Argosy, Volume XXIII — Index Page, 1897 — page 18: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

588 A CAMPAIGN OF STRATEGY. ranchman counts upon losing a few horses and a larger number of cattle every season. It might be suspected that some of the Apaches had been prowling in the vicinity and had run off with the horses that were browsing quite near the house, but had they chosen to visit the immediate neighborhood, they would have given startling proof of their presence. ‘They might be approaching, but had not yet shown themselves. The distance was so brief to where the four animals were cropping the . grass or resting from the sun, that the ponies were brought to the house in the course of a few minutes and saddled and bridled. Kingsford quickly changed his equipments from his worn and jaded horse to the fresh one provided by Gannet. At the moment they were ready to start, Atwood slipped out of the saddle with the exclamation : ‘* By gracious ! I came near forgetting it.’’ To their amazement, he quickly emerged with his camera. ‘‘ What do you expect to do with that blamed thing ?’’ asked Gannet. ‘“T expect to have the chances to take a good many fine pictures. Hasn’t it done me such a good turn that it is wise to trust it further? ”’ Kingsford sniffed in disgust, but no protest was made, for each knew it would be useless. Besides, the situation was too serious to think of such trifles. Atwood contrived so as to be able to carry it without being discom- moded, and, after the apparatus was fixed to the saddle behind him, it required no further atttention. Gannet, by virtue of his skill and experience, was now the leader, and the others looked to him for direction. ‘The first precaution was to turn sharply to the left, with a view of getting to a safe distance from the foothills, in which a hundred Apaches might have sheltered themselves from the possi- bility of detection. Not until the three were beyond gunshot, did a feeling of security come over them. T’o the astonishment of Atwood, the cowboy headed for the hummocks of sand, whose image in the picture told so momentous a truth. He smiled at the suggestion that some of the hostiles might still be there in hiding. He knew better and he proved it by riding his pony over several, which were tramped under his hoofs. So far as human occupant was concerned, all were empty. . ‘‘ Will there be a moon tonight?’’ abruptly asked Kingsford. ‘It doesn’t rise till past midnight, so it won’t help us any.’’ ‘“‘Mhere’s no saying as to that ; we can’t tell at what hour our help shall be needed, though I am almost sure it is zow.’’ “We shall not reach Bozeman’s until after dark,’’ was the remark of Gannet some time later, as he glanced at the location of the sun ; ‘‘ we might push our ponies harder but I don’t think it is wise.’’ It will be noted that Gannet gave no attention to his home before leaving. The most that he did was to close the front door. If any of his friends should call during his absence, they would find no locks or bolts to bar their entrance, for every ranchman keeps open house. It would be the same, if commicoooks =) (S@) fhe eee * Jee se eee ek