Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-02-21
CHAPTER XVI.
A 0AILoP OF THREE.

We were of. we three on our gallop
to save and to slay.
Pumps and Fulano took fire at once.
They were ready to burst into their top
speed and 60 of in u frenzy.
STEADY, steady" cried Brent. "Now
we'll keep this long easy lope for awhile,
and I'll tell you my plan.
"They have gone to the southwark,
those two men. They could not get away
In any other direction. Ihave heard Muir
ker say he knows all the country between
here and the Arkansaw. Thank heavenl
30 do I, foot by foot"
Irecalled the sound Of galloping hoofs
had heard in the night to the south.
ward.
81 heard them. them" said |, 'in my
watch after Fulano's lariat was cut.
The wind lulled and there came sound
Of horses, and another sound, which ]
then thought a fevered fancy Of my
own, far away scream Of woman"
Brent had been quite unimpassioned
In his manner until now. He groaned
rs spoke Of the scream.
"Oh, Wade! Oh, Richardr' he said,
"why did you not know the voicel II was
she. They have terrible hours the start. "
He was silent moment, looking sternly
forward. Then he began again, and as
he spoke. his iron gray edged on with a
looser rein.
ut Is well you heard them; 1t makes
their course unmistakable. We know
we are ON their track. Seven or eight
full hours! II is long odds OF start.
But they are not mounted as we are
mounted. They did not ride rs we shall
ride. They had q woman to carry and
their mules to drive. They will fear
pursuit and push on without stopping.
But we shall catch them; we shall catch
them before night, so help US Godr'
"You are aiming for the mountainsy
I asked.
"For Luggernel alley" he said.
"They will make for the Luggernel
springs. The alley is the only gate
through the mountains toward the Ar
kansaw. II they can get by there, they
are safe. They can strike of New Mex
leo way, or keep on to the States out OF
the line Of emigration or any Mormon
pursuit. The springs are the only water
to be had at this season without digging
anywhere In that quarter. They must
20 there. We are no farther from the
spot than we were at Bridger. We have
been travelling along the base Of the
triangle. We have only lost time. And,
now that we are fairly under way, ]
think we might shake out another reef.
A little faster, friends-a little faster
yetr' .
SO we galloped three abreast, neck and
neck, hoof with hoof, steadily quicken
ing our pace over the sere width OF desert
We must make the most Of the levels
Rougher work. cruel obstacles were be
fore.
We held steadily for that notch In the
blue Sierra. The mountain lines grew
sharper, the country where We trav'
eled rougher, every stride. We came
upon wide tract covered with wild
bage bushes. These delayed and baftied
us. Ii was q pygny forest OF trees
mature and complete, but no higher
than the knee. Sometimes we could
find natural pathways for few rods
Then these strayed aside or closed up
and we must plunge straight ON. We
lost time; moments we lost, more pre-
cious than II every one were marked BY
= drop in clepsydra, and each drop a
II fell changed itself and tinkled In ths
basin priceless pearl,
ut worries me. this delay" l said te
Brent.
"They lost ~ much-more time thar
we," he said.
And he crowded on, more desperately
Is man rides for dearer than lifs-as
lover rides for love.
We tore along. breaking through and
over the sage bushes, each man whers
best he could. Fulano began TO show
me what leaps were In him. gave him
his head. No bride would have held
him. kept my mastery by the voice
or rather by the perfect identification ol
his will with mine. Our minds acted
together. "Save strength" i still warned
him, ''save strength, my friend. for thu
mountains and the last leaps!'
A little pathway In the sage bushes
suddenly opened before me, as q LAM
riffs in the press Of hurryirg legion
mid the crush Of q city thoroughfare
dashed on hundred yards in advanc'
OF my comrades.
What was this, The bushes tramplet
and broken down. just a. we In on
passage were trampling and breaking
them. WHAT
Hoof marks In the dustl
"The traily' I cried, "the trailr'
They spraug toward me. Brent fol
lowed the line with his eye. He gallopet
forward, with look Of triumph.
Suddenly saw him ding himself hal
out Of his saddle and clutch at some oh
ject. Still going at speed, and holdinl
on by one leg alone, after the lndiai
fashion for sport or shelter against ~
arrow or a shot. he picked mp somethin,
from the bushes, regained his seat an,
waved his treasure to as. We ranged ul
and rode beside him over gap In tn
sage.
A lady's glovei-that was what he ha.
stopped to recover. An old buckskil
riding gauntlet. neatly stitched abou
the wrist and plnked on the wristlet 4
pretty glove, strangely. almost tragical
", feminine In this desolation. A vel
worn glove that had seen better days
! like Its mistress, but never any day .
good ~ this. when IL proved to % tha
We were on the sure path Of rescue.
~ take up the gauntlet" " said Brent
'.Gsre . qui Il, TOUGHER
We said nothing more; for this uncon
scious token. this silent cry for help
made the danger seem moro closely i'm
minent We pressed on. No Mnchinl
In any Of the horses. Where we coul'
We were going At speed. Who're the.
could the horses kept side BY ode, nerv
ing each other. Companionship sui
tained them In that terrible rides
And now In front the purple Sierr
was growing brown and rising mp dia
tinct wall. cleft vidbly with dell. gully