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

- S o.
= the camp stood.
J. A lato streak of pale sunligl
n cleaned through, a narrow gap on tt
other side of the canyon, and F1orenc'
e forcing herself to look down the woot
ed slope at her left and search tn
t stream, saw a movement through tn
e brush on the opposite mountain SLOPE
: While she watched, her senses keenl
c alert, there lightly leaped across tn
marrow path Of light a long, tawn
S body. The shadows beyond receive
it, but not before Florence, clutchin
Jess name with her rein hand, kneI
her danger. "A mountain lion was fol
lowing them, falling back, rounding
! a bowlder, gliding through the trees
. but never hesitating, turning
, away. For one moment a numb agon.
held her stricken, but she a pres
emily surprised to find herself grow
ing resentful.
She looked up into the bending sky
so soon to be s~tar-jewelled. and will
a woman's prayer for help rode on to
ward the Caldwell gate. Its 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 vigor, of flexible muscles
and power without pity, followed the
scent in the air. In and out it sped
onward among the bushes. startling to
terror the furry little people of the for
est; but the tawny cat had nobler
game in sight. Once he stopped and
held one forefoot 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 it's 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
that most enchanting hour between
daylight aud nightfall. She could not
but lose her fears in learning to lie
close to natures heart. He would put
her hand on the face of the great
rocks and show her how to follow the
running game.
He trudged comfortably onward, fol-
lowing a hare OF 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 readjusting the game
that he carried, enjoyed to the full
contentment of the successful hunter.
On through the brush he went. feel
ing the trail with a woodlands in
stinct, till a whippoorwill gave warn
ing that night vas not far away.
On through the brush kept the
cougar also, reaching at last the rest
ing place at the stream where the two
men had separated. There was a sur
felt of blood in the air. He had dis
tanced the first feint scent and now
stepped to drink where. the shallow
water was shaded by overhanging
boughs. 1t was a good place to. cross,
even for a cat, and IN the other side
the scent grew fresher. Here to the
left was the trail of the dogs again.
A step or two back was q later leading.
and this he followed warily, lying close
to the ground and listening, but follow
ing unerringly in Mark Lindsay's foot
steps.
While making what speed she might
toward the gate that was her first goal,
Florence suddenly drew rein, a sure
foreboding overcoming for the moment
her own terror. Mark was in danger
how, she could not know, but some
how ahead and not far. With her in
ner vision taught to penetrate the mys-
teries that had SO long disturbed her.
she rode o with a look of one set
apart for supreme test.
Up the mountain side a man. was
slowly climbing toward the road. The
trail that he followed led directly to
the gate. 1t was Mark, and there.
but a pitilessiy short space behind
him. was the lion. With a throb Of ex.
ultation came the thought that she
could save her husband, and turning
her horse from the road she forced
the obedient creature down the noun
tain side.
Steady, Jess, and never fear. We
can ride between them"
Florence" shouted Mark, turning
in amazement, as he suddenly became
aware of her presence and saw her
running away from the road.
Turn quick and shoot, Mark" she
shriliy called, the hunter instinct wax
ing within as she kept her eye on the
game that crouched back against q
bowlder, startled. yet defiant.
Back Jess, to the left then!n
MorksS rouOn M 1,oioo <h.:1,., .t.$