New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-09-19
CHAPTER XXXV.
The Meetings of Two Strong Men

MI Il.
nothing save the chance 70 deal out his venge-
ance 70 Van Buren,, had camped beside the river at
the turn where Van and Beth had sSrted the bank to
the regular forling below The convi1t's horse.
which Beth had lost. tethcrei where the water
way had encouraged a meager growth of grass
Barger himself had eaten a snake and now returned
could be made
TO insure himself against all msadventure he
rolled mass OF bouders down the hill to block the
trail His barrier crude but efficient Neither
man nor horse could have scaled it readily and the
slopes on either side not only we'll nigh perpen-
dcuar they were also built of crIlnbnp stone that
broke beneath the smallest weight He labored dog
gedy, persiStently despite his hastarved condition
and when he had finished he looked 70 his gun pro-
oeeded down the trail some fifty wards or more
climbed the slope, and there in the rocks where the
walls wall gave way to sandy ACTIVITY concealed him
The sun At noon found Van a mark for punishment
The day was the hottest of the season The earth and
rocks irradiaed heat which danced in the air before
nun. All the world was vibrant the atmosphere a
SIMMER. as IN very mockery OF the thoughts that
similarly rose and gyrated in his brain His horse
was suffering for water The river was still an hour
away, so steep was the climb through the range
Inc tran he would gladly have avoided had such a
course been practical He had ridden here with Beth
and therefore the mockery all the more intense
his inward neat and the outward heat combined 10
make INN savage. There nothing however on
which to vent his feelings Suvv he loved PERHAPS
he reflected the horse was his one faithful friend
Certainly the bronco toed willingly across the
zone OF lltelesSness to bear him on his way.
Up through the narrowing walls of sand and ada
mani JHcE SLOWLY assembled. BdTger saw them
FAR down the trail, then lost them again as they
rounded spur of the shimmerng hillside coming
nearer where he lay. He was up the slope a consider
able distance farther than he meant to risk a shot
Ills breath came hard he presently beheld Van
Buren, fairly entering the trap.
VANS head had fallen forward on his breast He
looked at nothing. His face was set and hard
Barger raised his pistol, sighted down the barrel
and repressed the impulse to fire the horseman
went onward unsuspciously
No sooner was Van round the turn, where in less
than minute he would find his progress blocked
than Barger and ran with all his might down the
slope He let out yell of eXutation as he came to
the trail
Van turned in his saddle instantly, beholding the
man in the pass He knew that sinister form His
pony had bounded forward, frightened by the cry
Down went Vans hand to his own revolver and the
gun came up cooked for action
One glance he cast up the trail ahead and
through Bargers trick The cu de sac was perfect
and the convict had halted to fire
1t made a singular picture on Van Buren, retina-
that gaunt, savage being, hairy wild of eye instinct
with hatred and malice. posing awkwardly, and the
sunt barrel OF polished steel Just before its yawning
muzzle beched lead and a cloud and a roaring de
tonaton
The bullet went wide, and Barger fired again
quickly, but more steadily That one landed 1t got
Van Just along the arm, burning in a long shallow
wound that barely brought the blood
Vans gun was down, despite Suvy's panic of
Savortmgs lie pulled the trigger. The hammer
leaped; but the gun made report no buck
no cloud to answer Barger's The cartridges sub
lected TO all that water of the day before were
worthless
The third of Barger's shots was fired from closer
range as the eager creature closed in upon his enemy
II let the daylight enter Vans hat near the ton