Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1905-09-16

and the mules were fairly startled out Of
their usual stolidity, and were. for the
time being. mad.
what does this mean!' roared Jeth-
roe. I'VE must stop those beasts. They
may come to n standstill when they see
us charging them. If they don't let them
pass. and then make for the near leaders
head. III tackle the off side"
They had made hundred yards when
they knew that they were under fire. but
the bullets Kissed harmlessly at a dis
lance.
Pretty bad shooting" said Jcthroc.
Nothing within thirty yards of us. !
guess"
The mules came flying forward. wild
with sudden panic. and the horsemen
were forced to diverge before them. But.
wheeling swiftly round. they were on a
level with them in a minute. and firm
hand on either side brought the fright
ened team back to reason before another
two hundred yards had been covered.
Jethroe turned to the haf-breed. whose
face had taken that extraordinary BLUSH
gray which Is never seen except in people
of his complexion. and among them only
at moments of intense excitement. The
mans eyes bulgcd with terror. and he
could scarcely speak. BY and by he re-
covered himself slightly. and was able to
point to two holes In the tilt cloth. which
plainly enough indicated the passage OF a
bullet.
What with the excitement Of being
shot at for the first time In his life and
the hard spin Of the last ten minutes
riding. Harvey was breathless. and his
emotions were all jumbled up In curl.
Gus kind of way unprecedented In his
knowledge Of himself until then.
II don't--1uite understand" he said
pantingly. What has happened? What
Is the matterf'
"Oh," said Jethroc. ''its plain enough.
Somebody has found Diamond river, and
wants to scare strangers. That bluffs
good shelter, Ell? Let's have look
at things.
He called halt so soon as he had
got fairly under cover. and began to
prospect. As n prccaution against any
| renewal Of panic on the part OF the
mules. he hobbled the leaders. but In such
a fashion as to he prepared to cast oil at
any moment. He passed the reins round
the forelegs Of his own mount. and did
the same for IIarvey's.
"You can shoot, l supposcf" he asked
his nephew.
| AT n target" answered Harvey. with
half hysterical laugh. I'm u dandy"
"Then take that" said Jcthroc. hand
Ing n magazine rifle from the cart. and
nrming himself also. land don't use 1t
without orders. DO you mind?'
"All right" said Harvey. "You tell
me what I've got to do. and III do my
best to 10 it,"
Jcthroe snakcd M to the top Of the
hillock behind which he had taken shell.
ter. He found n tuft of brushwood
there. and from behind It reconnoitred
through n powerful field glass.
"Well. I'll be hanged" he said. "if
this isn't the coolest thing I've ever
known! There nrc half dozen natives
over there In slop.shop toys. They're
reckoning to boss this show. are they
Well. we'll sec."
He turned for his rifle. looked II leis
urely over. and then. having poked tn,
nose of the barrel through the brush
wood, took careful aim and fired twice.
"Ace thrown" murmuicd Jethroe. and
fired again. mo loss Of lead this time
Harvey" he said quietly. "I've bagget
two Of 'em."
The survivors Of the party Of native,
had taken cover, and showed nc
disposition to make fight. Harvey
crawled to Jethroe's side and got tn,
field glass on to the dead natives. The,
were barely half mile away. and In til,
clear and equable light he could max,
, them out with astonishing precision. On,
lay quite still. but the other was with
, ing like a worm. lie could not bear I,
look. The sight sickcnci him.
"It's fair warfare" said Jethroe
watching him with that quaint. sidelon,
look he had when he was ut his kccnest
"And they declared war. l didn't. III
like a native to think he's going to keel
place like this secret when once IT,
! had q spade In it. You mark me. Har
yey. I'll keep It secret when it's serve'
, my turn; but I'm the only man tina
would. II you search the wide world over
| We're not going to have any troub!
D with those fellows tonight. It's full
, moon. for one thing. and apart from
that, they've no appetite for moro thai
/ they've got already. Wen unhitch her
> and make camp. There's plenty Of waite
. below there"
/, He turned to work to make ready TO
the night with that air of commonplace
amid strangeness with which his year
a of wandering had endowed him. At hi
bidding the half-breed began to gathe
brushwood and dead branches. and Hal
a vey asked In alarm II he meant to bull
a fire.
"A fire?" said Jethroe, twinkling. "I'r
4 not going without my tea for those bee
h CARS. No, no. It's all right, lad. II
= going to light half dozen fires to pei
> suade them that we're big party. An
= tomorrow at daylight we'll he on til
!. move again. Half n dozen miles Shout
do It now; but it's likely to be bad ira,
cling between sunset and mOonrise, an
= we shall be better here"
y. II CHANGED that there was firewOod
plenty near at hand, and Jethroe mad
his driver build up number of sma
piles, on the top Of which he had gree
L. stuff laid to make smoke.
ITS an old stratagem," he said, "bl
u It will be good enough for those fellow
y Wen take watch and watch all the sam
of course; but we shan't be disturbed"
y They made their evening meal, and Il
night came down. and the fires wei
stamped out before the darkness grew.
"Wait till tomorrow" said Jethro
+" Tomorrow will have the last word
say In this story"