The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-08-16

sprawling.
The tall man hoped up and down
in frantic rage. then strobe down the
bank Of the right-hand gully to cut
new cudgel The short fellow sat
down on rock mopped his red face
with a flaming red bandanna, then
started down the left-hand gully for
a drink.
Come on whispered the youth; and
the brothers crouched low between
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 mouthful of dry
leaves as the boys approached him.
Donk had never been known to miss
an opportunity.
BLOW in his ear-just little, mind
you'll" ordered the youth, as with half
raised rife he watched both gullies.
'Whoo-o-ol" breathed the youngster,
end with the swiftness Of a jack-in-a-
box Donk rose to his feet, his aerated
car pointing angularly outward.
The youth lowered his rifle, whipped
out a pocket knife severed the pack
rope, threw off roll Of blankets and
sack Of -four that were dashed across
the seat Of an old riding saddle, and
hurriedly mounted. AS he settled into
his seat the tall man emerged from
clump of willows with his cudgel
For moment he stood angrily
trimming the stick, then suddenly
raising his eyes, he gave the boys a
fierce stare, and perked out a revolv-
er.
What you dom there?" he yelled,
shrilly.
Don't you blow in his ear! Don't
you'll" begged the youngster, in sa-
cred stage whisper, scrambling franti-
cally for a position behind the saddle.
Don't you blow in his ear till I get
on"
The youth expected to be shot, but
he sat motionless.
Bang! The tall mans bullet struck
the saddlehorn and flew off, scream
ing.
Mike, you fool" he yelled, head
EN- off! Shoot EN-! Shoot 'em, quick,
or we lose the sack"
AS he leveled his revolver and fired
again, the youth felt wiry pair of
arms clamp his waist, and bullying
toadlike from a deep inhalation, he
leaned quickly forward and sent blast
OF air into Donk's fuzzy ear at the
same moment turning him about by a
sharp blow on the cheek with his hat.
The bullets were flying from both
gullies now; and as Donk whirled to
lope homeward, his master pulled at
his ears till he stretched himself like
a greyhound.
For hundred feet the trail kept the
ridge top. The boys rode in full view
Of the murderous partners. clinging
like leeches to their mount, terribly
scared by the shots and shouts from be-
hind and the bullets that whistied by
them.
Still unframed, they dashed over
the crest of the ridge They were now
out of sight indeed but they were in
new danger.
For Donk, thoroughly reused at last
was racing down the side of the noun
tain like bounded rabbit. His mas
ter had blown in his ear too hard and
too often
1t Is against burro nature to run
away, but once started, it is also
against burro nature to stop or to
swerve aside for anything whatever
Donk, entirely oblivious to the safely
winding switch backs, went down the
rough and precipitous slope with the
headlong velocity Of rolling boulder.
The boys had blown too hard in
Donk's ear before-nothing else saved
them. With cool-headed precision the
youth calculated Donk's leaps Ssnd
bounds, and with knees tensely gripped
and shoulders deity shifting into bal
ance, successfully Offset them. The
youngster, his arms clasped tightly
about his brothers waist and his heels
digging into Donk's TANKS, chung blind
ly, So, breathless and nerve-strained,
they made the descent to Sluice VAL
ley in safety.
Just before dark that evening
battered burro bore his two years mas
tiers to the door of their mothers cab
in, and while she welcomed them with
tears and caresses, Donk. intent on re-
trieying a lost opportunity, licked up
the potato parings which he had failed
to come for that morning.
Later, when they, including Donk,
went into the cabin, and with barred
doors awaited the appearance of the
sluice robbers-who were never again
seen in that part of the country-they
discovered a shot-bag full of ill.gotten