THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE; OR, The Fate of Bellevue.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3212, 15 October 1881, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE; OR, The Fate of Bellevue.

A Story of the Late Indian War in the Wonderful Valley of the Yellowstone.

By Major Alfred Rocheport,

CHAPTER VII,

IN WHICH ARE DETAILED THE COUNCIL

AND ITS SANGUINARY PURPOSE,

The Sioux have ever been the most powerful tribe of Indians west of the Mississippi, and it is doubtful if any tribe that ever lived in the East could send on the warpath so numerous and daring a band of braves. Their hunting grounds had but recently comprised a territory larger in area than the present kingdoms of ispain, Italy, and Germany. '.though, nominally acknowledging one head, they were divided into clans or subtribes, each taking its name from.its location. The Sioux, like all powerful and barbarous bodies, had absorbed a dozen minor tribes by force of arms, and they kept up a ceaseless wirfare against the Crows and Blackfeet, who refused to be coerced. But the present council was not called to plan fresh raids on the hill tribes to the west. The Sioux had long been friendly to the ■whites ; not because they feared their superior power, for they could imagine no people superior to themselves, but because the whites had come as traders, and supplied the red men with articles beyond their own skill, and which catered to their savage tastes, or made them more successful in their wars with less favored tribes. This council was called to plan the extermination of the pale faces, who, first coming suppliants for help into the-hunting grounds of the Sioux,, had so increased in numbers and arrogance that it was plain to the simplest mind that 'one 1 or the other must soon control the land. Such a sight as was presented this night is but rarely seen by the white men, and once seen, ie is never forgotten. Fully a thousand tepees, or lodges, that looked white as snow in the light of the many fires, lined either bank of the calm stream by which the bands had gathered. Before every lodge, on a tripod of white Bticks, the shield, lance, quiver and horse equipments of the warrior were hung. The women and children were arrayed in trappings, which, if they could not bear a close inspection, were certainly as scenically effective as anything that the highest art ever produced. But the glory of the women and children was dimmed before the gorgeous decorations of the warriors. The chiefs wore eagles' feathers in their hair, and a few of them had scarlet blankets thrown over their shoulders for color effect. The night was warm, and the roaring fires made it yet warmer. , All the men wore their long, black hair , Btreaming down their backs—thick and , glosßy as the manes.of the wild horses. ( Whatever of bead or brilliant thing in their possession that could catch the light , and dazzle the eye, they wore. j All were without war weapons. All had red streaks of paint on their faces, 3 ■which gave them a fierce if not a fiendish j expression, and wonderfully increased the malignant brilliancy of their burning black ] eyes. # j Like animated mummies, an old man and ( his wife —the chief medicine man, and the prophetess of the tribe—moved in and out ( among the people, speaking with low, hissing voices, as if the snake skins wound about , their heads had become re-animated, and \ were speakimg with forked tongues. 1 After St. Armand withdrew from the presence of Red Cloud, and went to find his ( white companions, the chief rose, and holding aloft a spear, waved it thrice above his head. A murmur ran through the swarms, and every eye was turned to the spear, below whose glittering head was a tuft of scarlet feathers. Standing a moment as if fascinated the ■warriors reached out their hands and broke into a cheer, high shrill and prolonged, and at the same time they rushed with one impulse to the great council fire, about which the chiefs were gathered. With a rapidity that seemed like the drill of disciplined troops the braves formed ciroles about the fire, outside the chiefs. The shorter men were placed to the front, eaoh circle rising higher,, the tallest forming the outer circle. The old medicine.man, Guskal, and his hidous looking Mel-ahl, stood between the chiefs and the fire, eaoh carrying a pipe with a long, fancifully decorated stem, and a deep bowl of dark red stone. Red Cloud made a signal and Guskal took a brand from the fire, lit the pipe and banded it to the great chief j Mel-ahl did the same, giving her pipe to Whirlwind, who sat among the younger ohiefs