trouble threatened. - -When the discontent was so general, the danger extended hundreds of -miles north and west. That section is thinly settled, and the -pioneers were in great peril. Most of them hurried to the nearest -forts for safety, while others waited, hoping the cloud would soon -pass by. - -If your map of South Dakota is a complete one, it will show you a -small stream to the westward of Pine Ridge, named Raccoon Creek, a -tributary of Cherry Creek, itself a branch of the Big Cheyenne River. - -At the time of the troubles, the Kingsland family, consisting of -Hugh, a man in middle life, his wife Molly, his daughter Edith, eight -years old, and his son Brinton, a little more than double her age, -were living on Raccoon Creek. - -The family had emigrated thither three years before from Kansas, and -all would have gone well in their new home, but for the illness of -Mr. Kingsland. - -Something in the climate disagreed with him, though the rest of the -family throve. He was first brought low with chills and fever, which -after several months' obstinate fight finally left him weak and -dispirited. Then, when he was fairly recovered, the slipping of an -axe in his hands so wounded his foot that he was laid up for fully -two months more. - -It looked as if ill-fortune was to follow him so long at least as he -stayed in South Dakota, for sickness, accident, and misfortune -succeeded each other, until he would have despaired but for those -around him. - -His wife was well fitted to be the helpmate of a pioneer, for she was -hopeful, industrious, strong, and brave. She carefully nursed him, -making light of their afflictions, and declaring that all would soon -come right, and that prosperity would prove the sweeter from having -been deferred so long. - -Edith, bright-eyed, pretty, affectionate and loving, was the comfort -of those hours which otherwise would have been intolerably dismal, -when confined in his small humble home. He read to and taught her, -told her delightful fairy stories, listened to her innocent prattle -and exchanged the sweetest of confidences. - -Sometimes Hugh Kingsland wondered after all whether he was not the -most fortunate individual in the world in being thus blessed in his -family relations. - -And there was another from whom the meed of praise must not be -withheld. That was Brinton, now close upon seventeen years of age. -The ill-fortune to which we have alluded made him in one sense the -virtual head of the family. He was strong, cheerful, and resembled -his mother in his hopeful disposition. The difficulties in which his -father was continually involved brought out the real manhood of his -nature. He looked after the cattle and live stock, galloped across -the plains to Hermosa, Fairburn, Rapid City, and other points for -supplies or on other business, or, fording the Big Cheyenne, White, -and smaller streams, crossed the reservation to Pine Ridge. - -The youth was indispensable, and did his work so well, that the -father, in his occasional moments of rallying, remarked that he -thought of continuing to play the sick man, since it was proved that -he was of no account. - -"I hope you will soon become well," said the red-cheeked lad one -evening, as the group gathered around the fire; "but stay here in the -house as long as you wish, for mother and Edith and I can get along -without your help." - -"Yes, husband; don't fret over that. Only become well, and until you -do so, be assured that everything is going along as it should." - -"I have never had a doubt of that; but, ah me," he added with a sigh, -"this is tiresome after all, especially when it begins to look as -though I shall never be well again." - -"For my part," said Edith very earnestly, "I don't want you to get -well, and I am praying that you will not." - -"Why, Edith!" exclaimed the mother reproachfully, while her brother -did not know whether to laugh or be shocked at the odd expression. -As for the father, he laughed more heartily than he had done for -weeks. - -Edith looked wonderingly in their faces, and felt that some -explanation was due to them. - -"I mean to say--that is I don't mean anything bad, but if papa gets -well enough to ride out to look after the cattle, and is working all -day, why, I won't have anyone to tell me stories and read to me and -do so many funny things." - -"Your explanation is satisfactory," said her father, smiling. "I -shall have to stay in the house for some weeks--that is certain, and -perhaps longer." - -"Oh, I am _so_ glad!" - -But with the first clapping of the chubby hands, Edith realised that -she was doing wrong again, and she added in a gentler voice-- - -"If papa feels bad when he is ill then I am sorry for him, and will -pray every night and morning that he may get well." - -It was winter time, and the Kingslands in their humble home could not -be ignorant of the alarming state of affairs around them. They had -been urged to come into the agency while it was safe to do so, for -the revolt among the Indians was spreading, and there was no saying -when escape would be cut off. The family had considered the question -with the seriousness due to so important a matter. - -Naturally, they were reluctant to abandon their home now, for it -would be virtually throwing away everything they owned in the world; -but when it became a question of life and death, there could be no -hesitation. - -On the very night, however, that the decision to remove to the agency -was made, Sergeant Victor Parkhurst, who was out on a scout, with a -squad of men from Pine Ridge, called at their home and stated his -belief that no trouble would occur. He said it would be better if -the family were at Pine Ridge, and he offered to escort them thither. -But, he added, that in Mr. Kingsland's feeble condition it would be -as well for him to stay where he was, since he must run great risk by -exposure in the depth of winter. - -The next caller at the cabin was Nicholas Jackson, who had been a -scout under General Crook, and was now serving General Miles in the -same capacity at Pine Ridge. He brought news of Sitting Bull's -death, and assured the pioneer that every day spent by him and his -family away from the agency increased their peril. - -"You shouldn't delay your start a single hour," was his remark, as he -vaulted upon his pony and skurried away. - -Before deciding the all-important question, it was agreed that -Brinton should gallop down to the reservation and learn the real -situation. It was a long ride to Pine Ridge, and involved the -crossing of the Cheyenne, White, and several smaller streams, but the -youth was confident he could penetrate far enough to ascertain the -truth and get back by sunset. If it were necessary to go all the way -to the agency, this was impossible, for the days were at their -shortest, but he must penetrate that far to find out what he wished -to know. - -When Brinton flung himself into the saddle of Jack, his tough and -intelligent pony, just as it was beginning to grow light in the east, -after his hasty breakfast and "good-bye," he was sure he would be -caught in a snow-storm before his return. The dull heavy sky, and -the peculiar penetrating chilliness, left no doubt on that point. - -But with his usual pluck, he chirruped to his pony, lightly jerked -his bridle rein, and the gallant animal was off at a swinging pace, -which he was able to maintain for hours without fatigue. He was -heading south-east, over the faintly marked trail, with which the -youth was familiar and which was so well known to the animal himself -that he needed no guidance. - -Two hours later, the young horseman reached the border line of Custer -and Washington counties, that is between the county of his own home -and the reservation. This was made by the Big Cheyenne River, which -had to be crossed before Pine Ridge was reached. Brinton reined up -his horse and sat for some minutes, looking down on the stream, in -which huge pieces of ice were floating, though it was not frozen over. - -"That isn't very inviting, Jack," he said, "but the ford is shallow -and it's no use waiting." - -He was in the act of starting his pony down the bank, when on the -heavy chilly air sounded a dull explosive crack. A nipping of his -coat sleeve showed that the bullet had passed startlingly near him. -He turned his head like a flash, and saw, not more than a hundred -feet distant, the figure of a Sioux buck or young warrior bareback on -his horse, which was standing motionless, while his rider made ready -to let fly with another shot from his Winchester rifle. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -"HE'S UP TO SOME MISCHIEF, I'LL WARRANT." - -The instant Brinton Kingsland looked around and saw the Indian on his -pony, a short distance away, with his rifle at his shoulder and about -to fire a second time, he brought his own Winchester to a level and -aimed at the one who had attempted thus treacherously to shoot him in -the back. - -The Indian was no older than himself, sitting firmly on the bare back -of his horse, with his blanket wrapped about his shoulders, and -several stained eagle feathers protruding from his hair, as black and -coarse as that of his pony's tail. His dark eyes glittered as they -glanced along the barrel of his rifle, and he aimed straight at the -breast of the youth, who instead of flinging himself over the side of -his horse in the attempt to dodge the deadly missile, sat bolt -upright and aimed in turn at the miscreant, who, as if stirred by the -same scorn of personal danger, remained firmly in his seat. - -It all depended on who should fire first, and that which we have -related took place, as may be said, in the twinkling of an eye. - -But with the weapons poised, the eyes of the two glancing along the -barrels and the fingers on the triggers, neither gun was discharged. -Brinton was on the point of firing, when the Indian abruptly lowered -his Winchester, with the exclamation-- - -"Hoof! Brinton!" - -The white youth had recognised the other at the same instant when -another moment would have been too late. He, too, dropped the stock -of his gun from his shoulder and called out with a surprised -expression-- - -"Wolf Ear!" - -The Indian touched his pony with his heel, and the animal moved -forward briskly, until the riders faced each other within arm's -length. - -"How do you do?" asked the Ogalalla, extending his hand, which -Brinton took with a smile, and the reproving remark-- - -"I did not expect such a welcome from you, Wolf Ear." - -"I did not know it was you, good friend Brinton." - -"And suppose you did not; are you the sort of warrior that shoots -another in the back?" - -The broad face, with its high cheek bones, coppery skin, low forehead -and Roman nose, changed from the pleasant smile which gave a glimpse -of the even white teeth, to a scowl, that told the ugly feelings that -had been stirred by the questioning remark of the white youth. - -"Your people have become my enemies: they have killed Sitting Bull, -Black Bird, Catch-the-Bear, Little Assiniboine, Spotted Horse Bull, -Brave Thunder, and my friend, Crow Foot, who was the favourite son of -Sitting Bull. He was as a brother to me." - -"And your people have killed Bull Head, Shave Head, Little Eagle, -Afraid-of-Soldiers, Hawk Man, and others of their own race, who were -wise enough to remain friends of our people. I know of that fight -when they set out to arrest Sitting Bull." - -"They had no right to arrest him," said Wolf Ear, with a flash of his -black eyes; "he was in his own tepee (or tent), and harming no one." - -"He was doing more harm to his own people as well as ours, than all -the other malcontents together. He was the plotter of mischief; he -encouraged this nonsense about the ghost dances and the coming -Messiah, and was doing all he could to bring about a great war -between my people and yours. His death is the best fortune that -could come to the Indians." - -"It was murder," said Wolf Ear sullenly, and then, before the other -could frame a reply, his swarthy face lightened up. - -"But you and I, Brinton, are friends; I shot at you because I thought -you were someone else; it would have grieved my heart had I done you -harm; I am glad I did not; I offer you my hand." - -Young Kingsland could not refuse the proffer, though he was far from -feeling comfortable, despite his narrow escape a moment before. - -"I thought you were a civilised Indian, Wolf Ear," he added, as he -relinquished the grasp, and the two once more looked in each other's -countenances; "you told me so when I last saw you." - -Wolf Ear, the Ogalalla, was sent to Carlisle, when only eight years -old. Unusually bright, he had made good progress, and won the golden -opinions of his teachers by his gentle, studious deportment, and -affection for those that had been kind to him. - -He spoke English as well as the whites, and was a fine scholar. He -went back to his people, when sixteen years old, and did what he -could to win them from their savagery and barbarism. - -He and Brinton Kingsland met while hunting at the base of the Black -Hills, and became great friends. The young Ogalalla visited the -white youth at his home on Raccoon Creek, where he was kindly treated -by the Kingslands, and formed a deep affection for little Edith. - -But nothing had been seen of Wolf Ear for several months. The home -of his people was some distance away, but that should not have -prevented him from visiting his white friends, who often wondered why -he did not show himself among them. - -Rather curiously, Brinton was thinking of his dusky comrade at the -moment he was roused by the shot which nipped his coat sleeve. It -was natural that he should be disappointed, and impatient to find -that this bright Indian youth, who had lived for several years among -civilised people, was carried away by the wave of excitement that was -sweeping across the country. He knew that his twin brother and his -father were still savages, and it was easy to find excuse for them, -but not for Wolf Ear. - -"You believe in the coming of One to save your people--why should not -we place faith in the coming of our Messiah?" was the pertinent -question of Wolf Ear. - -"What is this revelation?" asked Brinton, who had heard many -conflicting accounts of the strange craze, and felt a natural desire -for an authoritative statement. - -"The Messiah once descended to save the white race, but they rejected -and put him to death. In turn he rejects them, and will come in the -spring, when the grass is about two inches high, and save his red -children and destroy his white ones. He has enjoined upon all of us -who believe in him to wear a certain dress and to practise the ghost -dance, as often and as long as we possibly can, as a proof of our -faith. If any of us die from exhaustion, while performing this -ceremony, we will be taken direct to the Messiah, where we shall meet -those who have died, and whence we will come back to tell the living -what we have seen and heard. When the Messiah comes in the spring, a -new earth will be created, covering the present world, burying all -the whites and those red men that have not joined in the dance. The -Messiah will again bring with him the departed of our own people, and -the earth shall once more be as our forefathers knew it, except there -shall be no more death." - -Brinton Kingsland listened, amazed as this expression fell from the -lips of one who had often lamented the superstition of his own race. -That he believed the words he uttered was proven by his earnestness -of manner and the glow of his countenance. The white youth -restrained his impulse to ridicule the strange faith, for that -assuredly would have given offence to the fanatic, who had the right -to believe whatever he chose. - -"Well, Wolf Ear, I can only say I am sorry that you should have been -carried away by this error----" - -"By what right do you call it error?" interrupted the other with a -flash of his eyes. - -"We will not discuss it. It will do no good, and is likely to do -harm. I need not be told that you belong to the hostiles, and, if -trouble comes, will fight against the whites." - -"Yes, you are right," calmly replied the Ogalalla, compressing his -thin lips and nodding his head a single time. - -"Your father and brother, whom I have never seen, would shoot me and -my folk if they had the chance." - -"Yes, and so would my mother: she is a warrior too." - -"But suppose you and I or my father meet, or you have the chance to -harm my mother and little sister, Edith?" - -"Wolf Ear can never raise his hand against them, no matter what harm -they may seek to do him. I do not have to tell you that you and I -will always be friends, whatever may come." - -This assurance would have had more weight with young Kingsland could -he have felt certain that Wolf Ear was truthful in declaring that he -did not suspect his identity at the moment of firing at him. - -"I believe he meant to take my life," was his thought, "and still -meant to do so, when he raised his Winchester a second time, but as -we looked into each other's face, he weakened. His people are -treacherous, and this pretence of goodwill will not last, or, if it -be genuine for the present, it will soon change." - -Brinton said-- - -"You know where we live, Wolf Ear; I have set out to ride to the -reservation to learn whether it is safe to stay where we are: what is -your judgment in the matter?" - -An indefinable expression passed over the broad face before him. The -Ogalalla sat gracefully on his horse, even though he had no saddle. -A bit was in the pony's mouth, the single rein looping around the -neck and resting at the base of the mane, just in front of the rider, -who allowed it to lie there, while the two hands idly held the rifle -across the back of the animal and his own thighs. - -"You stayed too long," said he; "you should have left two weeks ago; -_it is too late now_." - -"But you know my father is not well, Wolf Ear," replied Brinton, with -a sickening dread in his heart. - -"What has that to do with this?" - -"We did not wish to expose him to the severe weather, as we must in -the ride to the agency." - -"Is he better and stronger now?" - -"There is little improvement in his condition. He has been ailing a -long time, as you know." - -"Then you have gained nothing and will lose all by your delay." - -Brinton had no further wish to discuss the ghost dance and the coming -of the new Messiah with the young Ogalalla. All his thoughts were of -those dear ones, miles away, whose dreadful peril he now fully -comprehended for the first time. He saw the mistake that had been -made by the delay, and a faintness came over him at the declaration -of Wolf Ear that this delay was fatal. - -His horse was facing the north-west, the direction