The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-04-16

at Jim's pride IN her A beautiful Great
ure she was, indeed, and what was NOR
to the purpose, swift and strong. 81
had been peculiarly vicious and Jim ha
broken ner H. himself was present p
that breaking in and, boy As | was. Z ca
meI0er TO tbs day my feeling % al
miration as Jim quietly mounted upol
her back
Hes blessed young scamp" saih {
man near Inc in involuntary deA3ht
but. By Jove, he can ride
So he could. Red Mustang exerte9 al
her pOwers-which were by no mean:
sight-in the way of bucking, rearing
shy;ng, kicking and plunging. to no pur
pose. With his feet well in the stir
rups and a firm grip on her sides, Jim
stuck on sparing neither whip nor spur
and making the lash curl round her il a
way that | thought then, and still think.
was brutal. But when, all trembling
she bowed her beautiful head, and with
the dark fire of her eye owned MIN mas.
ter, he flung away the whip and never
used 1t again. That was just Jim.
But after the first memorable ,uss.e,
when it had been so emphatically de.
clGeG whose will was to be obeyed, mas.
ter and horse came to very good under,
standing. Red Mustangs affection, in.
deed, had something pathetic in it, and
the fact that she showed the reverse to
every one else certainly did not lesser
Jim's for her.
Over the prairie the little cavalcala
started, Red Mustang, with that easy
swinging stride of hers, taking the lead
and keeping it. But Jim pulled her up
sharply as there came triumphant shout
from behind, "Here's the trail!'
Riding up, jim looked at it with his
keen eyes. "Thats no trail!' he said
contemptuously.
Now, the rest of the men having stated
that it was the trail, and being at least
as well able to Judge as jim, did not re-
ceive his remark in the pleasantest spirit
at are the trail, said Daryl Dash, in
a quietly conclusive way, as if that set
tied it.
"But it aren't!" said Jim squarely.
Now, Daryl Dash was one of the most
trusted hands in the camp, and being
backed by Big Ben, the rest naturally
took his side.
This amt no time for foolin'," they
said very sternly. "Here's trail, plain
as can be; and we're goin' to follow it up
'I'm not foolin'," retorted jim, with Il
kind Of desperate earnestness. That
trails too plain for Injins to have left,
unless they done it a purpose. | can
find the trail right enough if you let me.
Trust me, boys"
My poor jim! AS man sows so shall
he reap. What had he done, in all his
reckless, absolute life, to be trusted
now! He Was not trusted; nay, more,
he was left, half mad with anger and
despair, to find his trail alone.
Take it, or leave it. the men had said
as they galloped off upon their trail.
Away in the east the sun was touch.
ing the Sky with red gold light. Great
crimson bars, tiecked with orange,
CLEANED out broadly, and then melted
into the softer harmony around, and be-
fore one knew it, the whole shining mass
united and out flashed the sun. But be.
fore it did that Jim had made up his
mind to do a very risky thing-to rescue
Dolly single handed Who else was
there to do it? The others had ridden
away in direction which was every
moment taking them farther away from,
the right track.
MY God!' he said wildly. Was it q
prayer from those rough lips?-a prayer
which the Good Shepherd heard and
For Jim played hero's part
that day. He found the trail. For the
sun, glinting downward, caught the
light of small pink object on the brush
wood and rested there lovingly. Moth
ing much-just the torn string from
little child's sunbonnet. But at the
sight Jim broke into suppressed
whistle OF triumph, and raced Red Mus
tang forward as she had never been
raced before. never like to think about
that ride. Enough, the Red Mustang
Loyalty to the situation From
moon to dewy eve' she carried Jim
But when, trembling, foam
flecked and parched with thirst, he
stopped her as the Indian camp doomed
in sight, he knew that his work was cut
out.
"Quiet! old lass! quiet" he said, |
dismounting and patting her
with a look on his face that few but
Dolly or Red Mustang had ever seen
here.
The gallant beast seemed to under |
stand, and suppressing whinny, rubbed |
her nose wistfully against the cares
sing hand.
Half gliding, half creeping forward, |
Jim took in the situation at a glance.
The Indians had evidently only just |
stopped and were hastily improvising |
'ort of camp. But, unsuspicious as they |
we're of being followed so soon, Jim
Knew that this first careless hustle of ar |
'ival would not last long, but that SEN
ries would be set to guard against any
approach. Suddenly his blood thrilled,
or there before him, not dozen yards
way, lay Dolly reposing on an old |