on the opposite side of the fire. Each chief took one whiff from the pipe and passed it to his neighbour on the right. Eaoh chief, after doing this, compressed his lips and let the smoke pass slowly out through his nose, so that in a short time they all looked to be in a slow state of combustion, and as if the flames must breakout if they attempted to open their mouths. This initial ceremony being over, Red Cloud rose slowly and with much diginity. He looked over the sea of fierce faces, and in a voice penetrating, rather than loud, he began the address which opened the deliberations. He stated why he had called the tribe together, spoke of the aggressions and broken oaths of the whites, and soncluded by saying: ' I will speak no more till I have heard from my brothers. Already, and without the authority of this council, some of our bands have gone on the war-path. On our deliberations to-night depends a general war. I ask Whirlwind to explain why he broke the customs of our people, after which the other chiefs will speak.' Red Cloud sat down and Whirlwind rose, taller than the tallest brave in the outer -Circle;' ' •Whirlwind, chief;of the Unca-pah-pah,

1 stands ever ready to explain his acts. Whirlwind is a Sioux and is proud of it, as was his father, who long seasons ago fell in battle with the Crows. ' I have never loved to see the white hun- • ters and traders in our land, for my heart told me they came for their own good, not ours. With their rifles they thinned out the buffalo on the plains, and the deer on the hills, and with their nets they have dragged the large fish from our rivers. They have taken as wives the most beautiful daughters 1 of our bands, and deserted them when it suited their purpose ; yet against this I have uttered no complaint, nor do I do so now, except to call to your mind that we have not been the transgressors. ' I saw that the game was being destroyed, and I knew that the time must come when we and our children must get food in another way. So I said to my people, ' Let us imitate the white men and get food from the ground.' 1 A gainst all the traditions of our people they obeyed me. We settled down in a valley on the upper Powder River and we built tepees of wood and stone for our women and children, as we had seen the white man do. ' That was three summers ago. ' We planted corn and tobacco and potatoes, and we bought cattle from the white men. Our women trained flowers over our lodges, and our braves no longer yearned to go into the mountains or back to the great plains to hunt: like squaws, they began to grow fond of the one place where their children were. ' White men came to us hungry and we fed them. ' White men came to us cold and we gave them clothes. 'White men came to us sick and we nursed them back to health. ' The Unca-pah-pahs were happy; they wei-3 at peace. 'One-day a white chief came to our valley and with him were many white braves, dressed in blue, riding fine horses and carrying long knives and bright rifles. And the chief said to me, ' You must leave here with your people for we are going to build a fort.' » i Why should you build a fort here ?' I asked; ' the Sioux are the friends of the whites.' " ' It is the order of the great father,' he said. "Then answered I, 'These valleys and hills are not the property of the great father to do with as he pleases. The great father is a white man, and long before the white man came to this land the Sioux owned and held it against all the tribes that came against them. On these mountains we fought in the olden time for our huntinggrounds, as we are ready to fight again. In these valleys sleep our fathers, and the foe that steps foot on their graves will soon be as dead as the sleepers beneath. By these streams our children have played; in the shadow of these forests our maidens have woven wild flowers in their hair. The hills and the valleys, the streams and the forests are ours, and the white man or red man who comes to ti.ke them must come prepared to : die, or destroy our nations.' " Whirlwind possessed every element of an orator. He felt that he was not only called i to defend his own conduct in precipitating a : war, but that at the same time he must ■ rouse the assembled bands to side with him 1 in the contest. He would have gone on, but his words, j like the wand of a prophet, had touched the < fountains of feeling in the impressible hearts ] about him. ; The women shrieked and clasped their children to their breasts. i With a fierce shout the warriors broke j away from the circle, and rushing to the tripods they seized their arms and poured 1 back, some of tho young