of his home. -There was no call for longer tarrying. - -"Good-bye," he said, giving the Indian a military salute; "I hope we -shall meet ha more pleasant circumstances, when you shall see, Wolf -Ear, the mistake you are making." - -Trained in the ways of the white people, the dusky youth raised his -hand to his forehead, and sat motionless on his horse, without -speaking, as his friend dashed across the plain, over the trail which -he had followed to the banks of the Big Cheyenne. - -It was not yet noon, and Brinton was hopeful of reaching home long -before the day drew to a close. The chilliness of the air continued, -and a few feathery flakes of snow drifted horizontally on the wind or -were whirled about the head of the young horseman. He glanced up at -the leaden sky and noted that the temperature was falling. - -"Like enough we shall have one of those blizzards, when the horses -and cattle freeze to death under shelter and we can only huddle and -shiver around the fire and wait for the tempest to pass. It will be -the death of us all, if we start for the agency and are caught in one -of the blizzards, but death awaits us if we stay. Ah me, what will -become of father, ill and weak as he is?" - -The words of Wolf Ear made the youth more circumspect and alert than -when riding away from his home. He continually glanced ahead, on his -right and left and to the rear. The first look in the last direction -showed him the young Ogalalla sitting like a statue on his pony and -gazing after him. - -Some minutes later, when Brinton turned his head again, he saw him -riding at a rapid pace towards the north, or rather a little west of -north, so that the course of the two slightly diverged. - -"He's up to some mischief, I'll warrant," was Brinton's conclusion, -"and he already recalls his profession of friendship for me. Halloa! -I don't like the look of _that_." - -In the precise direction pursued by the Ogalalla, which was toward -Rapid Creek, a tributary of the Big Cheyenne, he discerned several -Indian horsemen. They were riding close, and were so mingled -together that it was impossible to tell their number. They seemed to -be about half a dozen, and were advancing as if to meet Wolf Ear, who -must have descried them before Brinton. - -"They will soon unite, and when they do he will be the fiercest -warrior among them. I wonder----" - -He held his breath a moment, and then only whisper-- - -"I wonder if they have not already visited our home?" - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -"THERE ARE FIFTY HOSTILES." - -To the westward the Black Hills thrust their vast rugged summits -against the wintry sky; to the south, a spur of the same mountains -put out toward the frontier town of Buffalo Gap; to the north-east -wound the Big Cheyenne, on its way to the Missouri, and marking -through a part of its course the southern boundary of the Cheyenne -Reservation, while creek, stream, and river crossed the rolling plain -that intervened, and over all stretched the sunless sky, from which -the snow-flakes were eddying and whirling to the frozen earth below. - -But Brinton Kingsland had no eye for any of these things, upon which -he had looked many a time and oft. His thoughts were with those -loved ones in the humble cabin, still miles away, toward the towering -mountains, while his immediate anxiety was about the hostiles that -had appeared in his front and were now circling to the northward as -if to meet Wolf Ear, the young Ogalalla, who was galloping in the -face of the biting gale and rapidly drawing toward them. - -Brinton's expectation that they would lose no time in coming together -was not precisely fulfilled, for while the horsemen were yet a long -way off, they swerved sharply, as though they identified the youth -for the first time. - -"They intend to give me some attention," was his thought, "without -waiting for Wolf Ear to join them. They know that I belong to the -white race, and that is enough." - -The youth did not feel any special alarm for himself, for he was -confident that Jack was as fleet-footed as any of the animals -bestrode by the hostiles, and would leave them behind in a fair race. -He noticed that the Ogalalla was mounted on a superior beast, but he -did not believe he could outspeed Jack. - -But it would never do to meet those half-dozen horsemen that had -faced toward him, and were approaching at the same swinging gallop. -Brinton diverged more to the left, thus leaving the trail, and they -also changed their course, as if to head him off. - -"If it is to be a race, I am throwing away my chances by helping to -shorten the distance between us." - -The fugitive now headed directly away from the horsemen, so that both -parties were pursuing the same line. The youth looked back, at the -moment that several blue puffs of smoke showed over the backs of the -horses. The thudding reports came through the chilly air, and a -peculiar whistling sound overhead left no doubt that the hostiles, -great as was the separating space, had fired at the fugitive, who -turned to take a look at Wolf Ear. - -That individual discharged his gun the next moment. Brinton heard -nothing of the bullet, but smiled grimly-- - -"He has changed his mind soon, but they have got to come closer -before they hurt me. He is no great marksman anyway, or he would not -have missed me a little while ago." - -It was singular that it did not occur to young Kingsland that it was -possible the Ogalalla had not fired at him at all. Not even when the -horsemen checked their pursuit, and reining up their animals awaited -the coming of the buck, who was riding like a hurricane, could he -bring himself to think of Wolf Ear except as a bitter enemy, who for -some subtle purpose of his own had declared a temporary truce. - -"I suppose they think I shall be along this way again pretty soon, -and they can afford to wait till I run into their trap," was the -conclusion of Brinton, who headed his pony once more toward his home, -and put him to his best paces. - -"Come, Jack, there's no time to throw away; hard work is before you, -and you must struggle as never before." - -The snowfall which seemed for ever impending did not come. The few -scattering flakes still circled and eddied through the air, as if -reluctant to touch the earth, but no perceptible increase appeared in -their number. The nipping air seemed to have become too cold to -permit a snow-storm. - -Brinton had set out fully prepared for such change of temperature. -He wore a thick woollen cap, whose flaps were drawn down to his ears, -while they were more than met by the heavy coat collar that was -turned up, the garment itself being closely buttoned around his body. -His rifle rested across the pommel of his saddle in front, and his -gloved hands scarcely ever touched the rein which lay loose on his -pony's neck. He was a capital horseman, and, with the understanding -between him and his intelligent beast, could have got along without -any bit at all. - -Strapped behind him was a substantial lunch, and his keen appetite -would have made it enjoyable, but he did not disturb it. It could -wait until he learned the truth about the folk at home, which he was -now rapidly drawing near. - -Over a swell in the prairie, across a small creek, whose icy waters -hardly came above Jack's fetlocks, up a second rise, and then Brinton -Kingsland uttered an exclamation of amazement and sharply checked his -animal. - -"My gracious! what is the meaning of that?" - -Over another swell, and only a few hundred yards away, two other -horses rode to view, coming directly toward him. Each sustained a -heavily muffled figure, and they were moving at a rapid walk. - -Suspecting their identity, he waited a minute, and then started his -horse forward again. A few paces, and despite the arctic -temperature, he raised his cap from his head and called out-- - -"Hurrah! thank Heaven, you are alive, and have started for the -agency." - -His father sat on one horse, swathed in heavy clothing, and a blanket -which the faithful wife had fastened around his emaciated and weak -form, while she, with Edith in front, and both also protected against -the severe weather, were on the other animal. He had a rifle across -his saddle front, like the son, and they had brought with them -nothing but a small amount of food, barely enough to last them until -they could reach the agency, provided there was no unexpected delay -on the road. - -The discovery that they were alive and secure for the time, though -the shadow of a great peril was over all, so delighted the son that -he could not repress the shout of joy, as he rode forward and greeted -them, little more than their eyes and noses showing through the thick -coverings. - -"What made you leave before I got back?" was the first inquiry of -Brinton, after a few congratulatory words. - -"We concluded it was high time to do so," replied the father, showing -more vigour in his voice than the son expected. - -"How did you find it out?" - -"A half-dozen hostiles fired several times at the house, and then, as -if they feared they were not strong enough to capture us and burn the -cabin, rode off for help." - -"They are hardly out of sight now; they gave me half a dozen shots, -and I had a short chase with them. But you are off the trail." - -"And so are you," said his father. - -"Which is a mighty good thing for us both. You had to abandon -everything?" - -"Of course; I have no doubt though," added the father grimly, "that -the Indians will look after the live stock for us." - -"Whom do you suppose I saw?" asked Brinton, turning to his mother and -sister. - -"A big bear?" ventured Edith from the depths of her wrappings. - -"No; he was an old friend of yours--Wolf Ear, who used to come to our -house and have such good times with you." - -The excited child flung her arms about in the effort to free herself -of the encumbering wrappings. - -"Oh, where is he? Why didn't he come with you? Didn't he want to -see me? I am so sorry; isn't he with you?" - -And she peered around, as if she suspected the young Ogalalla was -hiding behind the saddle of her brother. - -Brinton smiled, and then gravely shook his head. He said, addressing -his parents more than the little one-- - -"I was never more astonished than to find that Wolf Ear, despite the -training he has had at Carlisle, has joined the hostiles, and is now -an enemy of those who were such good friends of his." - -The youth did not think it wise to tell, in the presence of his -sister, the particulars of their first meeting. - -"You grieve me more than I can express," replied the father; "are you -sure you are not mistaken?" - -"Not when he told me so himself." - -"But you must have met as friends." - -"He said he would not harm any one of us, if the fortunes of war -should give him the chance; but he declares himself the enemy of all -others of our race. He has a twin brother, and he and his father and -mother, as Wolf Ear coolly told me, would be pleased to scalp us. I -have no more faith in _him_ than in _them_. We parted as friends, -but he has joined that very party which fired on you, and will go -back to the house with them." - -"And finding us gone, what then?" - -"He will lead them on our trail and be among the foremost to shoot us -down, every one of us." - -"I don't believe it!" called Edith from her wraps, which her mother -had put around her again; "I like Wolf Ear and want to see him." - -Brinton did not think it worth while to discuss the matter with his -sister, for a far more important matter pressed upon them. - -"It won't do to follow the trail," remarked the father, "since they -will be on the look-out for us. We will bear to the south, so as to -strike the Cheyenne further up stream." - -"We may not be able to ford it." - -"We can follow it down till we find a place. It may be frozen over -nearer its source. The agency is so far off that we shall have to go -into camp before we can get half-way there." - -"How do you feel, father?" abruptly asked his son, glancing keenly at -him. "Are you strong enough to stand this hard ride?" - -"I am much stronger than you would suppose; you know a crisis like -this will rouse any man, even if he is a good deal more unwell than I -am." - -"I am glad to hear you talk that way, but you will be tried hard -before we reach Pine Ridge." - -"Give yourself no uneasiness about me; the only thing we are to think -about is how we shall get to the agency without meeting with the -hostiles, who seem to be roaming everywhere." - -While they sat talking, at the base of the swell, on the summit of -which the parents had first appeared, all partook of lunch, for it -was not likely they would have a more favourable opportunity before -the coming of night. - -It was decided to bear still more to the south, with a view of -avoiding the party that was at no great distance. Indeed, less than -half an hour had passed since they vanished from the view of the -youth, who believed they were waiting in the vicinity of the trail -for his return, and would attack the whites the moment they -discovered them. - -The halt lasted little more than a quarter of an hour, when they -resumed their journey toward the agency, which they hoped, rather -than expected, to reach by the morrow's set of sun. The mother was -without any weapon, though she was quite skilful in the use of a -rifle. Her husband said that if he found himself compelled to yield -to weakness, he would turn over his Winchester to her, believing as -he did that she was sure to give a good account of herself. - -They were plentifully supplied with cartridges, but the reader does -not need to be reminded of their almost helpless situation. -Kingsland, despite his brave efforts to keep up, was unable to ride -his pony at full speed for any length of time, while the wife, -burdened with the care of Edith, could not expect to do much better. - -If the company were attacked by any party of hostiles, however slight -in numbers, deplorable consequences were almost certain. Their hope -would be in finding some sort of shelter which might be turned to -account as a screen or barricade. - -But their only safety, it may be said, lay in avoiding the Indians -altogether, and it was to that task that Brinton, as the strongest -one of the party, addressed himself with all the energy and skill of -his nature. - -The course was up and down continually, though none of the swells in -the prairie was of much height. The youth rode slightly in advance -and never made his way to the top of one of the slight elevations -without a quicker throbbing of the heart and a misgiving which made -the situation of the most trying nature. - -It was the dread of the hostiles, with whom Wolf Ear had joined -himself, that led him to make a longer bend to the south than even -his father had contemplated. True, as he well knew, they were not -the sole Indians to be dreaded, but they were the only ones of whom -he had positive knowledge. Others were likely to be encountered at -any time, and it may be said that as they drew nearer the agency, the -peril increased. - -A half-dozen miles from where the family had been reunited, they -approached a higher elevation than any that had yet been crossed. -Brinton asked the rest to halt at the base, while he dismounted and -carefully went to the top on foot. - -It was well he took this precaution, for his friends, who were -watching his crouching figure as he cautiously went up the incline, -saw him abruptly halt and peer over the ridge, in a way which showed -he had perceived something. He remained but a minute, when he -hurried back, pale and excited. - -"There are fifty hostiles!" he exclaimed in an undertone, "and they -are only a little way off!" - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -"WE ABE ENEMIES." - -Brinton Kingsland, after peering over the crest of the elevation for -a few brief moments, turned and hastily descended to where his pony -awaited him. Without touching his bridle, he spoke, and the obedient -animal followed him, while the parents and little sister anxiously -listened to the report of what he learned. - -"It's the very party of Indians that we have been trying to get away -from," added the youth to his first explanation; "there are seven of -them, and Wolf Ear is among them." - -"Is he?" eagerly asked Edith, from her wrappings on the saddle in -front of her mother "oh, let me see him! Tell him I am here." - -"Keep quiet! Don't speak," said her father sternly. "Wolf Ear is -with bad Indians, and is a bad Indian himself" - -The child would have protested, but for the manner of her father. He -could be firm when he chose, and she knew better than to disobey him -but she pouted just a little, as she nestled down by her mother, who -shared to some extent her faith in the Ogalalla who had spent so many -hours under their roof. - -"What are they doing?" asked Mr. Kingsland of his son. - -"They act queerly; the party are drawn up together, and looking off -in the direction of the trail to the agency, over which they expect -us to pass." - -"They are on the watch for us, of course; how far away do you judge -the trail to be?" - -"Several miles; it seems odd to me that they should ride so far -south, instead of staying nearer to it." - -"It is plain enough to me; they fear that if we caught sight of them, -as we should be sure to do, we would hurry back to the house, where -they should have less chance against us. By keeping hidden, so that -we could not discover our danger until too far away from home, they -could ride in behind us and cut off our escape in that direction. -But how are we to escape them?" - -"We passed an arroya a little way back: let us take to that, and -there isn't a minute to lose." - -The youth hastily climbed into the saddle, and turned the nose of -Jack about, so that he went back directly over his own hoof-prints. -A little distance, and they struck a narrow valley-like depression, -which wound further to the south than the course they were pursuing -at the moment of the startling interruption. He entered this at -once, the others directly at his heels, the animals walking fast, but -with a silence that made one suspect they understood the danger that -threatened all. - -The arroya, as it is termed in some parts of the country, was a -straight passage, resembling a gully, between banks a dozen feet in -height. It looked as if it had been washed out years before, by some -violent rush of waters, which soon ran itself dry, leaving the abrupt -banks, facing each other, at varying distances of from ten to fifty -feet. - -In some places these banks of clay were perpendicular, so that a -horse, once within the gorge, could not leave it at many points, -while in others, the dirt had tumbled in to an extent which made it -easy for