St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-02-18
THE SHERIFF OF SISKTYOU.
BY BRET HARTE.
PART II.
Copyright. 1898, by Bret Harte.l

copyright 1894, by Bret Harte.
Dawson was not aStoniShed, the next
morning, to see Maj. Overstone and the
half-breed walking together down the
gully road. For lie had already come to
the conclusion that the major was plan
ming some extraordinary reprisal against
The invaders that would insure the per-
petual security of the camp. That he
should use so Insignificant and unimpor-
tant TOOL now appeared to him to be
Quite natural, particularly as the service
Mas probably one in which the man
would be sacrificed. THE major" he
suggested to his companions, ''ain't
going to risk white mans skin when
ne can get an Injin'S hide handy"
The reluctant, hesitating step of the
half-breed as they walked along seemed
TO give some color to this hypothesis.
lie listened sullenly to the major as he
pointed out the strategic position of the
bar. THAT wagon road is the only ap-
proach 10 Vineyards, and dozen men
along the rocks could hold it against a
hundred. The trail that you came by.
over the ridge, drops straight into this
6uA49s ohO lOu SdH NildG llldL hOulu
mean to any BANKED fools who might
try. or course, we could be shelled
from that ridge if the sheriff had a
howitZer, or the men also knew how to
work one, but even then we could oc-
cupy the ridge before them. He paused
a moment and then added: II used to
be i'll the army, Tom; | saw service in
Mexico before that cub you got away
from had his first trousers. l was
brought up as a gentleman-blank it
all.-and here l AMI"
The man slOuched on by his side,
casting his surly, furtive glances from
left to right as if seeking to escape from
theSe condolences. Nevertheless the
major kept on through the gully, until
reaching the wagon road they crossed
1t and began TO ascend the opposite
slope, half hidden by the underbrush
and larches. Here the Major paused
again and faced about. The cabins of
the settlement were already behind the
bluff; the little stream which
indicated the "bar," on which
some perfunctory mining was still con-
tinued. now and then rang out quite
clearly at their feet, although the bar
Itself had disappeared. The sounds of
occupation and labor had at last died
out in the distance. They were quite
alone. The major sat down Oh boul-
der, and pointed to another. The man.
however. remained sullenly standing
where he was, as if to accent as strongly
as possible the enforced companionship.
Either the major was too self-absorbed
to notice it. or accepted it as satisfac-
tory characteristic of tine half-breed
race. He continued confidently:
Now look here. Tom! l want to
leave this cursed hole and get clear out
of the state! Anywhere! over the
Oregon line into British Colombia, or to
the coast, where l can get coasting
vessel down to Mexico! 1t will cost
money, put Ive got it! 1t will cost lot
of risks, but FL rake them! l want
somebody to help me-some one to share
risks with me, and some one to share
my luck if l succeed. Help to put me
en- the other side of the border line, by
sea or land, and 1'll give YOU thousand
dollars down before we Start-and
thousand dollars when Pm safe"
The half-breed had changed his
slOuching attitude. 1t seemed more in
hOlent on account of the loosely hanging