The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-12

.,
sometnin'."
Jimmie had by this time fixed the bunk
and taken Off the child's shoes. And
now. dearie, pile in. an take real good
snooZe."
But. Mr.. Jimmie, you must hear me
say my prayers first"
II shell had come crashing into the
dugout it could not have created more
| establishment than the simple request OF
the child.
Quck-witted Jimmie had however pulled
himself together quicker than a fash, and
before the child noticed the astonished and
confused looks, be had carefully spread a
bearskin on tue dirt floor, and gently as
her own mother babe her SAY her prayers"
The beautiful Lords Prayer was repeated
in the clear childish voice, and then 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 endeavor-
ing to steady his voice, big Jack said:
Jimmie, you an Juan stay an tend ter
the leetle un. We uns ergon' 10 help the
folks"
Crash, and the dugout 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
Take the black"
"You take the sorrei."
"No, ne had long days run already"
"How's ther blue roan?"
Hes fresh"
"Be sure an all get fresh horses, boys;
God knows We'll need 'em bad enough"
'Im taking the biazed-face bay"
sBetter not-he's stiff in the shoulder"
pinto is fresh"
The heavy stock saddles are slapped on
and muscular arms tug and tug at the
long latigo straps. until the cinches seem
as ii they would cut through hair and
hide, so tight are they.
''Be sure and cinch 'em well, boys; we
can't stop to tighten 'em after We get
started"
"Ay, ay. yer kin bet on us, Jack"
"Are yer ali o. h. 2"
"You bet."
'Then head fer the Badly mountain an
if ever you spurred. spur this night"
Ont 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 a little in the lead: and as we
rushed over low sand ridge, l 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
p,
On and on, with rushing noise, like a
sound of great wings; now a sharp ejacu-
lation or a smothered oath from somebody
as his horse made stumble, and now
pushing silently on, cutting the cool night
wind like arrows-and yet, dear heaven,
We may be too late!
Pull er little to the left, boys; we kin
make better running
Running! they are running like racers
now; but can they keep it up for twenty
miles over the sandy, heavy ground.
But there were no signs of weakening
yet, and at every lift of the steel they
plunged forward like frightened deer.
And now we came to 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-f1 flesh, or
even our own necks; so with slightly
frightened 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, ard once more
on the smooth plain. our gallant cayuses
with ears well forward, and distended
nostrils, were stretching themselves and
throwing dust like heroes.
Rising ahead of US and looking almost
like small cloud was the clone tree"
Halfway, boys"
"Thank heaven fer that; but do yer
s'pose the cayuses kin keep his gait and
git thar?"
No answer to that question; we all
feared that the brave brutes would drop.
and-but, dear heaven help US, we must
get there, to save the mother and babe, or
die trying.
With slight swerve we passed the lone
tree, looking strangely weird as it stood
all alone, like some gigantic sentinel
keeping watch and ward over the plain
below. Toiling over more sand ridges,
the horses were breathing hard and run
ming heavily, but still doing very little
stumbling.
Out of the sand and up on the rim rock
We tried to squirt. but the jaded animals
were doing their best, and the steel failed
to get an extra jump out of them. An
other mile would bring Us to q point
| where we would be able if it were day.
light TO see the settlers cabin.
Through long sag, then dry creek
bed, crashing the stunted willows that
lined its banks we breasted the slight as
cent, and in another minute were on the
summit. We Involuntary checked our
painting horses, and thrill of horror ran
through US as We saw a bright glare of
light ahead.
Too late, too late, boys! The reds
have got EN-" Jacks voice sounded al
most like groan.
"How far are We from the placer"
"Erbout five miles round by the
wagon road, but 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 TO help 'em some way"
Leading our staggering. trembling
horses, we cautiously crept down the pre-
! cipitous trail. and mounting, 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. our cayuses carried US rapidly
| over the ground.
| When within half a mile we halted in
| the shadow of some overhanging rocks.
| while Hank cautiously crawled up and out
| on projecting shelf 10 reconnoiter, for if
! the Apaches had any scouts thrown out
| we should have TO be careful, as our only
| chance of success was 10 surprise them
! While we were waiting We carefully ex-
| amlned our six-shooters and III another
| minute, 10 our great joy, Hank was tell
| ing 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 Their best plan I kin
| think on hain't extra much of a gin.
| eral, but I hev an idea tibet it's the hes,
| way fer Us ter Go. Wen lead our critters
! down this gully till we git ter tibet scrub
| brush-we kin do tibet without the reds
| kctcaing on Ter us-then well mount.
Yer see by that time the cayuses will be
| Citing their wind purity well. Then we'll
| ride right square down on EN-, yelling
| like fury, an whareyer n red gifts up well