The Lamar register., 1909-11-03

SOt olu IIHh thiS UP. ne WAS uue
in that canon just about the cloud
bursts time"
Couldn't have been more than half
way through" assented the bar-keep-
err gloomily Then Old Man Hooper,
nearly asleep, strolled in to hear the
news. I'm offering ten to one the
cloud-burst don't git him. backing
Pink's fool luck on principle" he
growled. and Ferguson. of the Gray
Eagle mine, took the bet.
Pink had ridden away in an exul-
tant mood in the dawn, which means
he had ridden Just as fast as prod.
ding spurs and flashing quirt and the
slapping of big sombrero could make
his angry pony fly along the level six
miles that stretched from the camp
to the canon of the Rio Seco, through
which went the trail to his ranch.
Pulling his pony's ears and combing
the tangled name with his gloved hapa
In his satisfaction at the speed hh,
Droncno mad shown, Pink trot.cc care
lessly into the gloom of the canon and
enlivened it by yelling fiercely in the
spots where long ext erience in yell
ing had proved to him the best echoes
came back from the towering cliffs
close to each stirrup. The canon was
almost two miles long, and the walls
on either side rose sheer for a couple
bed of a little stream that filled the
bottom of the narrow gulch with its
shadows and which was dighified -.
being called the Rio Seco. Great
rocks were carelessly scattered hero
and there, and even a cow-puncher
camped at its entrance II he was
caught there by darkness. At the far
end the gulch broadened into valley
between rolling hills. here the cattle
came down to 6rirk and to feed on
the green grass, a wonderful sight In
Arizona.
The pony. sp'ashing quickly through
the shadows and clatterirg over the
rocks. had passed deep within the two
great walls when suddenly II stopped
and trembied. 1t half-wheeled around,
thrust forward both ears, stretched
out its ungainly neck as II listening.
and then squealed in evident terror.
Wheeling around again. 1t started
down the caIon on bolt, but Pink
gave the cruel bit a great jerk. and
the pony fell back to walk. mo-
ment later the broncho was lathered
with sweat.
Now. Pink had frequently heard his
pony squeal with rage. but this was
different "A pure case of scared" he
said to himself. AN no wall-eyed
pinto cow-pony is going to git scared
less there's something to be scared
at that's big an important an needin'
attention" So he pulled up his
trembling pony and listened. Far
away and sullen. like a low growl. he
heard an unceasing noise. which. even
in the seconds he listened, grew ON
inously distinct
Good Cod" said Pink hurry. look
ing despairingly at the cliffs that tow
cred sheer close to either stirrup.
1T amt much of a race-track. pinto.
but We've certainly got a race to do. =
The pinto did not need the spur.
but he got 1t. He did not need the
quirt, but he got that too. The rush
and the roar of the cloud-burst and
the ferocious din of many waters piled
in one. looming and smashing as 1t
tore through the canon at their heels.
made that pony run like a Derby win.
ner gone stark mad with fear. In the
saddle sat pale. freckled-faced COW
boy. riding In grim earnestness at
last. With cool skill he swung the
maddened horse around jutting corn
ers of the cliffs and lifted him as he
leaped over the boulders in his path.
Under the flying hoofs an inch OF wa
ter flowed placidly. A hundred yards
behind ten feet OF water tossed about
boulders like pebbles. So horse and
rider tore out of the canon at last and
staggered up the slope of the hills to
safety. having come through the last
half of the Seco Canon In three min.
utes. which Hermosa says is a lie.
All about him. on the crest Of the
hill. cattle paved and beloved and
ran about. tossing both head and tail
straight in the air. the cows with
calves hustling the youngsters down
the far side of the ridge. Pink turned
quickly in his saddle and looked back
A great wall Of logs and branches and
sticks and rocks and leaves. the &C
cumulations of the mountain bed OF
the Seco for many dry months. was
being swiftly and mysteriously pushed
through the canon. Ten feet high It
was In the canon, but when II burst
free into the broader valley. It broke
and spread out somewhat. Behind II
Ioared the pent-up waters, dark and
swollen with anger. Like a nightmare
the flood swept by Pink and the pant
ing pony, swept by and swirled and
churned itself. as II reaching back aft
er him. Boulders grumbled as they
were rolled about in its depths, and
logs shot by Hike arrows. The noise
of its fury deafened him, and the in.
credible swiftness with which IL
swirled past made him dizzy. The
big sheet-iron roof of Bojarque's ranch
house. borne ON the angry waters like
roof of cork. fitted by him like the
Pickering OF a shadow on a river. The
white-faced cowboy watched It grim
ly for half an hour. while his horse
stood under him with spreading legs
and heaving sides.
At length the pony stretched out his
neck and began to nibble grass. Tho