braves bringing ] weapons and laying them at the feet of the i chiefs, who bo far had remained impassive, if not stoical. When again the circles were formed, and i marked by a forest of spears, Red Cloud rose and asked : ' Has Whirlwind told us all he has to say?' Whirlwind still stood erect, never having changed his position. He replied to the chief: - 'I have not finished ; but if it should be the wish of the council that I stop here, I will close my lips and do whatever the older men agree on.' ' Let Whirlwind speak !' ' Let the brave chief of the Unca-pa-pahs ease his heart!' ' Go on, Whirlwind !' These and kindred expressions came thundering from the excited circles. Whirlwind bowed, and continued ! ' The white brave and his braves left then, and as three moons passed without their return, we felt that the great father had changed his mind, and that peace would remain in our valley. As had been our custom, we went down, while yet the furs were good, to the great plain to hunt, leaving our women and children to prepare for the crops, as spring was ooming. 'We returned — returned to find the white warriors in the valley, our fields laid waste, our lodges destroyed, and our women and children shivering on the hills, from which they could look down on the fort which the white men had built--' A hoarse, indignant murmur, like a fierce storm courier, again interrupted the ' chief. Waiting till the death-like stillness came to the circles, Whirlwind proceeded : { I, with my braves, went to our women and children in the hills, and we looked 1 down at the white man's fort, above which a red flag floated, and we saw the ruined homes in which we thought to live at ' peace. i ' My heart wa3 no longer good to the ■ white man. My mother died of cold in the hills. My wife had in her trembling arms 1 the first child the Great Spirit had sent me, ; and it, too, was dead. 'Then I said to my people : "The white * man has struck the first blow, the Unca-pah- ■ pahs will strike the last." 5 ' Then I bared my hoad and raised my 3 spear to tho sun, and I swore to be avenged. ' Then my warriors raised their spears, . and since then every spear has been dipped r in the blood of a white man. ' Oh, warriors of the Sioux nation! — > | men. with mothers, living or dead j men

. with children, laughing or for ever silent i —tell me if I, Whirlwind of the Uncai pah-pahs, did wrong? Place your spear blades in the earth, if you condemn me ? raise them high above your heads, if you applaud my act and are ready to sustain ; it.' Whirlwind folded his arms and threw a lightning glance over the sea of burning faces. Not long was he in doubt. Again up rose the cheer, as if it had been shot into the star-lit vault of night by the sea of glistening spears that flashed on high. Not one weapon was reversed. Whirlwind bowed to the people and sat down. Other leaders of bands were called on by the imperturbable Red Cloud, and all had stories of outrage from the whites to report —but all came back to repeat the words and endorse the action of the chief of the Unca-pah-pahs. When all the chiefs who desired had spoken, Red Cloud called on Captain Richmond to explain why he had joined the Sioux and taken up arms against tho whites. Richmond looked to be nervous, but removing his hat, he entered the circle and spoke as follows : 'As the white chiefs and the Great Father treat the red men, so do they often treat those of their own color. < >nee I was a chief with warriors about me, and I fought for the great father; and on my body I have scars to show I did not fear death. But the cruel laws of the white man drove me from my horne —as they have driven all the men of my color here ; and we said, " We will go to the Sioux ; there we will be free, and if need be, we can aid them to destroy our tyrants." We came ; we are here ; we are ready. That is all I have to say.' He drew back, and the chiefs and braves sent up an approving murmur. Red Cloud was the last speaker. He reviewed with fine memory and keen analysis all that had been said. Had not Whirlwind spoken he might have been thought eloquent, if not an orator. He dwelt on the fact that a settlement had recently been made in their hunting grounds without the consent of the Sioux —a consent that, in his own case, would not have been given. Before he had concluded, the least perceptive saw clearly that the voice of the great chief was for war, and when he put the question of war or peace to the people he found not one who was not willing to sustain the conduct of the Unca-pah-pah leader. The decision of war being reached, the chiefs rose from the ground and the