The Republican journal., 1902-01-02
Whereat all the contrariness of Mac.

strike him. 'And I'll bet" he added,
chat III reform him, too"
"Angels have trod there" they as
sured him, 'but it would be picturesque
to see you rush in. And, by way of in
cent;ve, We'll bet you hundred to ten
that you WON'T
Macintosh took it, and two months
was set as the limit of time in which
he might show the finished article.
provided, always" he stipulated, "that
the c. o. will give me another hunting
leave inside Of a week."
This the commandant-the matter
being presented to him-agreed to do.
So Macintosh told Barclay of certain
magnificent hunting grounds he had
discovered on the last trip, and worked
on his Imagination and his sportman-
ship; and they started off together, on
horseback, with their bedding wrapped
in rubber ponchos and provisions on a
led-horse Macintosh did not want a
private or amy one else along.
Barclay, being in a state of new and
meek repentance, abstained from taking
flask along, but Macintosh did not be
lieye in foolhardy heroism of that sort,
and his saddlebags held two.
Their way led across an all but in
terminable waste of chaparral. The
first day out Barclay drank water. But
he stood it in silence until they halted
at noon under mesquite bush, Then
Barclay gave a great groan: it was sc
nearly sob that Macintosh shuddered
II asked what the trouble was, but he
knew very well.
I'D give my eternal soul-if | hav,
emit already-for drink" he said. 81
don't believe ! can stand it, old fellow
let's go back"
But Macintosh refused: he had come
out to be gone eight days, and he was
going to stay out. you're two days
from the post, anyway" he reasoned
land you'd either be dead or over it be-
fore you got back"
SO Barclay had no choice but to keep
on Macintosh said nothing about the
TASKS in the saddle-bags. He was keep
ing those for possibly more urgent
use.
At nightfall they came to a settle
ment in a gulch between two bare foot
hills. 1t was deserted settlement OF
mining origin to judge from forsaken
shaft or two, and if it had ever had a
name it was forgotten now as had
probably been the pony whose skele.
ton-the legs still hobbled-lay across
the entrance of the one street, which
/ ran along the bottom of the gully and
was lined on either side by dozen OF
more shacks.
I'VE can put up in one OF those
houses tonight" Macintosh said cheer
fully. Il did when | was here few
days ago
Barclay, who was in a very bad state
by now, and whose nerves were agoniZ
ing, looked dubious, and said that he
would prefer to sleep outside under d
poncho, as they had done the night be
fore. ''The places are probably alive
with centipedes or skunks or some
thing" he complained.
Macintosh had a career of falsehood
opening before him for the night in
any case, so he entered courageously
upon it now. He said that the house
he had gone into had been singularly
free from anything of the sort. that il
had been very comfortable, and that q
dubitabIy better than the stars. Sc
they cooked their supper and hobbled
their stock, and when the moon rose
into the shack. which appeared to be il
in the towns lifetime, been its most
tlourishing saloon.
Macintosh lit candle, and set it on
what remained of the bar If Barclay
had been III d condition to notice any
have seen that Maclntosh's face was
li1t |,
only unWrapped the poncho with shak-
ing hands. and began TO spread 1t in a
corner. Then he jumped back and
stood looking terror-eyed into the
shadow There was an onlinous, sharp
say, Macintosh" he quavered
there's RATHER i'll here" Macintosh
crossed over to him and laid his hand
on his shoulder. Il guess not, old fel
low he soothed: turn in and you'll
feel better in the morning.
Barclay insisted upon the snake,
with angry oaths. 1t ratified again as
he went a step nearer. Don't you
hear it, he urged.
Macintosh shook his head pityingly,
sadly. And just then something dark
and long went sliding slowly over the
Ilool 1 HC SCilodUlOll w lllCll ObOlC up
MacIntoshs back to the roots of his
hair was not pleasant. 'Confound it, :"
said Barclay, his voice breaking and
high between rage and sheer scare,
get that candle and look, if you don't
believe me-"
Macintosh went for the candle, walk
ing circuitously to avoid something
coiled and beginning to stir, and there
by disturbing yet one more, which
ratified, too.
Barclay turned around with spring.
'Perhaps you didn't hear that?"
Hear what?' asked Macintosh,
patiently
He brought the candle, and Barclay
took it i'll his hand and put it almost
at the raised and darting head of the
RATHER. Maybe you don't see now"
he triumphed
Macintosh felt like dancing as the
tenderfoot does when the cowboy
shoots at the floor beneath his feet.
He wondered if his and Barclays
leggings and boots were surely fang
proof. His teeth clicked together, but
he only reached out and took the
candle away. "Come to bed, old fell
low" he insisted once more; you'll
be all right by daylight"
The sympathy of his tone worked
Barclay into frenzy. He got into the
middle OF the room, fairly staggering.
Inc candle, held high in MacIntosh's
hand, threw a circle of vague light,
and in the circle We're no less than