The daily Alaskan., 1912-12-13

They seemed meie specks of helpless misdirection in tle distance
 Blta's face had lost it's color She turned her horse about, the rein held short and tight ln her cliHched hand
 We must race before them as they come" she said. "lf the horses keep their strength they win not trample us."
 But Carruthers had slipped from the saddle.
 "It is sure death to try to ride with them" he answered. "Dismount and do as tell you"
 The stern masterfulness of his tone startled her. He Ind never spoken ike that to her; no one had
 Hold the horses" he ordered She obeyed, watching him in breathless si. lence. The brown cloud on the prairie was becoming uIore and more dis. tnct. There was heavy. low rumble In the air like far on thunder. Car ruthers drew a cigarette case from his pocket and after hunting carefully he produced one match.
 That Is the only one l have he said. Pray that it doesn't % out
 He struck it on the box The faint flame wavered in the southeasterly breeze. caught the end of the cigarette and lit 1t. Before the match went out Carruthers smeued it and set fire to the grass. It was dry and yellow from the sun and caught the blaze with snap. The wind famed it, and way ering line of thin smoke slid Ike snake along the roots for several feet The horses reared and kicked at the first whiff, and Carruthers seized the brides from the girl
 "Take the cigarette" he said, hand ing it to her. Keep 1t 0light and set fire to the grass as far as you can reach in a straight line facing the north. The wind Is from the southeast and win blow the fire toward the herd. It may turn them"
 Holding the plunging, trembling horses. he watched her, There was no fear. no sign of weakness. She was alert and sure in her touch as she knelt here and there in the grass and fired it. As the cigarette failed she tore a bunch of grass, tied it with an- other wisp and set 1t blazing Ike a torch In another minute a wall Of smoke and smoldering flame closed them in from the rushing herd line,
 Come back" called Carruthers The herd were not a quarter of a mile from them. He could see the leaders, heads down. and behind them line after line of tossing horns.
 "win they reach usT whispered Rita as she stood close beside him, her face lifted to his
 "God knows; I don't" said Carruth- CTS desperately. Tt is all we can do
 Jack. listen to me" There vas new light inNs ,r dark eyes, a new soft ened tone to her voice. Ramon has done this. The herd has never stam- peded before. He has done it for re- NenEe upOu gNN aliu AAes AANsN NitAN told him no. l know about him and the claim he holds over the Fortuna and my father. but I would rather lose it all than
 Than whatg" Carruthers let the brides trail ou the ground and held her close in bis arms The tremble of hundreds of hoofs shook the ground, the thunder grew louder, now and then there came a low, threatening below from some steer gOred by its fellows in the onrush.
 "Than lose you," Rita whispered as she closed her eye. to meet what might come.
 The herd was on. them, but as the leaders caught the first sickening whin of smoke they hesitsted and wavered Low leaping tongues of flame flashed up before them and rolls of smoke curled upward
 The leaders swerved westward. Alter them plunged the frightened herd. mad