circles about the fire were widened. The bows were strung and the lances were uplifted. Then began the wild war dance, a description of which it is impossible as it would be to paint the continued action of a whirlwind. Guskal, the priest, and Mel-ahl, his wife, raised the war song of the Sioux. I The braves, sweeping about in giddy ' circles, caught the refrain, and beating their ( spears against their shields, or twanging their bow strings, they raised their shrill voices, to which the roaring fires kept fitting accompaniment. ' Around and around they went, madder and madder, till even the coolest chiefs caught the fierce contagion, and with uplifted weapons sprang into tho circles and 1 joined the dancers. Black clouds gathered over head. The ] wind went surging through the pines, but j the dancers heeded it not. The lightning flashed across the mountain's face, and the thunder drums of ' heaven rolled, but the people saw not, neither did they hear. CHAPTER VIII. SHOWING HOW GT/IDW ■WHITMAN, COLONEL LEROY;, AND BEHTEAM, BEACHED BELLETTJE. The grey dawn was stealing into the valley when Guide Whitman rose from his bed of furs, to find that Colonel Leroy was tip, and that Tony, the black man, was busy about the fire, which was momentarily growing dimmer. By the increasing light, Guide Whitman saw that the house and its surroundings showed that the occupants had been there some time, and that they had brought with them many articles of refinement, if not of luxury, from the civilised East. Like a true soldier and frontiersman, Guide Whitman's first thought was for his horse, the gallant Hector, who had borne him so long and far, and but yesterday saved his life. He found that either Tony or Colonel Leroy had anticipated him, for Hector and the other horses had been groomed and were now contentedly feeding. ' I regret to tell you, my dear Colonel—' Guide Whitman hesitated, and the colonel prompted him. ' Leroy.' ' Colonel Leroy, that I must leave you immediately after breakfast.' 'You wish to go to the colonists—to General Greyson's ?' ' Yes, Colonel, they must be put on their -guard.' ' And you think you could go through alone ?' ' I can try.' 'But let me assure you alone you will not succeed.' ' Why not ?' ' Because one of my Indian herders, Halhah, a Nez Perce, came in about an hour ago, and he tells me that the valley in i which the colonists have settled is surrounded by Sioux scouts.' ! Guide Whitman started, but, recovering < himself, he said hurriedly : i ' Then there is all the more reason for my , going at once to apprise them of their danger.' s ' True, but you go not alone—' ' I could not think of taking you with me on such a dangerous enterprise.' ' ' And 1 should feel as if I had but poorly . played the part of a host if I permitted you , to go from my house to death, particularly I when I and my son can save you,' said Colonel Leroy, firmly. ' Then you will go with me ?' l = ' Yes; but before we hold a oounoil of

war let us hare breakfast. Bertram is still sleeping. Bless the boy, there is no gnawing thought to eat in on his slumbers ; and the waking exhuberance of youth demands longer periods of rest. You are still too young to understand this. ' I am twenty-eight, Colonel Leroy, but, judging by past experience and present feelings the figures should be reversed so as to read my age at eighty-two.' Colonel Leroy sighed, smiled and shook his head, and taking Guide Whitman's arm they walked back to the house, where they found Bertram up and dressed. Though of man's stature, Bertram kissed his father, as was his habit when a child and he shook hands with their guest. More than ever Guide Whitman was struck with the youth's beauty, and stronger fascination with the grace of his oerson and the melody of his voice. ' We ride with our friend after breakfast,' said Colonel Leroy to his son. ' In what direction ?' asked Bertram. ' To the new settlement, and danger lies in our path.' 'That is not a new condition of our journeyings,' said Bertram, with a winning smile ; ' but as so far we have eluded danger or defied it, I cannot think the time for a change of fortune has come.' 'Perhaps not; but I have always taught you to hope for the best and be prepared for the worst.' ' Advice which I have ever kept in mind, though so far Hope has favored me with realization, and Despair has never made my acquaintance,' laughted Bertram. Acting on Colonel i-eroy's orders, Tony saddled the horses during breakfast, and coming back, he inquired, with some , anxiety : ' How long is I to be alone dis time ?' 