Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1913-03-14
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one side. -
I'll take it out of him before morn
ing" was the reply. Come on howl
easy now-easy! How about the ra-
lions. captain?"
Carter will have them for YOU at
the gate of the stockade. Do you know
the trail?p :
wen enough to follow-yes.''
Mcdonald was waiting with Carter
ana the dim CLEAN of the lantern re-
vealed his face.
Remember, sergeant, you are to
make her turn back if you can. Tell
her wish her to do so--yes, this let.
ter will explain everything, but she
is a pretty high-spirited girl, and NAV
take the bit in her teeth-im imagine
she'd rather be here with me. and
al that. If she does suppose you'll
have to let her have her own way
the Lord knows her mother always
did. Anyhow you'll stay with her till
she's SAFE
I sure will" returned the sergeant,
gathering up his reins. "'Good-hy to
YOU"
"Good-by and good luck and Nc
Donald put out his hand, which the
other took hesitatingly. The next in
slant he was in the saddle, and with a
wild leap the startled mustang round
ed the edge Of the bluff, flying into
the night.
All had occurred so quickly that
Hamlin's mind had not yet fully ad-
justed itself to all the details. He
was naturally man of few words, de-
Gliding on course of action quietly,
yet not apt to deviate from any con-
clusion finally reached But he had
been hurried, pressed into this adj
venture, and now welcomed an op-
portunity to think it all out coolly.
At first, for a half mile or more,
the plunging buckskin kept him busy,
bucking viciously, rearing, leaping
madly from side to side, practising
every known equine trick to dislodge
the grim rider in the saddle. The man
fought out the battle silently, immov
able as rock, and apparently as in
041ACl CAI. j VI NV AAiS 0P0AO bAOAeoAAS
blood, and once he struck the rearing
head with clenched fist. The light of
the stars revealed the faint lines of
the trail, and he was content to per-
nit the maddened brute to race for
ward. until, finally mastered, the anil
NAL settled down into swift gallop,
but with ears laid back in ugly def
ance. The riders gray eyes smiled
pleasantly as he settled more COM
fortab1y into the saddle, peering out
from beneath the stiff brim Of his
scouting hat; then they hardened, and
the man swore softly under his
breath.
The peculiar nature of this mission
which he had taken upon himself had
been recalled. He was always doing
something like that-permitting him.
self to become involved in the affairs
Of others. Now why should he be
here, riding alone through the dark
to prevent this unknown girl from
reaching Devere? She was nothing
to him-even that glimpse of her
nictured face had not impressed him
greatly; rather interesting, to be
sure. but nothing extraordinary; be-
sides he was not woman's man, and,
through years of isolation, he had
grown to avoid contact with the sex
and he was under no possible obllga-
ton to either Mcdonald or Travers.
Vet here he was, fully committed,
drawn into the vortex, by a hasty i'll
considered decision Ie was tired still
from his swift journey across Inc
desert from Fort Union, and now
faced another three days ride. Then
what? A headstrong girl to be con-
WINGED of danger, and controlled. Inc
longer he thought about it all, the
more intensely disagreeable the task
appeared yet the clearer did ne ap-
preciate it's necessity. He chafed at
the knowledge that it had become MS
work-that he had permitted himself
to be ensnared-yet he dug his spurs
into the mustang and rode steadily'
grimly, forward.
The real truth was that Hamhn
comurehended much more fully imam
did the men at Devere the danger
menacing travellers along the main
trail to Santa Fe. News reached Fort
Union much quicker than it did that
ISOLATED post up on the Cimarron. he
knew of the fight in Ration Pass, and
that Two stages within ten days nad
been attacked, one several mics east
Of Bent's Fort This must mean tnat
= desperate party of raiders had sue
ceeded in slipping past those scat
tered army details scouting into the
northwest. Whether or not these
warriors we're In any considerable