The Irish standard., 1908-02-29

1lG 4N10I1 = i AM LAM,
ANS, t--~ .--,.-., ~-..- o-al.~.y
their feet, so great would be the
weight of the sticky black earth which
clung in immense chunks to their
hoofs. When they struck the hills, it
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 a message might
mean death to some of the plucky pos
Sc now making for the old.time haunts
of the desperado.
The sun struggled from behind rain
exhausted clouds, and rollicking
wind blew up. The clouds skurried
away toward the horizon.
At White river ford, the men looked
at each other in mute inquiry. The
stream was raging torrent. It was
swollen until it was half again its
ordinary width. The usually placid
waters were rushing and twisting into
whirlpool-like rapids.
what now?" asked Baker, the dep.
uty-sheriff.
I'm thinkin' this here little pleas
ure partyll have to be postponed"
vouchsafed one of the volunteers, nod
ding his head wisely.
well sure have to wait for the
cloud-burst to run out" agreed an.
other
why, we can swim that all right"
put in Langford, rallying from his mo-
mentary setback and riding his mount
to the very edge of the swirling water.
Hold on a 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, laugh in
his blue eyes, "are you afraid? What's
come over you?'
"Nothin'. amt no coward neither,
and eff you wasn't the Boss Id show
you. I was just thinkin' o-some-
UOuy wiz u C0lC"LudLS
Just for a moment far-away look
came into the young ranchman's eyes.
Then he Strengthened himself in his
saddle.
Il, for one. am going to see this
thing through" he said, tersely.
what do you say, Johnson?"
Il never for one minute calculated
on doing thing else," replied the dep
uty-marshal, who had been standing
somewhat apart awaiting the end of
the controversy, with good-humored
smile in his twinkling blue eyes.
Paul urged Sade into the water. He
was followed unhesitatingly by Nun
son. johnson, and Baker. The others
held back, and finally, after a short
consultation, wheeled and retraced
their steps.
II 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 round
in up jesse
The horses which had made the
initial plunge were already in water
up to their breasts. The current hat
an ominous rush to 1t.
II don't care. l didn't mean to hole
over and let our quarry get wind o1
this affair." cried Langford over his
shoulder. Keep your rifles dry, boys!'
Suddenly, without warning, Sade
stepped into a hole and lost her bal
ance for a moment She struggled gal
lantly and recovered herself, yet II
weakened her 1t was not long before
all the horses were compelled to swim
and the force of the current immedi
ately began driving them down
stream. She was plucky little COW
pony and loved her master, but 1t was
about all she could do to keep from
going under, let alone making much
headway against the tremendous pres
ger was grave.
STEADY, my girl!" he encouraged
He flung his feet free of the stirrups
so that, If she went under, he would
be ready to try it alone. Poor Sade! He
should hate to lose her. II he released
her now and struck off by himself, she
might make it. He had never known
White river to run so sullenly anc
strongly; it would be almost impos
sible for man to breast it. And there
was Mary-he could never go back tt
her and claim her for his own until hi
could bring Black back, too, to suffel
for her fathers wrongs.
At that moment. Sade gave a littlt
convulsive shudder and the wate
rolled over her head. Langford slip
ped from the saddle, but in the instan
Of contact with the pushing current
his rifle was jerked violently from hi
hand and sank out Of sight. With n,
time for vain regrets, he struck ou
for the shore. The struggle was tre
mendous. He was buffeted and beat
en-, and borne farther down tn
stream. More than once in the en-
deavor to strike too squarely across
his head went under; but he was
strong swimmer, and soon scramblin
,,p tho hopk ooroo diafanco ha1Ou7 IN