'A day, at least,' replied the colonel. ' But if we are not back in a week do not lose heart, Halpah and the Crow herders will be with you. And, having avoided this valley so long, the Sioux wiil hardly come into it in my absence.' ' But if dey does,' broke in Tony. ' Then you and Halpah must use your rifles and show them they made a mistake.' ' Golly! I'll try. Bub I don't like to run de resk ob losin' dis,' said Tony, drawing the hollow of his arm over his short, crisp hair. Bertram laughed at this, and a smile— like a ray of sunlight across a shadowed landscape —played over Q-uide Whitman's powder-marked face and made it, momentarily, strikingly handsome. Breakfast over, the three white men cleaned their arms, saw that their am-munition-pouches were full, and stood ready to mount, when lony brought each a pair of saddle-bags, saying, as he fastened them over the pommels: ' Dem bags has six days' cooked rations if dey's treated mild.' The three men mounted, and as they were about to ride away an Indian suddenly appeared in their midst. ' You, Halpah!' exclaimed the colonel. The Indian was young, below the average height, but with the deep breast and broad shoulders that ever betoken immense physical strength and phenomenal powers of endurance. ' I came to ask if I am to remain ?' eaid the Indian. ' You are to remain, and to guard the valley while I am gone.' ' How long ai-e you to be gone ?' ' I know not.' 'May the Great Spirit guard with a watchfulness equal to mine.' The young Mez Perce looked up at the rising sun, bowed in reverence, and stepped lightly to one side. The white men acknowledged the salutation of the Indian, and headed their horses to the north-west. The animals were rested ; the air was exhilarating ; the sunshine seemed charged with the vital element which chemists call ozone. It required a firm hand to restrain the impulses of the spirited creatures. I'hey champed on the bits, and tossed their heads with impatient snorts. ' Ah ! you want a run, do you ?' laughed Bertram Leroy, as he stroked the glossy neck of his prancing horse. ' Wait till the mountain is crossed, and you can fly if you feel inclined.' Within an hour the mountain was crossed. On its summit they had halted, attracted by the pillars of blue smoke that marked the location of tJellevue —startled by the cloud of smoke, far to the north, that marked the site of the Sioux camp. Though beyond these' innocent evidences of life they could see nothing suspicious, there was that in the air—in their own hearts —that filled them with a sense of impendj ing danger, and caused them to urge their horses on to their utmost speed. They were within an hour's ride of Bellevue—they might have seen it distinctly with the naked eye from any of the surrounding elevations —when an exclamation from Bertram caused all to come to a sudden halt. ' Well, what do you see ?' asked the colonel, excitedly. ' Indians ?' replied Bertram, 'Where?' ' On the hills above the settlement. See, they are now directly in front, and are signalling with their lances to others on the opposite side—' ' Yes,' interrupted Guide Whitman, ' they have discovered us.' ' Which by no means implies that they have us in their power, or that our mission is hopeless. Every rock and tree in these surroundings is a friend and acquaintance. Follow me.' Colonel Leroy touched spurs to hLspirited horse and dashed ahead. Guide Whitman and Bertram were not slow to follow. He was leading thorn directly towards the Sioux, now distinctly visible in front. Soon they could hear the savage yells ano see the waving of excited spears. 1 he Indians could have blocked success fully the way of a hundred daring men, but • as Colonel Leroy came in sight, with hi.----l long hair and beard sweeping back on tlu . wind like a sun-god's halo, tUe superstitious [ red men fell back from his advance and lef\ open a clear road to the alarmed settlement Captain Jttichmond and his men had ik I Buoh dread of Leroy and hia son, but, for-

tunately, they were at this time stationed on the opposite side of the valley, and when they caught sight of the reinforcements it was nearly impossible to head them off. General Greyson had become alarmed in time, and though the stockade was not yet completed, he had gathered there, at the first sight of the dreaded ioe, the women and children. A.s he - saw the dusky braves galloping along the heights, he felt how inadequate was his own power to resist, For the once his brave heart sank, and he realised that life was now but a matter of simple endurance. But he kept his fears to himself, and setting an example by his own acts he braced the men to resistance, and by voice and look gave confidence to the women and children. ' Ah,' cried Jenny Greyson, who was by her father's side, aiding the Costillos in adding stones to the wall that was to be their defence —' ah, if Guide Whitman were only here now.' ' Guide Whitman is coming !' exclaimed Mabel Fleming. ' See there" are others with him!' All looked in the direction indicated by the extended white arm, and they saw the three horsemen approaching at a gallop, and the band of outlaws under Richmond sweeping to head them off. She saw, and, with a shriek, recognised the foremost rider of the renegades. ' What is it, my child?' asked General Greyson, ' Do you not see him ?' she cried, ' See whom ?' 