Molly McDonald / A Tale of the Old Frontier

gray dawn gave misty revealment of the sluggish-flowing river, the brown slope opposite, and the darker shadow of bluffs beyond. The popping of those distant guns had ceased b

ible, the advancing savages halting to observe the effect. Then a bright colored blanket was waved aloft as though in signal, an

l made down the gully, or the marks left on the sandy bank. But would they imagine he had dared to cross the broad stream, burdened with the girl, confronting almost certain death in the quicksand? Would they not believe rather that he had waded along the water's edge headed west, hoping thus to escape to the bluffs, where some hiding-place might be found? Even if they suspected a crossing, would any warriors among them be reckless enough to follow? Would

ing the trail. Suddenly one straightened up gesticulating, and the others rushed toward him-they had found the "sign"! They were silent now, those main trailers, two of them on hands and knees. Only back where the bodies lay some remained yelling and dancing furiously. Then they also, in response to a shout and the wave of a blanketed arm, scattered, running west toward the gully. There was no hesitancy now; some savage instinct seemed to tell them

is sure we have gone the other way; he is waving his hand up the river now, and talking. Now he is getting on his horse; there are ten or twelve of them. One fellow is pointing across here, but no one agrees with him. Now Roman Nose is giving orders.

move! The stage has been

back when they discover we

scouting details sent out from Wallace and Dodge. Some of the boys are bound to be after them, and there is more chance for them to get back safely along the mountains than in the other

istance, yet the sun was up by this time and hi

o," he said quietly. "They are far

ushing back and forth about the smoking ruins of the stage; occasionally a faint yell echoed across the river, and she could distinguish a sa

ere any longer. See, they are lashing bodies on to the ponies. Ah, that is what I wante

n Nose will not return?

they had to go that way; Roman Nose and his band hoped we 'd taken that direction, and hurried on ahead to catch us if he cou

inst the bluff, marking where the stage had stood. About this, outlined upon the brown grass, appeared darker patches representing dead ponies and the bodies of Moylan and Gonzales where they had been tumbled, scalped and otherwise mutila

up, his e

who his companion was recurring to his mind. "Something must have frightened them." He shaded his eyes, staring at the bluffs opposite, "But the

ogative." And she drew her head through the strap, letting the leather bag fall

d, watching her with interest. She glance

you want me

be waited upon. Only, you see, it is very unusual for an of

ng of that at all. Y

slight bitterness in his tone, "

t, yet she stifled the first words that leaped to her lips. His soft hat lay

ltered. "Surely you do not believ

ot presuming, nor taking advantage of the accident which has placed us in this peculiar position, but I have been a trooper out here now a long while, stationed at little isolated frontier posts, riding the great plains, doing the little routine duties of soldiering. I have n't spoken to a decent woman on terms of social equality for two years; I 've loo

and it must be awful to feel alone like that, I told you I-I liked you, and-I do. Now remember that, please,

y eyes

ssuming a

inkling a little, but her eyes bright

ven if the dream does n't last lon

think it wil

ok his

o hope; I have been

toying with the flap of the haversack, her eyes g

t like that at all. I am not going to be ashamed of a friend because he-h

and over his ha

mlin-a subtle reference

e sun on it, and I am not going to call you that. I don't like nicknames. What di

d, and then lifted his gr

tell you-David Carter Hamlin; there, you have al

hy, of course; now, Dave,

ite ready fo

dened, but their eyes