The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-03-16

tle to bear upon the figure Of the Mexican.
But on the, instant the programme is
changed. With sharp scream the scar
let tunic dashed past me, straight on to-
ward the ravine. I followed, thinking
the movement meant self.destruction !;
but soon discovered its true aim. Elk.
tending some distance over the chasm
was pointed shelf Of rock, and on the
other side similar narrow projection, as
if thin crust had shrunk in cooling and
snapped in twain. Upon the nearer shelf
Fora refined up her animal, meanwhile
signaling Dacre's horse, with clear Span
ish cry, to approach her. She evidently
intended that they both should leap the
chasm.
It was done too quickly for me to utter
my horror in gasp, too quickly for Joa-
quin to interfere. saw the two animals
hustle and scufhe a msment upon the
shelf, hauling their feet we'll up for the
spring; then they leaped abreast. Will
they--wili they cross the abyss! I be-
lieve they would have done so safely, but
on the instant plume Of smoke curled
up from the nearer side, and sharp re-
port ensued. 1t came from the light
musket which joaquin wore fastened to
his saddle. Dacre was shot in mid-air,
like bird upon the wing.
He threw up his arms, toppled back
ward, and his horse struck the further
shelf riderless. The brown mare STUN.
bled. Fora was tossed over her head. and
went rolling back under her very feet.
My heart stopped at the prospect Of the
second tragedy, but the faithful animal
held steadily upon the shelf until her de-
throned mistress had regainod her safety.
As the animal, 50 lately ridden by Da-
ere found himself masterless, he sprang
forward some distance from the chasm.
Without moments waiting, Joaquin
pressed his own steed to the leap. He
cleared the fearful gorge, made few sig
niticant gestures: swore some terrible
Spanish-Mexican oaths, and drove Fora
once more across to my side Of the gulf,
following her instantly himself, and after
ward whistling to the other horse. He
then descended the steep, conical hill,
holding the brown mare by the bride.
Having the idea well established in my
mind that Joaquin had seen my move
ment, some moments before, against him.
self, I no sooner reached the plain than l
touched my hat to the il'.starred couple,
and shaped my course toward the station,
seriously specializing upon the probable
manner in which the unhappy affair would
end.
Two months later, small party Of US,
out on hunting expedition, CHANGED to
cross the sheep rancho Of Joaquin. There
were neither sheep nor shepherds visible
and some three hundred yards from the
buildings, in a clump of closely.
matted shrubs and vines, nay dog found
| found something to occasion him much
excitement and dismal bowling. Dis.
mounting and parting the bushes we dis
covered skeleton, the flesh mostly de.
composed; and bending closer I recog.
Dized with a strange, creeping horror, the
belt and hat Of Joaquin.
''The work of outlaws" said one and
another, but as T picked up a shred Of
scarlet cloth, where it had fallen from
the figures hand, I concluded that it was
an illustration of the law-hc had reaped
as he had sowed. Someway, in the
dreadful game of life and death that had
ensued after leaping the chasln, the Span
ish bride had shown the winning hand.