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THE COIVARD
He wasn't afraid to cheat.
He wasn't afraid to swear.
And he wouldn't have been afraid to meet
The panther in its lair.
He wasn't afraid to ride
On the fastest trains that ran;
He wasn't afraid of the foamy lde,
Or the laws of God and man.
He wasn't afraid to lie.
Nor to win when he had the deal:
When he knew no one was around to spy
He wasn’t afraid to stea
lie scoffed at the Christian's prayers,
W en the sun was high an
But the fool was afraid to go downstairs
Alone in the dark at night.
, .
Facing the Death Circle
i By lfoberl Jlzrynard
.' CHAPTER I.
; TIIE BOY SCUIJT AND Hi3 FRIEND.
.. one bracing spring morning. more than
- thirty years ago, two young men were mak-
‘ ' ‘ ing their way westward not far from what
is now the town of Miles City in southern
Montana.
The oldest had the look of one whose life
in the eastern
who had military training, either at school
. or in the militia.
'1 , The second was a year younger in age.
I But it could easily be seen that in wild
' western experience he was far in advance
of the other.
Both, however, were fine, manly looking
fellows, still in their teens, ready to meet
trouble. endure toil, ‘and brave danger,
1 though naturally pref'ei-Lrlng fun and a good
r
The age of modern breech-loading dre-
arms was then well catered upon, though
not so advanced as it is now. .
Each of these youngsters had a repeating
ride and a brace of revolvers: also a hunt-
ing knife and a blanket.
Ned Farren,- the olderyrotle a powerful
cavalry horse, much more imposing than
the sin dun pony bcstrode by his cum-
panion. John Walden.
ut the pony, like its master, was wise
in the ways of the western trail. So much
so. in fact, as to merit the name he had
given it, partly because of its color, but
; more on account of lls cunning and endur-
; ,-mce, as was proved in many a severe trial
, against the Sioux. the Crows. and the
l . Big Horn, and his pony. Red Fox. were het-
: ter known about the Big Horn mountains
i and through the Ilztd Lands to the Black
- Hills, than much more famous folks in
some other parts of our country.
The country these lads were passing
through was an open one. in the main.
Wide plains through which -ran boister-
' ous creeks and rivers. flowing mostly nort
‘ and eastward. were divided by bold moun-
, ' tain ranges, that enclosed, here and there,
‘> lakes teeming with fish.
Along the hills were forests, and south-
ward was a region of billowy ridges, wash-
ed’ out and barren. that extended for many
These were called the Bad Lands, and
when there was trouble with the Indians.
in this desert of walled cliffs, flaming
' buttes. and naked stretches of dead lava,
, '; the “hostlles" would congregate.
’ ' Out of these forbidding lairs they would
. ' issue to plunder, and kill, and destroy the
% few settlers of those regions. Then, he-
tore the troops from some distant past
. could reach the scene, the savages would
= be far away.
' Behind them the belated soldiers would
too often find only burned homes, slain and
scalped ranchers. while the cattle and oth-
er stock were hidden miles on in some bar-
ren recess by the red rogues who had
stolen them.
To the north rolled the Yellowstone riv-
er. up few steamboats now
and then ascended from the Missouri.
New settlers with their families and
goods came on these boats, and where the
lands looked inviting they would stop off
. Extensions were already
projected, though on paper and by survey
Y.
For several hours the boys had been rid-
Be-
. They were drawing near to a range
of low hills that had hidden the country to
the northward for so long a time that Ned
I-‘arren‘s face new more and more anxious,
though he tried to hide this from his com-
panicn
bright, ' ,'
I-I A P 15 Y fD.A;;>YAgsg.
On the contrary, John Walden. the real
hero of this tale, seemed to be as jolly and
unconcerned as if trouble and he were to-
tal strangers.
Finally Farren‘s uneasiness overcame his
desire to hide his feelings from his friend.
and he broke the silence which had con-
tinued lor some time by asking:
“John. are you sure that when we get to
the top of that further ridge we'll get a
good view of the Yellowstone?”
