The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1912-05-24

tnan 6no was. Iner6 was not An
ounce Of superfiuous flesh upon her.
yet she had the grace Of Hebe. the
strength Of Pallas Athens. and the
swiftness of motion OF Atalanta. Had
she but carried bow and spear, had
she worn tunic and sandals. she might
have stood for Diana and she would
have had no cause to blush by COM
parison with the finest model Of
Praxiteles' chisel or the most splen-
did and glowing example Of Appellss
brush.
Uncle Robert was delighted with
her: his contribution to her western
outfit was q small Winchester. She
displayed astonishing aptitude under
his Instructions and soon became won.
derfully proficient with that deadly
weapon and with revolver also.
There was little danger to be appre.
hended In the daytime among the
mountains. the more experienced men
thought, still II was wise for the girl
always to have weapon In readiness.
so In her journeyings. either the Win
chester was slung from her shoulder
or carried In her hand. or else the Colt
dangled at her hip. At first she took
both. but finally II was with reluc-
lance that she could be persuaded to
take either. Nothing had ever hap
pened. Save for a few birds now and
then she had seemed the only tenant
of the wilderness OF her choice.
One night after camping expert
NJ M Iu I'm. In ha
tains and Just before the time for
breaking up and going back to civil
ization. she announced that early the
next morning she was going down the
canon for a days fishing excursion.
None OF the party had ever fol-
lowed the little river very far, but 1t
was known that some ten miles below
the stream merged In a lovely gem
like lake In a sort OF crater In the
mountains. From thence by series
OF water falls II descended through
the foothills to the distant plains be-
yond. The others had arranged to
climb one especially dangerous and
ambition provoking peak which TOW.
cred above them and which had nevei
before been surmounted SO far as
they knew. Enid enjoyed mountain
climbing She liked the uplift in feel.
ing that came from going higher and
higher till some crest was gained. but
on this occasion they urged her to ac-
company them In vain.
When the fixity OF her decision was
established she had a number OF offers
to accompany her. but declined them
all, bidding the others go their way. |
Mrs. Maitland. who was not feeling
very well. old Kirkby, who had |
climbed too many mountains to feel |
much interest In that game. and Pete |
the horse wrangler. who had to look |
after the stock. remained In camp; !,
the others with the exception of Enid
started at daybreak for their long as
cent. She waited until the sun was
goodbye to the three and began the
descent Of the canon. Travelling light,
for she was going far-farther, indeed.
than she knew-she left her Winches-
ter at home. but carried the revolver
with the fishing tackle and substantial
luncheon.
Now the rivera river by courtesy
only-and the canon turned sharply
back on themselves just beyond the
little meadow where the camp was
pitched. Past the tents that had been
their home for this joyous period the
river ran due east for a few hundred
feet, after which II curved sharply,
doubled back and flowed westward
for several miles before II gradually
swung around to the east on its prop
er course again.
II had been Ends purpose to cut
across the hills and strike the river
where It turned eastward once more.
avoiding the long detour back. In
TACT. she had declared her intention
Of doing that to Kirkby and he had
given her careful directions SO that
she should not get lost in the noun
tains.
excuse OF reason for saving II. she
never tired OF the charm OF the canon:
therefore. instead OF plunging directly
over the spur OF the range. she fol-
lowed the familiar trail and after she
had passed westward far beyond the
limits OF the camp to the turning. she
decided. In accordance with that ut
terly irresponsible thing. woman's
will. that she would not go down the
canon that day after all. but that she
would cross back over the range and
strike the river few miles above the
camp and go up the canon.
She had been up In that direction q |
lew times. but only for q short dis
.ance, as the ascent above the camp
was very sharp. In fact for q little
more than a mile the brook was only
! succession Of water fall: the best
ishing was below the camp and the
inest woods were deeper In the canon
She suddenly concluded that she
would like to see what was up In that
section OF the country ana
70. with scarcely . momentary hest
alton. she abandoned her former plan
md ho4nn tha ascent Of the rnn1a |