The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-02-07
The Sheriff Of SiSkyOu.
By BRET HARTE.
Copyright, 1894, by the Author.1
Continued.

him. A man with an AK OH MS SnOulder |
could be seen plainly making his way |
through the underbrush not a hundred |
yards away. The sheriff instantly clap |
ped his hand upon his captive's mouth, !
but at look from his eyes took it away
again.
81 see, he said grimly. You don't
want to lure that man within reach of
my revolver by calm to him"
~ could have called him while you
were away, returned the ma or quietly.
The sheriff, with a duiened face
loosoned the sash that bound his pris
oner to the tree, and then lifting him
in his arms began to ascend tho hill
cautiously, dipping into the heavier
shadows. But the ascent was difficult,
the load heavy one. and the sheriff
was agile rather than muscular. After
few minutes climbing he was forced
to pause and rest his burden at the foot
of tree But tho valley and the man
in tho underbrush were no longer in
view.
Come" said the major quietly,
'unstrap my ankles, and I'll walk up.
Well never get there at this rate "
The sheriff paused, wiped his grimy
face with his grimier blouse and stood
looking at his prisoner. Then he said
slowly:
Look yerl wot's yer little gamer
Blessed if kin follow suit. "
For the first time the major burst in
to rage "Blast it all! Don't you see
that if I'm discovered herein this
way-theres not man in the Bar who
would believe that walked into your
trap-not a man, by God, " no wouldn't
think it was trick of yours and mine
together.
"Or," interrupted the sheriff, slowly
fixiup his eyes on his prisoner, mot a
man who would ever trust Major Over
stone for leader again.
Perhaps" said the major unmov-
eddy again 81 don't think either of US
would ever get a chance of being trust
ed again by any one "
The sheriff still kept his eyes fixed on
his prisoner, his gloomy face growing
darker under its CRIME. THAT amt
the reason, major Life and death mean
much more to you than they do to me
in this yer game. know that you d kill
me quicker nor lightnin if you got the
chance. You know that I'm takin you to
the gallows.
1.-THE reason is that want to leave
Wynyard's Bar, )" said the major coolly.
"And even this way out Of it will suit
me"
The sheriff took his revolver from his
pocket and deliberately cooked it Then
leaning down he unbuckled the strap
from the majors ankles. A wild hope
that his incomprehensiblec captive might
seize that moment to develop his real
intent; that he might fly, fight or in
some way act up to his reckless reputa-
ton sustained him for moment, but
in the next proved futile. The major
only said, "Thank you, Tom," and
stretched his cramped legs
"Get up and go on" said the sheriff
roughly.
The major began to slowly ascend the
hill the sheriff close on his heels, alert,
tingling and watchful of every move
ment For a few moments this strain
upon his faculties seemed to invigorate
him, and his gloom relaxed, but PRES
emily it became too evident that the
prisoners pinioned arms made it impos
sible for him to balance or help himself
OH that steep trail, and once OF twice
he stumbled and reeled dangerously to
one side. With an oath the sheriff
caught him and tore from his arms the
only remaining bonds that fettered him.
"ThereP' he said savagely. go on
We're equal
Without replying the major contin
ued his ascent. 1t became sleeper al
they neared the crest, and at last they
were both obliged to drag themselves
up by clutching the vines and under
brush. Suddenly the major stopped
with listening gesture. A strange
roaring, as of wind or water, was dis
tinctly audible.
How did you signal?" asked the ma
jor abruptly.
"Made smoke, said the sheriff a.
abruptly.
; II thought So Well, you've set thu
wood on fire.. "
They both plunged upward again
now quite abreast, vying with each 9th
or to reach the summit as If with thu
one thought only Already the sting
, and smart of acrid fumes were in theil
eyes and nostrils. When they at las
stood ON level ground again, it wa
hidden by a thin film of grayish blu'
haze that seemed to be creeping along
it. But above was the clear sky. seeI
through the interlacing boughs, and t,
their surprise they who had just conn
from the breathless, stagnant hillside
a fierce wind was blowing. But tn
roaring was louder than before.
UNLESS your three men are alread,
here your game is up" said the majo
calmly. 1.-The wind blows dead alonl
the ridge where they should come, ant
they can't get through the smoke an,
fire. "
1t was indeed true. In the scarce q
minutes that had elapsed since the sher
ifs return the dry and brittle under
brush for half mile on either side ha,
been converted into asheet of fame whicl
at times rose to furnace blast througl
the tall, chimneylike conductors of ther
shafts, from whose shriveled sides bar
was cracking and lighted dead limb
falling in all directions. The Who'll
J valley, the gully, the bar the very hill
side they had just left. was blotted GU
by creeping, sitting smoke fog tina
scarcely rose breast high but was beat
en- down or cut off clearly by the vic
lent wind that swept the higher leve
Of the forest. At times this gale be
came sirocco in temperature, concen
trating its heat in whitening blast
which they could not face or focusin
: its intensity upon some mass of foliag
that seemed to shrink at its touch an
open scathed and quivering aisle t
it's approach. The enormous skeleton G
dead and rotten redwood not 10
yards to their right broke suddenly lik
a gigantic firework into sparks an
fame.
The sheriff had grasped the full