Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-08-21
CHAPTER xL.
crawIIna stone Wan.

last Gay OF tnSlT rlQe, II was toward q
rift IN the Mission range that the trail
led them. Sinclair. with consumn
cleverpess. hsd rejOined his compan.
ions; but the attempt to get into the
Cache ano his reckless ride into Medi.
cine Bend, had reduced their chances
Of escape 10 a single outlet. and that
they must Emo up Crawling Stone val
ley. The necessity Of it was spelled
In every move the pursued men haa
made for - hours. They were riding
the pick Of mountain horsenesh and
covering their tracks by every device
known To the high country. Behind
them. made prudent by unusual dan
ger. rode the best men the mountain
division could muster for the final ef.
fort 70 bring them 10 account. The
fast riding Of the early week had
given way 10 The PACE az caution. No
tran sign was overlooked. no point Of
ooucealment directly approached no
hiding place left uusearChed
The tension OF long day Of this
work vas drawing to close when the
sun set and eft the big wash in the
higher ground 20 the right. Kennedy
and Scott were riding where they
could command the gullies OF the pre-
ClpitOus left bank Of the river. High
on the left bank itself worminE bis
way Ike snake from point TO point
OF concealment through the sCanty
brush Of the mouutain-side. crawled
Wickwire. commanding the pockets in
the right bank Closer 20 the river
on the RICH, and following ,he trail
itself over shalc and rock and be.
tween scattered bowlders. whispering
smith. low on bis horses neck. rode
slowly
u was almost too dark 10 catch the
slight Ciscoiorations where pebbles
had been disturbed on "a fat surface
or The calk az horseshoe had slipped
or tue uneven face Of ledge. and he
had halted under an uplift 10 wait
Tor Wickvire on the distant left TO ad-
vance when. half q mile below him.
a horse man crossing the river rode
slowly past a taI IN the rocks and dis
appeared below the next bend He
was followed Ia moment by a sec
ono ricer and a third. Whispering
Smith knew he bod not been seen. He
hac flushed the game. and. wheeling
hiF horse rode straight up the river
bank 20 high ground, where he could
circle around widely below them They
ha6 slipped between his lire and
Wiokwire's. anc were doubling back
following the cry bed Of the stream.
II war impossible 10 recall Kennedy
ano Scott without giving an alarm. but
by q quick detour ne could at least
hold the quarry back for 20 minutes
with his rife. and in that time Ken
necy and Scott could come up
Less than half an hour OF daylight
remained II the outlaws could slip
down the wash and out into the Crawl
ing Stone valley they had every chance
OF getting away in the night and II
The third man shodld be Barney Reb-
stock. whispering Smith knew that
Sinclair thought only of escape Smith
alone, 81 their pursuers, could now
intercept them, but second hope re-
manned: On the left, Wickwire was
high enough 10 command every turn
them and could force them 10 cover
with his rife even at long range Cast
ing ny the chances. Whispering Smith.
riding faster over the uneven ground
than anything but sheer recklessness
would have prompted, fastened across
the waste. Ills rife Law in his hand
, and he had pushed his horse TO a run.
single fearful instinct crowded now
upon the long strain OF the week A
savage fascination burned like a fever
in his veins, and he meant that they
should not get away. Taking chances
that would have shamed him In cooler
moments, he forceG his horse at the
enc of the long lide 10 within 100
PAGES OF the river. threw his lines.
slipped like q lizard from the saddle
and, darling with Incredible swiftness
from rock 10 rock. gained the waters
edge
From Up the long shadows OF the
wash there came the vail OF an owl
From il he knew that Wickwire had
seen them AND WIS warning him. but
he had anticipated the warning and
stood below where the hunted men
must ride. He strained his eyes over
the waste Of rock above. For one half
hour Of daylight he would have sold,
In that moment ten years OF his life
/ What could he do II they should be
able 10 secrete themselves until dark
between him and Wickwire? Gliding
under cover OF huge rocks up the dry
watercourse. he reached spot where
The floods had scooped long, hollow
curve out OF soft ledge in the bark.
leaving stretch OF smooth sand on
the bed OF the stream. At the upper
point great powders pushed out OF
the river. he could lot inspect the
curve from the spot he had gained
without reckless exposure, but he
must force the little daylight left TO
him. Climbing completely over the
lower point. he advanced cautiously,
and from behind sheltering spur
stepped out upon an overhanging table
OF rock and looked across the river.
bottom. Three men had halted on the
sand within the curve Two lay on
their rifies under the upper point, 100
PAGES from Whispering Smith. The
third man. Seagrue. less than so yards
away. had got on hts horse and was
1syfng down HIS rife. when the boot,
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