Semi-weekly herald., 1911-07-31

ture upon taking her there. knowing
that Keith would naturally suspect
the spot But Keith would not be like
ly to personally take up the trail in
search for Christie Maclaire. 1t must
have been Hawley then who had left
the party and ridden east. and up to
that time he had not found out his
mistake. Yet If he brought out the
fresh animals the chances were that
Hopes identity would be revealed
Bristoe, who had turned aside to ex-
anime the straying horse, came trot-
ting up.
belonged to their outfit all right,
Cap" he reported carries the double
cross brand and that shebang is
upon the Smokey; saddle gals still
bleeding
Waite was now suffering so acute
ly they were Obliged to halt before
gaining sight of the river. finding. for
tunateiy, a water-hole fed by spring
AS soon as the sick man could be
made comfortable, Keith gave to the
others his conclusions. and listened to
what they had to say. Bristoe faver-
ed clinging to the trail, even though
they must travel slowly, but Fairbain
insisted that Waite must be taken to
some town where he could be given
necessary care Keith finally decided
the matter.
None can be more anxious to reach
those fellows that | am" he declared,
but | know that country out SOUTH
and we'll never get through to the
Salt Fork without fresh horses. Be-
sides, as the doctor says. we've got to
take care of Waite. If we find things
as | expect Wen ride for Carson City
and re-outfit there. What's more, We
won't lost much tlme-its a shorter
ride from there to the cabin than from
here"
By morning the General was able to
sit his saddle again. and leaving him
with Neb to follow slowly, the others
spurred forward, discovered an outlet
through the bluff into the valley, and
crossed the Santa Fe Trail. 1t was
not easy to discover where those in
advance had passed this point, but
they found evidence of late camp in
little grove of cottonwoods beside
the river. There were traces OF two
trails leading to the spot. one being
that OF the same five horses they had
been following so long, the other not
so easily read, as 1t had been trav-
ersed in both directions, the different
hoof marks obliterating each other
nrigt nh h md nd
knees, studied the signs with the eyes
OF an Indian.
"You kin see the difference yere
whnr the ground is soft, Cap" he said.
pointing TO some tracks palmer than
the others. This yere hoss had
rider, but the rest OF EN- was led;
thets why they've bungled UP ther
trail so. An 1t want ther same
bunch thet went back east what come
from thar-see thet split hoofl thar
amt no split hoof printing ther other
way-but yere is the mark of the crit
ter thet puts her foot down so fur
outside thet we've been trailin' from
Sheridan. an she's printing east. an
being led. Now. let's see whar the
puhSh Noht iioiH ySie WIN lucl bpilt
hoof"
This was not so easily accom-
plished owing to the nature of the
ground, but at last the searchers
stumbled onto tracks close In under
the bank, and one of these revealed
the split hoof.
THAT makes 1t clear, Ben," ex-
claimed Keith. decidedly. staring out
across the river at the white sand
hills. They have kept on the edge OF
the water. making for the ford, which
is yonder at the bend. They are out
in the sand desert by this time riding
for the Salt Fork. Whoever he was,
the fellow brought them five horses.
and the five old ones were taken east
again on the trail. The girl is still
with the party, and we'll go into Car
son City and reoutfit"