him to climb out. - -The course of the arroya was devious, and there was no saying when it -would terminate by rising to the level of the prairie. At most, it -could be but a temporary refuge for the fugitives. - -The thought occurred to both father and son that the Indians must -soon discover this refuge, which would be welcome to them and their -animals while the piercing blast was sweeping across the prairie. -The eddying snow had almost ceased, but the wind blew fitfully, and -whenever it touched the face or bare hand, it was like a needle of -ice. The American Indian is one of the toughest of creatures, but he -does not disdain shelter for himself and beast from the merciless -blizzard, or driving tempest. Many of those gathered about Pine -Ridge, during the critical days in '90-'91, found protection in the -pockets of earth in the gullies, where they peered out like wild -animals on the alert for a chance to spring at the blue-coated -sentinel, without risk to themselves. - -If the arroya should hold its general course southward for several -miles, the little party might successfully escape the hostiles, who -intruded between them and the agency. The afternoon was wearing -away, and the night would be moonless and starless. Our friends -hoped, if they escaped until then, to lessen greatly the distance -between them and Pine Ridge. - -A quarter or a third of a mile through the winding gully, and Brinton -drew rein, and waited until his parents rode up beside him. - -"I wonder what has become of them?" was his inquiring remark. - -"What does it matter," asked his mother in turn, "so long as we -cannot see them? We must be a good way from them now." - -"I wish I could think so, but I can't feel easy while riding in this -blind fashion. There may be greater danger in front than we have -left behind." - -"What do you propose to do?" asked the father. - -"Take a look round and learn, if I can, how things are going." - -Without explaining further, the youth swung himself down once more -from the saddle, and hurried to the edge of the arroya on his left. -There was a spot so sloping that after a little work, with the dirt -crumbling under his feet, he reached the level above, and was able to -peer over a great deal of the surrounding prairie without exposing -himself. - -The result ought to have been gratifying, but it was hardly that. -North, south, east, and west the youth bent his keen vision, but not -a sign of the dreaded hostiles was to be seen. They were as -invisible as though they had never been. - -Had the distance travelled by the fugitives since their fright been -twice or thrice as great, this must have been the best of omens, but -the space was not far, and it was almost self-evident that the band -was still in the neighbourhood. - -But where? - -That was the question on the lips of father and son as they discussed -the situation, and in the minds of both trembled the same answer: the -hostiles were in the arroya itself, behind the fugitives. - -"They have ridden down the bank," said the parent, "to shelter their -ponies from the icy blast, and are there now." - -"Will they suspect that we have been this way?" inquired the mother. - -"They cannot fail to notice the hoof-prints we have left," replied -her husband, "and that will tell the story as plainly as if they sat -on the bank as we rode by." - -The alarming declaration caused the wife to cast a terrified glance -behind her, as if she expected to see the ferocious redskins burst -into view with crack of rifle and ear-splitting shriek. - -In the circumstances, there was manifestly but one thing to do--push -on with no more delay than was inevitable. - -The ground at the bottom of the arroya was comparatively level, and -the horses dropped into an easy swinging gallop, which lasted but a -few minutes, when Mr. Kingsland called in a faint voice, as he -brought his animal down to a walk-- - -"Hold on, Brinton!" - -"What is the matter?" asked the son, looking at him in dismay. - -"I can't stand it; I am not as strong as I thought." - -He reeled in his saddle, and the startled son reached out to prevent -his falling. - -"Forgive me, father; I forgot your illness." - -"There--there--I am all right," he murmured, putting his hand to his -face, in the effort to master his weakness. - -His wife was also at his side, anxious and alarmed. - -"Hugh, I fear you have undertaken more than you can do," she said, -laying her hand affectionately on his arm, and peering into as much -of his face as was visible through the thick wrappings. - -He made no reply, and it was plain that he was nearly fainting. -There was nothing his friends could do for him, except to help him -out of the saddle, and they were about to propose that, when a slight -but alarming accident took place. - -The Winchester, resting across the saddle-bow and hitherto grasped in -the mittened hands of the man, slipped from his relaxed fingers and -fell to the earth. The lock struck in such a way that a chamber was -discharged, the bullet burying itself in the bank which Brinton had -climbed only a few minutes before. - -The sharp explosion roused Edith, who was sinking into a doze, and -imparted to the man himself such a shock that his growing faintness -gave instant place to renewed strength. He straightened up and said-- - -"Gracious! that's too bad; _they_ must have heard it." - -"We can't tell about that; are you stronger?" - -"Yes; let's push on; we must lose no time." - -Brinton longed to force the animals into a gallop, but dared not, -after what had just taken place. But they were pushed to a rapid -walk, which was kept up some ten or fifteen minutes, when came -another sudden halt, for the good reason that they had reached the -end of the arroya. - -That singular formation, after winding about for a long distance, -rose to the level of the prairie, and disappeared. - -To proceed further must be done by exposure to any hostiles in the -neighbourhood. Brinton stopped and looked inquiringly at his father. - -"As near as I can judge," said the latter, "we are close to the Big -Cheyenne; we ought to cross that early this evening and keep on to -the White, which should be reached by daylight; then the ride is not -far to Pine Ridge." - -"Night is near; we will wait awhile; the rest will do you good, and I -will take a look over our own trail." - -Leaving his friends to themselves, Brinton headed back and struck -Jack into a moderate gallop through the arroya. - -He was uneasy over that accident with his father's Winchester. If -heard by the keen-eared hostiles they would start an investigation, -which could have but one result. - -"They must have heard it," was his belief, "and if so, they knew -where it came from. It won't take them long to learn its -meaning--halloa! what's the matter, Jack?" - -More than once, the sagacity of his animal had warned the youth of -the approach of danger. The pony dropped into a walk so quickly that -the rider was thrown slightly forward in the saddle. Then the animal -pricked up his ears, took a few more stops and halted. - -"That means something," thought Brinton, bringing his rifle round to -the front and making ready to use it on the instant if needed. He -softly drew the mitten from his right hand. - -The gully turned sharply to the left, just ahead, and he knew that -Jack had scented danger. But, if so, minute after minute passed and -it did not appear. The youth became perplexed, and was in sore doubt -whether to push on a little further or turn back. - -He gently twitched the rein and touched his heels against the ribs of -his pony. He advanced a couple of paces, and stopped as abruptly as -before, his head still up, his ears erect, while the snuffing -nostrils showed that he was wiser than his rider. - -"I'll be hanged if I don't learn the meaning of this," muttered -Brinton Kingsland, who, with less discretion than he generally -showed, swung himself out of the saddle and moved stealthily forward, -with the resolution to learn the cause of Jack's alarm. - -And he learned it soon enough. - -He had barely time to pass part way round the curve in the arroya, -which was unusually winding at that portion, when he came face to -face with an Indian horseman. - -The animal of the latter, quite as sagacious as Jack's, had detected -the presence of a stranger beyond the turn, and halted until the -latter revealed himself, or his master decided upon the line to -pursue. - -Brinton's great blunder was in moving so impatiently through the -gully that he was revealed too soon to draw back. Thus it was that -it may be said he almost precipitated himself upon the buck before he -saw him. - -It would be hard to describe Brinton's emotions when on the first -startled glance at the solitary Indian he recognised him as Wolf Ear, -whom he had encountered but a little while before. The Indian looked -fixedly at him, and something like a smile lit up his broad coppery -face. - -"Thus we meet, Brinton," he said in his low voice; "will you come -forward and shake hands?" - -"Why should I shake hands?" asked the youth, thoroughly distrustful -of the Ogalalla; "we are enemies." - -"That is for you to decide," was the cool remark of the Indian youth. - -He made as if to ride away, when Brinton interposed. - -"Your actions do not agree with your words." - -"And why not?" - -"After parting from me, you rode away and joined my enemies." - -To the amazement of the youth, the young Ogalalla without a word -wheeled about and galloped out of sight up the arroya. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -"WHAT WILL BE THEIR NEXT STEP?" - -Brinton Kingsland was in the saddle again on the instant, and his -pony dashed down the arroya at full speed. - -"Wolf Ear has hurried back to tell the rest that he has seen us, and -they will be here in a few minutes," was the belief that lent wings -to his speed. - -It was a comparatively short ride to where his friends awaited him. -A minute sufficed for them to learn the alarming tidings. - -"It won't do to delay another second; come on!" - -The next moment the two horses followed the youth out of the gully -upon the plain. - -"Can you stand it, father?" he asked, holding his pony back and -looking inquiringly at him. - -"Yes, my son; don't think of me," was the brave response, as the -parent struck his animal into a gallop. - -The mother was a capital horsewoman, and little Edith, who was now -fully awake, once more accommodated herself to her position, so as to -save all embarrassment so far as she was concerned. - -Child-like, she wanted to ask innumerable questions, but she was -intelligent enough to understand that silence was expected of her, -and she held her peace, wondering, perplexed, and frightened. - -The wintry afternoon was wearing to a close. The sky maintained its -heavy leaden hue, the wind blew fitfully and was of piercing -keenness, and the occasional snow-flakes, whirling about the heads of -the fugitives, were more like hailstones than the soft downy -particles which had appeared earlier in the afternoon. The view was -shortened in the gathering gloom, and the anxious eyes glancing -around the different points of the compass, and especially to the -rear, failed to reveal the dreaded horsemen from whom they were -fleeing. - -The hope of the little party lay in keeping beyond sight of their -enemies until night. With no moon and stars to guide them, the -hostiles could not keep their trail, which our friends were sure to -make as winding as possible. - -As the night approached, their hopes increased. Darkness was closing -in when they reached the bank of the Big Cheyenne, and, for the first -time since leaving the arroya, they drew rein. - -"This is better than I dared expect," said the father in high -spirits, and seemingly strengthened by his sharp ride through the -cutting cold; "I can hardly understand it." - -"I suspect that Wolf Ear made a blunder." - -"In what way?" - -"He did not think we should leave the gully before night; he went -back and told the rest. They dared not attack us where we had some -show to defend ourselves; they will not discover our flight until it -is too late." - -While there seemed reason in this belief, it did not fully satisfy -the father. It was not in keeping with the subtlety of the American -Indian that they should allow a party of whites to ride directly away -from them, when they were at their mercy. Any one of the hostiles, -by climbing the side of the arroya, was sure to see the little -company of fugitives emerge therefrom, and it was inconceivable that -they should not take that simple precaution. - -"There is something beyond all this which has not yet appeared," he -said; "neither Wolf Ear nor his companions are fools." - -The river swept by in the gathering darkness at their feet. The -current was not swift, but pieces of ice lay against the shores, and -floated past in the middle of the stream. The opposite bank could -hardly be seen in the gloom. - -"Must we cross that?" asked Mrs. Kingsland, as the horses halted on -the margin of the icy waters. - -"Yes," replied her husband, "and twenty miles further we must cross -the White, to say nothing of smaller streams, which may be as deep -and more difficult. Pine Ridge lies fifty miles away, and there's no -going round any of the water." - -"It will be the death of us to swim our horses," she said with a -shudder; "we shall freeze to death." - -"That is not to be thought of," Brinton hastened to explain; "while -the Cheyenne has many deep places at this season, there are others -where a horse can wade across without wetting one's stirrups." - -"But how are we to know such fords?" - -"By trying, and there's no better place than this; wait till I make -the attempt." - -With commendable promptness he urged Jack forward, and the animal, -understanding what was required of him, stepped among the pieces of -ice along the bank. He slipped on one, and Edith uttered a cry of -alarm. - -"Look out, Brint! You will fall into the water." - -"Don't fret about me," he called back. - -A few reassuring words to his pony, who hesitated and sniffed, as if -about to draw back, and he continued his cautious advance into the -stream, the others anxiously watching his progress. - -Should the water prove deep enough to force the steed to swim, it -would never do, for that would necessitate the saturation of the -garments of all, which meant freezing to death. - -As long as the ponies maintained a sure footing, even though the -water crept well up their sides, the riders could guard themselves -against the dreaded wetting. Brinton, therefore, ventured into the -stream with the utmost care, his animal feeling every step of the -way. Ten steps from the bank, and the water touched Brinton's -stirrups. He withdrew his feet and held them out of reach. He was -so excellent a horseman that, by the pressure of his knees, he sat -almost as firmly in the saddle as if with the support for his feet. - -"Be careful, Jack; slowly--slowly--slowly!" - -Jack was sniffing, with his neck outstretched and his nose almost on -the surface of the water, The breath issued like steam through his -thin silken nostrils, and he paid no heed to a triangular piece of -jagged ice which struck his hind legs with a sharp thrust, and then -swung clear. He knew his duty, and was doing his "level best." - -The rider turned his head and looked back. The forms of his parents -on their motionless horses were dim, and growing more indistinct in -the approaching night. - -Seeing him turn his head, his father called something in a guarded -undertone, which the son did not catch, but, believing it was simply -a request for him to be careful, he replied, "All right," and went on -with the work in hand. - -Several steps further and the water had not perceptibly deepened. -Brinton, indeed, was inclined to think it had slightly shallowed. - -"We are pretty near the middle, and it begins to look as if I had -struck the right spot after all Halloa! what's up now?" - -Jack had stopped, just as he did in the arroya, and with the same -appearance of alarm. - -"Can it be that you have scented a deep place in front and want to -save me from a bath?" - -Brinton Kingsland checked the light question on his lips, for at the -moment of uttering it his own vision answered the query in a manner -that fairly lifted his cap from his head. - -A horseman was advancing through the water from the other side of the -Cheyenne. He was several rods away, but near enough for the youth to -recognise him as an Indian warrior. He had entered the icy stream, -as if to meet the other, who in the same glance that identified him -dimly discerned more horsemen on the bank beyond. - -As in the former instance, Jack had discovered the peril before his -master and halted, not through fear of a chilling bath, but because -of a tenfold greater danger stealing upon them. - -It looked as if the hostiles, from whom they were fleeing, had come -towards the river from beyond, and were again between them and safety. - -If so, the question might well be asked what was meant by this -extraordinary behaviour of the red men? Why did they not conceal -themselves until the fugitives rode directly into their arms? Why -take this risk of sending one of their number to meet an enemy in -mid-stream, where, despite whatever advantage the savage possessed, -he could not help yielding a portion of it to his foe? - -But it was a moment for action and not for conjecture and speculation. - -In the same moment that Brinton recognised the horseman immediately -in his front as a foe, he observed that his pony had also halted and -the rider was in the act of bringing his weapon to his shoulder. - -The mitten was snatched from the youth's right hand and thrust in the -pocket of his coat. He had no time to slip the other off, nor was it -necessary, since that only supported the rifle. He hastily brought -his Winchester to a level, and, knowing that everything depended upon -who was the quicker, he took instant aim at the centre of the dark -figure and let fly. - -With a wild cry the Indian rolled from his pony, and disappeared in -the dark waters. His animal, with a snort of alarm, whirled about -and dashed to shore, sending the spray flying in all directions. - -"Quick, Jack! back with you!" - -Brinton flung himself on the neck of his pony, who seemed to spin -about on his hind feet as he galloped furiously through the water for -the shore he had just left. Nothing but this precaution and the -deepening gloom saved the daring youth from death. It required a few -precious seconds for the hostiles on the other bank to comprehend -what had taken place, and when they began firing the form of the -horse and his rider were fast vanishing from sight. - -But the bullets were whistling perilously near his friends, who