Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-04-28

up Lay Creek hill. From its top Hi
saw white wagons trailing over the
broken ground beyond the Tampa.
"There they are, Rod!" he shouted.
"We'l catch them tonight If we keep
a-rolling. Well make short noon
ing at the river just to water and feed
the mules"
1t was barely noon when they ap.
preached the bridge down steep
grade curving around the foot OF the
bluff, which broke away into rough,
rolling bottom. On the opposite side
the ground was much smoother.
Some fifty yards beyond the bridge
was an abandoned corral, built OF
rough stones and topped out with logs
OF drift from the river. Hi pulled
across the bridge, drove little dis.
lance off its short, graded approach,
and unlocked.
Soon the mules, with nothing
slipped but brides, stood busy with
their nose-bags about the wagons,
while the two boys We're equally busy
Mt the "grub.box" placed under.
meath
The grain was still being champed
in the nose. bags, when the restles,
Rod jumped to his feet. Say, His
I'm going a-fshing while we wait on
the mules! I'll get some sort OF pole
out of that drift-pile above the
bridge"
With the river muddy and swollen
from snow melting in the mountains,
Hi thought that the chance for fish
was slim, but he followed down to the
bridge, where he stood, idly watch.
ing.
The bluff opposite was steep, rocky,
and bare Of all vegetation except a
little sage.brush. Among these low
bushes Hi saw something move ever
so slightly, and his eyes presently
made out the head of ~ Ute, peering
down at the bridge. Hi had no doubt
that there were other Indians worm
ing through the sage-brush. This
stealthy accommodating, contrary to
their usual familiar approach, con-
spicuous in bright blankets with open
gestures and greeting in keeping,
struck him with sinister chill. The
Ute's head almost instantly disap'
peared.
"Rod," said Hi, quietly enough,
"bring your pole and try this hole
here under the bridge, I'm going to
fetch the pony down to water"
He saw the boy start carelessly for
the shelter OF the bridge, and went to
the wagons where the pony stood.
To turn his back to the bluff and walk
off slowly was test of nerve. His
hands trembled as he removed the
nose-bag and bridled the pony. But
he led him quietly down to water by
Rods side, where the bridge hid
them safely from the bluff.
The little horse put down his head
to drink and Hi slipped the Win
chester from its scabbard on the sad
die. "Hand me your cartridge belt,
quick, Rod!" he cried, his voice be-
coming suddenly thick aud husky.
"What's up?" asked Rod, unbuck-
ling his belt.
'There are Utes sneaking up to
us!" Hi answered, II SOW one on the
bluff. You take the horse and catch
up with Grayling and get him to send
back some OF his men. I'll stand
them off at the bridge, so they can't
follow you"
20 Hi, take one OF the mules and
come along, tool" cried Rod, showing
his excitement.
"No, no! I must stick with the
wagons" Hi hurriedly answered.
Besides, a freight mule against one
of their ponies! Rod, you must make
the Mouse do his best! Some OF them
might swim across above Or below.
Hurry"
The eyes of the two met in parting
His humid, Rods with a gallant
shine. He swung his quirt clear on
his wrist, and riding up the bank, was
lost to His sight. In another instant
the click OF the little horses heels as
he made his first jump on the road,
sent His heat flying.
For breathless second or two he
watched the bluff while the Mouse
added good fifty yards to the hun
bred and fifty between bluff and
bridge. Then as the Utes OWNED
the riders errand, three puffs of smoke
rose from the sage-brush top, and the
mingled reports of tie rifles rolled
down the river.
Forgetting that his own safety was
necessary to secure that of Rod, Hi
leaped up the bank. Over the flying
horse he saw the boyish riders broad
hat waved high in triumphant as
surance.
Another echoing report sounded
from the bluff, and the scattering of
splinters from the nearest bridge
timber admonished Hi TINT its himsy
superstructure was an insufficient
shelter. Reasured as to Rod, his
mind reverted to his own action.
From the wagons, in the low bottom
below the level of the bridge, he could
not command its approach. He
glanced up to the old stone corral, and
then ran for it in zigzag course,
which was distracting to the aim of
the Indian marksmen firing downward
from the bluff.
Untouched, Hi leaped over the cor.
raj wall and crouched, painting, be.
hind it. The irregular spaces between
the rough stonework and the log top
made good loopholes; and his position,
straight out from the bridge, was such
that he could not only command its
opposite winding approach, but rake
the whole length of the narrow struc'
ture with his rifle.
For more than q mile above and be.
low, the river narrowed to gorge, and
its precipitous banks, Tapped high by
rushing, icy water, made fording i'm
practicable. Doubtless the indians
could find ford some distance below,
but as, in view of Rods mission, time
would be an object to them, Hi judged
they would try the bridge. He filled
the magazine Of his rifle and tried its