'Charles Nodine!' « Nodine ! Where ?' Mabel Fleming did not need to answer. Captain Richmond was distinctly visible, and his object could not be a matter of conjecture. Acting on the order of General Greyson, the colonists opened fire on the outlaws, and more than one horse rolled to the earth. This unexpected attack caused the maddened Richmond to make a detour. One of the bullets had grazed his own forehead ana he was blinded with blood. The excited Costillos loaded again and sent up an exultant cheer. Their Irish blood was on fire and nothing would have suited them like a charge at that moment. These incidents had not forced Colonel Leroy to turn to the right or left. Straight, as if he had been launched at a mark, he kept, until his panting horse stopped before the stockade. In a moment Guide Whitman was up, and throwing himself from the saddle, hileaped over the wall and with cries of the immigrants gathered about him and pressed in turn his strong hands. General Greyson, with an expression of dumb wonder in his face, such as only the startlingly unexpected can produce, was looking at Colonel Leroy and was about to address him by another name, when Whitman, taking in the situation, said : ' General Greyson, let me introduce Colonel Leroy and his son Bertram.' CHAP PER IX. THE NIGHT ATTACK, In the great Sioux council it had been decided fco banish, from their hunting grounds every white man who had not arrayed himself with them, and in this case banishment meant death. The forts along the Upper Missouri, the fur stations near the British frontier and the adventurous prospectors searching for in the mountains were to be swept out of existence. There were but few settlements in their hunting grounds j along the southern line of their indifferent territory a few Mormons, had come in, the pioneers of that remarkable people, who were flowing over from tm valleys of Utah. But the settlement that annoyed the Sioux most was that at Bellevue. It wa..jcated in the very heart of their and without consulting with the oiiiets or asking tiieir permission. it will be Been that the 6ioux, from theii standpoint, had good cause for complaint , out from this it must not be inferred thai General Greyson had any thought of being a trespasser, or any desire to act otherwise than in accordance with the laws of that country for which he had done and suffered so much. jue knew that all the territories were open co settlement, and he and his companion>vere ready to protect their rights in their new home, as tue ancestors of many of them uaddone under the famous Daniel Boone on Kentucky's ' dark and bloody ground.' Though prepared for war the most timid did not think it would come to them in their new home, particularly as they haa escaped the dreaded dangers of the Plains. The Indian scouts, reinforced by Whirlwind's Unca-pah-pah braves, were discovered on the hills about the settlement at the first dawn of day, but even then General Greyson could not think them hostile. Mike and Ned Costillo volunteered to find out the object of the Indians, but they had not gone three hundred yards from the stockade when some of the scouts opened fire on them from places of concealment. i ne advent of Guide Whitman with Colonel Leroy and his son was looked on as an invincible reinforcement. During their long journey across the flams the people had learned to have unbounded confidence in the courage, coolness, and judgment of their silent guide j ana now so great was their joy at seeing him that they forgot the threatening danger. There was no time for courtesy or formality. General Greyson, with the newcomers and a few of the older men, held a uurried counsel. It was in striking contrast >vith the Sioux council of the previous night ihub had doomed them to destruction. ' I can see but one thing to do,' said •ieneraJ Greyson, speaking with the calmuess that had ever distinguished him on the oattle field, ' and that is, to tire the Indians iiid their allies out.' ' .by remaining here on the defensive? isked Uolonel Leroy. ' l r es ; it would bo folly to go out and ittack them, or to attempt a retreat to the nearest fort.' ' I'hi! nearest fort, General Greyson,' said iuide Whitman, producing a parchment nap, 'is at this point, a hundred milos from iere, as the crow flies, and if it had not been [ ouilt there I do not think the Unca-pah-pahs