did -not quite comprehend what had taken place. - -"Move further down the bank!" called Brinton in a guarded undertone; -"quick! don't stop to ask why, but do as I say!" - -The parents obeyed, and a minute or two was sufficient to take them -out of range. - -"Follow them, Jack, and move lively!" - -The pony obeyed, and he too passed beyond danger for the time. - -The darkness was too deep for the persons on either bank to discern -the others across the stream. The hostiles kept up their firing, in -a blind way, hoping that some of their shots might reach the -fugitives. Brinton had lain down on the shore, so as to decrease the -danger of being struck by any of the stray bullets. He could tell -where the others were by the flash of their guns, but deemed it best -not to fire for the present, through fear of betraying his own -position. - -The dropping shots continued for a few minutes, and then suddenly -stopped. It was impossible to tell in the gloom what his enemies -were doing, but he suspected the truth: they were preparing to ford -the river, with a view of bringing the combatants to close quarters. - -Peering intently into the night, he made out the faint outline of a -horseman feeling his way across, and did not doubt that others were -close behind him. This must be a particularly favourable ford, else -the hostiles would try some other, if they knew of any in the -immediate vicinity. - -It was necessary to check this advance, if he expected to save the -dear ones with him. The moment, therefore, he made sure of the -object approaching, he sighted as best he could and blazed away, -instantly shifting his own position, to escape the return shot which -he knew would be quick in coming. - -It was well he did so, for the flash and report of several rifles and -the whistling of the bullets told of the peril escaped by a very -narrow chance. - -There was no reason to believe that his own shot had been fatal, for -there was no outcry, nor did the listening ear detect any splash in -the water, such as marked his first essays when in mid-stream; but he -had accomplished that which he sought--he had checked the advance, -which otherwise must have been fatal to him and his companions. The -form of the horseman disappeared in the gloom. He had returned to -the shore whence he came, and it was safe to conclude that he would -not soon repeat the attempt. - -"What will be their next step?" was the question that presented -itself to the young defender of the ford. - -It was not to be expected that they would try to cross in the face of -the certain reception that awaited them. - -"They know more of the Cheyenne than we do," Brinton Kingsland -thought, "and must be aware of some place where they can reach this -side without danger. If they do succeed in coming over, there will -be trouble." - -He dared not wait long, for nothing was to be gained, while he ran -the risk of losing everything. Only the sound of the rushing water, -the crunching of the ice, reached his ear. Rising to his feet and -peering into the gloom, he could discern nothing of his foes. - -"There's no need of my staying here," he decided, starting along the -stream in quest of his parents. - -When he had passed a hundred yards without seeing them, he was -astonished. Another hundred, and still they were invisible, and the -cautious signals he made remained unanswered. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -"AY, WHERE WERE THEY?" - -By the unaccountable disappearance of his parents and the horses, -Brinton was left in a state rather of perplexity than alarm. The -time was so brief since they left him, that he could not understand -how they had gone far, nor why they did not answer the guarded calls -he made. - -He noticed that when in obedience to his urgent entreaties the couple -rode away, followed by his own pony, they went down stream, that is, -in the direction of the current. Surely they could not have passed -any distance, and he believed they heard his voice when, making a -funnel with his mittened hands, he pronounced the words-- - -"Father! Mother! where are you?" - -If they did not reply, it was because of the danger involved in doing -so. It was incautious on his part to shout, even in a suppressed -voice, at such a time. - -The bank on his left was a little higher than his head, and so -sloping that the horses could climb out with little effort; but, as -will be recalled, the night was unusually dark, and he might pass -over the plainest trail without knowing it. - -He ran some distance further, keeping close to the water, but still -failed to find them. - -"They have climbed out of the bed of the stream; something unexpected -has occurred, or they would not leave me in this manner." - -He felt his way to the bank, and easily placed himself upon the level -ground above. There he strove to pierce the gloom, but nothing -rewarded the effort. - -"Well, I'll be hanged!" he muttered, "if this isn't the greatest -surprise I ever knew. It looks as if the ground had opened and -swallowed them." - -In the northern sky the heavy gloom was relieved by a faint glow, -which at first he took for the aurora borealis, but a few minutes' -scrutiny convinced him that it was the light of some burning -building, the dwelling evidently of some ranchman, whose family had -probably paid with their lives the penalty of tarrying too long. - -"A few hours more, and father, mother, and Edith would have shared -the same fate. It may still be theirs to do so." - -The sound of a whinny from behind caused him to turn his head. He -could see nothing, but he was sure that it was one of his father's -ponies that thus made known his presence. - -It would have been the height of imprudence, however, had he acted -upon such a belief, after what had so recently occurred, and when a -safe and certain test was at his command. - -He emitted a low tremulous whistle of such a musical tone that it -reached a goodly distance in spite of the gale. - -"That can be heard further than the neigh, and, if it finds the ear -of Jack, no one can restrain him from coming to me." - -But though the call was repeated there was no response. The alarming -conclusion was unavoidable: the sound had been made by an Indian pony -near at hand. - -Aware that his own situation, despite the darkness, was perilous, the -youth sat down on the frosty earth, near the edge of the bank, until -he could gain some idea of his bearings. - -Within the next ten seconds the whinny was repeated, and this time -seemingly within a dozen feet, but below the bank, and consequently -between him and the water. - -He knew what it meant: the hostiles had crossed the stream lower -down, and were ascending it in the search for the fugitives. But for -the fact that one of their ponies showed a strange lack of training, -the youth would have run right into them. - -It might be that the reckless horse was a captured one! - -They were so close, however, that Brinton did not dare to flee, -especially as he did not know in which direction safety lay. He lay -flat on the earth, with his head just above the edge of the bank, so -that had there been any light he could have seen what was going on -below. - -It is rare that a night is totally devoid of the least ray of -illumination. Brinton, therefore, could never believe he was -mistaken when, peering down into the gloom, he fancied he discerned -the shadowy outlines of a horseman move slowly in front of him, like -the figure of the magic lantern. It melted in the gloom, and then -came another and another, until he counted six. The sounds of the -hoofs on the hard ground removed the doubt which otherwise he might -have felt. - -"The same party," was his thought; "one is missing, and, if I am not -mistaken, I had something to do with his disappearance." - -A different noise came to his ears. One of the bucks was making his -pony climb the bank where the slope was abrupt. The labour was hard, -but after a strenuous effort he stood on the earth above. He was -followed by the others in Indian file, the ascent taking but a few -minutes. - -The disturbing feature about this business was that the whole party -had climbed the bank within a dozen feet of where Brinton was lying, -and they halted when so near that he was half afraid some of the -horses might step on him. - -Had there been any light in the sky he would have felt they were -trifling with him, as a cat plays with a mouse. - -But, if the hostiles could not see or detect his presence, their -horses were sure to discover that a stranger was near. - -"It's too bad!" thought Brinton, who, believing that his own people -were safe, was able to give more thought to himself; "it looks as if -there's no getting rid of them. I think this is a good time for me -to leave." - -For a single moment he was certain he was discovered. One of the -warriors uttered an exclamation, and a slight sound showed that he -had dropped from his horse to the ground. The youth was on the point -of rolling over the edge of the bank and taking to his heels, in the -hope that the darkness would allow him to escape, when, to his -dismay, a tiny point of light flashed out of the gloom. - -One of the hostiles had dismounted to light a cigarette, placing -himself so that his horse's body kept off the wind. - -Brinton's position gave him a good view of the operation. The savage -drew the match along a portion of his blanket. The youth saw the -slight streak of light and heard the tiny sharp explosion followed by -the bursting into flame. The buck shielded it with his curving -hands, which were raised to meet the stooping head, as it bent -forward with the cigarette between the lips. - -The glare of the diminutive flame gave a peculiar tint to the -fingers, which caused them to glow as if with heat. Then the -reflection showed the arched nose, the broad face, the serpent-like -eyes, and a few straggling hairs on the upper lip, with a glimpse of -the dangling locks, thrown forward by the stoop of the head. - -The glimpse was momentary, but it was clear enough for Brinton to -recognise the young Indian as Wolf Ear, who he knew was fond of -cigarette smoking, that being one of the habits he had acquired among -civilised folk. - -"I am sorry it wasn't _you_ I shot from his horse in mid-stream," was -the resentful reflection of him who had once been a devoted friend of -the Ogalalla. - -The cigarette being lighted, the buck vaulted upon the back of his -pony, where he could be seen by the fiery tip in the dense darkness. - -Brinton wondered why the group of horsemen remained where they were, -instead of riding away. That, like many other actions of theirs, was -incomprehensible to him. - -But while he lay flat on the ground, debating what he should next do, -if indeed he could do anything, he was frightened by the discovery -that gradually but surely the figures of the Indians and their ponies -were coming into view. - -The explanation was that the sky, which had been overcast all day and -a portion of the night, was slightly clearing--not to any extent, but -enough to increase the peril of his own situation to an alarming -extent. - -"It won't do to stay here any longer; I wonder why they have not -discovered me before; they will do it in five minutes, if I remain." - -His position was an awkward one for the movement necessary, but he -had no choice, and he began stealthily working himself to the edge of -the bank, with the purpose of letting himself noiselessly over to -where he would be concealed from sight. All might have gone well had -he not forgotten a simple thing. The edge of the bank gave under his -weight, and he slid downwards, as if taking a plunge into the river, -with the dirt rattling after him. - -The noise, slight as it was, was certain to attract the notice of the -Indians, a few feet away. Brinton knew this, and he did not wait to -see the results. With the nimbleness of a cat, he turned at the -moment of striking the bottom of the low cliff, and bounding to his -feet, ran along below the bank at his utmost speed. - -Had he continued his flight, quick disaster must have followed; but -with a thoughtfulness and self-possession hardly to be expected, he -abruptly stopped after running a hundred feet and again threw himself -on his face, at the bottom of the bank, and as close to its base as -it was possible for him to lie. - -He knew that he could reach this point before the hostiles would -comprehend what had taken place, and consequently before they would -attempt to pursue him. Since he had no chance against their fleet -ponies, he would have been speedily run down had he continued his -flight down the river bed, for he heard the sound of their hoofs as -they dashed after him. - -The pursuers were cunning. Their ears had told them the course he -had taken. Several forced their animals down the bank, to prevent -his turning back over his own trail, while the others galloped close -to the edge above, all the party taking the same direction. Thus it -would seem that but one desperate hope remained to him, which was to -dash into the river and struggle to the other side. But the splash -would betray him. The water was probably deep enough to force him to -swim. With the thermometer below zero, and encumbered by his -clothing, he must perish with cold, if he did not drown. - -Where then was the hope of eluding the hostiles, who were clinging so -persistently to his track? - -There was none excepting in the trick to which he had resorted, and -Brinton knew it. - -He was no more than fairly nestled in his hiding-place, when the -clatter of hoofs showed that one of the horsemen was almost upon him. -He could only hug the base of the bank, and pray for the danger to -pass. It did pass, but it was sure speedily to return. It was this -belief which led the youth to resort to another artifice, that would -have done credit to an experienced ranger of the plains. - -Instead of turning about and running upstream under the bank, he -waited until the horsemen above had also passed, and were invisible -in the gloom. Then he hastily clambered up the slight bluff, -rattling down the dirt again in a way that sent a shiver through him. -Had they been as near as before, they must have certainly discovered -him; but if the noise or the crumbling dirt reached the ears of any, -they supposed it was caused by some of their companions, for no -effort at investigation was made. - -Upon solid ground once more, Brinton sped straight out over the -plain, and directly away from the river, until he dared to pause, -look around and listen. - -He saw and heard nothing to renew his fear. - -"Can it be that I have shaken them off at last?" he asked himself; -"it begins to look like it. Where under heaven can the folk be? I -hope they have pushed toward the Agency, and nothing will happen to -them." - -Now it was that he detected something, so faint and indistinct that -at first he could not identify it; but, while he wondered and -listened, it resolved itself into the sounds of a horse's hoofs. -They were not such as are made by an animal galloping or trotting, -but by walking. Furthermore, he heard but the one series of -footfalls. - -A sudden impulse led Brinton to repeat the whistle which he had -vainly emitted some time before, when groping along the bank of the -Big Cheyenne. Instantly a faint neigh answered, and a pony assumed -shape in the darkness as he approached on a joyous trot. - -"My own Jack!" exclaimed the overjoyed youth, flinging his arms about -the neck of his favourite and kissing his silken nose; "Heaven be -thanked that you are restored to me at last. But where are the folk?" - -Ay, where were they? - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -"IT CAME LIKE ONE OF THEM KANSAN CYCLONES." - -As he was on the point of giving up all hope of ever seeing him -again, Brinton Kingsland was naturally overjoyed at meeting his -favourite pony. The situation of the young man would have proved a -sad one, had he been compelled to wander over the prairie on foot, -for he would have been liable to encounter hostiles at any moment. - -With the coming of daylight, he could hardly expect to avoid -detection by some of the numerous bands galloping hither and thither, -ready to pounce upon any defenceless settlers, or to cut off the -squads of scouts and soldiers whenever there was a chance of doing so -with little peril to themselves. - -And Jack showed as much delight as his master. He thrust his nose -forward, and whinnied softly in response to the endearments of -Brinton. Doubtless he had been searching for him for some time. - -"I tell you, old boy, there are only three persons whom I would -rather see just now than you; I won't mention their names, for you -know them as well as I do. Where are they? Surely they can't be far -off." - -An examination of the horse disclosed that his saddle and bridle were -intact, thus proving that he had not been in the hands of any -enemies, who indeed would not have allowed him to stray off in this -fashion. - -Brinton placed his foot in the stirrup, and swung himself astride of -the intelligent beast, who capered with pleasure at feeling his -master once more in the saddle. - -Now that such good fortune had come to the youth, he grew anxious -about the dear ones from whom he had been so strangely separated. - -There was something in the way in which they had drifted apart that -perplexed him. The interval in which it occurred was so brief that -he could not believe they were far asunder. The arrival of Jack -strengthened this belief, and now that he was in the saddle again, he -peered around in the gloom, half expecting their forms to take shape -and come forward to greet him. - -The partial clearing of the sky continued. No snow-flakes drifted -against him, but the moaning wind was as biting and frigid as ever. -The straining gaze, however, could see nothing of horse or person, -though he clung to the belief that they were not far away. - -But with that conviction came the other of the nearness of the -dreaded red men. He had left them on the bank of the Big Cheyenne, -which was not distant; and, failing to find him there, it was natural -for them to suspect the trick by which he had escaped. - -But nothing was to be done by sitting motionless on his horse. He -ventured to pronounce the name of his father, and then his mother, -increasing the loudness of the tone to an imprudent degree. This was -done repeatedly, but no answering call was borne back to him. - -Sound could not travel far against the wind on such a blustery night, -and they might be within a hundred yards without his being able to -hear them or they to hear him. - -He had absolutely no guide or clue, and despair began to creep into -his heart. He asked himself what the result was to be if the aimless -wandering should continue through the night. - -With the rise of the sun, Pine Ridge would be still a good day's ride -away, and it was too much to hope that they would be permitted to -gallop unchallenged through the reservation. - -"Jack," said he, addressing his pony in the odd familiar way to which -he was accustomed, "I can do nothing; you will have to help us out. -So now show what you can do." - -Whether the sagacious animal understood what was asked of him can -only be conjectured, but he acted as if he did. He threw up his -head, sniffed the air, pricked his ears, and started off at an easy -swinging gallop. - -Brinton's heart rose with hope. - -"He must know where he came from; a horse can teach the best hunter -at such a time, and Jack understands what he is doing." - -The pony cantered but a comparatively short way, when he dropped to a -rapid walk, which grew slower every moment. It was interesting to -see him turn his head and look from side to side, for all the world -as if searching for something which he was surprised he did not find. - -"You must be near the spot," said his master; "don't make any mistake -now, my boy." - -He came to a standstill, still turning his head from side to side, as -if examining every point in sight. There could be no doubt that he -was disappointed, as naturally was his rider also. - -"I know this is the spot where you left them to join me, but they are -gone. I can do nothing: everything depends on you, Jack, and you -must not fail me." - -He resumed his deliberate walk, which was continued for only a short -distance. When he halted finally, his actions said as plainly as -words-- - -"I give it up! I've done my best, and, like you, am at my wits' end." - -For a second time Brinton pronounced the names of the loved ones, and -while doing so, Jack took three or four additional steps, then -halted, threw up his head, snorted, and trembled. - -These signs were unmistakable: he had discovered something. His -master urged him forward. He obeyed to the extent of a couple of -steps, and then refused to go further. Not only that, but he shied -to the left, and trembled more than before. - -Brinton soothed him, and then leaned over the saddle and looked into -the gloom; and, as he did so, he almost fell from his seat, because -of the shock and faintness from what he saw. - -The first glance told him that _something_ was stretched on the -frozen earth but a short distance away. Further scrutiny revealed -that it was a man, lying motionless at full length. - -"It is father!" was the thought of the son, who was out of the saddle -in a twinkling, and running forward. - -It was not the body of Hugh Kingsland, but of a stranger. He had -been a powerful man, who had made a brave fight, and had only yielded -to superior numbers. - -Brinton did not attempt any examination in the darkness, for there -was no need to do so. He uttered a prayer for the unfortunate one, -and for those whom he must have left behind him, and added-- - -"Thank Heaven, it is not father! But who can say how soon he, too, -shall not be thus cut down with mother and little Edith?" - -He remembered that although this tragedy had taken place so near him, -and within the last hour or two, he had heard no reports of guns nor -any sounds of conflict. That, however, was accounted for by the -direction of the wind, as already explained. - -Really nothing seemed left for him to do. He had done everything in -his power to find his friends and failed. As long as night continued -the faculty of vision was useless to him. - -"Well, Jack," he said despairingly, "do as you choose; I am helpless." - -As if in sympathy with his young master, the pony moved off on a slow -walk, which he continued until, by some means, which Brinton hardly -understood, he clambered down into a gully, similar to the arroya in -which they had taken shelter that afternoon. In doing this, it is -probable that the animal was guided by that instinct which prompts -his kind to seek shelter from the severity of the weather, for the -refuge was a welcome one to the rider as well as himself. - -On the way thither and after arriving there, Brinton signalled and -called repeatedly to his parents. The continued failure to bring a -reply led him to decide that nothing more could be done before -morning. - -He flung himself off his pony, and made ready to remain where he was -until then. The gully was narrow, and the banks at the point where -he drew rein were high enough to shut out the gale. Food for himself -and horse was out of the question, and neither was suffering for want -of it. The Big Cheyenne had given to them all the water they wanted; -and physically, therefore, nothing in their condition was specially -unpleasant. - -It would have been a great comfort to have had a fire by which to -nestle down, but two causes rendered this impossible: no material was -within reach, and, if there had been, he would not have dared to -kindle it. - -Jack's saddle was removed, and, in obedience to the command of his -master, he lay down on the flinty earth, while Brinton disposed -himself so as to receive a part of the warmth of his body. Thus, -with the help of his own thick clothing, his situation was more -comfortable than would be supposed. - -Despite his worry and anxiety, he soon fell asleep, and did not open -his eyes again until the grey light of the wintry morning was -stealing through the gully. He was chilled and cramped by his -exposure, but leaping to his feet, he soon restored his benumbed -circulation. Jack, seeing his master astir, sprang up, and looked at -him as if to announce that he was ready for any work that was before -them. - -"Well, my boy, we shall have to go without our breakfast, but you and -I can stand that, I reckon, for this thing must end before we are -many hours older----" - -"Well, I'll be shot!" - -The exclamation was uttered by a horseman, who at that moment rode -into sight in the gully and checked his animal only a couple of rods -distant, adding-- - -"I didn't expect to meet you here, Brint; where are the rest of the -folk?" - -"That's what I would like to know; I am worried to death, Nick; can't -you help us?" - -"I'll do anything I can, my lad, but what is it?" - -The newcomer was Nicholas Jackson, serving as a scout for General -Miles. It will be remembered that it was he who stopped at the home -of the Kingslands a short time before and warned them of their -danger. Had his advice been heeded, they would not have been in such -sore straits at this time. - -Brinton quickly told of his strange experience of the night before -and his perplexity as to what he should do. - -"I don't think anything has happened to them," was the reassuring -response of Jackson, "for the darkness was in their favour. They are -hiding somewhere in these gullies, just as you did, and dare not show -themselves." - -"But how are we to find them?" - -"There's only one way I know of--look for them." - -"What are you doing here, Nick?" - -"We learned at Wounded Knee that a company with supplies was to come -from Rapid City, and I have been sent out on a scout; an escort is -coming to bring them into camp. You have heard of the battle at -Wounded Knee Creek, I suppose?" - -"Not a word." - -The old scout compressed his lips and shook his head. - -"I have been in a good many scrimmages under Generals Crook and -Miles, but that was the hottest half-hour I ever spent." - -"How was it, Nick?" - -"You know that the hostiles have been gathering in the Bad Lands ever -since this trouble began. We have them pretty well surrounded, but -there must be a big fight before we wind up this serious business. -Two days before Christmas word reached us that three thousand -Indians, including six hundred bucks, were there. You can understand -how much relief it was, therefore, to learn that Big Foot, with a lot -of Sitting Bull's fugitives on Cherry Creek Reservation, had -surrendered to Colonel Sumner. - -"That was all well enough, but while conducting the band of two -hundred to the Missouri, the next day, the whole lot escaped and -hurried south to join Kicking Bear and the rest of the hostiles. -_Then_ the trouble began. - -"Four days later Little Bat, one of our Indian scouts, discovered Big -Foot and his band eight miles north of Major Whiteside's camp on -Wounded Knee Creek, and four troops of the Seventh Cavalry started -for them, with me among 'em. - -"As the hostiles spied us they formed a long battle line, all with -guns and knives, the knives being in their cartridge belts outside -their blankets. - -"I tell you, Brint, things looked squally. We could see the gleam of -their black eyes, and the way they scowled and glared at us showed -that nothing would suit 'em better than to drive their knives to the -hilts into every one of us. - -"But Major Whiteside meant business. He drew us up, too, in battle -line. Just then Big Foot was seen coming forward on foot. The major -dropped down from his saddle and went forward to meet him. - -"'Me ill,' said Big Foot, 'me want peace--my people want peace----' - -"The major was impatient. - -"'I won't talk or parley with you,' he broke in; 'it is surrender or -fight; I await your answer.' - -"'We surrender--we done so before, but could not find you,' said Big -Foot. - -"I had my eye on the chief, who just then turned and motioned with -his arm to his own battle line. They seemed to be looking for the -signal, 'cause the white flag was shown at once. We rode forward -quick like and surrounded them, and a courier was sent off post haste -for four troops of the Seventh, and Leftenant Taylor's scouts to help -guard and disarm the party. They arrived the same day. Big Foot had -one hundred and fifty warriors fully armed, with two hundred and -fifty squaws and many children. Despite the surrender, we all knowed -trouble was coming, and it was not long before it came, like one of -them Kansan cyclones." - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -"THE BUCKS WERE COMING UP ALARMINGLY FAST." - -"When General Forsyth arrived," continued the scout, in his -description of the battle of Wounded Knee Creek, "he ordered the male -Indians to come for a talk. They come out, scowling and sullen, and -gathered in a half-circle in front of Big Foot's tent. The chief was -inside, ill with pneumonia. - -"The general told them they must surrender their arms in groups of -twenty. By this time they were thoroughly enraged, but most of our -boys thought they were so cowed they would obey without much trouble. -I didn't like their looks, and told Jenkins at my side to hold -himself ready, for I believed them fellows meant mischief, and a -fight was sure. - -"'I guess not,' he answered; 'they're obeying orders.' - -"The first score slunk back without a word. We waited a long while, -and by-and-by they came out agin, and how many guns do you 'spose -they brought with 'em. Just two miserable pieces, worth so much old -iron. - -"The major was impatient because of the delay, and, when he saw this, -he too was angry. He turned and talked a few minutes with General -Forsyth, both speaking so low that I couldn't catch what they said, -though I seen the general was as angry as the major, but he kept -cool. You see, the major was managing the business, but he made sure -that everything was done as General Forsyth wanted. - -"The cavalry was now ordered to dismount, and they done so, forming a -square about fifty feet back and closed in, standing within a -half-dozen yards of the Indians that was in the centre. - -"It was plain that the latter didn't mean to obey orders, though they -pretended to. Accordingly a body of cavalry was sent to make the -search themselves. When they came out, which they did in a few -minutes, they brought sixty good rifles with 'em. That was doing the -business up in style; but the general and the major didn't intend -there should be any half-way work about it. The soldiers were -directed to search the bucks themselves, for there was no doubt that -all of 'em had their guns hid under their blankets. - -"The Sioux stood scowling, ugly and savage. When about a dozen had -been searched and their rifles brought out, they couldn't stand it. -They were furious. Like a flash, the rest of 'em whipped out their -guns from under their blankets and let fly at us. It was so sudden -that before we knew what it meant, a hundred guns had been fired, and -the reports sounded like one volley. - -"It was all done in a twinkling. There we were, close enough almost -to touch the redskins, and the flash of their rifles was right in our -faces. I remember that I was looking into the muzzle of one of 'em, -when the gun went off, and I felt the bullet nip my ear; but others -weren't so fortunate, and the poor boys dropped as though so many -thunderbolts had fallen among 'em. - -"It didn't take us long, howsumever, to get in _our_ work. - -"I can tell you," added Scout Jackson, "there were lively times for -twenty minutes or half an hour. During the battle we stood off some -distance when firing at each other, but it was like you and me -standing near enough almost to shake hands, and blazing away. Them -redskins fought hard. It was bang, bang, with the soldiers dropping -all around, and no saying when your own turn was to come. - -"But the hostiles got the worst of it. Some of 'em, seeing how it -was going, broke through our lines and dashed for the hills to the -south-west. We followed 'em, and the fighting kept up as bad as -ever, though the shots wasn't so rapid. We lost about thirty, and -more than that wounded, and of them some are likely to die." - -"Where were the squaws and children during the fight?" asked Brinton. - -An expression of scorn passed over the face of the scout as he made -answer-- - -"Where was they? Fighting like so many wild cats. You'll be told -that we chased and shot down women and children. There's no question -that a big lot of 'em was killed, and how was it to be helped? Them -squaws was dressed so much like the bucks that you couldn't be -certain which was which. From the way they fought, you might have -believed each one was ten bucks rolled into one. - -"But of course we cleaned 'em out, for that's what the Seventh always -does, when it undertakes that sort of thing; from what I've told you, -you'll know there was hot work for a time. A youngster about like -yourself had charge of a Hotchkiss gun. and the way he handled that -all through the fight made us feel like cheering, even when we didn't -dare to stop shooting long enough to do so. - -"When the Sioux fled, this youngster dragged his gun from the knoll -where he had been stationed. Leftenant Hawthorne was at his side, -and the fighting had become skirmishing on the crests of the ravines, -where Big Foot's band had taken refuge. The bullets were singing and -whistling through the air, but that boy wheeled his Hotchkiss to the -mouth of the gulch, where the firing was the heaviest. The minute he -done that, he and the men attached to the gun become the targets of -the Indians, who was determined to shoot 'em down. The bullets -splintered the wheels of the gun, and sent the dirt flying right and -left and in the air. A ball struck Leftenant Hawthorne's watch, -glanced off, and wounded him; but the youngster pushed the gun -forward and shelled the pockets in the ravines. - -"That boy kept it up, pushing steadily on and sending the shells -wherever they could do the most harm. When the battle was over, he -was found wounded, leaning against the shattered wheel of his gun, -too weak to stand erect. Big Foot was among the killed." - -Brinton Kingsland was so interested in the story of his companion, -who was too modest to dwell upon his own exploits, that he forgot for -a few minutes his own situation and the absence of his friends. With -only a brief comment on what had been told him, he said, starting up-- - -"But, Nick, of what have I been thinking? Here the morning is fully -come, and I have not learned anything of father, mother, and Edith. -How could I forget them so long?" - -"It was my fault more than yours," replied Jackson; "there's nothing -to be made by staying here; let's ride out of the gully and look -around; I've had a bite, and have something left over; will you have -it?" - -"Not just now," replied Brinton, as he rode side by side with him out -of the depression where he had spent the night. - -Reaching the higher ground, they looked over the surrounding country. -The youth gave his chief attention to the rear--that is, in the -direction of the Big Cheyenne, for he believed that Wolf Ear and the -other hostiles were not far off. But, if so, they were not in sight. - -The scout, however, had discovered something in front, and at a -considerable distance, which interested him. Shading his eyes with -one hand, he gazed intently toward the north. - -"By gracious!" he exclaimed, "I believe that's them." - -"Where?" eagerly asked his companion. - -"I don't mean your folk, but that waggon train with supplies from -Rapid City." - -Brinton's heart sank, for his hopes had been high; but he found some -consolation, after all, in the declaration of the scout. - -A mile away, across the prairie, a party seemed to be preparing to -leave camp. At that distance it was impossible to identify them, but -Jackson was positive that they were the train in search of which he -had left the camp at Wounded Knee. - -Brinton's hope was that his parents were with them. It would have -been hard for him to explain just why his hope was so strong in this -respect, but it seemed reasonable to suspect that the light of the -camp had attracted their notice during the darkness, and that they -had gone thither, after finding it impossible to rejoin him. - -The real, but slight, ground on which he based this fancy was that -his pony Jack had been found while he, his owner, was travelling in a -direct line from the Big Cheyenne toward the camp. Since the animal -must have kept company for a time with the other two, the Kingslands -had continued the same course, and might have descried the twinkle of -the camp fire. - -"I myself would have seen it, had I not ridden the other way and gone -into the gully, where I couldn't detect anything a dozen feet away." - -"Yes, I'm almost sure it's them," added Jackson, after further -studying the camp; "let's find out." - -The proposition suited Brinton, and the two headed their ponies -toward the camp. - -Although at the moment of starting there was no danger in sight, and -the supply train did not seem to have been disturbed, Nicholas -Jackson was too experienced to forget every precaution, and while he -studied the scene in front, he kept glancing toward the other parts -of the compass. - -And it was well he did so, for a few hundred yards only were passed -when he said in a low voice, in which no excitement could be noted-- - -"It looks as if them bucks would like to j'in our company." - -Brinton glanced back, and saw the half-dozen hostiles with whom he -had had his stirring experiences the night before dashing towards -them from the direction of the Cheyenne. - -There was no need to engage them in a fight: indeed, it would have -been the height of imprudence to do so. Jackson and Brinton were -well mounted, and they instantly struck their horses into a run. The -Indians shouted on perceiving that they were discovered, and they -also urged on their animals. Several shots were fired, but the -distance was too great to do execution. - -The race had continued but a little while when it became apparent -that the pursuers were gaining, Jackson's horse was doing his best, -but Brinton's was not. He could draw away from the Indian ponies, -but his rider held him back to keep the scout company. - -The chase could not last long, for the camp was comparatively near at -hand, but the bucks were coming up alarmingly fast. - -"There's no use of both of us being overhauled," said Jackson; "ride -ahead and save yourself." - -"But I can't desert you." - -"Faugh! don't be foolish; you can't help me, and you're sure to be -shot if you stay; off with you!" - -"But what will become of you?" - -"That's nothing to you; it looks as if I must bid you good-bye; -Billberry has gone lame, but I'll make the best fight I can, and if I -go down, some of 'em have got to go with me." - -Brinton was much perplexed what to do, but he knew that the question -of life and death must be decided within the next few seconds. