The daily Alaskan., 1906-05-07
Who Saw the Signal !?
tOriginaLl

1 At sunset coming to a ranch we turn ed in and were invited to spend the night at the house by Manuel Pardo, the owner. There were a number of men in the yard, all jingling spurs, and one of them was pointed out to me az a trailer. His name was Sancho, and my informant told me that if he were dropped down anywhere within fifty miles of the ranch on the darkest of dark nights he would feel the bushes and tell within a thousand yards of where he was. These trailers were al. ways rare and are now well nigh ex- | tlnct.
 only saw one woman about the house, Prado's daughter, about sixteen years old. She was as pretty as a lit tie picture. Her black hair seemed to ! indicate trace of Indian blood, and iD the center of her brown cheek was dab of vermillion. At supper she hand ed us coffee and during the evening entertained us with songs, accompany ing herself on the guitar.
 After a good sleep arose and threw open my window. The yard was full of men, plainly In state of excite ment PradO was there swearing like a pirate, occasionally stopping 10 give an order. Sancho was leaning against the porch. apparently the only uncOG cerned man of the lot PradO every now and again would go up to him and say something, to which SanchO would invariably shake his head. Meanwhile saddle horses were being led from the stables.
 Dressing hastily, l went down to learn that during the night some fifty horses had been driven away from their range. A party was being made up for pursuit. We were invited to join and, after a nasty breakfast mounted our horses. When all were ready l was surprised to see Sancbc sitting on the porch, evidently not S5' ing. PradO went up to him and said something we could not hear, but it was like electrifying a corpse. Sancho jumped up and ran back to the stables When he returned he was Splendidly mounted. On his head was a sOmbrero from under which fell long black h. dian hair; around him was q gaudy blanket; under his right knee his Win chester. Prado gave the word, and We were of. Looking back, l saw something white waved from an upper window. If any of the party except me saw it, they paid no attention to it. Nevertheless l believed it was an "adleu" to some one of our number and that some one saw 1t, but would not admit the fact. Which one of the wild gang it was intended for was a well kept secret
 The stolen horses had left a broad trail. which SanchO, riding in front, fol- lowed. On we rode mile after mile, keeping the steady ranch horse trot. The horse thieves had nearly twelve hours the start of us. and we were obliged to go faster than they could drive the horses. At noon We rested for an hour. then started on and rode till night was coming on, when the broad trail suddenly disappeared. San cho said that they had scattered the horses.
 We ate a supper of bacon and hard. tack. then started on under the light of a full moon. Sancho still kept the lead, leaning far forward in his saddle, watching what was now a single track.
 Sancho gave a grunt of satisfaction. Before us again stretches the wide track made by the fugitives. Midnight comes and passes. A faint streak ID the east broadens, and before 1t the face of the moon in the west grows ashen. Then the sun rises, and we take few hours rest.
 A cup of coffee, and we were of on our relentless pursuit. We had gone but a few miles when the broad trail gave place to a single one, then disap- peared altogether. SanchO was pug zled.
 Ugh" he said presently, "they have driven wild cattle across their trail"
 The next sign was a heavy cloud of smoke. SanchO said that they were burning the dry grass through which their trail lay, hoping to destroy 1t Prado. now realizing that the horse thieves were near, gave the order to push on more rapidly, and in another hour we came up with them. There were the herd of Prado's horses, nib bling at the grass, unconcernedly as If they had wandered away of their own accord. Some of our party push. ed on, hoping to catch the thieves, but ! after several hours hunt returned with out having even got a glimpse of them Then, after half a days rest, we made our way slowly back to the ranch | driving the horses before us.
 When we rode up to the ranch house there again for a moment flashed some { thing white. We were all facing it. and l I looked from one to the other for some ! telltaIe color on the cheek or flash In the l eve to indicate that it was for him. ] ] looked in vain. We dismounted in the yard and all went in to supper, which was the first square meal we hHd had 1 zf.,, ,r-o rtor.Fn1