The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-18

hsndinto the MAJORS vaistcost and secured
/ the weapons. III nave 20 trouble, yop Ior
yoSr sab 'gCs he said pn" s,, ne I nns
| You won't want II, you AMT walking. and It'll
come in handy 70 me Just nov" A..
| lie bent over, and passing II across the MA
iSSdc than he . lad y yst SHOWN, secured him il
after esreiuiIy trying The Knots and straps that
held hts prisoner he turned and lightly
lie Was absent scarcely ten minutes vet
when he retained the Majors eyes were halt
soS M. until n your POSSE you had batter
take me TO some less exposed position ne
ry BRUSH below %f ~ the S' wcCG the
None q your trLfGEss Major"
The sheriff glanced quickly. A man with
an axe on his shoulder could be seen plainly
making his way thrruRh the unIerbrush not
cIapped his hand upon his captive's mouth.
but. al look from his eyes took i away again.
to lure that man within reach OF my revolver
| By calling to him" -
sOuld hsye ,S ssls S,J MN nu wnIe you were
The sheriff. with a darkeped face. looscned
the sash that bound his prisoner to the tree.
cend the hill cautiously. dipping into the
heavier. shadows. But the ascent was dflicult.
rather than muscular. After a few minutes
elm bling The was forged TO. pause and rest at
the the u iESt were no longer 10 view
Come" said tho Major. quietly unstrap
ny ankles and ~ walk uh' Wen never get
'' The sberiri paused wiped his grimy face
with hts erimisr blouse. and stood looking at
80, 80 Look yerl Mot,s your little game Blessed
For the iirst time the Major burst into rage.
Blast Il ALL Don't you see that II I'm discoy.
| cred here. IN this way, there's not man on
your trap. not a man. by Cod who wouldn't
think Il was a trick o. yours and mine.
on bis prisoner nep'H not Sps ' man Who would ever
trust Major, ,Orerton ior leader again.
chance Of being trusted again by any one"
The Sheriff stlll kent his eyes nxed on his
pTiione his gloomy ao ETGT ,5s r sS.srs
Major life aud death mean much moro g
you than they do to me- IN this yer Ea%s
4 you got the chance; you know that I'm tax
The reason is that want to leave wynyard's
Bar" said the Major coolly. And even this
way out Of It will suit me-" ,,
and deliberately. cooked it. Then leaning
down. lie unhuckled the strap from the MAJORS
nsss Wilt Gons that I, hs nsSprseGsl
his real intent; that he might fly. fight, or Ia
some way act up 10 his rock less reputation:
sqovsa fut n RI The Maior only said Thank
you, Tom" and stretched his eIamped legs,
The MAJOR la orb began CANT to Slowly ascend tho hiil
the Sheriff close on his heels. alert, tingilng.
moments this strain upon hts faculties seemed
| to invigorate him and his gloom relayed. but
| oner's pinioned arms made 1t impossible for
| him to balance or help himself on that steep
na once or ,Wlce s ~ MIR Sn o an
Tie only remaininG Iond.: There" he said
Without replying the Major. continued his
ascent; 4 became steener as they nsared the
drag the IN selves up by clutching the vines and
underIrusr. Suddenly the Major stopped
as t OF wind or wates was distinctly audible.
How did you signal 2? asked the Major.
Made W.1 the nes sheriff ~, the wood
They both plunged upward again. now quite
| abreast. wing with each other to reach the
summit al il With the one thought only. Already
tho sting and smart OF ac5id fumes were We e ~
stood on level ground again 1t was hidden by
a thin MIN Of grayish-blu haze that seemed
eiea Eo S seem through the Interfering Soughs
and to their surprise. they who hnd Just come
G% tns Bat s Poapns oade
"uniess Your three. mon are already here.
| your game Is up" said the MAJOR calmly. " The
should come, and they can't get through the
i wa. Indeed true! In the scarce twenty
minutes that had ELAPSED since the Sherin's re-
me ON r III r side had 5esn conVsited into
sheet OF flame. which at times rose TO fur
da duct S Of three shaits from whuse SIR Sesd
sides bark was cracking aud lighted dead
iey. he a gully the bar. tho Very bisido they
Srseping. sitting ,smoksIfos. that scarce;
down or cut off cieanly by the, violent
wind that swept the higher level OF the
| tenIeratuTa concentrating its heat in wthor-
ing blasts which they could not face or focus
inn. its intensity upon some mass OF foliage
that seem ell to shrink at its touch and open a
| srnthed and quiyering aisle 20 us approach
redwood mota Hundred yards 10 their right,
broke suddenly like gigantic nrework into
| sparks and name.
their situation. In spite OF his iirst error the
very carelessness OF familiarity his knowl-
edge o. wo0deraIt was gIeaa,or than his COM
Come" he said quickly. we must make
for "a Snening GE We shall IA be ssSsGi
The Sheriff pointed to tho blazing tree.
posse that will wipe us out"
lie caught tho Major liy the arm and rushed
TecIion OF the greatest mass OF flame, The
heat was suifoca.ing. but II struck the Major
scene OF confagration the heat and smoke be-
| cane less, until no saw that the nro was re-
treating , Geiors them ,n and the following wind
expanso already burned over came in sight
| Here and there. seen dim " thi ough the Drift
ing smoke. the scattered embers that siill
| stTewed the forest floor Glowed IN weird nebu-
| lous spots like will o. the wisps. For an in
| slant the Major hesitated; the Sheriff cast Q
| significant glance behind them.
40 on; its our only chance. he said.
| They dArted on. skimming The blackened or
| smoElleTing surface which at times struck out
| spark and ilAme IRON their heavier footprints
| as they passed. Their boots cracked and
| Erorehsd beneath them their shred OF cloth
| ing were on lire; their breathing became more
dilhcult. until. proyidentiallv. they fell upon
| an abrupt. nssure-like depression Of the soil
which the fire had leaped, and into which they
| blindly plunged and rolled together, mo-
| mCnI OF relief and GOODNESS followed as they
crept along the assure filled with damp and
| roiting leaves.
| Why not stay here ?" said the prisoner
| And be roasted Ike sweet potatoes when
these trees CATCH returned tina Sherii grimy:
| No." Even as lie spoke dropping rain Of
| firs spatteTed through the leaves from n splin-
| tered redwood. before overlooked. that was
| now blazing Iiercely In the upper wind, A
| vague And undelnAble terror MAS in the cir.
| Inc cOnuaRTatiOn no longer seemed to obey
ANY rule OF direction; The incen'lary torch
| had passed invtsibly everything. They
scrambled out the hollow and agaIn dashed
| desperately forward.
| beaten, bruised. blaekened. and smoke