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -"HE HAS MADE HIS LAST SCOUT." - -The perplexing question was settled by Brinton Kingsland's pony -taking his bit in his mouth and speeding towards the camp of the -supply train, as if driven by a hurricane. - -The youth could not but feel conscience-smitten at this apparent -desertion of a comrade in dire extremity, but there was no help for -it. Besides, Jackson was right when he urged Brinton to lose no time -in saving himself, since it was out of his power to help the -imperilled scout. - -The pursuing hostiles had now approached near enough to make their -shots effective. The whistling bullets warned Brinton of his danger, -so he threw himself forward on the neck of his pony, who rushed ahead -with arrowy swiftness. - -The clatter of hoofs made young Kingsland glance to his left: there -was Billberry, the scout's steed, with neck outstretched, going madly -on. - -He had been touched by one of the flying bullets, and in his panic -forgot the weak leg that already had delayed him to a fatal extent. -His desperate burst of speed brought him alongside of Jack, whose -rider, to his amazement, saw him shoot ahead at a pace which none of -his kind could surpass, and none there could equal. - -But his bridle-reins and stirrup-straps were flying in the gale -caused by his own tremendous swiftness. Brave Nick Jackson had been -shot from the back, and was fighting his last fight. - -Brinton Kingsland tugged at the rein of Jack, and shouted a savage -command in the same breath, The pony would not stop, but, slackening -his speed, described a circle, which brought him round with his head -toward the pursuers. - -Pierced by one of the balls of the bucks, the scout fell from his -saddle, but, recovering himself with wonderful dexterity, turned -about, and with levelled Winchester bravely faced his foes. - -The shots were rapid on both sides, and those of Jackson did much -execution. But his fate was sealed from the first, and none knew it -better than he. - -"I can't stand that!" muttered young Kingsland, the moment he -succeeded in facing Jack the other way; "I have already played the -coward, though, heaven knows, I couldn't help it." - -Something of his daring seemed to tingle in the veins of his pony; -for, now that he was urged to return, he headed straight for the -group of combatants, and shot forward at full speed. - -Meanwhile the members of the supply train were not idle. They had -descried the coming of two horsemen from afar, and were quick to -recognise them as friends. - -Had there been any doubt, it vanished at sight of the pursuing -Indians behind them. Three were in the saddle in an instant, and -scurrying away to the relief of the solitary man fighting for his -life. - -Brinton was not aware they were at his heels. He mistook the sound -of their horses' hoofs for that of Jackson's animal, who, he -supposed, had turned, and was rushing into the heart of the peril, as -his kind will do when forced out of a burning building. - -The first warning the youth received of the true state of affairs was -when the approaching horsemen fired from behind him at the group -crowding around and pressing the scout so sorely. But the hostiles -were quicker than he to see their peril. They wheeled hastily, and, -flinging themselves over the necks of their ponies, skurried in the -direction of the Cheyenne. - -It is the custom of the American Indians to carry off their dead and -wounded. The latter probably looked after themselves in this -instance, but in their haste the two that had fallen by the hand of -Nick Jackson were left stretched on the ground. - -An extraordinary incident now took place. In the furious struggle -one of the hostiles had become dismounted. Disregarding the fate of -his companions, or probably seeing that the brave scout had become so -weakened that the peril no longer existed, he leaped from the back of -his pony and dashed forward to give the white man his -finishing-stroke. Before he could do this, the relief party were so -close that he did not dare to tarry. He turned to remount his pony, -but the animal had become panic-stricken in the flurry--it may have -been that he was struck by a bullet--and was galloping off, as if for -his own life. Furthermore, he made straight for the camp of the -supply train, so that his capture was impossible. - -But there were two other animals that had lost their riders, and, if -he could secure one of these, he might yet save himself. - -They, however, were galloping among the others riding for life toward -the Big Cheyenne. The bucks, with less chivalry than the youth had -shown in similar circumstances, gave no heed to the peril of their -dismounted comrade, but sped across the prairie at the utmost speed -of which they were capable. - -Among them was possibly one who, seeing that the whites, instead of -keeping up the pursuit, had halted around the fallen scout, gave a -little thought to their comrade. This friend would not turn back -himself, nor did any of the others do so, but with the palm of his -hand the former smote one of the riderless ponies across the eyes and -shouted a command in his ear. The horse checked himself with a cry -of pain, reared, shook his head, and then, dropping out of the group -running close together, wheeled and trotted toward the dismounted -Indian. - -The latter gave a thrilling exhibition of running. He saw that his -only hope lay in reaching one of the ponies of his comrades that had -basely deserted him, since to undertake to recapture his own animal -must take him into the camp of his enemies. He therefore exerted -himself to the utmost to overtake the party before the whites could -overtake him. - -Had there been none interested besides the three members of the -supply train, all would have gone well with the buck, for, as we have -said, they gathered around the fallen scout and gave their whole -attention to him. But there was another, who resolved that this -miscreant should pay for his unpardonable barbarity to a brave and -fallen enemy. That one was Brinton Kingsland. - -Quick to grasp the situation, after finding himself too late to help -poor Jackson, he noted the solitary Indian, and believing him to be -the one who had laid the scout low (though if he had not struck the -actual blow, he was equally guilty), he compressed his lips and -muttered-- - -"I'll teach you a lesson, you assassin!" - -The redskin, as he ran, grasped his Winchester in his right hand in a -trailing position. The heavy blanket was secured at the throat by -some fastening that held it in place. The lower portion streamed out -over his back, as did his long black hair, in the wind created by his -own fleetness, while his leggings doubled and twinkled so fast that -they resembled the spokes of a swiftly-revolving wheel He was, -indeed, running with astonishing speed. - -"Now, Jack, do your best! There isn't any time to lose, and you are -not going to let a miserable redskin outspeed you." - -The pony flung up his head, snuffed the air, stretched out his neck, -and away he went with arrowy swiftness. He knew what was wanted of -him, and was not the one to shirk his duty. - -It was at this juncture that the fugitive, going like a whirlwind, -turned his head for an instant and glanced back Brinton was watching -him, and saw the scowling face glaring like a wild beast through the -thicket of flying hair. - -"Great heavens! it's Wolf Ear!" - -During these exciting minutes the youth had forgotten about the young -Ogalalla, until this glimpse of the well-remembered features told him -the startling truth. The shock caused him involuntarily to tighten -the rein of Jack, and the animal, obedient as he generally was, -instantly slackened his pace. - -But the hesitation was for a few seconds only. Brinton felt that he -ought not to have been surprised after the events of the preceding -day and night. - -"He deserves death more than any of the rest, for his knowledge has -been greater than theirs, and his excuse is less. I'll run him down -and make him prisoner." - -Again he spoke sharply to Jack and twitched the rein. The noble -animal stretched away with the same graceful swiftness he had shown -from the first. - -But the Ogalalla was cunning. He had seen the Indian pony as it -withdrew from the rest and came trotting toward him in a bewildered -way, as though not quite understanding what it meant; but if the -animal was perplexed, Wolf Ear was not. He read the meaning aright, -and saw that one desperate chance remained. If he could hurl himself -upon the back of that same steed before the white youth overhauled -him, the prospect was good for his ultimate escape. - -Brinton comprehended everything as vividly as he, and did not spare -Jack. He aimed to interpose himself between Wolf Ear and his pony, -and thus prevent their meeting. Every nerve and muscle was strained -to accomplish that end. - -Young Kingsland was already close enough to shoot down the fugitive, -and he felt he deserved to be laid low, but, as we have shown, such -was not his purpose. An indefinable dislike to slay a foe, even -though ferocious and guilty, prevented his firing the shot that would -speedily have ended it all. - -The rest of the hostiles had disappeared over a swell of the plain -and were out of reach. - -Why did not Wolf Ear, when he saw he could not reach his pony in -time, halt and bring his gun to bear on his fierce pursuer? - -He did. The cunning fellow, almost within reach of the pony, and at -the moment when his heart was beating high with hope, saw everything -frustrated by the action of the animal. The sight of a person coming -toward him at such terrific speed, even though belonging to the race -to which he was accustomed, was too disturbing to be accepted with -serenity. He raised his head as he came to a halt, surveyed the -bounding figure, and then, with a snort of affright, wheeled and -trotted toward the river. - -His speed was much less than that of the Ogalalla, but of necessity -it compelled the latter to run farther than he would have done had -the beast remained stationary, and it was just that brief interval of -enforced stay on the ground that told the Ogalalla the white youth -must reach him before he could overtake the pony. - -"Surrender, Wolf Ear!" called Brinton; "you can't help yourself." - -Evidently Wolf Ear held a different opinion, for he wheeled like -lightning, and levelled his rifle with the reply-- - -"That's the way _I_ surrender! Do you surrender!" - -The action was so sudden that Brinton could not forestall him. He -was fairly caught. - -It was, however, far from Brinton's thoughts to yield to this -startling command. He flung himself over the other side of the -saddle, so as to offer as little of his body as possible to the aim -of the miscreant. He was certain he would fire and shoot down his -horse, if not himself. He waited with an intensity of emotion which -cannot be described. - -One minute, two minutes passed, but no report came. Then Brinton -heard the suspicious clatter of a horse's hoofs, and peeped over the -spine of Jack. He was in time to see Wolf Ear galloping off on the -hack of the pony. With inimitable dexterity he had secured the -animal during the brief interval at his command, and was now going -like the wind over the prairie, after his departed comrades. - -The Ogalalla, however, was not too far away to shout back a taunt and -the words-- - -"Wise young man, my gun was not loaded, but it served me as well." - -Then he whisked over the elevation and vanished. - -There was no help for it, and the chagrined Brinton wheeled and -galloped toward the group whom he had left some distance behind on -the prairie. They were riding slowly to the camp, supporting a form -between them. Dreading the truth, Brinton held back until the others -reached the camp. Then he rode forward and asked-- - -"Was Nick badly hurt?" - -"He is dead; he did not speak after we reached him. He was a brave -fellow, but he has made his last scout." - -Brinton sighed, for he respected and loved the man who had thus died -for his country. - -But another question was on his lips. He looked around the camp, and -his heart sank at his failure to see any of the loved ones whom he -was so hopeful of finding there. In a trembling voice he put the -query. - -The answer was what he dreaded: they had neither seen nor did they -know anything of them. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -"OH, THERE IS WOLF EAR!" - -It will be remembered that when Brinton Kingsland dropped to the -ground in the gathering darkness to check the crossing of the Big -Cheyenne by the Sioux, whose leader had met him in mid-stream, he -called in an undertone to his parents to hasten out of the range of -the flying bullets; he repeated the command to his pony Jack, who -obediently trotted after them. - -The father and mother, at this time, had no more thought of -separating themselves for any distance from their brave son than he -had; but two causes brought about the singular accident already -referred to. - -The excited words of Brinton and the reports of the guns led the -couple to think the danger more imminent than it was. As a -consequence, they rode farther than was necessary, but still not to a -point that ought to have caused any difficulty in their coming -together when prudent to do so. - -Mr. Kingsland's pony travelled faster than that of his wife, thus -placing him a few yards in advance. The gloom had not yet become -deep enough to prevent their seeing each other; but at a moment when -the wife was about to ask her husband to stop, she was surprised to -see him turn to the left, his pony struggling up the bank to the -level ground above. - -"Why do you do that, Hugh?" she called in a guarded voice, but at -once following him. - -He did not answer, but narrowly missed falling out of the saddle. -His animal continued moving away from the river-bank, and presently -struck into an easy gallop, which rapidly increased the distance from -the stream. - -Mrs. Kingsland now suspected the meaning of the strange action, and -urged her pony beside that of her husband, which was going so fast -that she was obliged to travel farther than she supposed before -coming up with him. Then, laying hold of the bridle, she brought her -husband's pony to a halt. - -"What is the matter, Hugh?" she asked; "are you ill?" - -"Gracious! what have I been doing?" he exclaimed, in turn bewildered, -and looking about in the darkness. - -"Why, you have been trying to run away from us," said Edith, with a -laugh, believing the whole thing to be a joke on her father's part. - -"You have come a good way from the riverbank," replied the disturbed -wife; "I tried to check you, but could not." - -"I understand it now," said he, passing his hand across his forehead, -in the effort to collect his thoughts. "Just after we started a -faintness seized me, and I knew nothing until this minute. I don't -understand why I did not fell out of the saddle." - -"I saw you reel, and you must have come near doing so. How do you -feel now?" - -"Much better. Strange that I should have been attacked in that -manner; but I am sure it will not occur again. What will Brinton -think?" - -"I have heard the report of guns, but all is quiet now." - -"I feel little alarm, for they will not dare to cross while he is -guarding the ford." - -"Is he not in danger?" - -"No; he is lying on the ground, and they cannot see him; he will hold -them at bay as long as he wishes." - -"But they may come over at some other point and get behind him." - -"I did not think of that," said the husband more thoughtfully; "but I -am sure he will not stay any longer than he ought. It won't do for -us to go back, for, if the Indians do cross the river, we shall be in -their path. It may be well to go part of the way over our own track, -so as to make it easier for him to find us. Come on, and make no -noise." - -"But you are not taking the right course," protested his wife: "you -should turn more to the left." - -"I feel almost sure you are wrong; but you have had your senses about -you all the time, which is more than I have had, and I bow to your -decision." - -"But, mother, you are not right," interposed Edith, now fully awake; -"you should go that way"; and she indicated a route widely different -from that of either--so different, indeed, that her mother could not -accept it. - -"No, dear, you are wrong," she calmly replied. "I will lead." - -And yet there is reason to believe the child was nearer right than -either, and had her suggestion been adopted, much of what followed -might have been averted. - -While they were riding, as they believed, in the direction of the Big -Cheyenne, Mr. Kingsland noticed that the pony of his son was not with -them. His wife said that he did not come up the river-bank, and was -probably waiting for Brinton to go to him. It will thus be seen that -the youth was wrong in his supposition about the movements of Jack. - -By-and-by the time came when Mrs. Kingsland saw she had committed a -sad blunder, and, instead of approaching the river, had gone still -farther from it; they could hear nothing of its