The Forrest City times., 1901-06-28

looked at each other in a grim kind of way.
 Well" said Ferd, we've got to head off that herd, stampede and scatter 'em, somehow"
 Sure thing," I assented.
 When Florence understood the case, she set up frantic wall. You shan't go." she almost screamed. Those men will shoot you dead. Anyway, if you do, I'll go along and be shot, tool"
 You will stay at home, Florry," said Ferd, kindly, but in his masterful way. Well take good care of ourselves, never fear"
 Ihereupon she ran to the house, crying. We could not stop to comfort her. While Ferd went for our guns, trappings and snack to eat, I ran to the creek pasture, got out two of our best riding ponies and saddled them When l had finished Ferd came out, wearing his hunting jacket and carry ing my jacket and our guns.
 The big side pockets of the coats were stuffed to bulging, but my jacket felt light enough, and when I thrust a hand into one of the pockets and drew out giant ''cracker" of the big gest size, l fairly whooped with de-. light. There were half dozen in each pocket, and each one was foot in length. They would make enough noise to stampede a whole tribe of Indians, let alone 400 or 500 half-wild horses.
 We were off in a twinkling. We knew of an old buffalo and cattle trail half-mile distant, leading up to the head of Black Rock, and round the slopes of several mountains into the north gap of Two-owe-tee. This trail we took.
 We'll plant ourselves in front of that herd in the gap" said Ferd, "and there we'll have our celebration. I be- lleve we can counter stampede run 'em over that crowd and get away in the dust and racket"
 The very probable event of fight against odds, however, kept us feeling pretty sober. We clattered along the cutoff at a hard gallop, without ex- changing many rema1.ls
 We rode on for more than an hour, passing up out of Black Rock and over mountain ridge. Then we heard a chatter of hoofs at our heels, and turned to face Florence. Her pony was sweating, her face was flushed and beseeching, as she pulled up con- fronting us. As the trail was a plain one, she had had no difficulty in fol- lowing.
 Il can't stay behind." she an- nounced, breathlessly. T should die of fright. I don't believe those men will fight when they see girl along"
 So that was her reason for coming! We looked at each other in dismay and some disgust. But she was a girl of 16, capable horsewoman and of a determined spirit. We could not com pei her to stay behind.
 Well" said Ferd, when we get to business you'll have to stay where we put you, or we'll tie you up!"
 Then we Init" the trail again, and Florence followed. I looked back to see that she was crying, although she rode bravely. and was truly sorry for her.
 In the cburse of three hours of hard riding we,came out of sharp cut into the canyon of Two-owe-tee. A brief examination convinced us that we should find no better point at which to make a break in the herd and turn them back upon the rLstlers. The gap of Two-owe-tee was here some 200 yards in width, with inaccessible steeps on either hand.
 We rather counted on a fight, and Ferd planned for it like a general. lie even consented that Florence should take part in cannonading the herd whereat she at once became a calm and superior person. She agreed to keep close in to the mouth of the cut.