Walden,'who was resting his leg by cross-
ing one knee before him over his sad
horn, straightened himself and
round at the other inqulringly. Then he
sxmiled slightly and resumed his tlrst posi-
1
Ned waited for the answer, that did not
come for a minute or more.
‘Did you hear what I said?" he asked.
“I'm not exactly deaf, Ned. But you've
asked me that same thing twice before in
the last hour or so.
“Well, can't you
anxious?" '
. “I suppose you are. But I have learned
not to worry over things beforehand. When
one is doing all one can to avert trouble,
it's best to look on the bright side."
“You hardly understand, John. Here I
have come from Ohio to visit my uncle and
his family, and they were to have sent
someone to meet me at Bismarck. But no
one came and there was no word sent, If
I had not met you at Fort Lmcoln, near
there, I would not have known where to go
“Well, I was coming this way on a scout
for General Terry, and I now where your
uncle had decided to locate. I rather guess
we will find them at home when we get
.. .
see that I am mighty
3
re
‘Yet yon say that the Indians are be-
ginning to make trouble in this region, as
they already have done further south. We
meet no one, and the Indians avoid us. Sit-
ting Bull has been among the different
tribes preaching that now is the time for
them to unite and sweep this country clear
of the whites. Crazy Horse, the Cheyenne
chief. and Gail. are doing the same thing
among the Brules, the Blackfeet. and the
Ognllalas.
“I heard, too, that there was talk of Gen-
eral Custer being sent on a long scout with
a strong force into the Bad lands, and up
around the Big Horn mountains to keep
track of these hostiles. Altogether, I feel
more and more uneasy for my uncle and
his family."
“Much of what you say is so. Ned. liiucb
that you don't know of has been brewing
among these Northwest tribes for a. long
while. e Sioux, more than the others,
have never been satisiied since they got
such a thrashing some years back, and had
to give up their Minnesota lands. In fact,
they're kept dlnglng so at the Cheyennes,
the Arapahoes, and others, that the Crows
are about the tribe now friendly
enough to furnish Uncle Sam's soldiers
with reliable Indian scouts."
“C n you wonder then that I am anxious
for Uncle Dick Hall and his folks‘! He is
my mother's only brother, and as father is
dead. I feel ‘as it they were still home folks
They were warned and
we got away to safe y."
."I did not know this, John. Though I
so good and so
wild life, that to me we seem like brothers
already."
Under the impulse of mutual liking the
two reached out and shook hands. Then
arren asked his friend:
“Were none left but you-no brother or
sister?”
“My sister illay-same age as me, for we
were twins-was missing. . The bodies of
father. mother, an older brother and sister,
were found amid the burning ruins of our
in I-I can’! talk about it, only that
they were scalpede”
Walden broke off. and his strong, bronz-
ed features drew into a frown that Ned
had not seen on his youthful face before.
For some moments the two kept silence,
though Ned was full of sympathy. But he
felt that here was a grief beside which his
own "ague anxieties looked almost triviaL
Presently Walden resumed as if he had
little girl of six. Her body was not found.
nor have I heard of her to this day. Kind
friends gave me a home, but as I grew old-
er the purpose to End out about her grew
he savages were all removed to
reservations further west. There is now a
due farm back there that belongs to May
and I, if May is alive. If she is not, I sup-
nosc it is mine. But until I know she is
dead. or I and her alive. the farm and its
ncome remain untouched. Itiis in good
hands, and I don't need it while my life
task is yet incomplete.”
“Then that is the reason you came out
here when a mere boy and became it scout
-to find your sister."
“Y s. e life suits me. and perhaps
I'm not fit for much else. The Crows have
adopted me, and hen you see my adopted
brother, White Bird, you will see as good a
‘M ,
.
‘ scout and a bLi.i8i' lad than 1, though he is
an
1: ran. . g ‘
i "i doubt that, my friend,” said lxed.
warmly‘ ’
“Well. it is so, nevertheless. I am look- ,
ing for him to turn up at any hour. f0l' he .
was sent on ahead of me "
After that the two pursued their way un-
til at flns.l rise of ground brought them in
view of the Yellowstone, and a -broad
stretch of rolling prairie land. I ‘ l
One belt of this was hidden III dense‘
smoke, as if it had been recently bred.