flow, and were lost -on the prairie. Husband and wife now debated what was best to do. - -It was found that when each, including Edith, named the supposed -direction to the stream, they were as widely apart as before. - -"The wisest course is to stop trying to find the river," remarked the -husband, "for every effort only takes us farther away; we might as -well go into camp right here." - -"And freeze to death." - -"No; we will ride round until we find some shelter from this cutting -wind, and then make ourselves as comfortable as we can until morning. -Do you see that light away to the south?" - -That which the ranchman observed was the glow already referred to as -attracting the notice of Brinton. The latter saw it in its true -direction--that is, in the northern horizon, from which the -bewilderment of his parents will be evident. - -In the hope of finding their way to the river the couple acted upon -what might be considered a compromise. It is not necessary to say -that every yard thus traversed increased the space between them and -the youth who, at that moment, was groping blindly in quest of them. - -The wanderings of the stray ones, however, were fortunately not long -continued, when the ponies of their own accord descended a depression -in the prairie. It was not deep or well protected, and was not -reached until after they had passed over several elevations, but they -accepted the shelter thankfully, and dismounted. - -The three were cramped from their long constraint, and Edith ran -around and here and there for some minutes before she was willing to -be tucked away for the night. Their abundant clothing enabled them -to get along much better than might be supposed; the little one lay -between father and mother, the ponies being allowed to stay by -themselves. As in the case of Brinton, the long wintry night passed -without disturbance or incident. - -With the coming of daylight Mr. Kingsland roused himself. Seeing his -wife and child were still sleeping, he did not awake them, and took -the best survey he could of their surroundings. - -The weather was still intensely cold and the sky overcast. A look at -his watch showed it was near eight o'clock when he clambered out of -the depression and looked about him. - -The first discovery to cause surprise was the shelter that they had -enjoyed during the night. Instead of being a ravine, like that where -Brinton had slept, this was a rough irregular excavation, some forty -or fifty feet in diameter. The sides sloped gently, the whole -appearance being that of an immense hole left by some great explosion -of gunpowder, to which a providential chance had guided their horses. - -The husband saw no sign of any living being besides those with him, -nor could he form any surmise as to the course to be taken to effect -a meeting with his son. - -"What will Brinton think? After doing so bravely the work I ought to -have done, we left him in the lurch. We are as much lost to each -other as if in the depths of an African jungle with miles -intervening. I can't help feeling that the top of that ridge yonder -would give me a view that would disclose something important." - -He debated with himself whether it was prudent to walk thither and -obtain the coveted survey. It was little more than a hundred yards -distant, and it did not seem that any harm could come to the loved -ones whom he would leave but a few minutes. - -"I must manage to get my bearings in some way before I can do -anything. The sun seems to be off yonder behind the clouds, but -really it appears to me as if it were in the wrong place!" - -He ended the doubt by striding to the elevation, rifle in hand. -Since his faintness of the night before, he felt better and stronger -than he had for weeks, and this fact doubtless had much to do with -the feeling of self-confidence which now nerved him. - -Reaching the crest of the ridge or swell in the prairie, Kingsland -was disappointed. The same kind of view confronted him on every -hand, and he experienced a repetition of that sensation which often -comes to one in his situation: if he could only pass to the top of -the next elevation, he would obtain the view he wanted. - -But Hugh Kingsland was too wise to yield to the prompting. One -precious member of his family was already gone he knew not where, and -he would incur no risk of its being further broken up. - -He was roused from his meditations in the most startling manner -conceivable, the cause being a rifle-shot, undoubtedly aimed at -himself. On the summit of the ridge at which he was gazing, and -almost at the very point, two Indian bucks suddenly walked up from -the other side in plain sight. While they were still ascending, and -when only their heads and waists showed, one of them brought his -rifle to his shoulder and tried his skill on the white man across the -valley-like depression. - -Mr. Kingsland did not tarry long enough to reply, but hurried back to -the hollow where he had left his wife and child. They had awakened, -but were not alarmed at his absence, the wife suspecting the cause. -She had brought out what was left of the lunch, and she and Edith -were calmly eating when he reappeared, his looks and manner showing -that he had made some terrifying discovery. - -He quickly explained what had taken place, adding-- - -"I am in doubt whether to mount the ponies and start to flee, or to -stay where we are and try to fight them off." - -"You saw only two, and they were on foot." - -"But they are sure to have ponies near, and more than likely more of -the hostiles are within call." - -"Let us stay here until something is learned," said the wife, showing -admirable coolness and courage. - -Whether or not this was the wiser course remains to be seen, but it -was followed. Mr. Kingsland crept to near the top of the hollow, and -lying extended at full length against the sloping bank, peered over, -with his rifle ready to fire at the first appearance of danger. His -position was such that he could detect the approach of anyone from -that side, while his wife guarded the other in a similar manner. - -The ponies having been quieted, Edith was cautioned to remain near -them, and to avoid exposing herself to any stray shots that might be -fired. As long as she kept at the bottom of the hollow with the -animals, she and they were safe. - -A full hour passed without the least sign of the hostiles. A less -experienced person might have accepted this evidence that the danger -had passed them by; but when a second hour had worn away with the -same quietness everywhere, the husband and wife still maintained -their watchfulness. - -The forenoon was half gone before this vigilance was rewarded. Mrs. -Kingsland called to her husband that there was something suspicious -in front of her; and pausing only long enough to make sure that -nothing of the kind was immediately before him, he slipped down the -hollow and up the opposite slope to her side. - -"Where is it?" he asked in an undertone. - -"Just over that first swell, and a little to the left." - -"I see him; keep down out of sight!" - -He placed the muzzle of his repeating Winchester over the side of the -hollow, took careful aim at the rough head that had risen a few -inches above the slight swell in the prairie, and let fly. The aim -was a perfect one, as was shown by the instant disappearance of the -crown and the cry, which from behind the elevation sounded as if much -farther off. - -Instantly three or four replies came from other points along the -swell, and the bullets chipped the dirt about the face of Kingsland, -who ducked his head out of range. Knowing, however, how much -depended on his concealing his weakness from the hostiles, he fired -four shots quickly, without special aim, and with no expectation of -accomplishing anything except that named. - -"If I can make them think there are half a dozen rifles here on the -watch, they will be careful about attacking. But they mustn't know -how weak we are." - -"I don't admit that we are so weak in this hollow and with that -repeating gun, and you feeling so strong and well." - -At this juncture a cry was heard from Edith. She had forgotten the -command of her father, and crept up the opposite slope. - -"Oh, there is Wolf Ear!" - -And before anyone could interpose she sprang up the bank and ran -toward the ridge where her father had first seen the two hostiles. -The horrified parents at the same moment saw three other Indians dash -toward the innocent child, who never dreamed of her awful peril. - -[Illustration: "'Oh, there is Wolf-Ear!'"] - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -"I'M OFF; GOOD-BYE!" - -Though his brave companion had fallen almost at his side, Brinton -Kingsland had reached the camp of the supply train without receiving -so much as a scratch. He mourned him, for he was a worthy man; but -he was heart-broken at his failure to gain tidings of his loved -parents and little sister. He did not know what to do, and could -only fear the worst. - -When he had told his story to his new friends, none of them were able -to offer any encouragement or hope. - -The supply train consisted of a dozen waggons, in charge of sixteen -teamsters. As a matter of course, all were armed, and had come thus -far without trouble. - -They were making ready to resume their journey to Wounded Knee when -the affray already described took place. This caused an hour's -delay, and now, when about to start again, the signs of danger became -so threatening, they held back for consultation. - -The Indians whom they had driven from the prostrate form of Scout -Jackson reappeared on the crest of the hill over which they had -skurried, and it was noticed that their number was increased to fully -a dozen. - -While the teamsters were watching them another band came into sight, -in the opposite direction. - -To the dismay of the spectators, this party was more numerous than -the first. Not only that, but both bands advanced at a slow trot, -and met at a point a couple of hundred yards distant, and in a place -over which the train would have to pass if it pushed on toward the -camp at Wounded Knee. - -"Boys," said Captain Wadsworth, who was in charge of the train, -"there's going to be a fight." - -"We ought to be able to keep them off," replied one of his men. - -"So we shall if no more appear; but the Sioux are as thick as -berries, and by-and-by we shall have a hundred or more of them -popping away at us. We may as well get ready for what's certain to -come." - -"Jackson said something to me," observed Brinton, "about an escort -having been sent out from Wounded Knee to bring you in." - -"They can't come any too soon," responded the captain, who fully -comprehended the peril; "but I'm afraid they will be too late. Those -Indians don't let the grass grow under their feet." - -The leader did not content himself with talking, but began to prepare -for the attack, which might come at any moment. The waggons were -drawn up in a circle, in the middle of which were placed the horses. -Bags of grain, boxes and bundles, were piled on the ground underneath -the waggons. These served as an additional protection for the -animals, and screened the men, when kneeling behind and firing at -their assailants. - -The hostiles were quick to detect what was going on, and did not -allow the work to be completed without interference. They began -circling back and forth, riding entirely around the camp and -discharging their guns at it. The exhibition of horsemanship was a -fine one; but they kept at such a distance that their shots did -little damage. In some way, one got through the entrenchments, as -they might be called, and slightly wounded a horse in the shoulder. -He made more fuss than if it had gone through his head, rearing, -snorting, and plunging, and throwing the rest into a panic, which -would have ended in a stampede, had they not been guarded with -unusual care. - -The teamsters did not accept these unwelcome attentions meekly, but -fired at their circling assailants; the cause named, however, -prevented much success. It looked as if one or two of the shots -inflicted damage, but not to the extent of disabling any pony or his -rider. - -Standing at the rear of one of the waggons, where he could see -everything that was going on, Captain Wadsworth watched the exciting -incidents. At his elbow was Brinton Kingsland, who did not think it -worth while to try his hand with his Winchester, though the others -were continually cracking around him. - -"What is to be feared," said the captain, "is that the hostiles will -soon increase to such an extent that they will overwhelm us." - -"How many do you think are out there now?" inquired Brinton. - -"I should say between twenty and thirty--that is, there were a few -minutes ago, but there are five or six less now." - -"What is the meaning of that?" - -The leader turned his bronzed face toward the youth and smiled -significantly. - -"Don't you catch on? They have sent after reinforcements: a slight -number now means a big number pretty soon." - -"Have you noticed those bucks on the top of the ridge yonder?" - -Captain Wadsworth looked in the direction named. Three Indians had -dismounted, and were standing close together, or rather two of them -were, while the third seemed to be stooping and busy with something -on the ground. - -"How long have they been there?" asked the leader. - -"They rode up the slope within the last five minutes. They were off -their ponies before they stopped. I can't guess what they are doing." - -"I don't know; but we shall soon learn." - -Although the cracking of rifles continued, and the teamsters, -kneeling behind the fortifications, were doing their utmost to pick -off some of the dusky riders, who in turn sent in their dropping -shots, Captain Wadsworth gave them little heed. The position of -himself and Brinton was exposed, and, had their assailants come -closer, they would not have dared to maintain it; but with the -combatants so widely separated, it cannot be said they were in much -real danger. - -The three Indians in whom our friends were so much interested just -then were beyond and apart from the others. Their horses were -cropping the few blades of withered grass that had survived the -winter's tempests; but not one was a dozen yards from his master, all -of whom were so grouped together that their movements could not be -identified. - -Rather curiously there was not a spy-glass among the teamsters. Such -an article would have been valuable just then; but they had to depend -upon their unaided vision. - -The captain and Brinton, however, agreed that two of the bucks were -bent over and busy with something on the ground, while the third, -standing on the crest of the ridge, appeared to be awaiting the -action of his companions before carrying out some plan he had in mind. - -"Look!" whispered the youth; "isn't that smoke?" - -The captain was silent a moment before answering-- - -"Yes; the Indian is like the Chinaman: he can start a fire where you -and I couldn't kindle a spark. I believe they will make a bundle of -water-soaked leaves crackle and burn like tinder wood. Those fellows -have got some of the dried grass together and have managed to touch -it off. You understand what _that_ means, of course?" - -"I cannot say that I do." - -"It is a signal fire." - -"Kindled for what purpose?" - -"To call all the other hostiles in sight here, to take a hand in the -fun of massacring us and plundering our train. Such a signal can be -seen a long way and will do all that is intended. Look at it now!" - -From between the two, who now rose from their stooping posture, a -thin finger of vapour arose, going straight upward as if it were a -shadowy arrow aimed at the clouds. - -"One of the bucks is waving his blanket," observed Brinton; "he must -mean something by that. I suppose he is fanning the blaze to keep it -from going out." - -"No; look at that thin line of smoke; don't you see something -peculiar?" - -"Ah! I notice it now." - -The vapour showed a striking change of appearance; instead of -climbing in a straight line, it now waved gracefully from side to -side. It was something which never can occur unless with the help of -some person. - -"That is the signal," said Captain Wadsworth; "it can be seen for -miles in all directions, and every Indian eye that catches sight of -it will read its meaning as plainly as our soldiers do the -looking-glass signals. It's a bad thing for us." - -The captain was an old campaigner, and knew what he was talking -about; his impressive manner was not lost upon Brinton Kingsland. - -"How far are we from Wounded Knee?" he asked. - -"Anywhere from a dozen to twenty miles; it depends on the course we -take--that is," he added, with a shake of his head, "whether we ever -take any course at all." - -"I cannot recall just what Jackson said about an escort from that -camp, but I think he told me such an escort had been sent." - -The captain shook his head. - -"You must be mistaken; for, if that were the case, why did he ride -out here alone? Was it not more likely that he came to learn whether -we needed protection? and if that is so, they will wait for his -return and report before sending out the escort which is the only -thing that can save us." - -This view was so reasonable that Brinton could not combat it. - -"I see one chance," ventured the youth, after a moment's silence, -during which he watched the actions of the signal corps on the ridge. - -The officer turned wonderingly toward him. - -"I shall be glad to hear what it is." - -"If a messenger can get through to Wounded Knee with word of your -extremity, they will send you help without delay." - -"True; but how can such a thing succeed? If it were night it might -be done; but in what possible way can a horseman dash through the -lines when the bucks would see him start, and they have us -surrounded?" - -"It will be taking big risks, but I would like to try it." - -Captain Wadsworth, who had been leaning against the hind wheel of one -of the waggons, with his arms folded, abruptly straightened up and -stared at the youth, as if uncertain whether he had heard him aright; -then he repeated-- - -"_You_ would like to try it, did you say?" - -"Yes, sir; and I believe I can get through." - -The officer looked off toward the ridge and shook his head. - -"Don't think of such a thing; we must stay here and fight it out, and -trust to Providence to open the way, if any is to be opened." - -But Brinton was in earnest, and his eagerness was increased by the -discouraging manner of the captain. - -"I understand your feelings, and I am not blind to what is in the -path of the one who attempts to do what I have proposed; but, -captain, bear two things in mind: there isn't a fleeter horse in the -whole West than my Jack. When I gave him rein he pulled away from -those Indians as though their animals were walking. So all I have to -secure is a fair start." - -"Exactly," replied the leader with a grim smile, "and therein you sum -up the whole business. All that you need to succeed is to succeed. -But what is the other point you wish me to hold in mind?" - -"The fair start can be secured." - -"How?" - -"Pretend to ride out against the hostiles. They will gather in front -of the threatened point; I will be on the watch, and, when the way -opens, will scoot for Wounded Knee." - -Brinton saw that Captain Wadsworth was interested. Once more he came -to the erect position, and looking kindly in his face, said-- - -"Your plan has something in it." - -The heart of the youth leaped with hope. - -"I am sure of it; but there's not a minute to lose." - -This was self-evident, and the captain, having made up his mind, -passed among his men and hurriedly explained what he had decided to -do. It was for eight or ten of them to mount their horses and move -cautiously toward the ridge, as if with the intention of attacking -the little signal party there and stamping out their tiny fire. This -would cause a concentration (or, more properly, it was hoped that it -would) of the hostiles on that side of the camp, of which Brinton -Kingsland would take advantage by dashing out on the other side and -riding at full speed to Wounded Knee. - -It was the only thing that offered hope, and, therefore, was eagerly -accepted by all. The firing was so scattered that no fear was felt -in moving about within the circle of waggons, for, as we have shown, -Captain Wadsworth and Brinton had been exposed all the time without -harm. The Sioux kept so far away that it was evident they were -waiting for the arrival of reinforcements before making a real attack. - -The preparations on the part of the teamsters had hardly begun when -Brinton, who had led his pony forth and stood ready to leap into the -saddle, called out-- - -"You needn't do it! Here's my chance!" - -The majority of the Indians were near the ridge at that moment, but -some of them were quite a distance off, and, in fact, alarmingly -close to the opposite side of the camp. The impatient youth was -confident that he could dash through the opening before they could -stop him. - -"It won't do!" protested Captain Wadsworth; "don't try it! wait till -we get them nearer the ridge they will cut you off----" - -"I'm off! Good-bye!" - -Brinton Kingsland was in the saddle, and shot out from among the -waggons like a thunderbolt. