Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-06-23
CHAPTER xL.
Crawling ston. Wash.

CHAPTER xL.
Crawling Stone Wash.
When Whispering Smith and his
companions were fairly started on the
last day of their ride, It was toward
rift in ,the Mission range that the trail
led them. Sinclair. with consummate
cleverness, had rejoined his compan-
ions; but the attempt to get into the
Cache, and his reckless ride into Medi.
cine Bend. had reduced their chances
OF escape to single outlet, and that
they must ind up Crawling Stone val.
ley. The necessity Of It was spelled
in every move the pursued men had
made for "a 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 eff
fort to bring them to account. The
fast riding OF the early week had
given way to the pace Of caution. No
trail sign was overlooked, no point of
concealment directly approached. no
hiding-place left unsearched.
The tension Of long day Of this
work was drawing to close when the
sun set and left the big wash in the
shadow Of the mountains. On the
higher ground to the right, Kennedy
and Scott were riding where they
could command the gullies Of the pre-
cipitous left bank Of the river. High
on the left bank itself, worming his
way like snake from point to point
OF concealment through the scanty
brush Of the mountain-side, crawled
Wickwire. commanding the pockets in
the right bank. Closer to the river
on the right and following the trail
itself over shale and rock and be-
tween scattered powders, Whispering
Smith, low on his horses neck, rode
slowly.
It was almost too dark to catch the
slight discolorations where pebbles
had been disturbed on fiat surface
or the calk Of horseshoe had slipped
on the uneven face of ledge, and he
had halted under an uplift to wait
for Wickwire on the distant left to adj
vance, when, half mile below him,
a horseman crossing the river rode
slowly past gap in the rocks and dis
appeared below the next bend. He
was followed In a moment by a Sec
ond rider and third. Whispering
Smith knew he had not been seen. He
had flushed the game, and, wheeling
his horse rode straight up the river
bank 20 high ground, where he could
circle around widely below them. They
had slipped between his line and
Wickwire's, and were doubling back,
following the dry bed Of the stream.
It was impossible to recall Kennedy
and Scott without giving an alarm, but
by a quick detour he could at least
hold the quarry back for 20 minutes
with his rife, and in that time Ken
nedy 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 il
the third man should be Barney Reb-
stock, Whispering Smith knew that
Sinclair thought only Of escape. Smith
alone. of their pursuers, could now
intercept them, but second hope re-
manned: On the left, Wickwire was
high enough to command every turn
in the bed Of the river. He might see
them and could force them to cover
with his ride even at long range. Cast
ing up the chances. Whispering Smith,
riding faster over the uneven ground
than anything but sheer recklessness
would have prompted, fastened across
the waste. His rifle lay in his hand,
and he had pushed his horse to run.
A 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 forced his horse at the
end Of the long ride to within 100
PAGES Of the river, threw his lines,
slipped like lizard from the saddle,
and, darting with incredible swiftness
from rock to rock, gained the waters
edge.
From up the long shadows Of the
wash there came the vail of an owl.
From It he knew that Wickwire had
seen them and was warning him. but
he had anticipated the warning and
stood below where the hunted mon
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 to secrete themselves until dark
between him and Wickwire? Gliding
undsT eover :: huge .cc!!.s m tina dry
watercourse. he reached spot where
the foods had scooped long, hollow
curve out Of q soft ledge In the bank,
leaving . stretch OF smooth sand on
the bed Of the stream. At the upper
point great powders pushed out Of
the river. He could not 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
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