In brief, while Henry, with the
main body, had followed the trail of the fighting band, Webb had been
detached and, with two squadrons, had ridden hard after a Shoshone guide
who led them by a short cut through the range and enabled them to pounce
on the village where were most of Lame Wolf's noncombatants, guarded
only by a small party of warriors, and, while Captains Billings and Ray
with their troops remained in charge of these captives, Webb, with Blake
and the others had pushed on in pursuit of certain braves who had
scampered into the thick of the hills, carrying a few of the wounded and
prisoners with them. Among those captured, or recaptured, were Mr. Hay
and Crapaud. Among those who had been spirited away was Nanette Flower.
This seemed strange and unaccountable.
And yet Blake had found time to write to his winsome wife,--to send her
an important missive and most important bit of news. It was with these
she came running in to Mrs. Ray before the latter had time to half read
the long letter received from her soldier husband, and we take the facts
in the order of their revelation.
"Think of it, Maidie!" she cried. "Think of it! Gerald's first words,
almost, are 'Take good care of that pouch and contents,' and now pouch
and contents are gone! Whoever dreamed that they would be of such
consequence? He says the newspaper will explain.
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