Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1883-05-17
of *hose sides burst several springs of

OF his horse, he stood for moment pat
ting the noble animals nose, when he
was staltled by sharp whjszing sound.
and the next moment an arrow struck the
rock behind him and fell in spinters at
his feet.
With the quickness of thought, be
sprang behind the rock and examined
bis rifle and revolvers in his belt, and
then coolly took q survey of the situa-
ton.
Rather desperate 1t looked TO one
whose soul was wrapped up IN au intense
desire to put the eastern pass behind
him, before twilight fell over the noun
tain peaks. The trail and mountain
slopes before him were swarming with
Indians; yet the dominant thought in
Ihurman's mind not his own dan
ger.
"l'm cut off from the trail, he said,
quietly, while Il dauntless expression
swept over his face, like the play of light
on sabre. "There's nothing left for
1t but race with these red dskius Tor the
eastern pass over Salt Desert. + will
not go back, even though the coyotes
have me for luncheon tonight. For,
little sister, us [ love you, so will | die
for you before he touches you. Oh,
God of Justice! iato Thy hands do /
commit the child, and whether | win or
lose IN this race, lnterpose Thy almighty
arm between her and evil"
With this prayer on his lips he sprang
from bis place of concealment, leaped
into the saddle, turned his horses head
and shook his brldlc-rciu. The splendid
nuimul faced the desert; then Thurman
began to experience what sort OF an aui-
mai the majors stallion was, and no
better opportunity or place to test Ii.
power could we'll have been found.
1t was race III n diagonal direction
lor tie eastern pass, s2d woo to the
wi lie rider il he tailed tJ win.
The odds seemed against him. He
was one against scores, and his foes had
the inside track, for they had been
ahead of him On the trail, and now, on
their long-winded mustangs, they had
evidently determined to tire ont this run
piDg-hcrse, and by cutting him off from
the pass, destroy Thurman's hope O.
escape.
Aud the Salt Desert stretched out be-
fore thcm-pursuer and pursued-as
hand ard leTel rs a wellrolIed race
course.
Thurman, like true horseman,
gaugea his horses Iepe down into a
long, swinging, "telllGg" stride, and
now Brownie settled himself down to his
work.
With his head thrust forward, his
name waving like dUsky banner, and
bis slender hoof seeming hardly to touch
the ground, Brownie took the course
laid out for INN at 2 tremendous pace,
Thurman took off bis hat and waved it
at his yeliiug foes in defiant triumph,
and the wind formed by his rapid riding
swept back the hair from his forehead
aud famed his face, which was as stem
and set as an iron unek.
Ills heart le0ped up in his breast.
Could those common animals behind
hope TO capture this wonderful stallion.
which might have kept pace with the
winged stoed cf Old? As we'll might the
crawling worm hope to compete in
speed with the white winged moth that
fits by him.
Aud SO this intrepid spirit, in the
heat Of whose fame those red foes were
but as sparks flying upward, forgot his
danger, forgot his situation, and his
thoughts flew over the mountains to the
little town Of Austin, q dozen miles be.
yond.
He thought Of his little sister, through
whose dark blue eyes the light of a pure
soul ahOnc forth. His memory over
swept countless scenes of her gentlcness
and patience, her simplicity and sweet
ness.
Was she to fall into the hands of that
leper whose very touch was contaminat-
ing?
His brain burned with n white heat as
he thought of that wretch-burnel with
great throbs pulsating through his bodv;
his heart seemed to pause and snatch his
breath at every beat. He cried aloud
for very Impotence.
The hours wore on, but he counted
them not. The miles sped by, the east.
ern pass drew nearer and nearer, but
still lmpatlence seemed branding him to
the bone.
Finally, the labored breathing of his
horse awske him to the fact that the
noble animal had borne him faithfully
nearly eighty miles since midnight. and
yersed at full speed, and without a
draught OF water to noisten the froth-
fringed mouth.
"Poor fellow! hoe-by Jove-how
close those indians arel Almost within
rifle range Where have my eyes
been %
He took his brandy flask from his
breast pocket and turned its contents
into his cAntecn of water. Then he
stopped his horse, threw himself from
the saddle, raised his horses head and
turned the mixture down bis throat.
Then he mounted, and was of again.
The effect of the stimulaut was i'm
mediate, and Brownie responded to the
rem with renewed vigor. Away he went
on that home stretch of dozen miles,
the Indians closing up behind like wolves
on a hunted deer.
Into rifle range dashed a couple of
dusky riders. Dropping the reins on
Brownies neck, Thurman unslung his
Winchester, dropped it into the hollow
OF his left arm, and fired once, and again.
Two riderless mustangs headed the pur-
suers
"Hurrah!"
lhe eastern pass was behind Thur
man and the brown stallion. The town
of Austin, perched high on the side of
q mountain, was in full sight, and the
Indians skunk back beaten.
Two hours later, Thurman was clos
eted with the chief of the Austin Wig
lance Committee. Soon after, the
swarthy face of Joe Vance faded to
the grayness of clay, as he read this
message:
Go to the east or the west, the north or
the south, but leave Austin behind you before
sunset. The halter is your only alternative.
g Per order of the
VIGILANCE. C CoMMITTEE."
He dared not disregard this stern, Ia
comic order, though he cursed it with the
utmost vigor. But as he left the town he
muttered, half-aloud:
=" After all, Little Blue-eyes, it was
good thing for you that my little game
was blocked; though low and base as
he is, Joe Vance loves you with love