Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-03-31

WITH"
"Yes. sir. he's got shotgun, and he
bought a nice rifle that shoots without
loading. and please, Mr.. Big Jack. can
90 to bed now? I'm so tired"
Jimmie, put the leetle un in your
bunk. an you kin turn in with me II we
gets time ter sleep"
but Jack, hain't we ergoin' ter try
an help 'em somehow"
God knows / wish we could. But
we have ter leave one man with the
hosses, an what are six agin q crowd?'
And truly IL looked hopeless, but d,
to think of ME fate of that gentle mother
and tender babe.
"Boys, this is maddening. We must
do somethin."
Jimmie had by this timo 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"
If sheIl had come crashing into the
dug-out it could not have created more
establishment than the simple request OF
the child.
Quick-witted Jimmie lad, however,
pulled himself together quicker than
flash, and before the child noticed the
astonished and confused looks, no had
carefully spread bearskin on the dirt
floor. and gently as her own mother babe
her "say her prayers"
The beautiful Lords Prayer was re-
peated in the clear voice, and them came,
land please, my Heavenly Father, bless
my own dear papa and mamma, and little
baby brother, and Mr.. Big Jack, and oil
Tho 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 tho leetle un. We uns are
crgoin' to help the folks"
Crash, and the dug-out door few 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 as they ran.
The heavy stock saddles are slapped
on, and III secular arms tug and tug al
the long latigo straps. until the chinchas
seem as if they would cut through hail
and hide, SO tight are they.
''Be sure and cinch EN- well, boys, we
can't stop to tighten EN- after we get
started"
GAY, ay, yer kin bet on us, Jack"
"Are yer all o K?"
"You bet"
"Then head fer the Badly 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 little in the lead:
and as we rushed over low sand ridge
saw him and his horse showing dark
and clearly cut against the sky. lie was
riding his best this night, and his blue
roam was stretching himself like {
thoroughbred.
And now we came to long stretcl
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 TO
was far too precious TO care for horse
flesh, or even our own necks; so witt
slightly frightened reins and only our toe
resting in the broad stirrups, We pushes
madly across, the sparks flashing as TIL
iron shoes clashed against the rougl
rock. Across at last, thank God, ant
once more on the smooth plain, our gal
liant causes, with ears well forward, an,
distended nostrils, were stretching them
selves and throwing dust like heroes.
Out of the sand and up on the rim
rock we tried q squirt, but the jaded ami
mails were doing their hest, and the stee
failed to get an extra jump out of them
Another mile would bring us to q poin
where we would be able if it were day
light to see the settlers cabin.
Through long sag, then dry cree
bed; crashing through the stunted vii
lows that lined it's banks, we breaste
the slight ascent, and in another minut
were on the summit. We Involuntary
checked our painting horses, and q thri
of horror ran through us as we saw
bright glare of light ahead.
TOO late, too late. boys. The red
have got 'em." jacks voice sounde
almost like groan.
"How far are We from the placer"
"Erbout five miles round by tn
wagon road, dut we kin lead our horse
down the deer trail, and git thar in two.
''Then let's follow the deer trail; W
may yit be in time ter help 'em som
way"
Leading our staggering, tremblin
horses. we cautiously crept down III
precipitous trail, and mo -ntain, heade
straight for the glare, which even in tn
valley could be distinctly seen.
Nobody now remembered that we wer
only FIVE to thirty, and, goaded and CT
by the spurs, the cayuses carried us raj
idly over the ground.
When within half mile we halted
the shadow of some overhanging rock
while Hank cautiously crawled up, an
out on projecting shelf to reconnoitr
for if the Apaches had any scout
thrown out we should have to be careful
as our only chance of success was
surprise them.
While we were waiting we CAREFUL
examined our six-shooters, and
? another minute. to our great joy, Han
i was telling us that the barn was on FIR
I, but the dwellinc-house was still intac
and that he could distinctly hear Il
crack of rifles, showing us plainly th'
/, the brave settler was still defending b
loved ones.
"Now boys, here's Their best plan
4 kin think on hain't extra much OF
gineral, but hev an idea tibet it's Il
o best way fer us ter do. Well lead OF
critters down this gully till we git t
:, tibet scrub brush--we kin do tibet witho
the reds ke:ching on ter us--then we
,oo,,nt Var saa nv that time the cav