Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-03-17

shooting irons.
Sissy, did yer pap hev guns, and
things ter home ter shoot jack rabbits
with
"Yes, sir, he's got II shotgun, and he
bought a nice rifle that shoots without
loading, and please, Mr.. Big Jack, can
go to bed now? I'm so tired.
Jimmie, put the leetle un in your
bunk, an you kin turn in with me il we
gets time ter sleep"
"But Jack, hain't we ergoin ter try
an help EN- somehow
God knows | wish we could. But
we have ter leave one man with the
bosses, nm what are six agin crowd?'
And truly it looked hopeless, but O,
to think of the fate of that gentle mother
and tender babe.
"Boys, this is maddening. We must
do somethin'."
Jimmie had by this time fixed the
bunk and taken off the child's shoes.
And now, dearie, pile in, an take II
real good snoozc."
"But, Mr.. Jimmie, you must hear me
say my prayers first"
If a shell had come crashing into the
dug-out it could not have created more
astonishment than the simple request of
the child.
Quick witted Jimmie had, however,
pulled himself together quicker than
flash, and before the child noticed the
astonished and confused looks, he had
carefully spread bearskin on the dirt
floor, and gently as her own mother bade
her SAY her prayers.
The beautiful Lords Prayer was re-
peated in the clear voice, and them came,
And please, my Heavenly Father, bless
my own dear papa and mamma, and little
baby brother, and Mr. Big Jack, and all
| the boys at the Stone Corral"
Starting up and drawing the back of
/ his hand hastily across his eyes, and en-
deavoring TO steady his voice, big Jack
said: Jimmie, you an Juan stay an
tend ter the leetle un, We uns are
, crgoin to help the folks"
I Crash, and the dug-out door flew open,
and five determined men-yes, men in
every sense of the word that night
rushed to the corral, buckling on the
heavy siX-shoOters us they ran.
The heavy stock saddles are slapped
ON, and IN secular arms tug and tug at
the long latigo straps, until the chinchas
seem as if they would cut through hair
and hide, so tight are they.
"'Be sure and cinch en- well, boys, we
can't stop to tighten en- after we get
started"
"Ay, ay, yer kin bel on us, Jack"
"Are yer all o k?"
"lou bet.
"Then head fer the Baldy Mountain
an if ever you spurred spur this night. ]"
Out and away, leaning low, until our
breasts almost rested on the saddle horn
and with spurs tightly pressed against
our bronchos' sides, we swept swiftly
away from the stone corral. Big Jack
was on the left and Il little in the lead !;
and us we rushed over low sand ridge,
| saw him and his horse showing dark
and clearly cut against the sky. He was
riding his best this night, and his blue
roam was stretching himself like a
thoroughbred.
And now we came to a long stretch
covered with loose and jagged granite;
at any other time we would have pulled
up and carefully picked our way over.
But tonight the stake we were riding for
was far too precious to care for horse
flesh, or even our own necks; so with
slightly tightened reins and only our toes
resting in the broad stirrups, we pushed
madly across, the sparks flashing as the
iron shoes clashed against the rough
rock. Across at last, thank God, and
once more on the smooth plain, our gal.
liant causes, with ears well forward, and
distended nostris, were stretching them
selves and throwing dust like heroes.
Out of the sand and up on the rim
rock we tried squirt, but the jaded ami
mails were doing their hest, and the steel
failed to get an extra jump out of them.
Another mile would bring us to point
where we would be able if it were day
light to see the settlers cabin.
Through II long sag, then dry creek
bed; crashing through the stunted viii
lows that lined its banks, we breasted
the slight ascent, and in another minute
we're on the summit. We involuntarily
checked our painting horses, and u thrill
of horror ran through us as we saw u
bright glare of light ahead.
"Too late, too late, boys. The reds
have got 'em." Jacks voice sounded
almost like II groan.
elbow fur are we from the placer"
"Erbout five miles round by the
wagon road, dut we kin lead our horses
down the deer trail, and git thar in two. "
"Then let's follow the deer trail; we
may yit be in time ter help 'em some
way"
Leading our staggering, trembling
horses. we cautiously crept down the
precpitous trail, and mo ntain, headed
straight for the glare, which even in the
valley could be distinctly seen.
Nobody now remembered that we were
only five to thirty, and, goaded and cut
by the spurs, the cayuses carried us rap
idly over the ground.
When within half milo we halted in
the shadow of some overhanging rocks,
while Hank cautiously crawled up, and
out on a projecting shelf TO reconnoitre,
for if the Apaches had any scouts
thrown out we should have to be careful,
rs our only chance of success was to
surprise them.
While we were waiting we carefully
examined our six-shooters, and in
another minute, to our great joy, Hank
was telling us that the barn was on fire.
| but the dwelling house was still intact,
and that he could distinctly hear the
crack of rifles, showing us plainly that
the brave settler was still defending his
| loved ones.
"Now boys, here's ther best plan /
kin think on-I haint extra much Of
gineral, but hev an idea thet it's tho
best way fer us ter do. Wo'll lead our
critters down this gully till we git ter
/ thet scruh brush-we kin do thet without