The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1908-06-25
CHAPTER l.
The Island With q MNaterx.

would ride TO the summit OF this ous
blun. and that II should be the last
But he had said the same thing man,
times since striking the barren hill re
gion Ranking both sides OF the river
Hump after hump had been surmount
ed since the sound OF the first prors
Use had uckled the ears OF the tired
broncho. humps as alike az the two
humps OF Bactrian camel. the monot
onous continuity OF which might very
well have confused the mind OF one
less at home on these ranges than
George Williston. Even he, riding a
blind trail since sun-up. sitting his
saddle with heavy Indifference born
OF heat and fatigue. began TO think IL
might be that they were describing a
circle and the sun was playing them
strange tricks. Still, he urged his pony
70 one more effort: Just 40 much
farther and they would retrace their
steps. giving up for this day al least
the locating OF small bunch Of cat.
tie. branded lazy .. niissing these
three days.
Had not untoward circumstances
INTERVIEWED. he might still have gone
biindiy on; for. laying aside the gam.
bling fever that was on him. he could
III anord 10 lose the ten or twelve
steers somewhere wandering the wide
range or huddled Into some safe place.
there to abide the time when q daring
rustler might conveniently play al
witchcraft with the brand or other.
wise dispose Of them with profit 10
himself and with credit to HIS craft.
Moreover. what might possibly never
nave 1esn missed from the vast herds
Of Langford. his neighbor Of the plains
country, was Of most serious import
to Williston.
Devil take you. Battle Ak, but
you're slow." muttercd williston. ara
give . good deal TO SIT down this min.
Ut to some Of my little girls flap.
Jacks and coffee. Hut nothing for IA,
iazy.bones. TIL mldnIght---or morning.
more likely. DO walk up az ii You had
some little standing In the world OF
COW ponies. You haven't. OF u surety.
but you might make an effort. All
THINGS are pcssibie 10 him who tries.
you know. which In tremendous lie,
Of course. Hut perhaps II doesn't ap.
ply 10 poor devils like us who are
has heens.' Here we are. Ali"
There were no more bills. Almost
directly az his feet was one of those
PERCEPTIONS getaways that character.
ire the border bluffs OF the Missouri
river, few more steps, in the dark.
and horse and rider would have plung-
ed over q sheer wall OF nearly 200
feet. A. u Was. wiliiston gave gasp
Of involuntary horror which almost
simultaneously gave place 10 one OF
wonder and establishment. He had
struck the river At point absolutely,
new 10 him, Il was tho time OF low
water. and the river. In most OF Its |
phases muddy and. sulien-looking.
cleaned silver and gold with tho Gilt, |
ter OF the setting sun. making royal |
nishway 70 the dwelling.place Of |
Phoebus. A little to the north Of this
sparkling highrnad lay what would
have been an island In high water.
thickiy wooded with willows aud cot. |
tonwocds. Now a long stretch of sand |
reached between blur and island.
nismorntinE. with the quick thought
that yoader island might hold the a.. /
cret OF hts lost cattle. he crept az
close TO the edge ~ he dared The /
cut was sheer and tawny. entirely de-
vuid OF shruhhery by means OF which
one might hazard descent The sand
bed began immediately at the foot OF /
the yellow wall Even though one
managed 10 gain the bottom. one
would hardly dare risk the deceitful |
sands, ever shifting. fair and lreach.
eross. Hafied. he was on the point OF
remnnnting 70 retrace bis steps when
he dropped HIS foot from the atirrup
Ainased. Was the day Of miracles not
yet passed,
u was the sun. OF course. Twelve
hours OF sun In the eyes could play |
strange tricks and might even cause /
. dancing black speck 10 assume the
seribianee OF a man on horseback.
picking his way easily. though may.
hap bit warily. acfuss the waste OF
saEd- He seemed TO hare sprung from
tho very bowels of the blusr. Whence
slsef Many . rod beyond and above
the ghostly ngure frowned the tAwny,
wicked cutAway Path Tor neither
horse nor man appeared so far ms eye
ccnld reach I, masi be the sun. Hut
II was not the sun.
Nostonless. intent. fsure cast In
bronze ~ the sun went down. the lean
rhnchman gated steaafassly down
upon the miniature man and horse
creeping along 40 Tar below. No, un
81 the object of bis faxed gaze had
been swallowed By the trees and un.
dsrbrash did his muscles relax. This
man had FlddeA ~ II unafrala.
What man has drsne. man can do
ran swiftly through wllllsson's brain.
and vita 40 idea q abandoning His
search unsil be had probsd the mys.
terry he ns0anted and rode north ard.
eioosiy examining the edge OF the
precaplce as hs went along for any
evidence cf = possible descent. Pres,
entity be eAnae apon cross rayins. de
sosd Of shFubhaTy. too steep fos
h0FSe. but presenting possibilities FOR
nan- With naeFFing Instinct he fol.
lowed tbs eresscut westward soon
scattering q scrub oaks began 10
appear. and sumaeh already sireaksa
with crimson A iitsie farther and tbs
trees began 10 show spiral wfeaths u
woodhsne and Wild grape. Yet 4 little
farther. and doubtless there would bs
outlet Tor horse as well an man