6 ACROSS THE BORDER. I have read somewhere that the birds of fairyland are white as snow.—W. B. Vents. Where all the trees bear golden flowers. And all the birds are white; Where fairy-folk in dancing hours Burn stars for candle-light; Where every wind and leaf can talk. Hut no man understand. Save one whose child-feet chanced to walk Green paths of fairyland; I followed two swift silver wings; 1 stalked a roving song; I startled shining, silent things; I wandered all day long. Hut when it seemed the shadowy hours Whispered of soft-foot night, I crept home to sweet common tlowers, Crown birds and candle-light. —Sophie Jewitt, in The Century. I A Daughter I of the Sioux I By GEN. CHARLES KING. CuDjritf lit, WW, by The Bubart Company. CHAPTER XII. What action bad been resolved upon, and prompt action, was now apparent. Stabber, fighting chief though lie had been in the past, had had his reason for opposing the plans of this new and vehement leader; but public sentiment, stirred by ve hement oratory, had overruled him, and he had bolted the field convention in a fury. Lame Wolf, a younger chief than Stabber, had yet more power among the Ogallalas,being l!ed Cloud's favorite nepnew, and among the Indians, at least, his acknowl edged representative. Whenever called to account, however, for that nephew's deeds, the wary old states man promptly disavowed them. It was in search of Lame Wolf, reasoned Key, that Stabber had sped away, possibly hoping to induce him to call off his followers. It was probably the deeper strategy of Stabber to op pose no obstacle to Kay's advance un til the little troop was beyond the Elk Tooth ridge, where, on utterly shelterless ground, the Indian would have every advantage. He knew Kay of old; knew well that, left to him self. the captain would push on in the effort to rescue the stage people, and he and his command might prac tically be at the mercy of the Sioux, it only the Sioux would listen and be patient. Stabber knew that to attack the troopers now entrenching at the cottonwoods meant a desperate tight, in which the Indians, even if ultimate ly triumphant, must lose many a valued bra\e, and that is not the thoroughbred Indian's view of good generalship. Stabber was old, wily and wise. The new chief, whoever he might be, seemed possessed of a mad lust for instant battle, coupled with a possible fear that, unless the golden moment were seized, Kay might be reinforced, ami could then defy them all. 1 ndeed there were vet eran campaigners among the troop ers who noted how often the tall red chief pointed in sweeping gesture back to Moccasin Kidge—troopers who. even at the distance caught and interpreted a few of his words. "That's it, sir," said Winsor, confi dently to Kay. "He says 'more soldiers coming.' and—l believe he knows." At all events he had so convinced his fellows, and, even before Stabber reached the middle tooth—where sat a little knot of mounted Indians, sig naling, apparently, to others still some distance to the north with a chorus of exultant yells, the long, gaudy, glittering line of braves sud denly scattered, and, lashing away to right and left, dozens of theiu darted at top speed to join those already disposed about that big circle, while others still, the main body, probably 70 strong, after some barbaric show of circus evolutions about their lead er, once more reined up for final in junctions from his lips Then, with a magnificent gesture of fhe hand, he waved tlTehi on, and, accompanied by only two young riders, rode swift ly away to a little swell of tin- prairie jufrt out of range of the carbines, and there took hi.s station to super vise the attack. "Damn liiui!" growled old Winsor. "He's no charger like < rn/y Horse. He's a Sitting Hull breed of general like some we had iu Virginia," lie added, between his ,ei teeth, but IJay heard and grinned in silent ap preciation. "Set your sights and give em their first volley as they reach that scorched line," lie culled to th« men along the northward front, and pointed to a stretch of prairie where the dry glass had lately occn burned away. "Kive hundred yards will do it. Then aim low when they rush closer in." "Look at the middle tooth, cup tain," came the Kiidden bail from his left.. "Mirror Mashes; See!" It was Field who H|>oke, ami life and \im had returned to his voice and color to his face. He was pointing eagerly toward the highest of the knobs, where, all ou u bidden. dazzling