Semi-weekly herald., 1911-07-31


horses left punched OH the south bank.
and finally crawled out into q bunch
of mesquite. As they crept along
through the darkness. whatever doubts
Keith might have previously felt re-
garding the presence on tho island OF
| the party sought were dissipated by the
unmistakable noise made by numer.
Gus horses In the corral. Slowly, test
ing each step as they advanced. SO no
sound should bstray them. the four
men reached the shelter OF the stock
ade. The older of tho Bar X" men
lifted himself by his hands, and
poered cautiously over.
Eight hoesss in thar" he an
nounced soberly: then turned to
Keith. Say, Jack. what do you figure
this shsbang to be. anyhow You
don't reckon it's old Sanchez's OUTFIT.
do yerf"
Likely as not. Joe. though never
saw him around here"
Joe filled his check with tobacco.
staring about through the darkness.
We'll, II that oil ouss is yere now
we'uns is sure in for a fght." he oom-
mentsd positively.
They rounded the corral fence on
hands and knees. crawlsd into bunch
OF bushes somewhat to the rear of the
silent, desolate-appearing cabin, and
lay down nat behind pile of saddles.
from which position they could plain
ly discern the rear door. There was
no movement. no evidence anywhere
that living soul WAS about the place.
Keith could barely distinguish that 1t
was Bristoe lying next to him.
Had their camp over there In the
corner of the corral when was here
before" he said in whisper. Where
do you suppose they can be now?"
The wary scout lifted his head,
smiling Into the darkness like q point
or dog
West O. ther cabin thar, out O. ther
wind, most likely. smell tobacco"
Even as the words left his lips =
man came sauntering slowly around
the eastern corner, his outlines barely
visible, but the red glow OF a pipe
bowl showing plainly. He stopped, di-
rectly facing them. yawning slsepily,
and then turned the other corner.
Another moment and they distinctly
heard voice:
Hustle up thar now, Manuel, an
turn out; It's your watch: wake up.
dam yer-maybe thatn bring yet ter
life"
The remedy applied to the sleeper
must have been efiicacious. az, an in
stant later. another figure slouched
into view, the new arrival rubbing
his eyes with one hand, the other
clutching short-barrelled gun. From
the high peak of his hat 1t was evi.
dent this new guard was Mexican.
he walked to the corner. glanced
along the east side wall toward the
front OF the cabin. and then, apparent
ly satisfied the coast was clear, start
ed toward the stream, shuining along
within foot of where Keith lay fiat
on the ground. A moment later the men
heard him splashing softly In the wa
ter. and Keith rolled over, his lips
at Bristoe's ear.
Slip down there, Ben," he whis.
pered. and quiet that fellow. I'll f1nd
out how many are ON tho west side.
Do the Job without any noise"
He waited until the scout had dis
, appeared like a snake, not even a
rustling leaf telling Of his passage.
and then silently crept forward him
self. yet with less caution, until he
, WAS able to peer about the corner OF
the cabin and dimly distinguish the
blanketsd forms of several mon lying
close In against the side wall. They
rested 80 nearly together 1t was DIM.
cult to separate them in that dark
ness. stars giving the only light, but
he finally determined their number at
five. Five; the Mexican would make
six. and there would surely be another
guard posted out in the front-sevcn.
But there were eight horses down
there in the corral. Thsn tho eighth
man-Hawley. without doubt-must
be in the cabin. At the thought
Keith's teeth clinched. and he had to
struggle to control his passion But
no; that would never do; he must dis
cover hrst exactly where the girl was
located; after that they would attend
to the ours. Before creeping back to
the others. he made quick examina-
ton along the rear Of the cabin, but
could hnd no visible point Of weak
ness. He tried to recall from memory
tho nature OF the lock on that back
door. but could remember nothing ex-
cept an ordinary wooden latch. II
he could insert a knife into the crack
that might very easily he dislodged.
He drew his hunting knife for the at
tempt. and. first glancins about, per-
ceived man creeping toward him. 1t
proved to be BriHtoe.
Fixed the Ereaser all right, cap.
and reckon he'll be quiet for an hour
or two. Look whar he slashed me;
struck a pack O. playin' keerds. er I'd
got my ticket" The front Of his
blouse was cut wide open. and Keith
thought he perceived q stain OF blood.
"Pricksd you as 1t was, didn't her
Opened the skin. Thought the cuss
had given up. an got careless. What's
round to tho west?"
Ksith's lips closed. his hand shut
ting hard on the knife.
Five. and another out In 'front.'
that leaves the eighth man inside.
Bring our fellows up closer, and post
them whore they can cover those fel.
lows asleep. while mako an EFFORT al