The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-08-03
CHAPTER VII.
A Wild Dash for the Hills.

va 4hlrkpy, VINO mad been laZtly
monding a saddle the greater part OF
the morning, had eaten his dinner,
smoked his pipe and was now stretch
ed out ION the. grass In the warm sun
taxing nap. Mrs. Maitland was
browsing over a book in the shadow
Of one Of the big pines, when Pete.
the horse wrangfer, who had been
wandering rather far down the canon
rounding up the-ever sstraying 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, ap'.---''
What the" began Klrkby fierce.
ly, thus rudely aroused from slumber
and resentful Of the daring and most
unusual a7ront to his dignity and sta
ton since all men. and especially the
younger ones. held him in great hon
or. II 80 :. -. ... .rtst
Look here" yelled Peter In grow
ing excitement and entirely oblIyious
to his lese.maiestie. pointing at a
black cloud rolling over the top OF the
range. eth be cloudburst sure.
Well have to git out o. here an in
hurry too. oh. Mrs. Maitland"
By this time Klrkby was on his
feet, the storm had stolen upon him
sleeping and unaware. The conhgura.
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. Kfrkby 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.
We'll have to run for our lives,
ma'am," he said briei1y. 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 a shot In the direction OF the. i'm
provlsed 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
same direction. Some of them would
go and some Of them would not. He
had his. hands full in an instant.
Meanwhile Ktrkby did not linger by
the side Of Mrs! Maitland. With in
credible agility for 80 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. 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
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 II she does break everything
below yere II 60. to hell on a run"
1t 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.
Is It possibie?" she exclaimed.
'Talnt only possible, it's sartin.
Now, ma'am." he hastily bundled up a
lot Of miscellaneous provisions In a
small piece Of canvass, tied It up and
handed 1t to her. "That'll be for you"
Immediately after he made up a much
larger bundle In another tent fly,
adding. "An' this is,'mine." :.
"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, cooiiy calculating
their chances. Best git yer slicker
on, you'll need It. In few minutes"
Mrs. Maitland ran to her own tent
and soon came out with sou'wester
and yellow oilsklns completely cover.
ing her. Kirkby meantime had don.
ned his own old battered. soiled rain
clothes and had grabbed up Pete's.- I,
II brought the children's coats
along" said Mrs. Maitland, extending
three others.
Good" said Kirkby. Nov we'll
take our packs an"
DO you think there Is any danger
to Roberto"
Hell git nothIn' worse n a wet
TIM" returned the old man confident.
tbn nam nj lnnttn pantn, n,a,N,1 :,