‘sight of this Walden became agitated.
He turned to Ned Farren at once, and
said: .
“Your anxiety is not without cause. The
Sioux are out in these parts, and there is
one result of their work.” . >
CHAPTER II.
IVHITE man makes A nm caertrnn.
Walden pointed at the smoke, which lay
close to the earth and covered a. wide tract
n the northwest, out of which the great
river rolled sluggishly. as if oppressed by
the dense pail hiding the landscape.
'ed Farren took a second look around
him, and in his turn grew so pale that the
boy scout laid a hand on his friend's shoul-
er... , .
“Cheer up. Ned,” be said. “I feel sure
that if old man Hall and his family were
in that dre we would have seen or heard
signs of it before now. me! Brace u
an! Let us ride down and see for our-
selves what is going on. " .
So the two boys put spurs to their horses
and loped down the long incline at an angle
which would bring them towards a clump
of cottonwoods, the tops of which were
visible just within the smoke belt-.
-“You have been here before, John?” ask-
ed Ned anxiously.
“There is little of the country between
the Black Hills and the Big Horn moun-
tains that I am not familiar with. ‘When I
was here last, old man Hall and his folks
were preparing to build on the point-be-
yond those cottonwoods, where the land
jutted out on the riv
“Why, that is right
thickest.” .
“The wind may blow it there. Be easy,
Ned. Hark! Don‘t you hear anything?
bounds to me like the pulling of a steam-
oat."
8
er."
where the smoke lies
As they listened, tholigh not)drawlng
rein for that purpose, the faint, far-off
resplrations of an engine seemed to be an-
"bl
I 9.
At least to Walden. whose senses were
sharpened by years of training in all the
wiles of a plainsman 'fe.
When near the belt of smoke, John bore
sharply to the left. This-brought them to
a steep bank, down which they rode along
a trail that the boy scout seemed to know
was .
Now the pulsations from the river came
more clearly, indicating that a boat was
making its way up or down stream.
“Follow me,” called John to his compan-
ion. “We have no time to lose."
Along the underside of this bank the
two rocie, partly in and out of the water,
until the land sank, then rose gradually.
Yet everywhere was the smoke. At last
they came upon the ruins of a sort of
wharf. .
Walden turned sharply, and made for the
higher ground.
The ruins of some burning buildings.
9”“ Smoking. were next found. Several
slaughtered cattle, that had been skinned
and Ilartly eaten, betokened that the In-
dians had paused in their work of destruc-
tion long enough to make hurried use of
the settlers’ domestic animals.
The horses bad doubtless been driven
away. and perhaps other cattle as well. The
buildings were completely destroyed.
“We must not stop here," said Walden.
suddenly pausing to listen.
log on at a distance, as if some n
sault were taking place somewhere Also
the sounds of the boat's engines hadceased
Filled with a dire foreboding Ned pa,-L
ren followed his friend deeper into the cm-.
taln of smoke.
of this devastat d , '
"ad"-‘d I bluif. 3ey3E?1"3ilcn ggfsllghtglifgy.
gsa atrgd an occasional vvarwhoop mas.
ca e at in til ' '
Bolalheir reslestas:ce.ers ‘Yew yet making
“ sten!” Walden held up his hand as a
$ll:;t:hl3g$.“" “““‘- "Y0" Walt here a
The boy scout ’ n r
and. rifle in hand, 7i‘i;:pgea.$.l" inmtSl1es?i‘i]l?e1:-,
tion of the noise. Farren held his piece
i
1);,’ 9:33:55 and waited. expecting he knew
most natu al rm 1
“uh mm "35 3- tall. line-looking
young Indian armed with, a rifle. The mg
were dragging between them a coarse o,
savage, who did not want to come, yet, fl
some reason or other, was obliged to yiel
his own desires to the stronger will 4
those who had seized im.
“This is Sitting Bull," said Walden, i
three with no friendly.
White Bird." meaning the young warrio I
“whom I told you about. ’
tie, and as I knew he should be outlyir.
around here, I made a break for him. W '
are you doing with this old rascal, Wbi
Bird?"
