Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-06-17

capable and dangerous man. All
ready?' asked Sanchez. Come on.
1t was as wild a troop as ever swept
over Tartar steppe. The swarthy
faces were set, and the eyes glittered
angrily. A whisper ran from man
to man as they clattered on-'King
Feesh!' Fisher was a noted despe-
RADIO who lived on the Nueces river.
He had killed some of them and rob-
bed them more than once. They
were satisfied that the last theft was
his work. Moreover, the horses, 80
in all, were the best on the ranch,
especially broken and trained.
Full 80 miles to the northward Ian
that trail, but when they struck it
they struck 1t as the eagle strikes
homeward to her nest upon the crag
when the way is far and the sun is
low and talons are heavy. 1t was as
broad and plain as a country road.
More than $50 hoofs had made it so.
They were going fast said Pedro.
We were riding at the sharp, steady
trot that the ranch horse develops.
Mile after mile was put behind u.s.
I'VE cant afford to go more slowly
said Sanchez in courteous explana-
ton. They have had more than II
hours start If you come up with
them, what then?' I asked. 'Ahl'
he said. We had ridden 30 miles
and the dark was coming down when
the broad trail disappeared. 1t was
wiped out as boy swabs a wet
sponge across slate. I'VE will eat,
said Sanchez. The moon will be up
soon.' One of the men had shot a
peccary. Another had small pack
age of salt IN a pocket of his saddle.
We roasted and ate the wild hog
without bread. The trail IS gone,
said Pedro, because they have scat
tered the horses. No matter
Once more in the saddle, with the
white moon streaming over all the
wide country, Pedro rode, now Jean
ing far over his horses shoulders.
He was following single track. The
gait was a fast walk. The character
of the country had changed. 1t had
become rocky and hilly, but was still
bare. So we rode and rode. Sud-
IDENTIFY before US again stretched the
wide road made by the fugitives. A
'sibilant hiss of satisfaction greeted it.
Now tro., up hill and down, while
loose pebbles clsttered from under the
horses hoofs. Once a startled herd
of antelope bounded almost from be-
meath our feet and scurrled away.
Dawn found US steadily riding. A
cup of coffee and two hours sodden
sleep, then the relentless pursuit.
Again the trail vanished, and again
Pedro, casting about ike hound,
signaled Sanchez to come on. Three
miles farther, and the single track
disappeared, Instead, crossing it
almost at right angles, was a trail
wider even than that which left the
ranch. Pedro was at fault here a
half hour, hunting like a sleuth for
his sign They have run wild cat
tie across the trail, explained Sanchez.
Late that afternoon heavy cloud
of smoke rose on the far horizon.
Pedro smiled for the first time. That
Is their last trick, he said in his pa
tois. They are burning the grass
behind them in the hope that the
ashes will cover the trail The sun
hung like a red ball when we had
crossed the burned belt and saw IN
the distance the chaparaal and trees
that marked the Nueces river. They
have beaten US to cover and will scat.
ter the horses in the brush, said
Sanchez. I'VE will have to work
them out as we can
Next morning at breakfast on the
the bank of the stream King Fisher
rode up alone and unarmed. Ex-
pressing surprise that any of the Secs
horses should strayed so far, he
volunteered to help find them.
Sanchez declined his assistance.
Pedro looked at him and did not say
word. Eighteen of the horses were
found. The others were lrrecover-
able. But Pedro had sustained his
reputation.-H. s. Garfield in Chi
capo Times Herald