Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-04-30

fighter in the world not a cowardly
hair In his head"
So it was agreed, and the next
morning. bright and early. the little
posse, reinforced by others who had
earnestly solicited the privilege OF 60
ing along, started out on It's journey.
The rains were over, but the roads
were heavy. In many places, they
we're forced to walk their mounts. No
one but the initiated know what gum
DO mud means. Until they took to the
hills, the horses could scarcely lift
their feet, so great would DO the
weight of the sticky black earth which
chung in immense chunks to their
hoofs. When they struck the hills, 1t
was better and they pressed forward
rapidly. Once only the sheriff had as
serted that he had run across the
famous outlaw. Black had resisted saw
agely and had escaped, sending back
the bold taunt that he would never be
taken alive. Such message might
mean death TO some of the plucky pos
Sc now making for the oldtime haunts
of the desperate.
The sun struggled from behind rain.
exhausted clouds and a rollickins
wind blew up. The clouds skurried
away toward ;he horizon.
AT White river ford, the men looked
at each other in mute inquiry. The
stream was raging torrent. 1t was
swollen until it was half again It's
ordinary width. The usually placid
waters were rushing and twisting into
whirlpool-like rapids.
What now" asked Baker the dep
uty.sheriff
Pm thinkin this here little pleas
ure partyll hHve to be postponed"
vouchsafed one of the volunteers, nod
ding his head wisely.
Wen sure have to wait for the
cloud-burst to run out" agreed an
other.
Why, we can swim that all right"
put In Langford, rallyng from his mo-
mentary setback and riding his mount
to the very edge of the swirling water.
Hold on minute there, Boss,
cried jim. Don't be rash now What's
the census of 'pinion o this here COM
pany? Shall we resk the ford or shall
we not?'
why, Jim." said Paul, a laugh in
his blue eyes, are you afraid? What's
rome over you?'
"Nothin' / amt no coward neither
and ef you wasn't the Boss I'd show
you. was just a thinkin' o'-some
body who'd care-that's all"
Just for a moment far-away looi
same into the young ranchmans eyes
Then he Strengthened himself in hi:
saddle.
Il, for one, am going to see this
thing through" he said, tersely
what do you say, Johnson?'
81 never for one minute calculated
on doing thing else" replied the dep
somewhat apart awaiting the end o
the controversy, with a good-humore'
smile in his twinkling blue eyes.
Paul urged SADIE into the water. HI
was followed unhesitatingly by Nun
son, Johnson, and Baker The other
held back. and finally, after a shor
consultation, wheeled and retracet
their steps.
81 amt no coward, neither" nut
tered one, as he rode away. but
plumb don't see no sense in bein
drowned. I'd ruther be killed a round
in up Jesse
The horses which had made tn
~, ", =
up to their breasts. The current ha
an ominous rush TO il.
81 don't care I didn't mean to hol
over and let our quarry get wind o
this affair cried Langford over hi
shoulder. Keep your rifles dry, boys!
Suddenly, without warning, Sad
stepped into a hole and lost her ba
ance for moment. She struggled ga
lantly and recovered herself. yet
weakened her. 1t was not long befor
all the horses were compelled to swim
and the force Of the current immedi
ately began driving them dow
stream. She was a plucky little GOV
pony land loved her master, but it wa
about all she could do TO keep from
going under, let alone making mucl
Roadway against the tremendous pres
sure of the current Langfords dan
ger was grave.
STEADY, my grill" he encouraged
He flung his feet free of the stirrup
so that, II she went under. he woul
be ready to try 1t alone. Poor SADIE. X
should hate to lose her If he release
her now and struck of by himself. sh
might make It He had never know
White river to run SO sullenly an
strongly; It would be almost impo:
sible for a man to breast It. And Their
was Mary-he could never go back (
her and claim her for his own until h
could bring Black back, too, to sufie
for her fathers wrongs.
At that moment. SADIE gave littl
convulsive shudder and the waite
rolled over her head. Langford sill
ped from the saddle, but in the instan
of contact with the pushing curren
his rife was jerked violently from hi
hand and sank out of sight With n
time for vain regrets. he struck OF
for the shore. The struggle was tr,
mendous. He was buffeted and bea
en-, and borne farther down tn
stream More than once In the el
deavor to strike too squarely acros
his head went under but he was
strong swimmer, and soon scramblin
up the bank some distance below tn
ford. he turned and sent resonar