Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1912-02-07
CHAPTER VII.
A Wild Dash for the Hills.

smoked his pipe and was now stretch
ed out on the grass in the warm sun
taking a nap. Mrs Maitland was
browsing over a 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
tiersma2 as he almost stumbled over
him. Wake UP, old man, an"
What the" began Kirkby fierce
ly, thus rudely aroused from slumber
and resentful Of the daring and most
unusual affront to his dignity and sta
ton 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. It'll be a cloudburst sure.
Well 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
it's approach. At best the three in
the camp could not have discovered it
until it was high in the heavens. Now
the clouds were already approaching
the MONDAY sun. Kirkby was alive to
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 as to what was to be done.
The moment that his eyes, following
Pete's outstretched arm, discovered
the black mass of. clouds he ran to-
ward Mrs. Maitland and standing on
no ceremony he shook her vigorously
by the shoulder.
''We1l have to run for our lives,
ma'am," he said brieny. "Pete, drive
the stock up on the hills, fur as you
kin, the bosses pertikler, they'll be
more to us an them burros must take
keer of themselves"
Pete needed no urging. He was off
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
ter's edge. He also tried to start the
burrOs he had just rounded up in the
<,f4 y,
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 so old 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. well have to carry up on
the hill somethin' to keep us from
starvin' till we get back to town. We
hadn't orter camped in this yere
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 yere IL 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 even
to the refined ear Of Mrs. Maitland.
SIS it possible?" she exclaimed.
"'Taint only possible, it's sartin.
Now, ma'am,' he hastily bundled up
lot Of miscellaneous provisions in
small piece of canvass, tied it up and
handed it to her. "That'll be for you"
Immediately after he made up a much
larger bundle in another tent fly,
adding, can this is mine"
ooh, let us hurry" cried Mrs. Matt
land, as a 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, coollv calculating
their chances. "Best git yer slicker
on, you'll need it in a few minutes
Mrs. Maitland ran to her own tent
and soon came out with sou'wester
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.
81 brought the childrens coats
along" said Mrs. Maitland, extending
three others.
Good" said Kirkby. ''Now We'll
take our packs am
do you think there is any danger
to Roberto
Hell git nothin' worse n a wet
tim" returned the old man confident
". eff we'd pitched the tents up on
the hog back, that's all we'd been in
for
ct have to leave the tents and all
the things" said Mrs. Maitland.