The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-10-16
hilly again toward the terrace where

A lato streak of pale sunlight
cleaned through a narrow gap on the
other side of the canyon, and Florence
forcing herself to look down the wood
ed slope at her left and search the
stream, saw a movement through the
brush on the opposite mountain slope
While she watched, ler senses keenly
alert, there lightly leaped across tne
narrow path Of light a long, tawny
body. The shadows beyond received
it, but not before Florence, clutching
Jess name with her rein hand, knew
her danger. A mountain lion was fol
lowing them, falling back, rounding
a bowlder, gliding through the trees
but never hesitating, never turning
away. For one moment a numb agony
held her stricken, but she was pres
entity surprised to find her self grow
ing reSentful.
She looked up into the bending sky
so soon to be star-jewelled, and with
a woman's prayer Tor help rode ON TO-
ward the Caldwell gate. It's white
parallels. family cleaning far ahead
might lead TO refuge, Or-but she
fought back the hateful thought.
Lion, puma or cougar-it mattered
little what name it bore-the body OF
grace and yigor, of flexible muscles
and power without pity, followed the
scent in the air. In and u it sped
onward among the bushes, startling to
terror the furry little people of the for
est; but the tawny cat had nobler
held torefoot back. There had
been killing near: there were blood
stains, the blood of deer, and then,
too, dogs had crossed his path. He
snarled defiance at the last discovery
and crept on with greater caution.
Mr.. Lindsay and the Dennisons' man
had passed that way some time be-
fore, carrying a deer between them.
At the stream they had stopped to rest,
and, in the fore-shortened perspective
with which poor, blind humanity
sketches its oWn destiny, decided to
separate, Andy, with part of the game,
taking shorter, though rougher road to
camp. He would be in time for his
evening duties, and Mr.. Lindsay would
follow the rugged trail from the stream
to the Caldwell ranch, looking for small
game on the way.
The young hunter felt the keenest
pleasure in the witchery of the place,
and wished that Florence were beside
him that they might watch the chang
ing hues till the day deepened into
tina most enchanting hour between
daylight aud nightfall. She could not
but lose her fears in learning t o lie
close to natures heart. He would put
her hand IN the face of the great
rocks and show her how to follow the
running game.
He trudged comfortably onward. fol-
a hare or two, but too wholly
at peace with the world to take life
again that day. He was glad that the
dogs had gone with Andy, and pushing
back his hat and r~eadjusting the game
that he carried, enjoyed to the full
contentment of the successful hunter.
On through the brush he weht. feel
ing the trail with a woodlands in
stinct, till a whippoorwill gave warn
ing that night was not far away.
On through the brush kept the
cougar also, reaching at last the rest
ng place at the stream where the two
men had separated. There was a sur.
cit OF blood in the air. He had dis
anced h first feint scent and now
to drink where the shallow
water was shaded by overhanging
coughs. 1t was a good place to cross,
wen for a cat, and on the other side
he scent grew fresher. Here to the
eft was the trail of the dogs again.
\ step or two back vas a later leading,
this he followed warily, lying close
o the ground and listening, but. follow
ng u~nerringly in Mark Lindsay's foot
'teps.
While making what speed she might
oWard the gate that was her first goal,
florence suddenly drew rein, a sure
oreboding overcoming for the moment
Ter own terror. Mark was in danger
she could not know, but some-
low ahead and not far. With her in
Ter vision taught to penetrate the mys-
that had SO long disturbed her,
he rode on with a look of one set
part for supreme test.
Up the mountain side a man was
climbing toward the road. The
rail that he followed led directly to
he gate. 1t was Mark, and there,
a p%itilessly short space behind
lin, was the lion. With a throb of ex-
lltation came the thought that she
'ould save her husband, and turning
Ter horse from the road she forced
he obedient creature down the noun
ain side.
Steady Jess, and never fear. We
ride between them"
Florence" shouted Mark, turning
n amazement, as he suddenly became
ware of her presence and saw her
unning away from the road.
Turn quick and shoot, Mark she
hrilly called, the hunter instinct wax
ne within as she kept her ayes on the
anne that crouched back against a
startled, yet defiant.
Back Jess, to the left them"
resonant voice thrilled with the
ry of the conqueror.
A. 49, hnc.t;r.Y oropt honk.