would have gone on the war-path. But I | was going to say that I will leave here tonight—' ' Leave here to-night!' interrupted General Greyson, in amazement. ' Yes ; I am sure I can do that without increasing my danger ; and I can go to Fort Caldwell and bring troops to your rescue.' ' A good;plan,' said Colonel Leroy; ' but it is my belief that a general war haa beei; begun, and that the handful of troops ii* the petty forts scattered over these wildwill be henceforth, or until strong rein force ments come, in a state of siege, if in deed the Sioux do not wipe them out witi. torch and knife. Yet if we could get all the white men in these hills together I am sure that we could successfully resist the combined forces of the Sioux.' ' I was going to suggest,' said Bertram, who had been listening modestly near by, ' that if we could get the women am. children to our valley they would be safe. ihe caves are impregnable, and with oin stock and the game we could get in the mountains we could defy the Sioux' if the} were ten times as strong.' While Bertram was speaking Jennie Greyson watched his face, and she was thinking of the wondrous beauty of the youth rather than of the heroic proposal he was making for her own safety. Guide Whitman had never been known to talk so much, though even now he did noi use a superfluous word. He urged that ii the troops were besieged he could fiut. bodies of hunters and miners whom he could unite and bring to Bellevue. And so logical and reasonable were his representations that even Colonel Leroy agreed to the plan. This decision reached, the men set to work again to strengthen their defence, and the women and children lent all their aid. Near the stockade, so near that it coulu be covered by the rifles of the little garrison, a corral was built for the stock and horses, and into this they were driven. With a soldier's eye to the necessities of a good defence, General Greyson had selected a place on the banks of a little rivulet that now flowed through the fort, and went along the edge of the corral. During the afternoon, Mabel Fleming, who had been an attentive listener at the council, drew Guide Whitman to one side, and with a tremor in her musical voice, she asked: ' Have you fully made up your mind to go on this desperate mission ?' ' I have, Miss Fleming ,' he replied—evidently as much agitated as his questioner. ' And when do you propose to start ?' ' To-night.' ' On horseback ?' ' No, on foot; I can make the distance quicker over the mountains, and then, as 1 uave to creep through the Indian lines, a iiorse would be a fatal encumbrance.' ' But the danger—the awful danger!' she urged. ' There is no place safe in these mountains,' he answered. ' And as to the danger, Aliss Fleming, I am used to that.' ' But, if you should be slain in this daring undertaking —made for our sakes ?' ' Then it will bo only Guide Whitman dead. No home will be made wretched by that fact.' 'Do not speak so,' she said, with a suppressed sob. ' There is not a heart in the settlement that would not giieve should any calamity befall you. Speaking for myself, I know I speak for all.' ' God bless you, Miss Fleming,' said Guide Whitman, in a husky voice. ' Your words make me stronger.' 1 But you will be very careful of yourself? ' Yes. I would be foolish to risk a life which, no matter hew useless to me, lias s» iiany more precious lives depending ou itspreservation. Trust me to do no rasl; ■king.' ' 1 will trust you to do everything that be;omes a man. And until your return 1 -iiall pray hourly for yuur safety,' she said, ■ iving him her lair, baperiug baud. With idolatrous reverence he pressed her .vliite fingers to his lips, and aga.n the earnlight of indescribable beauty illuminated nib >carred, powder-marked face. ' Your prayers,' he said, ' will be a heavenly shield interposed between my heart ana biie weapons of my foes.' While Guide Whitman and Mabel Fleming were talking in an angle of the rucUK>rb, Bertram Lieroy and Jennie Greyson. .viio from the lirst were drawn togetuer b. i power that neither understood, and b>. .:ould not explain, were talking in low tones near by. In impending danger, in the absence of a great alHiction, or in love, the voice softens d,iid the tones are hushed. ' Boys,' said