little beams of light shot forth toward the Indians in the lowland*, tipping the war bonnet and lance of uiau> u brave with dancing fire. Whatever their purport, the signals seemed ig nored by the Sioux, for presently two eumc sweeping down the long slope, fetralght foi the po.at wt vt .t Ucd Fox, ns for ttHnt of other namp. w<* must for the present call him who, for his part, shading his eyes with his hand, sat gazing toward the westward side of his warrior circle, evidently awaiting some demonstration there before giving signal for action else where. Obedient to his first instruc tions, the main body had spread out in long, irregular skirmish rank, their mettlesome ponies capering and danc ing in their eagerness. Chanting in chorus some shrill, weird song, the line was now slowly, steadily ad vancing, still too far away to warrant the wasting of a shot, yet unmistak ably seeking to close as much as pos sible before bursting in with the final charge. And still the red leader sat at gaze, oblivious for the moment of everything around him, ignoring the coming of orders possibly from Lame Wolf himself. Suddenly the silver armlets once more gleamed on high. Then, clapping the palm of his right hand to his mouth, lied Fox gave voice to a ringing war whoop, tierce, sav age and exultant, and, almost at the instant, like the boom and rumble that follows some vivid lightning flash, the prairie woke and trembled to the thunder of near a thousand hoofs. From every point of the com pass—from every side, yelling like fiends of some orthodox hell, down they came—thi} wild warriors of the frontier in furious rush upon the si lent aud almost peaceful covert of this little band of brothers in the dusty garb of blue. One, two, three hundred yards they came, centering on the leafy clump of cottonwoods, riding at a tearing gallop, erect, de fiant, daring at the start, and giving full voice to their wild war cry. Then bending forward, crouching low, then flattening out like hunted squirrel, for as the foremost in the dash came thundering on within good carbine range, all on a sudden the watch dogs of the little plains fort began to bark. Tiny jets of flame and smoke shot from the level of the prairie, from over dingy mounds of sand, from be hind the trunks of stunted trees, from low parapet of log or leather. I % 112/ FROM EVERY SIDE YEI.LING LIKE FIENDS OF SOME OUTHOUOX HELL,, DOWN THEY CAME." Then the entire grove seemed veiling itself in a drifting film of blue, tlu' whole charging circle to crown itself with a dun cloud of dust that swVpt eastward over the prairie, driven by the stilT, unhampered breeze. The welkin rang with savage yell, with enswering cheer, with the sputter and crackle of rifle and revolver, the loud bellow of Springfield, and then, still yelping. the feathered riders veered and circled, ever at magnificent speed, each man for himself, apparently, yet ull guided and controlled by some un seen, yet acknowledged, power; and, iu five minutes, save where some hap less pony lay quivering and kicking on ihe turf, the low ground close at hand was swept clean of horse or man. The wild attack had been made in vain The Sioux were scampering back, convinced, but not discomfited. Some few of their number, borne away stunned and bleeding, by coin mde hand from underneath their stricken charger- some three or four, perhaps, who had dared too much—were closing their eyes on the last fight of their savage lives. To llay and to many of his men it was all an old . torv. Stabber would never have counseled or p»rmittud uttuck on seasoned troopers, fighting behind even improvised shelter. Something, perhaps, laid occurred to Llind his younger rival to the peril of such assault, aud now, as three or lour littl« parties were seen slowly drifting away toward the ridge, bur dened by some helpless form, other couriers came thundering down at lied Fox, anil wild excitement pre vailed among the Klk Teeth. More signals were flashing. More Indian', eume popping; Into view, their leathered bonnet* streaming' in the rising wind, aud nhout the prairie wave, where the MI vug* general had • stablishcd field headi|uartcr>. a fu lious conference was going on. Stub ber bad again interposed, and with grim but hopeful eyes, I,'ay aud hi-, fellows watched and noted. Every lull in the fight was so much gain for them. "Twelve fifty two," said the dark eyed comiuunder, swinging his watch into the pneket of his hunting shirt, and sliding' backward into the stream bed. "All er< lie so far Wateh tilings on this front, field, while I make the ■ ootids and see how we came out," "All serene so far" It wus! .Not u mail hurt. I'wo of the sorrels had been lilt by flying bullets and much amused and stiiui; thereat, but neither was crippled. Holding their guards t id and \\ iusor. CAMERON COUNTY PRKSS, THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 1903. Til an almost cloudless sky of .steely blue the sun had just passed the me- j ridian ami was streaming hotly down on the stirring picture. Northward the ridge line and the long, gradual slope seemed alive with swarms of Indian warriors, many of them dart ing about in wild commotion. About the little eminence where Stabber and the Fox bad again locked horns in violent altercation, as many as a hun dred braves had gathered. About the middle knob, from whose summit mirror flashes shot from time to time, was still another concourse, lis tening, apparently, to the admoni tions of a leader but recently arrived, a chieftain mounted on an American liorsc, almost black, and Hay studied the pair long and curiously through his glasses. "Lame Wolf, probably," said he, but the distance was too great to enable him to be certain. What puzzled him more than any thing was the apparent division of authority, the unusual display of dis cord among the Sioux. These were all, doubtless, of the Ogalalla tribe, Red Cloud's own people, yet here they were wrangling like ward "heel ers" and wasting precious time. Whatever his antecedents, this new comer had been a powerful sower of strife and sedition, for, instead of following implicitly the counsels of one leader, the Indians were divided now between three. True to its practice, the prairie wind was sweeping stronger and stronger with every moment, as the sun wanned strata over the wide, bil lowing surface sought higher levels, and the denser, cooler current from the west came rushing down. And now all sounds of the debate were whisked away toward the breaks of the old South Cheyenne and it was no longer possible for old Sioux cam paigners to catch a word of the dis cussion. The leaves of the cotton woods whistled in the rising gale, and every time a pony crossed the stream bed and clambered the steep banks out to the west, little clouds of dun colored dust came sailing toward the grove, scattered and spent, however, far from the lair of the defense. But, while the discussion seemed endless among the Indians on the northward side, never for a moment was the vigilance of the circle re laxed. South, east and west the slopes and lowlands were dotted with restless horsemen, and from young Clayton came the word that through his glass he could make out three or four warriors far away toward the Moccasin ridge. "That's good," said Ray. "It means that they, too, are looking for a column coming out from Frayue. Hut where on earth did all these rascals come from? There must be 400 now in sight." Well might he ask and marvel! Stabber's little village had never more than 5o warriors. Lame Wolf's band was counted at less than 240 fighting men, and these, so said the agents of the omniscient bureau, were all the Ogallalas away from the shelter of the reservation when the trouble started. No more should be allowed togo, was the confident promise, yet a fortnight nearly had elapsed since the frontier fun be gan. News of battle sweeps with marvelous speed through Indian haunted lands, and here were war riors by the score, come to strength en the hands of kindred in the field, and, more were coming. The mirror signals plainly told them that. Yet it was well nigh one o'clock and not an other hostile move was made. Fox then was being held by stronger hands. It meant that Lame Wolf had listened to reason—and Stabber, and would permit 110 fresh attack un til his numbers should be so in creased that resistance would prac tically be vain. It meant even more— that the Indian leader in chief com mand felt sure no force was yet within helping distance of the cor raled troopers, lie could, therefore, take his time. Hut this was a theory Hay would not whisper to his men. lie knew Webb, lie knew Webb would soon read the signs from the north and be coming to his relief, and Hay was right. hvcit as he reasoned there came a message from across the grove. Lieutenant Clayton said the Indians lie hud seen away 1o the south were racing back. "Thank Cod!" was the murmured answer no man heard. "Now lads, be ready!" J was the ringing word that roused the little troop, like bugle call "to arms." And e\en a! eager faces lifted over the low parapets to scan the distant foe, fresh siguals came flashing down from the northward ridge, fresh t l ands of warriors eauic darting to join the martial throng about the I .