The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1909-10-14

hr unho had shown, Pink trotted care.
les y into the gloom of the canon and
Ell 'ned It by yelling hcrcely in the
81 where long experience in yell
In lad proved TO him the best echoes
ca o. back from the towering cliffs
clu to each stirrup. The canon was
al st two miles long, and the walls
on .ther side rose sheer for Il couple
OF Indred feet The trail was the
be. of n little stream that filed the
DO I'M of the narrow gulCh with It's
sh lows and which was dignihod by
be called the Rio Seco. Great
ror.s were carelessly scattered here
an. there, aud even puncher
ca ped at it's entrance ii he was
ca ant there by darkness. At the far
en-. the gulch broadened into a valley
be "en rolling hills. whore the cattle
ca.n down to drink and to feed on
II. green grass, n wonderful sight in
Al una.
job" pony spashing quickly through
III. shadows and Gathering over the
re. had passed deep within the two
81 Il walls when suddenly It stopped
an Jrcmblcd. 1t half.whcelcd around.
th It forward both ears, stretched
on Is ungainly neck as If listening,
an. then squealed in evident terror.
Wheeling around again. 1t started
do n the canon on n bolt, but Pink
ga" the cruel bit great jerk. and
tn pony fell back to "A walk. 4 mo.
mont later the broncho was lathered
with sweat
Vow. Pink had frequently heard his
pony squcal with rage, but this was
different. "A pure case of scared" he
said to himself, AN no wall.eycd
pinto cow-pony is going to git scared
less there's something to be scared
AT hats big an important an needin'
attention" So he pulled up his
trembling pony and listened. Far
away and sullen. like low growl, he
heard an unceasing noise, which, even
In 10" 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.
II amt much Of racc.track, pinto,
but we've certainly got 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 II
tore through the canon at their heels,
made that pony run like n Derby win
ner gone stark mad with fear. In the
saddle sat a pale, frockled.faced COW.
boy, riding in grim earnestness at
last. With cool skill he swung the
maddened horse around juttlng corn
crs of the cliffs and lifted him as he
leaped over the bouders in his path.
Under the flying hoofs an inch of wa.
ter flowed placidly. A hundred yards
behind ten feet Of water tossed about
houlders like pebbles. SO horse and
rider tore out of the canon at last and
taggered up the slope of the hills tn
afety, 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
ILL. cattle paved and beloved and
ran about. tossing both head and tail
straight in the air, the cows with
calves hustling the youngsters down
'he far side Of the ridge. Pink turned
quickly in his saddle and looked back.
\ great wall Of logs and branches and
ticks and rocks and leaves, the nc.
foundations of the mountain bed OF
the SecO for many dry months, was
being swiftly and mysterlously pushed
through the canon. Ten feet high Il
was in the canon, but when 1t burst
free into the broader valley, II broke
and spread out somewhat. Behind IL
Toared the pent.up waters dark and
swollen with anger. Like n nightmare
the flood swept by Pink and the pant.
ing pony, swept by and swirled and
churned ITSELF as If reaching back aft.
or him. Boulders grumblod as they
we're rolled about in its depths, and
l'bo ohoN ny iht hIlbNbs i ne noise
Of Its fury deafened him. and the in.
credible swlftness with which IL
swirled past made him dizzy. The
big sheet.iron roof of Boiarques ranch.
house. borne 90 the angry waters like
q roof of cork, ;!t!ed by him like the
n!ckering of a shadow on river. The
white-faced cowboy watched II 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. The
cowboy swung around in his saddle
and picked up the reins.
IT'S lucky for me you beat out that
water, old boss, for how could | swim
with all the silver of Hermosa in my
chaps?" said Pink hurry genially.
Old Scottish wardp