The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-03-25
CHAPTER VII,
A Wild Dash for the Hills,

the morning, had eaten his dinner,
smoked his pipe and was now stretch
cd out on the grass In the warm sun
taking q 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
tiersman as he almost stumbled over
him. Wake up, old man. an"
What the" began Kirkby fierce
ly, thus rudely aroused from slumbeP
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 q
black cloud rolling over the top OF the
range. 9TH be 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
its 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.
well have to run for our lives,
maam," he said briefly. "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" 80
Pete needed no urging He was of
like a 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
60 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 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. We'll 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
cd anything like this nowf"
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 II she does break everything
below we're II go to hell on run"
Il was evidence Of his perturbation
and anxiety that he used such Ian.
guage. which. however, In the emer
genoy did not seem unwarranted even
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 q
small piece of canvass, tied 1t up and
handed It to her. "That'll be for you. "
Immediately after he made up much
larger bundle In another tent fly
adding, IAN this is NINE"
"Oh, 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 1t In few minutes.
Mrs. Maitland ran to her own tent
and soon came out with sou'westel
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. Nov wei
take our packs am"
do you think there is any danger
to Robert"
He'll git nothin' worse n a wet
TIM" returned the old man confident
II. 'Tf we'd pitched the tents up OF
the hog back. that's all we'd been IL
for"
II have to leave the tents and al
the things" said Mrs. Maitland.
you can stay with them," answered
Kirkby, dryly, "but IL what I think I
goin' to happen comes of. you won
! have no need of nothin' no more
Great God, here she comes"
As he spoke there was a sudden
swift downpour OF rain, not in drops
but in q 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 borderet