Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-28

as he loved none else save father and
mother; they had had their little disagree
ments, when Scamp refused to come to the
natter in the corral and had to be roped.
but they always made up. with pettiug and
sugar beets from Ray and remorseful whin-
neys and Tipping of the boys cheek from
Scamp. And now Scamp must be drownedi
IL was difhcuit going now, for the turbld
stream reached above the horses knees; but
the animal was mad with fright. and he
plunged desperately onward Ray looked
up toward the gray skies through a world
OF clearing rain, and said both the pray
ers he knew. After that he felt better some
how, and when the second wave caught
them, almost bearing Scamp from his
sturdy feet, he looked calmly about him,
searching the uncertain shadows which he
knew We're the walls of the chasm. He had
made up his mind to give Scamp a chance
for life He tossed aside his quirt, patted
the wet neck of the plunging animal and
whispered choking Goodbye" Then as
the flood swept the horse from his feet and
swung him sideways against one wall Ray
Kicked his feet from the stirrups and sprang
oilndiy toward the bank clutching In space
He struck against the soggy earth and
SUN ciutching with his hands, sank down.
WARD men by inch. his crooked fingers
bringing the moist clay with them and his
rect hndfng no Judgment. The water swept
him outward then, tearing at his writing
legs. Just as his last clutch failed him his
othef hand encountered something that was
no. bare, crumbling earth and held II des-
perately. The flood buffeted him and tossed
the lower half of his body to and fro like
q straw Inc muddy water splashed into his
race, blinding choking him. But the OBJ
)eet within his grasp remained firm. For q
moment he swung there, gasping with
closed eyes. Then he blinked the water from
his lids and looked His left hand was
clutching the thick tap-root of a grease
wood. In an instant he seized 1t with his
other hand well, and looked about him
scamp was no longer in sight. The water
was rising rapidly. The noise was terrific.
All about him the walls, undermined by the
Hood. Were slipping down in wet, crumbling
masses He wondered If the root would
hoid him, and prayed that it might That
t ,ne water came up to his breast, and he
Knew that if he were to save himself he
must manage some how to crawl inward
fefhaps-perhaps he might even climb quite
root would hold
Taking deep breath. he clutched the tan.
root higher and tried his weight upon IT. II
held like rope. He pulled himself a root
higher from the waters Once more ana
then he found that he had command of his
legs and could dig his feet into the unstable
Gay Ihen, inch by inch. scarcely daring
TO nope, he pulled himself up. up, until he
was free of the flood and between him and
the ground above only a scant yard re-
NAMED Below him the rushing torrents
roared, as though angry at his escape and
tossed horrid yellow spray upon him
once more he took fresh grip of the slim
perry root, watching anXiously the low bush
at the edge of the bank. Each moment he
MN tossing back into the water But still
1t held AT last hours and hours it seemed
since he had first begun his journey his
hand ciutched the edge of the bank but the
earth came away in wet handfIIs at every
clutch. At length his fingers encountered a
spraWiing root branch, he knew not
which, just beyond his sight; and digging
his toes into the wall in a final despairing
effort, he scrambled over the brink and
rolled fainting to the rain-soaked ground
How long he lay there he never knew
But presently tremor of the earth reused
him. Stumbling to his feet, he rushed away
from the arroyo just as the bank for yards
behind him disappeared. After that he
struggled onward through the driving rain
until he sank exhausted to the ground,
burying his head in his arms.
They found him there, hours afterward
fast asleep, his wet clothes steaming in the
hot afternoon sunlight. They put him into
the wagon of the nearest rancfer and iolted
him home, his head in his fathers lap and
the great horse blankets thrown over him.
making him dream that he was a loaf of
bread in his mothers oven.
When Scamp came in, wet and almost
dead, we feared you were gone" They were
sitting about the supper table. Ray had
told his story to a wondering audience. and
now. with his plate well filled with mothers
best watermelon preserve and citron cake,
he was supremely contented if somewhat
tired and sobered. His father continued.
his rugged face working as he recalled the
anxiety of the day: Il can't see how that
broncho ever got out of there alive; can
you. boys? And to think" he added WON
deringly, that it was the root of pesky
greasewood bush that saved your life! Ray
don't reckon I'll ever have the heart again
to grub one of EN- upl''