Farren could hardly believe his ears th.
this disreputable old fellow was really this
famous medicine man of the Sioux. ‘
“I reach here two hours back. with me ‘
sage for Captain Thunder." ' ‘
Here Walden indicated that this was ti 1
captain of a government steamer on ti '
river,'whose engines the two had heard . ’
intervals. -
“I find Sitting Bull here," contlnui ’
White Bird, indicating that party, wi
frowned heavily. “Twenty warrior win‘
him. Come to make talk with white squa ‘
ter. All wait for Cap’n Thunder and but ‘
Boat come. White squatter and folks go i
card-on Iboard ap‘n Thunti (
come shore for smoke talk. Stay in blot
house. Then ' ' Bull warrior 1 i‘
take boat.
Bull-blow wh tie-when,
Scout, friend of White Bird. I have spo
n "
“Good for you, White Bird," said Waiilz l
“I knew you were somewhere about, their
1 did not expect to find you with this i r
' . But as long as we ha 11
chat! in char ,
him. we wi eep him to make sure of 1
friends." . ‘E
I
safety of the rest of our
Farren. more perplexed and worried lh ;
he Boy Scout and White B‘
but Sitting Bull onvRed Fox and tie h
They bound his feet lose
91' “D519? the I)0n3"s belly, and his hat
behind his back.
" ere your
queried Walden.
“Left him under
Sioux got him n g
“Well, never mind. We must keep ti ,,
old scoundrel with us, and use him to Sn er
the boat's people. I guess your uncle lSi -
board, Ned, and it will go hard if we i'l0l 3
manage to draw oi! the Sioux when U! ti
nd out what has become of their f.‘lll9> 1
The three, with Walden walking 3‘ it
leading his horse. descended 3 narrow pa 1
that presently brought them again nail
the bluff. but much further along the PM
than before.
The noise of a boat's engines were as“
heard ahead. Walden bred three Shi ,
from his rifle in rapid succession that ii" ‘(
answered from the boat, somewhere out I
the water.
“That will let Thunder know friends '
near.” said John. “It will also let tbl
at the hlockhouse know something is hi‘:
ins. and perhaps the Sioux will tr
rench leave.” I
3“! this did not seem likely, for it
soon saw the outlines of e. bloclthouse' 1
the end of a short wharf, towards‘u'l1l )
I
l
horse, White Islrtilq‘
I
the river bank. Gur- ei
ow." '
the dimmer shape of some moving obi‘
on“ the river was faintly visible. ‘
That is the boat,” said Walden. "1
Y0“ 5llDD05e the Sioux have entered '1 c
blockhouse and are waiting for Thundv .-
land?”
White Bird did not know. but thought
probable. The Boy Scout mounted the R
Fox behind his bound and helpless captl‘ E
who gsquirmed uneasily. X
It Still. you old peppercorn!” ordel" .
Walden, when he was interrupted by 9' "0 3
ley from the steamboat. directed at ‘I A,
.l
I-0
o
blockhouse.
Indian yells, followed by shots from 3‘
last place, answered the former, W W‘
SDTHDE to the ground: saying: V .
“We must reply to the Sioux, so that or
friends on board will know where W9 3’ .
and the Indians may know that W9 h‘:
them behind as well as in front-see.
CIIAPTER iii.
71!: nor scour MAKES AS E.VE.‘lY‘
In accord with this. the three raisEd
yell and fired point-blank at the struclu
in which the Sioux were waiting 19’ Ca
tnin Thunder to land.
The result was surprising. Another V?
163' followed from the hearing boat. and 0
came a dozen or more dark forms if!
the blockhouse. '.
on they came across the short wharf. l
yond which our three with their cap“
still stood. . ‘
“Once more give it to them!‘ shouted ll
Boy Scout, emptying his ride at the folv
most. who fell. ,
White Bird and Farren quickly fallout
suit. and another buck toppled 0"" b‘.
the rest, seeing what a. small group “'5'
opposed to them. came tearing along W
loud shouts on the little party. .
Walden drove his pony further into tl
water, and the three were. for a
fairly overwhelmed by the rush of at 1191"
iiert-e enemies. ‘ '