-till wrangling chieftain*, and then, | all of a Midden, with mighty yelling and shrill commotion, tlmt savage I council burnt a-uiulcr, and, rlditig at speed, a do/.en braves went lashing ' away to the westward side, while with 1 three brandishing of arms and shield* .Hid much curveting and prancing of ! excited ponies, the wild battle lilies' were formed again. The Sioux were coming for tin- second trial. "Meet them as before! Make ev- ! cry shot tell!" were the orders |>ass« d from man toman and heard and i noted amidst the whistling of the wind and the sounds of scurry and i commotion at the front. Then, si lent and crouching low, the soldiers hoved the brown barrels of their carbines forth again and waited. \nd then the grliu silence of the little fortress was broken, as, with start line Midden foi there went up a shot from the westward side: My Cod. 1 11 ivs, they're setting tire to the prairie!" Kay sprang to hi feet and jfu/ed. \way out to the we i and southwest, , whence came the -tronjf liree/e blow ing from the Sweetwater hills, half it doxen dark, a/ile forms, bending low, were scudding afoot over the ' sward, and everywhere they muted there »|uuug up m their truck* little ! sheets of lambent flame, little clouds of bluish, blinding smoke, and al most in le, 1W01.) Will not the volumes of' letter* from women made strong by Lydia I!. IMuklrim'N >eyetaide Compound convince all of tlio virtues of tldn medicine'/ llow MIIU 11 (lie t'uet that it will help tlicm l>e made plain'.' Surely you cannot «i*h lo remain weak, ami nick, and discour uueii, cxliuuidttd uiin each day's work. You have noma dvntnn* IIICIII of the feminine organism, ami Lydia I'. IMnkhani's \ eatable Compound «ill help you Just as surely as it lias others. HIUV VV HI I IN ii I'M 4liVl:HTim Hn l*lrit««* llMlfl lliMl |UH IUM flu* .tu%erl|ae* ■Mr It* 111 tut* |llt|irr. mMa HB CUHIS WHIHE All (LSI FAILS* y Hnli utfhH)ru|t- TftMMi «»**!. IN« PI IMAKE FIGURES LOOK SMALL. 1 Mpblhl Mr (li p inn 112 loin n • lift to Work I nml Simmer Tlirm lliiun to Nearly Nothing. i \\ hitelaw Rciil, of New York, in th« . nnn:i;il uu Ire i before l'hi lJeta Kappa lormty, of \ nsv.ir college, discussed di ! vorce and its attendaiA evils. ile saidt 'Six hundred and htty-frour thousand per* I sons divorced in this country during the last 20 years." This statement, says the narrator of tha story, caused wrinkles and furrows to form on the forehead of one prim maiden A flash of tit* eye, and then a whisper to 1 classmate: "That's equal to 32,700 persons a year." The classmate's brow now began to denote activity: "Or 2,725 persons * month." i 'Or 681 persons a week," said th« | first mental arithmetician. | "Ninety-seven persons each day sever marital relations, ' was the next compute : tion. I "Why, that's only four persons an hour," came as a cheerful rejoinder. | "Pooh, only one couple every hall hour." ; "And they say there are 70,000,000 peo i pie in this country." j "What a narrow view some men tak® (>f life." And the other nodded an agreo merit' It isn't the first lie that is so bad. It it the dozen or so you afterward have to tell to make the first one believed.—Chicago tribune. I ain sure Piso's Cure for Consumption saved my life three years ago.- Mrs. Thus. Bobbins, Norwich, N. Y Feb. 17,1900. Too many words be worse than not enough, for they'll often leave a man'» j meaning foggy.—Eden l'hilpotts. The Overland Limited, solid train Chi i cago to the Coast daily. Chicago, (Jcioa | Pacific &■ North-Western Line. To slur is human; to forgive takes tim* ! —Town Topics. j The Chicago & North-Western is the only j double track railway between Chicago and | the Missouri River. You cannot live by another's expert j euee.—Ram's Horn. | Old Sofas, Backs of Chairs, etc.; can b« J dyed with Putnam Fadeless Dyes. ! It is the grain of truth that gives fares I to the lie.—Ranis Horn. HKAMKHI4 Ok' Till* PAPRK 111 HlltlNti TO lit V AMS I'IIIKU AI»VKUTI*KD IN H'rt COM MM* MIDI IJ» ISMHT I IM»N 11A V 1 NO W IIA I 'l'll t. V AMi »otl. lit* I HINU A«4* Ml WHTI'I i I KH uti 1M IT A IIONA