Argosy, Volume XXIII — Index Page, 1897 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

594 A CAMPAIGN OF STRATEGY. ‘* Only three.’’ ‘“ Do you know what has become of the others ?’’ ‘‘I saw them start in your direction, but they disappeared round the corner of the house.’’ ‘‘ And are there yet ; they will not come into sight.” ‘Which means that they are approaching the building by one of the ends, where we cannot get a shot at them.”’ ‘For what purpose ?”’ ‘Why do you ask me, sister? ‘There can be only the one of setting fire to the building.’’ ‘‘ I wonder that they delayed so long.’’ But a sudden notion took possession of the younger sister. She was de- termined to learn, if it could be done without too much danger, what had become of the hostiles that had ridden from sight. ‘The trap door was so near the end of the structure that by lifting it a few inches, she could peep out over the plain, which was invisible from either the front or rear. It was a dangerous thing to do, for the keen eyed Apaches would be quick to note any carelessness. Mrs. Bozeman urged her not to carry out her purpose, but making light of the peril, she hastily climbed the ladder, leaving her rifle behind, as it could prove of no use to her. ‘The listening sister below heard the light footsteps along the upper floor until they paused under the trap door. ‘Then all became still, but she knew Kate was cau- tiously raising the door that she might look out. A few minutes of stillness followed, when Kate was heard to let the lid fall and to descend the ladder hastily, as if under renewed excitement. ‘What is it, sister?’’ asked Mrs. Bozeman, looking round at her. ““I can’t see a single Indian.’’ ‘The three on this side have ridden away ; it looks as if there is none in the neighborhood.’’ 2 ‘““Can it be they have given up the attack ?”’ “It will not do to believe that ; they must have thought there are more people in here than is the fact. They have ridden off to get help.’’ This was a startling view, albeit a reasonable one. ‘The situation, there- fore; became of the most trying nature. It would seem that Bozeman and the other cowmen must have heard the firing, or had learned by the use of their eyes of the danger in which the ranch stood. If so, they were hurrying homeward at headlong haste and ought to be near. And yet there was the : possibility that they knew nothing of the peril of the women folks, and might 3 remain absent for hours. 3 a ‘Meanwhile, it could not be believed that the Apaches had withdrawn for good. ‘They had suffered so severely that they were now inspired by revenge —the strongest motive that can incite a red man‘to deviltry. It was singular that they had not fired the building, when it could have been done at slight risk. Be that as it may, the sisters were wise in deciding that another visit was almost certain to be paid them in a short time. And when their assail- ants reappeared, the crisis would be at hand. It will be borne in mind that Bozeman’s home, like that of Austin Gan- cComichooks =)