Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1912-03-30
CHAPTER VII.
A wild pash for the HIS.

n WIG Da8n TOT Tns F1ItlSs
Old Kirkby, who had been lazily
mending q saddle the greater part Of
the morning, had eaten his dinner,
smoked his pipe and was now stretch
ed out on the grass in the warm sun
taking q nap. Mrs. Maitland was
browsing over q book in the shadow
of one Of the big pines, when Pete,
the horse Wrangler, who had been
wandering rather far down the canon
rounding up the ever straying stock,
suddenly came bursting into the camp.
Great God Almighty" he cried,
actually kicking the PROSTATE from
tiersman as he almost stumbled over
min. wake up, old man, an"
what the" began Kirkby fierce
". thus rudely aroused from slumber
and resentful Of the daring and most
unusual aftront to his dignity and sta
kion since all men, and especially the
younger ones, held him In great hon
or.
Look here" yelled Peter IN grow
ing excitement and entirely oblivious
to his lese-majestie, pointing at a
black cloud rolling over the top Of the
range. 'Tt'll be a cloudburst sure.
Wen have to git out O. here an in .
hurry too. Oh, Mrs. Maitland"
By this time Kirkby was on his
feet, the storm had stolen upon him
sleeping and unaware. The confgura-
ton Of the canon had completely hid
its approach. At best the three in
the camp could not have discovered 1t
until It was high in the heavens. Now
the clouds were already approaching
the MONDAY sun. Kirkby was alive to
1.-THE situation at once. He had the rare
ability Of men Of action Of awakening
with all his faculties at instant com
mand. He did not have to rub his
eyes and wonder where he was, and
speculate AZ to what was to be done
The moment that his eyes, following
llpe4eIe or.tatretchad arm discovered
the black mass Of clouds he ran to
ward Mrs. Maitland and standing or
no ceremony he shook her vigorously
by the shoulder.
Wen have to run for our lives
ma'am," he said briefly. pete, drive
the stock up on the hills, fur as you
kin, the hosses pertikler, they'll be
more to US an them burros must take
keer Of themselves.
Pete needed no urging. He was Of
like q shot in the direction of the i'm
,provised corral. He loosed the horses
from their pickets and started them
up the steep trail that led down from
the hogback to the camp by the wa
tiers edge. He also tried to start the
burros he had Just rounded up in the
same direction. Some Of them would
go and some of them would not. He
had his hands full in an instant
Meanwhile Kirkby did not linger by
the side Of Mrs. Maitland. With in
credible agility for 30 old a man he
ran over to the tent where the stores
were kept and began picking out such
articles Of provision as he could
easiest carry.
Come over here, Mrs Maitland,
he cried. "Weu have to carry up OF
the hill somethin' to keep us from
starvin' till we get back to town. We
hadn't orter camped in this yers
pocket noways, but who'd ever expect
ed anything like this now?"
What do you fear?" asked the
woman, joining him as she spoke and
waiting for his directions.
Looks to me like a cloudburst,
was the answer. Greeks pretty full
now, an If she does break everything
below we're II go to hell on a run"
It was evidence Of his perturbation
and anxiety that he used such Ian
guage, which, however, in the emer
gency did not seem unwarranted ever
to the refined ear Of Mrs. Maitland.
els 1t possible?" she exclaimed.
"'Taint only possible, it's sartin
Now, ma'am," he hastily bundled up q
lot Of miscellaneous provisions In &
small piece of canvass, tied 1t up and
handed 1t to her. "That'll be for you. .
Immediately after he made up much
larger bundle in another tent Ay
adding, AN this Is mine" .
"0h, let US hurry" cried Mrs. Matt
land, as q peal Of thunder, low, NUT
tered, menacing, burst forth from the
flying clouds, now obscuring the sun
and rolled over the camp
We've got time enough yit," an,
swered Kirkby, coolly calculating
their chances. BEST git yer slicker
on, you'll need 1t in q few minutes.
Mrs. Maitland ran to her own tent
and soon came out with sou'westeI
and yellow oilskins completely cover
ing her. Kirkby meantime had don
ned his own old battered, soiled rain
clothes and had grabbed up Pete's.
II brought the children's coats
along" said Mrs. Maitland, extending
three others.
Good" said Kirkby. NOW wen
take our packs an"
do you think there Is any danger
60 Robert%
Hell git nothin' worse n a wet
TN" returned the old man confident
~. 'If we'd pitched the tents up Of
the hog back, that's all we'd been ii
for"
Il have to leave the tents and al
1.-THE things" said Mrs. Maitland.
you can stay with them" answere,
Kirkby, dryly, but If what think
soin' to happen comes OF, you won
have no need Of nothin' no more
Great God, here she comes"
As he spoke there was sudden
swift downpour Of rain. not In drops
but in a torrent. Catching up his owl
pack and motioning the woman to d
likewise with her load. Kirkby caugh
her By the hand, and half led, hal
dragged her up the steep trail from
the brook to the ridge which borders
the side Of the canon. The canon va
much wider here than further up AM
there was much more room and mucl
mora space for the water to spread
Yet, they had to hurry for thsir live
e It was. They had gone up scarcel
hundred feet when the disgorgs
ment Of the heavens took place. III
water Zen with such force, directnes
and contiuuousness that It almos
beat them down. Il ran over the tral
down the side Of The mountain 4
Sheets Ike water falls. zt required al