The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1907-10-04
youth again broke the silence:
EJECT get5in' sore, brother"
"Ye-no, not very

ecu SSIpiu sure, 'ttthS]+
"Ye-no, not very
"Hungry?"
you bet! Good aud hungry.'
"We're getting good piece from
home, and Donk is still trav cling
right along Maybe you'd better go
back and tel! mother where I've
gone"
Tie youngster promptly closed the
gap between him and his brother
"Im going with you-atter Donk.'
About noon the trail left sluice vai-
ley and began swltch-hacking mp a
ridge. And at The foot Of the switch.
back the trailers found signs of much
tramplng, Donk's tracks, the front
rims cutting sharp haIf-circles were
everywhere, The French beeled
boats and the bob nailed shoes had
scraped and slid as if from much pull
ing and hauling 4 .igtIe further on
they found IL The dust the mould of
shaggy coated, outst,etched burro.
"Gcodvl" cried the yonngster,
"Donk's halked"
Then from up the mountain came q
mutfied whack! whaukI whackI And
the youngster shnddered and almost
cried, for be remeu bered how Douk
had looked when first they bought
him-a sorely 'aten borco that had
balked
With beating hearts the broth ers
stole upward through the timber.
They gained The fist ascent, and
there, On the back bone Of low,
brushy ridge between two gullies, they
saw a tall Mexican and stunted,
red-haired man mauling the burro.
The ysuugster gasped and wrung
bis hands and wept softly. The youth
pale odd trembling, cooked his faith
er's rifle and was about to step for
ward when Donk suddenly dropped
to his knees, Topped over sidewise,
and lay sprawling.
The tall man hoped up and down
in frantic rage, then strobe down the
bank of the right hand gully to cut a
new cudgel. The short fellow sat
down nm a rock, mopped his red face
with a flaming red bandanna, then
started down the left-hand gully for g
drink.
"Came on!" whispered the youth,
and the brothers crouched low be-
! tween the brush walls Of the trail and
sneaked swiftly toward their donkey.
The little beast, although battered
and bleeding and still half-reclining
was munching a mouthtul of dry
leaves as the boys approached him
| Donk had never boen known to miss
an opportunity.
"Blow in his ear-just little, mind
you'll ordered the youth, as With half
raised rife be watched both gullies.
"Whoo-o-ol" breathed the young
ster, and with the swiftness of jack
ina box Donk rose to his feet, his
aerated ear pointing angularly out
| ward.
The youth lowered his rifle, whip
ped out a pocket knife, served the
pack-rope, threw off roll Of blankets
and sack of -four that were IasAed
across the seat of al old riding saddle
and hurriedly mounted. As he set
tied in his seat the tall man emerged
from clump Of willows with his cud-
gel.
For moment be stood angr;iy
trimming the stick, then suddenly
raising his eyes, he gave the boys
fierce stare, and perked out revol-
| yer.
"What you doing there?' he Yell
ed shrilly.
"Don't you blow in his earl Don's
your' begged the youngster, in
scared stage whisper, sorambling
frantically for g position behind the
saddlee. Don't you blow in his ear
till get on.
The youth expected to be shot, but
he sat motionless.
Bang! The tall mans buttlet struck
the saddlehorn and flew of screaming.
mike, you FOOL he yelled, "hesd
em off! Shoot 'em! Shoot 'em quick,
or we lose the sack !"
As he leveled his revolver and fiji ed
again, the youth felt wiry pair Of
arms clamp his waist, bulging toad
like from a deep Inhalation, he leaned
quickly forward and sent blast of
air into Donk's fuzzy ear, at tue same
moment turning him about by sharp
blow on the cheek with his hat.