The Advocate and news., 1899-01-11

9AkAAE&
shadowy form Of horse and trooper
swallowed up in the black gloom Of the
defile, no sooner had the last faint click
OF iron Shod hOOfs died away in the
hidden distance, than there slowly rose
from behind the shelter Of a clump Of
rocks far out TO the right Of the trail
Crouohing figure that went almost on
all fouEs to the edge Of the rivulet,
skunk away down the bank, lodging
swiftly, softly, from bowlder TO bowl
der, until 1t disappeared around little
shoulder of bluff 500 yards away, was
lost to view a moment, then reissued
into the moonlight, this time in saddle,
swinging cowboy fashion a riata about
its heSd aS it rode Spinning up the
slopes and ont Of the stream bed, away
it went. careering up the billOwy rise to
the south, and was presently lost to
view. a second time behind some Castel-
lated rocks along the crest. Three min
utes more, and these began to glow
along their eastward face with the
light Of some unseen fire that fared for
perhaps a minute somewhere about the
hidden base Of the group, and then far
away 90 the southeast, far out among
the buttes and knolls in the heart Of
the range, there was q sudden fash Of
brilliant light, just as though some one
bad touched of in front Of q reflector
q pound Or so Of rife powder. The hills
for one second were lighted up, then as
suddenly relapsed into gloom. The
blaze at the ledge 90 close at hand was
promptly doused, and the night rolled
on, calm, placid and unbroken.
When the first streak Of dawn crept
into the orient sky, Barclays shadowy
scouts were issuing from the San Saba
on the farther side and halting for the
coming Of the main body. Neither
those who led the advance nor those
out ON either 6ank, where flankers were
at all possible, had seen q sign Of out
law, cowboy, even of human being, out
side their own array. Not only had the
Friday gang vanished from the neigh.
bOrhood Of the pass, but, what was
most mysterious, not q sign had appear
ed Of paymaster or escort, who were
due tEt CroCkett's early this very morn
ing. Brooks, picking out the lightest
rider in his weary column, sent him on
the liveliest horse to warn Pennywise
and his escort, provided he could find
him at the San Saba camp, Of what had
taken place, notify him that they would
here await his coming, and meantime
ordered dismonnt, unsaddle and graze
and in two minutes every charger was
Invested Of his load and many Of them
were kicking and rolling ON the turf.
Twenty.four hours had the command
been in saddle, except for the required
halts and a long two hours during the
dead of night, when leading their
wearied steeds or Crouching beside them
at rest, while Barclay and his scouts
explored the overhanging heights and
listened eagerly for sound OF coming
troopers from the eastward. But for the
waning moon there would have been
hours Of total darkness. Ninety miles,
all told, had they travelled, and now,
wearied though they were, nine out Of
ten Of the men were chatting with wrath
that the willy gang had managed TO es-
cape them. Whittier were they gone,
and where on earth was the paymaster,
were the questions Certainly not
through the pass, for there were no
fresh hoof prints Could 1t be that, balk.
cd in the plan 10 overwhelrn the escort
by this coming Of at least an equal
force, the gang had turned back angeret
and thrown themselves ON Cramsr's
crippled party with the view Of getting
away with the horses, arms and equip.
melataP Certainly none Of CFAmer'g peuA
Rls had mRas .theis W&S nv .Ahs nAEAs