Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-10-07


fort to bring them 10 account. Tho
fast riding Of he rarly week had
given way TO the pocc NJ caution. No
trai' sign Yves overlooked, no point Of
tvr-vu'nic1t Ns.~-',, ~rftVavife-i. 49,.
hidins-place left uncegrchcd.
Tho tension Of e long day Of this
work was drawing TO a close when the
sun set end left the big wash ia the
shadow of the mountains. On tho
higher ground to tho tight. Kennedy
and Scott were riding where they
could command the gul'ee Of The pre-
ci1i'ous left hank NJ the river High
on the left bcnk itsoif, wlriring his
way Ike snake from point to point
Of conccaiment through the scanty
brush Of the mountain-siuc. crawled
Wictwirc commanding tho pockets in
the right bank. Closer to tho river
on the right and following the trail
Itself over shalo and rock and be-
tween scattered powders. Whispering
Smith, low on his horses neck, rode
slowly.
IT was almos; too derl; to catch 'he
slight discUlurytious where pebbles
had been disturbed en- 4 Nat surface
OF the call, OF q horseshoe had slipped
on the uneven face Of ledge, and he
had halted under IN upln to wait
for Nickwire on the distant left TO adj
vance. when, half a mile below him,
horseman crossing tho river rode
slowly past n gar In the rocks and dis
appeared below the next bend. He
was followed IA n moment by Sec
ond rider AMI q third. Whispering
Smith knew he had not been seen. He
had flushed the game, aud, wheeling
his horse rode s'taiFh' up the river
bank to liiFh ground vhcrc he could
circle around widely bo'ow them. They
had slipped between his line and
Wickwlre's, and were doubling back,
following the Dig bed Of the stream
1t was impossible to recall Kennedy
and Scott without giving an alarm, but
by quick detour he could at least
hold the quarry back for 20 minutes
with his rao, and in that time Ken
nedy and scott could come up.
Lees than half an hour Of daylight
remained. If tho outlaws could slip
down the WASH and out into the Crawl
ing Stone valley they had every chance
OF getting away III tho Wight; and IL
the third man should BE- barney Reb-
stock. whispering Smith knew that
Sinclair thought only OF escape. Smith
alone. of their nursuCrs, could now
intercept them, but second hope re-
NAMED. On the lct Nickwire was
high enough to command every turn
in the bed Of the river. He might see
them and could force them 20 cover
with his rife even al long range. Cast
ing up the chances. Whispering Smith,
riding fasteT over thc uneven ground
than anything bu' sheer recklessness
would have prompted fastened across
the waste. Ills rife lay in his hand,
and he had pushed his horse to run
A single fearful Instinct crowded now
upon the long strain 81 the week. A
savage Fascination burned like 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 10 within 100
PAGES O: The river throw his lines,
slipped like a irord from the saddle
and, darting VIII Incredible swiftness
from rock 10 rock, gained the waters
edge
From up tho long shadows of the
wash thero ca.cc the wall Of an owl.
From il h. &rew that Wickwirc had
seen thcm and was warning h'n. but