The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-07-26
her strength they will not trample

Their strength they will not tramp!e
u.s."
But Carruthers had slipped from the
saddle.
ut is sure death to try to ride with
them," he answered "Dismount and
do as tell YOU"
Ihe stern masterfulncss of his tone
startled her. lie had never spoken
like that to her; no one had.
Hold the horses he ordered. She
obeyed, watching him in breathess ST
lence. The brown cloud on the prairie
was becoming more and more dis
tinct. There was a heavy, low rumble
in the air like far of thunder. Car
ruthers drew a cigarette case from his
pocket, and after hunting carefully he
produced one match.
"That is the only one l have" he
said. Pray that it doesn't so out"
lie struck it on the box. The faint
flame wavered in the southeasterly
breeze, caught the end of the cigarette
and lit it, Before the match went out
| Carruthers smelled 1t and set fire to
the grass. 1t was dry and yellow from
the sun and caught the blaze with a
snap. The wind famed it, and q wav-
ering line of thin smoke slid like a
snake along the roots for several feet.
The horses reared and kicked at the
| first Whit, and Carruthers seized the
brides from the girl.
'Take the cigarette he said, hand
ing it to her. Keep it alight and set
fire to the grass as far as you can
reach in straight line facing the
north. The wind is from the southeast
and will blow the fire toward the herd.
1t may turn them"
Holding the plunging, trembling
horses, he watched her. There was no
fear, no sign of weakness. She was
alert and sure in her touch as she
llnelt here and there in the grass and
fred it. AS the cigarette failed she
tore bunch of grass, tied it With an
other wisp and set it blazing like
torch. In another minute a wall of
smoke and slnoldering flame closed
them in from the rushing herd line.
Come back" called Carruthers. The
them. He could see the leaders, heads
down, and behind them line after line
of tossing horns.
will they reach us?" whispered Rita
as she stood close beside him, her face
lifted to his
God knows; DON'T" said Carruth-
ers desperately. ut is all we can do"
Jack, listen to me-" There was
new light in her dark eyes, new
softened tone to her voice. "Ramon
has done this. The herd has never
stampeded before He has done it for
revenge upon you and me. Last night
I told him no. / know about him and
the claim he holds over the Fortuna
and my father, but would rather lose
it all than
Ethan what?" Carruthers let the
brides trail on the ground and held
her close in his arms. The tremble of
hundreds of hoofs shook the ground,
the thunder grew louder, now and then
there came low, threatening below
from some steer gored by it's fellows in
the onrush
Ethan lose you," Rita whispered as
she closed her eyes to meet what might
come.
The herd was on them, but as the
leaders caught the first sickening Whit
of smoke they hesitated and wavered.
Low leaping tongues of fame flashed
up before them and rolls of smoke
curled upward.
The leaders swerved westward. After
them plunged the frightened herd, mad
dened and scared at the smell OF the
fire The two horses, loosened, Joined
them in the frantic gallop, and in less
than three minutes the danger had
passed, and on the blackened bit of
land stood Carruthers and Rita alone.
The river will stop Them" said Rita.
"Ramon-I know he has done this to
harm you. You must leave the ranch.
No one can say what he may do next"
Carruther;; bent to pick up something
from the ground. 1t was the stub of
a cigarette. He placed it tenderly and
carefully in his case before he spoke.
II know what Ramon will do next,
sweetheart. He will cross the border
into his own land tonight or else land
in the hands of the sheriff. mean to
stay in Texas, and there is not room
for both of us"
ION the Fortuna?"
ION our lench" he said II bought
the Fortuna yesterday to make sure Of
Ramon and Of my senorita."
lie Didn't Lie.