Mr Costillo, after calling the attention of his sons to Guide Whitman and Bertram Leroy, ' begorra, it's my opinion that your nose 3 are out of joint, do when the chance offers, turn your atten Dion to the Muir girls. Faith, they are good enough for the Costillos, and that's high praise.' ' Well, you're a funny father to be thinking of courting at a time like this,' said Ned, with a laugh that showed he was not suffering from the pangs of jealousy. ' A time like this!' repeated the old man. ' If a good thing has to be done, sure there's no time like the present.' ' People think about love and marriage,' said Mike, ' in times of peace —' ' Not the Irish,' interrupted Mr Costillo. ' With them love and war go hand in hand. But I see the savages coming nearer, and I'll say this before 1 take a whack at them ; if you boys don't make up to the Muir girls, faith I'll propose for the ouldest myself as soon as this bit of a ruction is over, ihen you can sorrow. Qui docet discic, as we used to say in Trinity College ;' and j Air Costillo shouldered his rifle and went off to see if he could get a shot at tho Indians. . ±'he red horsemen were dashing back and j forth, coming nearer and nearer, and at times reining in and firing at the fort, as if testing their rifles. General Greyson was anxious to keep all the men at their quarters, aud he was surprised at the seeming indifference to these demonstrations of Guide Whitman and the Leroys. In explanation, Colonel Leroy said :

' The object of the enemy is to wear us down by keeping us in a constant state of alarm. Bo assured they do not mean to attack now.' ' Why do you think so ?' asked the general. ' Because they well know that any attack now, even if successful, would result in the lestruction of a hundred warriors. They ire just as careful of their troops as white nen, and they will only fight when success : 3 certain with a small loss. ' Then the chances are they will postpone ihe attack till night ?' ' Till night, or just before daylight. Now, General, let me suggest another addition to your defence.' ' Knowing your judgment to be good, the i -ondition is accepted now,' said General i Greyson. ' While it is yet daylight you must have gathered a dozen heaps of fuel, enough to take each a large fire —' ~<lsee.» 'At the proper time the fires must be lit. They will be so far off as not to expose us, while the foe coming into the light will at once be made targets for our i-ittes.' ' A capital idea. lam amazed that I did not think of it before. It shall be attended •;o at once.' With characteristic energy General Greyson issued his orders, and he set the example in carrying them out. , In a few hours a dozen great heaps of iry fuel were gathered, and all were ready to flash up when a light waß applied. As night came on, masses of black clouds , began to gather about the mountain peaks, md though no man expressed his fears the jlindest could see that all the chances were ihat the threatening storm would extinguish any fire that could be built, and add ,'reatly to the advantages of the attacking party. Anxiety generally tends to lengthen time, but this afternoon the sun seemed hurried in his descent, as if anxious to hide his face from the scene of carnage. There was no twilight. There were no lights in the settler's camp The voices were hushed, and the youngest jhild, with lips sealed, clung close to the pale mother's anxious breast. Guide Whitman had announced his purpose to start on his desperate mission soon ifter dark. He confided to Mike Costillo the care of his horse, Hector. He saw that his pistols and his repeating rifle were loaded, while Mabel Fleming put two days' cooked food in his haversack. Every one in the camp was anxious to press his hand at parting, but for their sake and his own he decided to leave quietly. He shook hands with the Greysons and dabel Fleming, whispered something to Colonel Leroy, and went over the wall of ohe stockade like a shadow. He had been gone but a short time when ohe anxious watchers in the fort saw there dery arrows, like rockets, cutting across the black face of the night on a neighboring hill. ' The Sioux are signalling,' said Colonel Leroy, in explanation. Soon other arrows blazed like meteors into ihe air from other points. And faint, faroff shouts were heard. 'Can it be that they have discovered Whitman ?' asked General Greyson. ' I think not. Hark! was that a shot ?' Before a reply could be made to Colonel Leroy's question a dozen shots rang out, fol* iowed by a chorus of fierce yells, and they ■ame from the direction which Guide Whit* man had taken.

j_TO BE CONTfNTTED.]