The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-02-12

~3L ~ OOn44Ote 4A4OS0 oAC3 - ~ -
her father, had long since come to be pre-
Jared for much that was wilful from this
strong, passionate and determined girl.
Relic, do you think Farla is in danger
Ehere 2"
The voice was like low, far off thunder;
and the hard, big hand held not steadily
10 the helm but it shifted and lay doubt
fully at its direct work, as if debating
&hether or no to keep on; whether or no
20 turn back into the night that had now
Bnyeloped them.
"If you think Farla is in any danger
@hHre / will land you and Mr.. Gray at
cur cove and 60 back"
The voice of the great grizzly bear
Rrembled; and the girls heart was moved,
ms she said hastily:
Why no, father, l for my part can't
Khink of Farla as v e IN danger from
Anything. She's so strong and confident
@nd sure, just see how 1t was with that
white bull"
AT the mention of the white bull there
lGame N low, deep chuckle of satisfaction
MbeRn of the boat and>there was a stronger
and steadier grasp on the helm. 9
John Gray had hoped for much in the
way of close observation in; the region of
WGhat he now felt was surely the mouth of
che Buried River on his return, but night
wTas upon them and the man at the helm
laid his PROV close under the froWning
banks. The boiling and surging phenom-
Rna of the morning was entirely avoided
by the cautious old sailor now and the
yellow sail crept along under the crags in
Bbstinate security; in absolute silence
wow as well.
HThe white bull 2" qqeriedGra finally
6f the girl at his side.
"Yes, the white bull; but be sure don't
mention il to Farla. You Seesthe Pach-
6lOs' rich people, governors of California
mnce had herds and lands all about Red
Wood Park and Mount Diablo. Well, a
big, white bull, the most terrible creature
Lever saw, twice as bad as a grizzly bear,
R0ok up his residence right down there
the Indian well where the three men
mre buried"
a grunt of satisfaction at the mention
nf the three dead men came up out of the
@arkness at the helm. But where was
2Ae Indian well? and where were the
graves of the three? All this was great
Rews to John Gray. 80
You see" the girl went on, " the bull
Sound it very safe and quiet by the
haunted Indian well there in the dense
redwood. thicket where the graves are
EhAt. he stayed there all the time; all the
slime exceptswhens he would. break out
mfter mother or some of US children"
"He deserved to be shot" 3d..
"Shot2 Full of holes as a sieve; lead
Bnough to sink him, eh, father?" 4
A jerk at the helm back in the dark
mess; and a sharp closing together of the
GaASsive jaws like the closing together of
she iron teeth of a wolf trap, and that
Was the answer and assent as the girl
-3Eent on
"Lead wouldn't kill him; his curly
white hair wa so long and his hide so
zOugh that all the bullets we could fire
1nto him did no good; only made him
more savage"
sand he chased Farla2a
"Chased Farla 2 No that is a strange
part of it. He never chased Farla at all
all things seem to know better than ever
chase Farla; but he chased everybody
else. And one day when Farla and
father v'ere over to the Islands the white
Il get a5%.r Fn3fher when she went to
zhe sp. ~ -, alter and run her to the
rate and linen pitched her clean over the
Hence. We thought she was dead. We
EhiIdren got her in on the bed and she
lay there all day moaning and moaning
lii they got back from the Islands. And
shat white bull tearing and stamping and
7~Sellowing all the time at the gate till
Earla came. Then he went back to the
&hicket that surrounds the Indian well
I'm the arroyo back of the old cabin
"And so your sister Farla frightened
MDE the white bull"
Frightened him off" She killed
1lim. Yes she did. One look at poor
mother where she lay moaning there and
Zarla caught up fathers knife, dashed
down to the thieket, and father after her
4rying to keep her back"-a low ehuekle
from the stern of the boat-'t hut he
1r0uld only see her creep, like a panther
Hhrough the narrow thicket; on, on, to
there a great white heap lay breathing
2Aeayily by the Indian well and between
Two of the graves; the big .bHrlythead5
Ehrown back and around4o on the side
sound asleep in a second, for he was very,
kIred from his hard and hot days work;
We'll, that's all. She was on him with a
single leap, like q California lion, and her
knife was buried back Of the ugly horns
before he knew what hurt him.
There was no mistaking the deep
Chuckle of dehghtEthat came up from the
1gtern of the boat now. The recital of
zhe daring girls deed gave the father con-
Edence that all was well with her at the
Island andTthe +helmSman drove. his boat
-Into the little cove, his harbor, his home
with frmness and great satisfaction. 'ai
The moonlight landed there in full
force and splendor at the same time. The
treat silver scimitar in the unseen hand
Df the Eternal flashed in serene domin-
o over sea and land, and the little rock
bound and wood hung cove was lit up
like the porch of some sweet watering
PhRceSto welcome its guests.
But there was another boat there.
Night came into the face of Sanello at
@ght of it. Darkness and rage in the