The morning call., 1893-05-28
THE WILD WESTERN FICTlONIST ::
OF

10 something better 10 her. Again she forgot
the grossneSS of earth. She really rested now.
For the first time she felt that whatever hap
pened she would not rise uptn the morning and
go through the d y trying to make TWO dollars
serve for three
Her spirits rose up with the immense white
moon and widened md wldened with the great
light that dashed the world OF snow above and
beyond. The moon came down aud conSpired
with the mighty pyramid of snow. She laid
her face to the awful mountains face, as sor-
rowing sister might lay her face 10 the face of
a faithful brother. And peace came TO her
with this thought.
She slept, wakened, and slept again. The
moon had settled down. down, down and away
toward The great seas that break on the land OF
the dying sun. The moon, too, was weary,
and would be at rest and at peace. And as If
in sign of surrender. with her last biz OF remain
ing strength she reached her long white arm in
al the open window and laid her sword OF
silver across The sleeping woman's feet.
The Indian boy was up with the birds. Tip
toe, aud only as an Iudian can, lie got into the
cabin aud had a blazing big fire on The rough
hearthstOne even before Ihe eyes of the Pa
risians had yet opened. Then slipping around.
with mis- back mOdesfly toward tile woman's
bed and his black head down on level with
the trnndlebed, he mi>chevously wakened and
dug up his little playfellow of tie evening be-
fore.
Sweet was the smell Of burning pine. Merry
the shout OF her happy son in the ferns aud
flowers near her window as she opened her
eyes. Peace sat with her now. The bie kfast
was 4 royal one. She helped TO make ii and she
helped to break it.
The sun flashed up full aud high and hot, hot
and lurid, ere YET il became midday The long
dry season of sultry days had melted the resin
from the trees, and The delicious SIN Il of dead
and dying pine trees, where the ruthless lum-
be man had for years deSuoiled the fores $, was
sweet. very sweet, TO her, aud full of holy
memories. II was healing, this balm and calm
and Sultry odOrous heat, that climbed In clouds
of incense up 10 heaven, healing TO body and TO
soul.
The big man had taken the pretty little
woman out TO the edge of the open valley
where the horses stood belly deep in the purple
flowers of alfalfa. He had talked of cows,
horses, Indians, everythng-everything but
her, til / other woman. He had even pointed
out the mill ranch. away up yonder in the little
open dimple on the mountalnsid between Two
branches of the mill stream, and on he farther
side OF tile river. Oh, yes, he would take her
there some time when rested. No, cot now.
She was troubled again. She must know and
she would know now. AS they slowly turned
back he talked about the autiful river that
bent like a bow. here shallow and swift, there
black woods between them aud the ranch and
the lndIHns up the mounlain. He talked lots
OF things, bur she listened 10 nothing now. She
wanted 10 90 10 The ranch, and TO 90 now. She
didn't care If the road was long and rough.
AS they were ab9ut to enter the cabin TO
prepare their afternoon dinner he wheeled
about quickly. a horse had jerked up IT'S
head from the clover and shifted The air IN a
sharp, frightened way as if hostile Indians
pasture.
He stepped in, tock his gun in careless haste
and biddmg the Indian boy take ca of the
guest and have hot Goals ready foi broiling
quail, he MT down among he frightened
horses along the edge OF the brush cautiously.
The woman. befor he wa well ou, of sight,
fell To taking agerly to the boy about The
ranch. the Indians and every body there. She
W 5 just getting ready 10 ask about hts mother
when she saw three horses plunge ont INTO tie
middle of The pasture, and wheel bout aud
point their lifted ears and disiendeu nostrils
over The cabin and un the mountaHSide.
Then she Brorhern throw his big right
hand level above his eyes ana look long ana
earnestly in he same dlrec ion Some buds
fl " over tie house in terrified SORT OF way as
he came hastily 10 the house. Setting ins gun
inside lie called the Indian boy.
Yes, go now, and straight through the
woods
"Wherei" asked she, eagerly.
"Ob, only up to tile rancb.'
"Let him 20, TOO. They are great friends,
you know"
Time was precious. There was no me for
argument or scene now. For even as he tried
to petsn de her has her son could not keep
race WI h the Indians he laid he point of MS
big fotetngei a speck OF som thing white,
which had sifted down on the Iudldu boys
Hack ed n her wi 4 U
alerI and suspicious Of every word and act. like
little snowflake. 1he horses mad scattered
down TO tie iauuet side of tbe pasture and
Hege again feeding he man noted their com.
pOsUre with profound satfsfae ion drew sigh
OF se lei aud with lirtle eifou spoke eheeFuy
10 lie boys. But stiH he was neryously eagec
TO have the boys lie of on ihei MISSION.
+ No; don't take you gun--hot even ycur
tomahaw nothing but your knife and piRe-
staff. For gou mn>t get there and back-get
back aud bring him wllb you tonight There!
tighten your belt tighter Tie yolI moccasn-
stlngs ana sc0ot."
"We'll see bear if don't have my guu."
And the Indian Doy looked l0nginsiy at his
little winchester in The corner OF the cabin.
20 course, you'll see bear sure If you don't
have your gun; alters do; two bears, three
bears, and git mighty close to ZEN. 100; alters
do when We dom. have d gun. But see that
little black puff of smo e up yonder against
the white snow OF Mount Shasta? Wal fire up
thai! Some cigar tle-smoking fool of a tourist
has let 2 match fall ~ tina J That's ali Them
tourists from The States is fiji for. and what's
tile use OF any feller, that smokes cigarettes
anyhow? He never sees anything hut the smoke
OF his cgaretIes-smoke Of MS cigarettes and
himself! Now, scoot straight for the rauch up
the mOuntan through lhe woods ana tell lhe
boys to tapt1e RESERVOIRS above and flood the
countryl And. say itdone Stay and ses
II done and then 'bacN, and back tonight with
hlmi Now Scootp
All this time old otneln. the only namehe
had shen-the rest of his name had been worn
or rubbed off ike the date of au old shilling
put the pure silver was there still all the same
had been fixing up lie Indian boy for wild,
swift run through the woods of the burning
mountain, tightening his belt, testing his moe
casin strings. thI eadng he long black hair
Though his big fingers lovingly, and finally
giving him quiet hug with his huge righ arm
a> he said. "Now Sc0Otl"
And away darted tn Indian lad like an ar
row, bis head thrown back over his shoulder as
he disappeared through the brush aud pines
that hung and hovered above the hidden cam
yon OF the McCloud River to see thal the sal-
/ lani little Partisan lad was safe at his heels.
Then dawn, down he plunged, defiant OF fallen
logs, moss-covered rocks. taBgle or Jungle, till
he struck the deep whirlpool Of the swift wild
river.
He thrust the white boy in the canoe before
| him, bade him fan fiat on his face and lie SO
| I'll The other side was touched, and clutching
! the oar IN one hand he cut the cord with his
| tomahawk AZ a blow, and away they swept.