The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-09-11


herself. He smiled gayly back, and I
would not have changed the compan-
| ionship OF those two brave souls for
any situation the world could offer.
| The barking as of fox had been left
far behind. AS soon as we burst out to
our gallop, it had been changed for
notes of far other import-a long, wall
ing cry, very shrill and followed by
faint far-off echo, as IL 1t had been
repeated at a great distance.
OF a sudden we gailoped out Of the
mist and saw before us the steep sides
and narrow mouth of the cwm clear
against saffron sky. We were riding
| westward, and though the sun was
down the Sky was filled with the after
glow
The Wonderful purity and clearness Of
the mountain air after rain caused
every object which broke into the sky
line to stand out with an inky black
ness upon the shining background.
AIS clear ahead" cried I.
That Is to say, we can see nothing, ;"
returned Owain, cautiously. But in a
inemSnt we saw our enemies. Four or
i've running figures appeared on the
brow of the right hand cliff, darted
down the slope and paused.
They are stopping" said I. I'VE
snail win the race easily"
Faster, ride faster, gallop before
me-! cried Owain, quickly, 1.-The mouth
OF the cWm narroWs SO that we must
go in single file. On, on. OF 1t WIN he
blocked against u.s.
gave Whitesock her head, as j, per-
ceived What the Red Men Of the Dusk
Vert, doing. A great boulder lay tilted
above the mouth of the glen, as If
fingers touch would topple it over,
ana, as l looked, I saw it rock and
sway against the sky. Then I gave a
cry OF. Joy, for the mouth of the mar
row valley, set between two portals
or rock appeared close before us, but
OWain echoed my cry With a louder and
shriller one.
Draw rein!" he screamed Hold.
Hold!' Instinctively l obeyed him, and
Whitesock fell back upon her launches
Nothing but her ready obedience saved
US. Looking up my throat became dry
with terror at the fate which seemed
to hang over lis With dull; horrible
thuds, the great boulder was leaping
doWil the steep grassy slope. AS it
came It twirled and spun, CHANGING Il
little on one side or the other as 1t
pitched ON the faces set at various
angles. Terrific as was its speed it
seemed to me an endless time in fall
ing. It's bounds and twistings gave it
another character from that of 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 It's way; 1t sprang upon
them and blptted them from the noun
tain side. Unused to Judging such
things, 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 crash that
shook the earth under our feet, the
mighty rock eaped 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. GsA
we are shut In" cried Owain
Shut in" I laughed, and begged
Miss Vaughan to cling firmly to me.
| picked Whitesock up and sent her at
the great sprawling stone. She took
half dozen tremendous strides, threw
her ears forward, rose to the leaps
and cleared the boulder without 4
touch; flying through the air as hight
~ and dropping on her feet as lightly.
and easily as though she knew that we
In the saddle needed all that she could
do to help us. 1 turned my headgand
saw Owain dismounted, and scranibling
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.
\ touched Whitesock and away she
;darted, just in time, as the spear
W hizzed at my back.
OWain seized a stirrup leather ans
with that assistance ran faster still
lie 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" l said.
Yes" replied Owain. HE runs we'll
but Is no jumper. I saw there was
nothing else for 1t after the swallow
fashion in which your mare went over
But what is that? Some one is riding
after u.s.
He reached up to my nearest holster
and took a pistol, then 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 gallored Ends pony
neighfng for joy to see its friends once
more.
However could it pass that block
when the tall horse refused the leap?"
l asked.
Scramble over like 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 hour were safely back
at Plas Nant.
Continued Next Week)