The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-09-04
herself. He smiled gayly back, and /

Houtu not nave changed the connban-
nnAahlp OIL those two brave souls for
~ ~, SITUATION the world could offer.
me barking as of a fox had been left
1ar behind. AS soon as we burst out to
our galiop, 1t had been changed for
ioees or Tar other import-a long. wall.
ing cry, very shrill, and followed by
a RANT far-off echo, as If 1t had been
repeated at a great distance.
" a sudden we galloped out Of the
naise ana saw before us the steep sides
ana narrow mouth of the cwm clear
against a saffron sky. We were riding
westward, and though the sun was
Gown the sky was filled with the after
glow.
me wonderful purity and clearness OF
tue mountain air after rain caused
every object which broke into the sky
me 10 stand out with an inky black
ness upon the shining background.
AIS clear ahead, cried 1.
That is to say, we can see nothing"
returned owain, cautiously. But in a
moment we saw our enemies. Four or
nFe unning figures appeared on the
prov Of the right hand cliff, darted'
Gown the slope and paused.
They are stopping" said I. We
snail win the race easily"
Faster, ride faster, gallop before
me-, cried owain, quickly, the mouth
= wv dilOW So lldl we must
go IN single file. On, on, or it will be
blocked against u.s."
! gave Whitesock her head, as I per-
celved what the Red Men of the Dusk
We're doing. A great boulder lay tilted
above the mouth of the glen, as If
a myers touch would topple 1t over,
ana, as | looked, I saw 1t rock and
sway against the sky. Then I CAV a
cry of JOY, for the mouth of the mar
row valley. set between two portals
OF rock appeared close before US, u
oWain echoed my cry with a louder and
shriller one.
Draw rein!' he screamed. Hold!
Hold!' Instinctively I obeyed him, and
Whltesock fell back upon her launches.
Nothing but her ready obedience saved
US. Looking up, my throat became dry
TO hang over US. With dull, horrible
thuds, the great boulder was leaping
10Y the steep grassy slope. AS it.
came 1T twirled and spun, glancing a
little on one sid or the other as 1t
pitched on the faces set at various
angles. Terrific as was it's speed, it
seemed to me an endless time in fall
ing. Its bounds n twistings gave it
another character from that of a rude
~insensate block of stone 1t seemed a
great formless monster leaping down
upon us, and calculating every RI
cochet to include us In it's path.
"A group of graceful young mountain
ashes stood in its way; it sprang upon
them and blotted them from the noun
tain side. Unused to judging such
thlngs, its course seemed to me to be
laid directly for us; and only Owain's
swift command to stand still kept me
chained to the spot. With a crash h
shook the earth Under our feet, the
mighty rock leaped into the mouth Of
the glen not a dozen yards before us.
made one clumsy bound up the farther
bank, then dropped heavily back. block
ing the path from side to side. r
I'VE are shut in" cried Owain.
h in" I laughed, and begged
Miss Vaughan to cling firmly to me.
l picked Whitesock up and sent her at
the great sprawling stone. She took
half a dozen tremendous strides. threw
her ears forward, rose to the leap,
and cleared the boulder without a
touch: flying through the air as light
ly and dropping on her feet as lightly
II easily as though she knew that we
in the saddle needed all that she could
do to help US. 1 turned my head and
saw Owain ~dismounted, and scrambling
over after US. He kicked OFF his riding
boots and began to run like a deer.
Our enemies were running, too, and.
glancing up the hill, I saw one Of them
already near enough to poise a spear.
I touched Whitesock and away she
darted, Just in time. as the spear
whizzed at my back.
Owain seized a stirrup leather and
with that assistance q faster Dtil1.
He was In his stockings, but the grass
was like velvet. I drew a pistol and
fired a shot almost at random. 1t
served, however, to check the pursuit,
and soon we were travelling over a wide
down, where, even in the falling light,
we could not easily be approached.
You have left your horse" I said.
Yes replied Owain. He runs well
but Is no jumper. 1 saw there was
nothing else for it after the swallow
But what is that? Some one is riding
after u.s."
He reached up to my nearest holster
and took a pistol, her turned and
peered through the dusk. I laid my
hand on my sword, for the other pistol
was empty, but Owain began to laugh.
II am In luck" said he, FOR I have
no boots, and within five minutes we
shall be on the stones"
AS he spoke, up galloIed Ends pom
neighing for JOY TO see it's friends once
more.
However could it pass that block
when the tall horse refused the leap?"
I asked.
scramble over like a cat" said
Owain, leaping into the saddle;
these are the cleverest little crea-
lures that run on four legs"
We trotted rapidly on again, and
within half an o were safely back
at Plas Nant.
Continued Next Week.)