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -WHAT HAPPENED TO WOLF EAR. - -Good fortune attended the daring attempt of Brinton Kingsland. By a -providential occurrence, most of the hostiles were on the side of the -supply camp, in the direction of the ridge from whose crest the -signal smoke was ascending, when the youth, dexterously guiding his -pony through the waggons that surrounded him, quickly cleared himself -of all obstacles. - -"Now, Jack, old boy, do your best! Never was there greater need of -it." - -The intelligent creature thrust his nose forward, and was off like a -shot. He knew what was wanted, and nobly responded to the call upon -his fleetness. The teamsters forgot all about the Indians, and fixed -their gaze upon the youth. - -He was fully a hundred yards from camp before the Sioux comprehended -what was done. Then, when they saw the messenger dashing over the -plain, fully a dozen of the best mounted were after him in a flash, -discharging several of their guns at the moment of starting. - -Brinton was seen to thunder up the incline of the first swell, -sitting firmly in his saddle, and instantly disappeared over the -crest. A minute later, the foremost two of the pursuers skimmed up -the same incline, just as the lad shot into sight on the summit of -the next elevation, instantly whisking out of view over that, while -his superb horse continued his arrowy flight toward Wounded Knee. -Then the excited and hopeful teamsters could see no more, and all but -the foremost two of the pursuers gave up the chase and came -straggling back to join their comrades in the attack on the camp. -They knew that the result of that flight of the messenger would be to -bring help, and, if anything was to be accomplished, it must be -before it could arrive. - -And so the attack on the camp was begun at once, and with a -fierceness that speedily brought a crisis. - -Meanwhile, Brinton Kingsland was going with undiminished speed over -the prairie, skimming up the inclines and down the slopes at a -break-neck pace, with every nerve of his splendid steed strained to -the highest. The rider heard the dull report of the rifles that were -fired at him, but the distance was too great to cause alarm, and he -did not even hear the singing of the bullets, so wide went they of -the mark; but the glance cast over his shoulder showed that he had -only two pursuers to fear. - -It was easy to compare their speed with his, and less than a -half-mile was passed, when all doubt vanished. They had been thrown -a hundred paces to the rear and were losing ground every minute. - -At the instant of shooting up one of the slopes and disappearing over -the crest, Brinton snatched off his cap and swung it over his head, -with a joyous shout. - -"Hurrah, Jack! they're not in it with you; you can take it more -easily now." - -Nevertheless, the speed of the pony was maintained for a brief while, -until it became certain that his two pursuers had given up the -attempt to overtake him, and had gone to wreak their fury on the -imperilled teamsters before help could reach them. Then Brinton made -Jack drop to a pace which he could continue for hours without -fatigue. The youth knew the course to follow to reach the camp at -Wounded Knee Creek, and he calculated that he could readily cover the -ground in the course of an hour or so. - -He was too sensible, however, to imagine that an open and -uninterrupted course lay before him. At that time, as the reader -well knows, the country in the neighbourhood of the Bad Lands, the -reservations and the space between, was overrun with hostiles, as -eager as so many jungle tigers to slay settlers, small squads of -soldiers, and all white people whom it was safe to attack. He was -liable to encounter some of these bands at any moment, and only by -continual vigilance could he avoid running into the cunningly laid -traps which proved fatal to scores of others. - -Now that the burst of excitement was over, and he was riding at a -less killing pace, his thoughts went back to the loved ones from whom -he had been so strangely separated. His heart became as lead as he -reflected that they could hardly have escaped, considering the -condition of his father, from the environing perils which covered -miles of territory in every direction. - -"If I only knew where they were, if alive, I would guide this escort -from Wounded Knee to their help----" - -What was that? Surely he heard the report of guns from some point in -advance. Jack pricked his ears and increased his pace. - -"It can have but one meaning," muttered Brinton, with a throbbing -heart; "someone is in peril: can it be _they_?" - -He reined up his pony and stood still on the crest of the first -elevation he reached, after the ominous sounds fell on his ears. - -At that moment he descried coming over another ridge, a furlong away, -a troop of thirty or forty cavalry, riding at a gallop toward him. - -"That's the escort from Wounded Knee," was his instant conclusion; "I -was right when I told Captain Wadsworth that Nick Jackson said the -escort was on the way, though I wasn't certain of it." - -But evidently the firing had not come from the cavalry. It was from -some point between, and, instead of being directly in front, as it -first seemed, was off to the right, where he observed a depression, -with several dismounted Indians crouching around it. - -"Great heavens! it's father fighting them off," he gasped; "he is in -that hollow and they have attacked him!" - -He struck his heels against the ribs of Jack, fiercely jerked the -bridle-rein, and shouted to him to run at his best straight for the -spot. - -But the approaching cavalry had descried the same thing, and were -nearer the hollow than was the youth. They turned the heads of the -horses and struck off at full speed. - -The assailing Indians, too, had discovered their danger and were seen -skurrying for their ponies, waiting near. The obedient animals -turned until their masters sprang upon their backs, when they dashed -off at full speed, with a single exception. One of them, forgetful -of his danger or determined upon revenge, even at the cost of his -life, was observed to have something in his arms as he held his -ground. - -"It is Edith that he is about to slay; maybe he has already killed -her! O heaven!" the brother groaned, "is it too late to save her?" - -Jack was tearing over the ground at a killing pace, but he could not -reach them in time. He could carry his rider there in time to shoot -down the Indian, but not soon enough to prevent his burying his knife -in the innocent heart. - -But there was a wonderful sharpshooter among the cavalry. He saw the -awful peril, and throwing his horse on his haunches, brought his gun -to his shoulder. - -During the instant it was at a level, Hugh Kingsland dashed out of -the hollow, bare-headed, and, with hair streaming, ran toward the -Indian and his little girl. One pace behind him sped his wife; she -was seen to make quick, earnest gestures to the approaching horsemen, -and they thought it an appeal to them not to lose a second if they -would save her child. - -At that instant the sharpshooter pressed the trigger of his weapon; -the Indian dropped the little one, threw up his arms in an aimless -way, staggered back and sank to the ground. - -The next minute the troop thundered up, Brinton almost among them. - -"Are you hurt, my darling Edith?" he called, leaping out of the -saddle, catching her in his arms, pressing her to his heart and -kissing her; "speak! did he hurt you?" - -The child was bewildered by the great confusion, and, without -answering her brother, looked him affrightedly in the face. - -"Why, Brint, is that you?" - -"Yes, yes; heaven be praised, you are not harmed! Oh, how can I be -thankful enough? And you, father and mother! what a blessed sight!" - -The mother gave him one grateful glance and then knelt by the fallen -Indian, just as Edith, slipping from the grasp of her brother, ran to -the prostrate figure and bent over it, asking in a voice of -inexpressible tenderness-- - -"What is the matter, Wolf Ear?" - -The young Ogalalla lay on his back, but at the moment the child spoke -he managed, by a great effort, to raise his head and rest it on his -hand. He had not spoken, but now, fixing his dark eyes on Edith, -said in a faint voice-- - -"Wolf Ear is hurt!" - -The troopers sat silent on their horses, looking down on the strange -scene. Hugh Kingsland, with no trace of his illness, stood back a -few paces with folded arms, gazing at the moving sight and trying in -vain to restrain his emotions. His wife placed her arm under the -head of the Ogalalla, and, resting it on her knee, smoothed the black -hair from his forehead, murmuring words of sympathy; Edith covered -her face with her hands, and sobbed with a breaking heart. - -Brinton was affected at the sight of his former friend, but he could -not help saying-- - -"Mother, we can all pity him, but he was our enemy; and had he not -been shot at that moment Edith would not be living now." - -"You are wrong, my son," she replied gently. "Wolf Ear came forward -to save Edith." - -"What are you saying?" - -"He was with the party that attacked us; he did what he could to -restrain them; he could not do so, and he ran forward to join and -help us defend ourselves against them. Edith saw him first and -hurried out to meet him; he caught her up, and, when his companions -would have harmed her, he would not let them touch her. He shouted -to us to have no fear, that he was our friend. At that moment the -soldiers came in sight and the other Indians made off. Wolf Ear knew -we were saved, and so he stood still, with Edith's arms around his -neck. I saw one of the soldiers aiming at them with his gun; husband -and I ran out to shield him. I shouted and motioned to the soldier -not to shoot, but he did not understand me, and--this is the sad -result of the dreadful mistake." - -Wolf Ear fixed his eyes upon the wondering Brinton, who, walking -forward and stooping down, asked in a choking voice-- - -"Is all this true, Wolf Ear?" - -"The words of your mother are true." - -"But what meant your course toward me yesterday? I cannot reconcile -that with what I have just heard." - -"We parted friends, though I told you I was the enemy of the rest of -your race. From the time we separated I have done all I could to -find your people and save them before it was too late. Until now, I -have not met you." - -"You forget; we met in the gorge last night, and only this morning, -when you sought the life of Nick Jackson, I chased you over the ridge -in the effort to make you prisoner." - -A smile overspread the dark face, and the head swayed a single time -to one side. - -"Brinton, you are mistaken; the Ogalalla whom you met, as you say, in -the gully, and whom you sought to make prisoner, was not I--he was my -twin brother, Young Bear; our mother can hardly tell us apart, and I -taught him to speak English as well as I." - -"Oh, what have I done!" wailed Brinton, breaking down utterly, and -covering his face with his hands. "I never dreamed of this; can you -forgive this dreadful mistake?" - -"Yes," said Wolf Ear faintly, "I forgive you; I forgive the soldier -who shot me, for he did it to save _her_ life." - -He wearily closed his eyes, but opened them again when he felt the -chubby arms of Edith clasped round his neck, and her lips pressed -against his. - -"Oh, Wolf Ear!" she sobbed, in tones that brought tears to more than -one eye among the bronzed troopers, "do not die! I love you, next to -Brint and papa and mamma----" - -Among the silent troopers touched by the scene was the sharpshooter -who had brought Wolf Ear low. He was a brave, rugged soldier, but, -like most men, had a tender heart. He had not spoken for some -minutes, and his eyes were moist as he swung his foot from his -stirrup and over the haunch of his horse to the ground. - -"Jim Budworth don't often make a miss," he said in a broken voice, -"and I didn't miss this fellow; but then I didn't aim to kill him, -and I don't believe I did. I know a little about surgery myself--so -let me take a look at Wolf Ear, as you call him." - -Wondering at the words of the sharpshooter, and hardly daring to hope -he was right, all watched him as he made what may be called a medical -examination of the sufferer. The bullet had struck him in the side, -and evidently had inflicted the wound intended. - -"Injins are tough," remarked Budworth, "and this one is as tough as -the rest. He isn't going to die. Here, Wolf Ear, try this." - -As he spoke, the trooper held a flask of spirits to the lips of the -young Indian and forced him to swallow some of it. It produced an -immediate effect; and, to the astonishment of everyone, Wolf Ear -assumed a sitting position and looked round with a smile. - -"I feel better--much better, thank you," he said, with a grateful -look at Budworth. - -"Of course you do. It was a narrow chance for you, no mistake; but -all you want is careful nursing, and I reckon Mrs. Kingsland here -will be glad to give it you." - -"Indeed I will," said the delighted woman; "there is nothing that I -will not do for Wolf Ear. Can it be possible that he is going to get -well after all?" - -"Of course it is; I know all about Injins." - -"Oh, I am so glad!" exclaimed the happy Edith, throwing her arms -again about his neck. - -"Easy now, easy now," said Budworth; "don't go to rolling and -tumbling him about until he gets a little stronger. After that you -can handle him as you choose." - -Wolf Ear rallied with amazing quickness, and showed all the heroism -of his race, when he was helped upon his horse and the party moved -back to the supply camp, where the teamsters had succeeded in driving -off the hostiles. - -The Indian was given an easy, comfortable couch in one of the -waggons, and some hours later the party arrived at Wounded Knee. -There the sufferer received the best of medical attention, and was -soon able to move about with scarcely any pain or trouble. His -recovery was rapid; and to-day only a slight scar remains to tell how -nearly he met death in his efforts to save his friends from the -warriors of his own race. - -And within the following few weeks the threatening cloud that had -overspread the Western sky, behind which the blood-red lightning -gleamed and played, dissolved, and gave place to the sweet sunshine -of peace, which, let us pray, may continue for ever. - - - - - PRINTED BY - CASSELL AND COMPANY, LIMITED, LA BELLE SAUVAGE. - LONDON, E.C. - 30,313 - - - - - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Wolf Ear the Indian, by Edward S. Ellis - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WOLF EAR THE INDIAN *** - -***** This file should be named 60633.txt or 60633.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/0/6/3/60633/ - -Produced by Al Haines -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive -specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this -eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook -for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, -performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given -away--you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks -not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the -trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country outside the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no - restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it - under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this - eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the - United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you - are located before using this ebook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The -Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org - - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the -mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its -volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous -locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt -Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to -date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and -official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - |