Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 December 1891 — ROYAL RANGER RALPH; OR The Waif of the Western Prairies, [ARTICLE]

ROYAL RANGER RALPH; OR The Waif of the Western Prairies,

BY WELDON J. COBB.

’CHAPTER X. THB MODOC CAMP. Tire spot by the river to which the two scouts had come was, indeed, as they supposed.—the general camping (place of the Modoc and Sioux savages. Within an hour after their arrival the thanks of the stream were lined with Icamp-fires and wigwams, and the waripaint of the Indians and the general 'bustle and activity told that some movejment of importance was meditated by tho blood-thirsty hordes. It was destined that Ranger Ralph tshould soon learn all the plans of the and their renegade white allies, land that he should be plunged into active contest within a very short time. • When he so summarily sprang into |the tree where Darrel had been compelled to leave him, he lost sight of his amid the excitement of the [hour. He saw the Indians scour the vicinity, tsecure'the horses, and lead them away; .and then all became still in his immedilate neighborhood. “There's a perfect nest of them around there,” he muttered, grimly. “It’s going to be no easy task to escape. I wonder iwhat has become of young Grey? He Isn’t any too familiar with this kind of work. The Indians seem to be starting out on some kind of an expedition, and while I’m in the corral of their camps I tintend to find out what it is.” Ranger Ralph was an expert scout, land was thoroughly familiar with frontier tactics of craft 'and warfare. He tdescended from the tree and began to (reconnoiter his position. He made out that the main camp of the Indians was directly across and {down the stream a little distance. (Making sure that he was unobserved, 'the scout forded and swam the river, •landed on the opposite bank and then (gradually and stealthily began approaching the camp of the Modocs.

i Ho at last gained a point of espionage anost favorable to his plans, a small ifcnoll of bushes and gtugted trees enabling hm to completely survey the camp and its inmates. •* “Shadow Snake’s band,” he muttered co..ccrnedly, as his eyes swept the scene; ■“and in war-paint, too. It means trouble (for the settlements Ha! It is as I thought! Despard has come to bls old friends. Then the girl Inez must be here also. * The scout’s face darkened and he .frowned ominously as he recognized, as Darrel had done, the form of Dyke Desjpard in the throng about the campfire. As he discerned the number of his en•cmles and realized the hazards of approaeing them any hearer, he reflected deeply. ? He was plunged deep in h's meditations, when the sound of a familiar voice inear at hand startled him and enchained .his attention. “Despard,” he murmured excitedly; •“and Danton is with him.” It was indeed the outlaw leader and his chief associate. . They paused in a careless stroll from the camp and sat down on a log near the vary spot where the scout was sexireted. The latter thrilled with the keenest •satisfaction at this opportunity of over.hearing the plans of his enemies “You wanted to see mo alone?” were Danton’s first words. “Yes. ” “What about?” “Our own affairs; we’ve got among friends, but I ain’t satisfied. ” “Why not?” “I’m uneasy. The old chief Shadow Snake is reckless and revengeful; and if iio should suspect us ” “About the girl?” askod Towner. “White Fawn —yes.” “How can ho?” “Should he meet any of the Nes Forces reservation Indians he would ilearn of our treachery. ” “How?” “They would tell him that the girl .never reached them.” “That’s true.” “So, whatever we do, we must act quickly.” “But we agreed to accompany Shadow .Snake on the raid on tho emigrant train. ” “No; I gave him the information of its whereabouts —that is all.” “But he expects us to go with him.” “Wo will have to disappoint him, (Here we are safe from the vigilantes. That iJ"why I came here. ” “What do you propose to do?” “To remove the girl down the valley tonight.” “Alone?” “No. You and one of the others will •take her away from here about midnight. I will-remain with Vance and guide the Modocs abrossrthe country to the train, mnd rejoin jou later.” “And tho rest of ourband?” “Are at Damon’s Bind. I will send them forward to meet you. Go to the •old rendezvous and wait for me. You see, the Snake agrees to divide liberally for my share in the present venture. Once I get that, I will leave the

camp, for ha will soon find out about ,White Fawn.” i “And then?” queried Danton. “We will carry out our plan to find the 'hermit who has Inez Tracey’s fortune, secure it, and, leaving the boys to their •own plans, go East and enjoy our '■wealth. ” The old scout looked grim as he over,;heard the p ans of the conspirators. He knew now how to act, if he could ■evade the savages and follow on the itrail of Despard’s men. The two men left the spot and returned to the camp, and Ranger Ralph began to determine how he would make a detour and reach a point down the -valley where he might intercept Desipard’s men, who. would leave for the bandit rendezvous that night He began to cautiously work his way back to the river, believing escape by that avenue more easy than by the land. He crept from thicket to thicket and ifrom covert to covert, gradually nearing the stream, and meeting with none of his enemies. At'last he came to a point where he paused in dismay. Since be had last been there a campfire had been built by a Htt’e coterie of savages, directly in his ■course to the river. It cut ofj all safe escape in that direction, and nothing but p bold dash across an open space, or a slow and perilous retreat by the way he had come would avail him. He resolved On the former course, even hoping that by a sudden run across the place he might gain the riv'er unperceived. With a spring he broke from the thicket and started across the open -apace. A series of loud, alarmed yells from the fire told that he was discovered. jyuhln ten feet of a thicket where the .(horses* of the Modocs were grazing, (Banger Ralph’eloot caught In a trailing ope.

He fell heavily. The next moment a score of dusky warriors were upon him. Ranger Ralph was a prisoner in tho hands of his most'merciless enemies. .„,*na ieelrT . Ranger Ralph made a desperate resistaneo against hiS savage captors, but struggled vainly in their iron grasp as they bore him towards their camp-fire with yells of triumph. The demonstration soon drew a large throng to the spot, and the scout, securely bound, was tied against a tree, the cynosure of many murderous eyes and the object of the jeers and insults of his victorious foes. A grim look came over the old ranger's face as he saw the Modoc chieftain, Shadow Snake, approach the spot. With him were his renegade allies, Dyke Despard and Jim Danton. The outlaw leader starts 1, and then stared in mute .wonderment at the man he had endeavored to kill at Ten Spot two nights previous. “Ranger Ralph!” ejaculated Danton, with a savage scowl. “He bears a charmed life. ” The eyes of tho Modoc chief kindled with satisfied hate as he recognized an enemy who had more than once crossed hiktrail to his serious disadvantage. r “The Ranger is a spy,” he hissed. “What brings him here?” The scout was silent. “Yes; he has been trying to incite the palefaces to attack the tribes,” said Danton. “He is a dangerous enemy. ” “Let him diejiefore we leave here at another ordered the Snake briefly to the Indians about him. ' The old scout did not speak. Into his mind came a memory of what he had overheard Despard and Danton say about the daughter of the old chief. He resolved to bring this intelligence to the knowledge of Shadow Snake, but the opportunity was not yet presented. He formed a plan to see the chief alone, when Despard and Danton would not be near to deny his statements or silence him. *For over an hour he remained secured to th’!' tree watching the savages, who paid no further attention to him for the present.

In some way they had secured a keg of liquor, and were intently engaged in disposing of it as rapidly as possible. The old scout knew from experience that as soon as the Indians were fighting drunk they would pay attention to him. He recalled his many battles with the tribe, and knew that they were full of animosity and hatred toward him. To his surprise, however, when they had finished the liquor the majority of them staggered from the camp, entirely ignoring his presence. Only a few sleeping inebriates now guarded tho prisoner. The scout endeavored to free himself, but was not able to break the bonds that secure! Um. In a few minutes tho In Hans returned with a second keg of whisky, from the direction oflhe main camp. They were all, or nearly all of them, very much intoxicated, and straggling along with them wore several other savages from a different camp. One of these attracted tho ranger’s attention by his helpless and reeling condition. As the savages placed the keg on tho grouad and began to drink from it, this Indian stretched himself out on the green sward As if to sleep. His hand almost touched the form of the captive scout, and the latter looked somewhat startled as he observed that, unperceivea by his companions he had drawn a knife which he held half concealed in his hand. The Indian appeared tp be drawing nearer and nearer to tho scout, aira finally stealthily drew tho keen blade of the knife over the withes which secured Ranger Ralph to the tree. The next moment the lariat that held the ranger’s form captive was also cut. Ranger Ralph was relieved of his bands “Don’t move yet!” The scout started as his strange friend uttered the words in a low, cautious tone of voice. “Darrol Grey!” he muttered, in amazement “How did you come here?” “Never mind now, but, act quickly. These Indians are so drirnk they will not notice you. Make no suspicious move while I talk with you, and warn me if any of them seem to notice us or come this way. ” Darrel lay with his back turned to the Indians, who were perhaps ten feet distant. The old scout kept his eye upon them and listened intently as Darrel resumed the conversation in cautious tones. “There is one way to es.-ape safely,” he said. “You must follow that.” “Where?”. “To the east. Once across the river,\ strike to the north and you are safe from ambush, for the savages are intending to move south and are camped in that direction. ” “How did you come here—this disguise —were you not afraid?” “I risked it, and luck has favored me. ” “You cannot long continue it,” remarked the scout. “Why not?” “You cannot speak a word of the Modoc language.” -.“That is why I pretended to be intoxicated. ” “You cannot keep up that pretense all night. ” “I don’t expect to.” “What then?” “To find the girl and escape with her. ” “To-night?" “Yes. ” Ranger Ralph looked serious.

