.

THE RECONNOISSANCE.
It was a mystery to young Munson why the shots fired, as he supposed, by the Apaches, should have checked his pursuer, who was so close upon him.
Had he known that they came from a couple of hostile Kiowas, and that they were intended for the warrior whose hand was outstretched to grasp him, the matter would not have been so hard to understand.

But he saw the night closing in about him, while he remained among the rocks, moving forward in the same stealthy manner, upon his hands and knees, and his strained ear failed to catch the slightest sound that could make him fear that any of his enemies were near at hand.
Of course he looked with all the eyes at his command, but they also stared upon a blank, so far as animated creation was concerned.

At last Fred halted, tired out with this species of locomotion.
"I do believe I've given them the slip," he exclaimed, his heart throbbing more than ever with renewed hope.

"I don't exactly understand how it was done, but I thank the Lord all the more for it." He now arose to his feet and reconnoitered his own position.