Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1908-01-30
(GfIapyrlgb by A. G. McClurg & Co., 1901 }
CHAPTER l.
The Island With a Mystery.

He said positively to Battle AK, his
ScYaggy buckskin COW pony, that they
would ride to the summit of this one
bluff, and that it should be the last.
Dut ne had said the same thing many
tiAes since striking the barren hill re-
gioU fanking both sides of the river.
Hump after hump had been surmount.
ed since the sound of the first prom
Use mad tickled the ears of the tired
hToacho, humps as alike as the two
hwmps OF a Bactrian camel, the monot-
oaoUs continuity of which might very
we'll have confused the mind of one
lass at home on these ranges than
George Williston. Even he, riding a
biiRd trail since sun-up, sitting his
saddle with a heavy Indifference born
OF heat and fatigue, began to think it
might be that they were describing
circle and the sun was playing them
strange tricks. Still, he urged his pony
fr3 one more effort; just so much
farther and they would retrace their
steps, giving up for this day at least
Gre locating of a small bunch of cat
tIes branded a lazy S, missing these
three days.
Had not untoward circumstances
fIfteFvened, he might still have gone
biIudly on; for, laying aside the gam
bfF8S fever that was on him, he could
Fll afford to lose the ten or twelve
stEssYs somewhere wandering the wide
range or huddled into some safe place,
Gkere TO abide the time when a daring
rustIer might conveniently play at
F4 o4l
RFiEe dispose of them with profit to
himself and with credit to his craft.
Moreover, what might possibly never
nave been missed from the vast herds
OF Langford, his neighbor of the plains
country, was of most serious import
To WLIiston.
Devil take you, Battle AK, but
you're slow muttered Williston. I'D
give Z good deal to sit down this min
rrtc 70 some of my little girls flap
Jacks and coffee. But nothing for us,
EaEy-bones till midnight-or morning,
TaOre likely. Do walk up as if you had
some little standing in the world of
COW ponies. You haven't of surety,
bat you might make an effort All
things are possible TO him who tries,
you know, which is a tremendous lie,
of course, But perhaps it doesn't ap-
ply to poor devils like us who are
has beens.' Here we are. Ah!"
There were no more hills. Almost
directly at his feet was one of those
PERCEPTIONS cut-aways that character
ice the border bluffs of the Missouri
river. A few more steps, in the dark,
and horse and rider would have plung-
ed over a sheer wall of nearly 200
feet AS it was, Williston gave a gasp
or involuntary horror which almost
simultaneously gave place to one of
wonder and establishment He had
struck the river at a point absolutely
new to him. 1t was the time of low
wafer. and the river in most of its
phases muddy and sullen-looking,
gteamed silver and gold with the gilt
ter of the setting sun, making a royal
highway 80 the dwelling-place of
Ptloebus. A little to the north of this
sparkling highroad lay what would
have been an island in high water,
ehfckiy wooded with willows and cot
tnnwoods. Now a long stretch of sand
reached between bluff and island.
Nsmounting, with the quick thought
thzt yonder island might hold the Sc
creG of his lost cattle, he crept as
close 10 the edge as he dared The
cut was sheer and tawny, entirely de-
void OF shrubbery by means of which
one might hazard descent. The sand
bed began Immediately at the foot OF
the yellow wall Even though one
managed to gain the bottom, one
wuzxId hardly dare risk the deceitful
sands. ever shifting, fair and treach.
evous. Bafled, he was on the point OF
Eenoanting to retrace his steps when
ne dropped his foot from the stirrup
IHrnxed. Was the day of miracles not
yet passed?
1t was the sun, or course. Twelve
hours Of sun in the eyes could play
strange tricks and might even cause
q dancing black Speck to assume the
aorrbIance of a man on horseback
picking his way easily, though may.
nap bit warily, across the waste of
sand. He seemed to have sprung from
the very bowels of the bluff. Whence
esse2 Many a rod beyond and above
Gss ghostIy figure frowned the tawny
wicked cut-away Path for neither
a10Tse nor man appeared so far as eye
oeorl6 reach. 1t must be the sun. But
u was noC the sun.
-Hotionless, intent. a figure cast in
e3YanZe as the sun went down, the lean
i7EzRchLnan gaZed steadfastly down
eEpGss the miniature man and horse
creepiag along so far below Not un
reiI the object of his fixed gaze had
The4s9 swallowed by the trees and un-
d@r8rush did his muscles relax This
man had ridden as if unafraid.