The Advocate and news., 1899-02-01
CHAPTER XIV.


Ten miles out to the northwest che
stream that curved and twisted around
the low mesa Of Fort Worth burst its
way through ridge in the foothills,
and brawling and dashing at its rocky
banks rolled out over the lowlands
foslning at the mouth with the violence
Of its own struggles. Far in the heart
Of the hills it had its source in several
clear, cold springs, while the deep
boarded SHOWS Of the harsh winters fed
and swelled it in the springtide until it
reached the proportions Of short lived
torrent. Huge heaps Of uprooted trees
and tangled brushwood it deposited
along its shores as far down even as the
fort, but nothing was carried below the
suffers. 'Ahl's fish that comes to Full.
ler's net, F" said Sergeant MoHugh, ian
sOrra silver Of a sardino iver got away
from it," Once in awhile, after un.
usual flood, the fotsam and jetsals Of
the creek would be diversified with
wagon bodies, ranch roofs, camp equi.
page and the like, for "the range" as
this odd upheaval was locally termed,
was q famous place for prospeCtora
A beautiful stream was che Blanca
within its mountain gates, but an ashen
pallor overspread it after its fight for
freedom. II was never the same stream
after it got away. 1t danced and spar
kled past pretty hooks and shaded ra.
vines among the hills, but issued from
the gateway, like the far famed Stink.
ing river Of the Bannooks and Shoshones
Of northwestern Wyoming, a metamor.
phosed stream. It had q bad reputation.
It was solely responsible for the fact
that Worth had been located away out
here in the bald. bleak, open prairie
country instead Of among those bold
and beautiful heights to the northwest.
"The very spot for a military post, !"
said the officers Of the earlier scouting
parties as they Camped within the gates
in the midst Of lonely glade. Love,
ly," said the Texan guides in reply,
$50 long as you don't mind being
drowned out every spring" 1t seems
that SHOWS would melt of a sudden,
tremendous thunderstorms burst among
the cSags and food and deluge the val
leys for the Blanca could not with
sufficient swiftness discharge its swollen
torrents through that narrow gorge
Beautiful it lay, ordinarily as q sum.
mer sea, and the bride path that wound
through the pass was a favorite route
for picnic parties from Worth. But
stormclouds would rise and turn sum.
mer seas to raging water demons, and
then the food that tore through the
gates would sweep all before it like the
unloosed waters Of the Conemaugh that
awful May Of 1889.
From Worth to the White Gate the
prairie road wound hard and firm, and
before the late excitement several pic.
mic, riding and driving parties had paid
their springtime visits 1t was quite
the thing, too, for such maids and ma.
irons as were good horsewomen to ride
thither in the lengthening afternoons.
Mrs Frazier had consulted COllabone as
to the earliest date on which Barclay
could stand long drive, as she wished
to give a little fete in his honor and
had planned picnic to Barrier rock,
q romantic spot just within the gorge
Collabone had referred her to his assist
ant, and that younger officer consulted
his patient before committing himself
to reply.
IL don't care to ride in an ambu
lance, doctor, but do long to get in
saddle. There's no strain ON that leg
below the knee. Can't you let me mount
Aom my back porch here and amble
around these fine mornings before people
are up?" And "Funnybone" assented
He and Barclay rode out together very
cautiously next morning at reveille, and,
GndinG his patient benefited by the gen