The inexperience of his young friend, he feared, would lead hwn Into trouble. So far, however, Darrel had outrivaled himself in his tactics of dealing with the Indians. “I have marked out a course of; action,” said Darrel, confidently, “and I expect tp carry it out successfully. You finow what the-e red fiends meditate?” “The attack on the emigrant train?” “Yes. From what I have heard, they intend moving at once. The train should bo warned. You can do that ” “How? I cannot reach them in time?" “You can with a horea In a few minutes I will stagger the corral aiad have a horse ready for you. Then you must ride as fast as possible to the trail and give the warning of the proposed attack. ” “I fear that I leave you in danger. ” “No»I am safe for the present, and I believe I shall succeed in rescuing Inez,” replied Darrel. The young scout arose to his feet and reeled toward the thicket where the horses were kept, a minute later. The savages gathered around the camp fire were too much occupied in drinking to notice his absence. Ranger Ralph waited for some time, and then allowed the cut ropes to fall to the ground. Then he sto'e quiet’y to the thicket “Quick! , Here is the horse and there is a rifle and small .arms strapped to the saddle ” “Then it's one of Respard’s horses?” “Probably. Lose no timp. Cross the stream and keep to the north of the pamp. ” The old scout sprang into the saddle and a.minute later the horse was crossing the river. No one' seemed to have noticed his escape, and he made a wide detour of the camp and then directed the steed toward the distant emigrant trail He chose a lonely road, eVading

what he believed would be the course pursued by the Modocs. Twice ho nearly ran into a party of horsemen, and the discovery made him very anxious bo possible that the IndianshaTe started on the war trail already',-” he mutE&jed, concernedly. Suddenly, an hour later, the sound of shooting some distance ahead alarmed him. He hastened toward tho spot. As he emerged from the woods a sight met his vision that thrilled him to the keenest excitement Ranger Ralph was too late with his warning. The emigrant train had already been attacked by tho allied Modocs and Sioux, and the wagons were now the scene <sf an animated contest The red demons were pillaging and burning and killing, while the shrieks of the unfortunate emigrants echoed on every side. “Too late to warn amd save them!” ejaculated Ranger Ralph, grimly; “but not too late to help them against their mqrdered foes.” He directed the horse inte the thickest of the conflict as he spoke and, rifle in hand, determined to sell his life dearly in protecting the lives and property of the imperiled emigrants. It was a brief and sanguinary battle. The Modocs and Sioux and their renegade allies were superior in numbers to tho emigrants, wno were surrounded, driven back, and butchered mercilessly. The bravo old scout saw the horse he rode shot down and himself wounded; he dragged his form to a covered wagon, and crept into it for safety and i oncealmene. Thon, as the blood oozed from a terrible wound in tho breast. Ranger Ralph sank into a blank lethargy of insensibility. When he a'woke it was broad daylight. The wagon was moving, and he peered cautiously forth from a pile of hay in the bottom of the vehicle. Ho was weak and in pain, and almost helpless; but ho made his situation at a glanco Behind tho wagon on horseback weic half a dozen men, doubtless another portion of Des, ard s band. Driving tho vehicle was Jim Danton, and the scout doubted not but that they were proceeding to tho outlaw rendezvous at Lone Canyon. So far, evidently, his presence in the wagon had not boon discovered; ho knew that ho was in a position of great peril, and that affairs were fast assuming a shape most favorable to the plans of Dyke Despard. [to be continued.]