The Detroit times., 1913-05-14

+, olni8ter threat At parting hau h"s
sounded like an empty menace; yet
when a week elapsed they decided
that he had spoken rather for the
s half-breed than TO them.
..What can they do?" said Bushrod
contemptuously. I've been LOOKING
for them to take pot shots at some
of us. but after all that would be a
risky business.
Il wish" said Stephen, that we
might find another way into SAT-
Lake: | don't like this thing OF keep
ing on after them.
no" said Rogers slowly, as though
he were himself reluctantly abandon
ing some such idea. NO, our best
chance is TO keep on as we are golnS
until we strike the head waters OF the
Weber. But look here, Mr.. l-andray'
! didn't count on seeing the last oil
them so soon. DO you reckon they We
Matched some plan TO hold us up there
In the Valley"
SLOW could they" Stephen de-
manded. You mean you think they
may try to hold us for the murder,
he added.
Mr.. Landry, il want no murder,
said Rogers. deeply offended at his
unfortunate choice of words. Il
wouldn't ask 10 die no fairer than he
done"
Il didn't mean TO say that, Rogers,
said Stephen hastily.
mo, but you think Of it as that,
retorted Rogers bitterly.
There's no use of our quarreiing
about II. Rogers" said Stephen. You
settled with him i'm your own fash
ION
II never knowed of case said
Rogers modify. but I've heard OF a
white man being tried for killing a
redskin: and the one I shot was a
half-breed, and so some sort white
Just as he was some sort red.
IL hadn't thought OF that, said
Stephen.
WELL" observed Rogers. three or
four days now will bring us into the
valley. Mr. Landray, that's one red
skin I'm mighty sorry put out of
business; IL I'd been at the same pains
to stave OF the trouble was to fetch
Il to q head. or If Id sort Of nursed
II along until we got to the other side
Of this twowife country it might have
saved up heap of bother
Early the following morning Rogers
was reused by Stephen, and as ne
came to consciousness he felt Ste
phens hand on his shoulder.
Turn out. Rogers said Landray.
"One of the mules has broken its rope
and strayed."
The Californian crawled sleepily
from among his blankets.
What do you s:y--the mules"
1.-THE piebald's slipped her picket
rope"
Darn her pepper and salt hide any
how" said Rogers. now wide awake.
Il bet rope her tonight so she don't
get loose"
''She can't have gone far for she
was here when Bingham relieved me
three hours after midnight
II was then just dawn.
Where are the others?" asked Rog-
ers, glancing about.
They have gone down into the val
ley: suppose you take the back track
up the pass while get breakfast.
Will you rider"
mo, 1t amt likely she's strayed
far" .
He went back down the pass mar
rowly scanning the ground for the
trail of the straying animal. A walk
Of q mile brought him to point
where a small canyon led of from the
pass: high separating wedge-shaped
ridge lay between the two defiles, and
It occurred to him that il he climbed
to the summit OF this ridge he would
xvs<Ss nf he
40 well as OF the smaller canyon. He
made the ascent with some difficulty
and gaining the top of the ridge care
fully scanned the pass. down which
he could look for a mile or more;
then he turned and found that he was
overlooking a small valley. which but
for the canyon, would have been CON-
pletely enclosed by a low range or
hills, beyond which but at some dis
lance rose the grey tanks OF the
mountains.
He did not see the lost mule. but he
did see something that caused him an
exclamation OF surprise. Across the
valley, and just rising above the low
hill, what looked to be a small blue
cloud was ascending lazily in the
clear air. Ii was smoke: smoke from
some campfire, and the campfire
probably that of some rowing band OF
Indians
He went down the ridge matter
Of half mile, and entered a thick
browth of service berry, aspin, aud
willows: this was SO dense that he
no longer saw the hill opposite and
toward which he was bending his
steps. He worked his way we'll into
the thicket and had gained the center
Of the narrow bottom, when he sud
denly became aware that man or
Tome animal was crashing through the
bush ahead OF him which not only
covered the bottom but clothed the
base Of the hill as well. Man or
beast, the disturber of that solitude
was coming forward rapidly and ap-
berently with no attempt at conceal.
ncnt, for there was continual snap
ling of branches.
Rogers paused: he could see moth
6g though the sounds drew nearer
bach moment. He cautiously forced
lis way yet deeper into the thicket
lis gun cooked and swung forward
}eady for immediate use. Then sud
denly he came out upon an open piece
81 ground. and found himself looking
squarely into the face OF the smiling
Raymond. But the deserter was not
smiling now. With q startled cry ne
had swung up his rife and presented
~ muxxle at Rogers breast; yet
-euielf DE- he was, the Californian had
hen e0ual1v pr0mpt his long rife