The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1895-04-05

rounding up the horses for their yearly
branding. Tonight she looked for them
home There was sound of bacon siz-
zing in the big frying pan, brown-jack-
eted potatoes peeped from their hiding
place i'll the hot ashes, and Carmen left
the door for moment to peep into the
oven at the biscuit coloring delicately
inside. Carmen cooked we'll. and the
boys found her presence Il welcome one,
freeing them of irksome stewing over the
stove when they rode home tired and
hungry.
She glanced through the window as she
rose from her biscuit inspection. then
hastily returned to her post in the door
way.
Far off on the edge of the prairie tiny
moving cloud made its appearance, creep
ing snail-like toward her; gradually it
rolled and swelled and came rushing over
the intervening plain, taking shape into
rounded puffs, ever falling and renewing
La caballada" she nlurmured. in Il
satisfied tone.
At last there came a thunder of quick
hoof-beats, and then the excited herd
dashed after their leader into the big cor
ral The heavy gates banged, the chains
ratified over the staple. Five hungry men
Sprang from their saddles. and, hastily
pcketing their ponies. made Il bee line for
the cookhouse.
They greeted Carmen with boisterous
jollty. flung themselves upon their
to devour the food set before them.
Hey! This coffee is prime. my Car
mem" Some white woman taught yel
ter make biscuits. gall Say. Jake. You
bet it's fine to get back to Garments cook,
in'!'. vociferated one and another. As
the edge of their appetites dulled they be-
gan to ply their knives more slowly.
E<~k l,<xsr~ n
compliments. She was standing behind
her husbands chair, acting as waitress
when occasion required, at other times fin,
gering his sombrero or timidly touching
his to,lsled curls. Each man was duly
supplied with edibles; but the crispest
bacon and brownest biscuit found their
way to Jake Ringers plate, until he
finally looked up and announced: i've
had enough! Now eat, yourself"
The men rose and scattered to their
evening occupations; only Jake remained,
smoking in the doorway, while Carmen
sat down to her meal of fragments.
AS the last slouching figure vanished
toward the cabins he turned to the WOm
an with Il slow smile. and asked in Next
cam" Has it been lonely these days, cara
mia!'
1T is always night in my heart when
thou art gone, o, my husband!'
Then. still in the soft Mexican tongue,
they talked together of such things as
made up their life-of the range happen
inSs. of the morrow's work, of what they
would buy in Atlantic when the herds
were driven in to be sold.
Lastly, us Jake rose and knock the
ashes from his pipe, he remarked, in
English:
Tomorrow and Fridays the brandn'
but Saturday III make the boys get out
the plow Ell fix us Il fire-break. The
grass is uncommon long just now, Ell
it's dryin' fast. Eff we don't look out
we'll have the whole camp goin' up in
smoke
He strobe through the starlit dusk to-
ward his sleeping shack, and Carmen,
shutting softly the door Of the cook
house, followed slowly in the same dircc-
ton.
The air felt sitting and oppressive. A
stiff breeze came out of the south, but
it's hot breath filled the frame with I'M
comfortable languor. Old Tom Griffin.
standing in the door of the boys shack
hallOOed to Jake as he passed him. Car
men slipped by them and into her own
little shanty.
in an nndertone, 1.-THE boys is snoozin'
already. but l cant turn in fer thinkin'
or that pesky long hoss-fecd out yander.
With this here breeze a fire cud come a.
gallopin'-what dyer say ter youn me
goin' out now and burnin' off bit? Jest
fer luck!'
''Pshaw. Tom, faint so awful dry yet,
neither. Turn in, man, en- quit botherin ::
After the brandin's done well up and
plow a good breakin' You bet I'm
tired, en- I amt no mind ter go burnin'
off this time O. night
He turned on his heel and disappeared
into the smaller cabin. Old Tom shook
his head. Them boys amt keerful
enough" he muttercd ''seems to me
them critters yander air Uneasy
He glanced once more toward the cor
raj, where an unusual stamping and paw
ing seemed to confirm his words; once
more he shook his head doubtfully; then,
after look all round the horizon, where
no uncommon sign was manifest, he at
last sought his bunk. Tired nature sool'
drowned his fears in sleep.
Five hours later a slim, red tongue
reached over the crest Of the, knoll that
bounded the horizon of Star Camp to the
south. 1t writhcd this way and that
among the long grass stems. Another
and another followed it, then wall OF
flame, reaching east and west as far as
the eye could follow, rose over the ridge
and bore down with race-horse speed up
on the devoted little settlement below:
Jake Ringer stirred uneasily in his
SICcD HHu uuuS u li"cNS 'hAS I'll - wv
the quiet figure beside him. A glare OF
lurid light filled the little room with
the brightness of MONDAY, but still they
slept on. Outside in the corral horses
were snorting and stamping, their wild
eyes staring at the distant but swift.
coming danger. The animals .pickete'l
On the prairie tugged ut their stout
ropes, rearing and screaming.
Old Tom Griffin, walked by the rising
clamor, sprang with bound to the door
"Fire! Fire. he shouted. "Quick, out OF
this, or yell smother like rats in hole!
-Four half-clad figures rushed out into
the night, and Dick Ellnnd beat on Jake
Ringers door, calling: up! Up! if yt
value yer lives!"
Reused from his heavy slumber, Jake
stumbled across the floor; trembling
Carmen followed close behind.
One look at the OncOming demon
brought Jake to his wandering, senses:
"A back fire, quick, you idiOts!' he
bawled, and made u break for the cook
house.
Old Tom laid a powerful, restraining
hand on his shoulder.
"Too late, my lad!'' he shouted above
the din of the frantic penned-in herd
''.That furnace nd reach US afore twas
even started" IL. :ss. Il: s::zz@..< +
Indeed, the fiery breath Of the advanc
ing flames already scorched their faces.
We must trust 70 our good horse
sa9