The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1909-12-14

lessly into the gloom of the canon and
enlivened it by yelling fiercely IN the
spots where long experience III yell
ing had proved to him the best echoes
came back from the towering cllHs
close to each stirrup. The canon was
almost two miles long, and the walls
on either side rose sheer for a couple
of hundred feet The trail was the
bed of a little stream that filled the
bottom of the narrow gulch with 1ts
shadows and which was dignitied by
being called the Rio Seco. Great
rocks were carelessly scattered here
and there, and even cow-puncher
camped at it's entrance If he was
caught there by darkness. AT the far
end the gulch broadened into a valley
between rolling hills, where the cattle
came down to drink and to feed on
the green grass, a wonderful sight In
Arizona.
The pony, splashing quickly through
the shadows and Gathering over the
rocks, had passed deep within the two
great walls when suddenly it stopped
and trembled. 1t half-wheeled around,
thrust forward both ears, stretched
out its ungainly neck as If listening,
and then squealed in evident terror.
Wheeling around again, 1t started
down the canon on bolt, but Pink
gave the cruel bit great jerk, and
the pony fell back to walk. A 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, IAN 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, be
heard an unceasing noise, which, even
IN the seconds he listened, grew ON
lnously distinct.
Good God!" 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.
out we've certainly got a race to do"
The pinto did not need the spur.
out he got it. He did not need the
quirt, but he got that too. The rush
ana the roar of the cloud-burA and
the ferocious din of many waters piled
In one, looming and smashing as II
tore through the canon at their heels
MADE that pony run like Derby win
ner gone stark mad with fear. In the
sadie sat a pale, freckled-faced COW
boy, riding in grim earnestness at
last. With cool skill he swung the
horse around jutting corn.
ers OF the cliffs and lifted him az he
leaped over the boulders in his nath
Under the flying hoofs an inch of wa.
Ter Moved placidly. A hundred wards
oenlnd ten feet of water tossed about
ooulders like pebbles. So horse and
rider tore out of the canon at last and
staggered up the slope of the hills ~
'alety, having come through the 1aSt
nal1 OF the Seco Canon in three min.
l'es' which Hermosa says is a lie
Al ABOUT him. on the crest of thu
I'LL cattle paved and beloved and
an about tossing both head and tai,
'uaisnt IN the air, the COWS with
;aiVes hustling the youngsters down
ne lar side of the ridge. Pink tnrned
lucky in his saddle and looked hooh
\ great wall of logs and branches and
'tichs and rocks and leaves, the AZ.
of the mountain he'd ~
ne Seco for many dry months NO.
,e'ns swiftly and mysteriously pushed
through the canon. Ten feet hirb :,
sas IN the canon, but when It hnrst
ree into the broader valley. II hrota
mo spread out somewhat Rah,ns =.
oaleo the pent-up waters, dark and
women with anger. Like a nixhtmora
ne nood swept by Pink and the mani
ng pony, swept by and swirlsd 49,,
nurned itself, as If reaching hacl 80.
II him. Boulders grumbled az 49, Sas.
we're rolled about in it's denths ICY
oss shot by like arrows Tha ,e anu
i its Jury deafened him, and tha 10
reo,oie swiftness with which
wired past made him dizzv ~.
- sneet-lron roof of Bojaroue's ranoh
ouse. borne on the angry watsrs aI ~,
roo1 OF cork, fitted by him lile . .ss
ickering of a shadow on a rivar M cne
cowboy watched - 80, nc
: Tor half an hour, while h,s s sim
TODD under him with spreadin. Ao ,
nd heaving sides. e legs
AT length the pony stretched ~.
eck and began to nibble prose M MS
ow-ooy swung around in his ,. Inc
no picked up the reins '~uoie
lts lucky for me you beat ont >.
: a,er, Ola boss. for how could s. .us'
IN all the silver of Hermosa ~ 1"'n
naps'' said Pink Murry reniai ~ my
Old Scottish Word.
Is - correspondent of the c,a..,,,,
'oAdlU submits tho toll, ooSOW