The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-02-20

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literally roasted alive; TO have given up
all hope, and then to hear the sudden
voice of rcscuer bringing once more the
| renewed hope OF lifc-al this wns enough
| TO test the grit of any man No wonder
| that the sight or Bill. his old chum, com
Ing 10 him in his greatest need. unnerved
the helpless invalid and broke him down
| completely
Some men can see and think only OF the
Things they have mind to- shutting out
! all the rest without any conscious mental
| cUort. No thought OF the mean trick he
had played on Dixon came into Dibblc' 3
| mead then TO shame him. The memory
OF 1t had been blotted from his mind by
| the near danger OF the fire
You cannot Judge man by taking ac-
| count OF only one side of him, though, On
a rough table beside the couch. within
| reach or the sick mans hand, stood an
empty bird cage. year before Buck
| Shenstono had caught Australian
mocklns bird and tanned 1t. The llttlo
| creature had been company for Jack dur
Ing many long hours of wcariness and
| pain. and when. he imagined, nll hope
| for himself was over. the last thing he
had done was to set the bird free.
| 1t me" Bill answered. and I've come
| TO fetch you Stop that, now" he added
| sternly. as tho other broke down into
weak hysterical tears, We haven't got
business What's become of your aorSe?'
| "Shcnstone took him over to Wallamoo-
loo; Gasped Jack, pulling himself to-
| gethcr with an effort
And where's his?"
In the pasture lot"
No, he's not He lit over the rails
there's nothing strange about that Well.
Black Dicks got to carry double" he
added, grmly, 'and reckon he's got his
work cut out for him Come on Catch
hold OF me round the neck. and let me get
n grip on you. Pull yourself together,
and well do 1t yet"
Dixon was a giant in strength. and
Jnck wasted by his Illness. was almost
n ri
was easy enough. Catching the helpless
man In powerful grip. BIZ lifted him as
if he were 4 baby and carried him out
to the waiting horse
Black Dicks eyes were starting from
his head In terror, He hung back al the
full length of the reinS. now taut as
bowstring, and shifted from side TO side
as he strained at them, snorting In his
fear.
The fire was coming down on them with
awful swiftucss. literally sweeping up the
forest like a wave, The air was black
with rolling clouds OF smoke and hot as a
furnace.
Once and again Bill tried his level best
TO HIT his helpless burden upon his horse.
and every time the brute. mad with ter
ror, plunged and backed so wildly that
there was no getting near him But at
last Jack was hoistcd to the cruDper. and
then. swinging himself TO the saddle Bill
stopped and with one powerful wrench
got the bride free.
They started on their desperate race for
Dick to do all he knew, no need to urge
him to top speed. Bill knew. as he felt
the gallant brute stretched out beneath
him. that he was going for all he was |
worth, and could be pushed to do no more
The young Australian had raced such
n fro before. and knew what the chances
were; and for about half the distance
that he had to cover he had good hope
Of winning. Then he turned his head and
looked back. The wind. hot with fame
from the swiftly advancing furnace In
brow and told him Its own tale.
Black Dick beneath him, showed signs
OF distress. He was doing all he knew.
In spite of the odds against him; but he
was bearing heavily on the bit at every
stride
The people at New Maidstone stood
watching the approach of the fire, ready |
to fight 1t II the need arose Suddenly
close against the line OF flame. they saw |
small speck coming toward them
ITS horscN yelled a sharp-eyed man. |
and at that they all stared the harder,
wondering.
ITS Bill Dixon and Black DIokY' cried
another presently. gazing with bleared !
smoke sansS -dimmed eyes at the eaIloRng
carrying n man across his saddle"
Would he reach the river In time7 They |
stood watching, with anxious eyes. as the |
the utmost, covered the last few hundred |
yards and brought his rider with long
strides to the bank
Close behind like fiery scrpents eager
for their prey, darted long tongues OF liv-
Ing fame, catching at the dry grass and
the underground of bushes. and leaping
from tree TO tree almost faster than the
eye could follow them,
a rousing cheer went up as horse and
Rider took to the water Two OF the men
plunged I'm breast deep and caught al the
bride when the animal came within
reach Black Dick had to swim coming
across, but the moment he felt his feet
he turned against the current swerving |
toward tho men who were standing up |
10 their armpits in the water Every hair
Of the Door brutcs name was scorched |
of. Bits head was falling forward on
bis chest and he was swoonng from the
fumes OF the smoke and the palms of so
many burns; bue he still clutched Jack
Dibble's unconscious form tightly. and
held IT In the saddle.
The men who had rushed Info tho
stream dragged Black Dick up on to the
opposite bank and caught Bill as he recled
from the saddle with his precious burden
No sooner had his master fallen than tho
gallant horse staggered and slipped back
nto the riyer-dead
When Bill became conscious again he
'aw the face of Kate bending over his
eot She had left her husband to the care
II the other women in order TO nurse
aim.
You got even, Bill" she whispered
You paid your score"
N..lN