The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1898-05-11

burning southern sun, across the
scorched earth toward the creek there,
whose sluggish shallow tide the sum
set had redeemed until it had looked
like trail of blood. They had long
since left the open prairie behind them.
Here the ground was newer, broken
by sloping hillocks and clumps of chap
arral and here and there a scrub oak,
affording excellent advantages for hid
ing. He must be keen of scent in
deed who would ferret out q man in
such a place-keen of scent and sharp
Of eye, with long and efficient training
in thief-catching.
With deep-drawn breath of relief
Trenbar brought the black horse to a
standstill in the shadow of clump of
chaparral and slipped heavily down
from the saddle. He was all but spent
with hunger and WEAKNESS and nerv-
Gus tension. His face was pale and his
knees shook under him. Yet his first
thought was not for himself, but for the
animal beside him.
He removed both saddle and brid re
and rubbed down the tired limbs. Then
he led the horse by the name down TO
The creek, and they drank together
Trenbar throwing himself prone upon
the sand with his lips laid to the water.
It was so still there in the low west
ern light. The ripple washing family,
the horses heavy breathing as he drew
the water in in long thirsty draughts
these were the only sounds, but
they smote the air with thrilling dis
tinctness.
Once the horse flung up his head with
start and thrust his head sharply for
ward in the attitude of listening. In
that moment Trenbar's heart seemed to
stand still, but he smiled when the
horse dropped his nose again upon the
water.
poor old Chief" he said; 81 reckon
you're as nervous as | be-"
a single long-drawn bird note came
plaintively from tang.e of weeds on
the farther bank. Trenbar turned the
horse about and led him up out of the
water. Then leaving him to crop the
grass, which grew fresh along the
stream, he drew some corn cakes and
bacon from the saddle pocket and pro-
ceeded to break his long fast.
Lower and lower sank the sun until
it rested a globe of fire upon the rim
OF the horizon. Soon it would drop
from sight and night would be upon
the prairie. Trenbar at full length on
the grass in the shadow by the chap
arral watched it drowsily, thinking
that before it set again he and Chief
would be safe beyond the Rio Grande.
Five hours the start and the f1eetest
horse in southwestern Texas to carry
him had given him an advantage which
even the sheriff of Bandera county
would find it hard to cope with, and
yet
To use his own expression, Trenbar
had been born under an unlucky star
He had drifted down to Bandera coun-
ty from a point far north a year before,
bringing with him all he possessed in
the way of goods and chattels-the
black horse Chief.
Chief soon won for himself reputa-
ton both for beauty and speed and
Trenbar received many offers to sell
Linn, one and all of which he put aside,
for the horse was dear to him beyond
anything on earth. Many and many a
time he had gone hungry that Chief
might be fed, and well-nigh barefoot
that Chief might be shod. Dire in
deed would be the necessity which
would bring about a separation between
them.
For a time Trenbar worked with a
fair amount of industry at whatever he
could find to do. He had tried pretty
much everything in the money-making
process, and nothing to success, for the
reason perhaps that his restlessness and
natural idleness would not allow Of
his remaining long in any one place.
Then he fell into evil ways among the
ranchmen and cowboys. He drank free
ly and when he had money gambled
recklessly, so that he was soon re-
duced to the lowest depths of poverty
and despair.
One night when he had been drinking
more than usual he sold the black horse
to ranchman by the name of Cron-
wright for 500 in gold and shaggy
little broncho with a heavy brand on
the left flank and an eMecrable ten
dency toward bucking. He came to his
senses the next day and marched back
to Cronwright with both pony and
money, demanding his horse in re-
turn. The ranchman laughed in his
face and as Trenbar broke out into
fierce maledictions against the in
volver bidding him sterniy to begone;
Trenbar went, but he left Chiefs pur-
chase price behind him. Then and there
he resolved that come what would he
would have his horse again at any cost.
Cronwright, anticipating his purpose,
threatened him with lynching-the
common fate of the horse thief.
True tn his word two weeks later