The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1913-09-25

Steve stood among the will
lows by the ford, and his eye
roved over the merciless cliff
of the canyon like those of trappe'
animal.
As he gazed down at the waite
purling past under the last slam
rays of the sun he seemed to see
rugged face smiling up at him will
hn expression Of comradeship which
made his dark heart thrill, as t.
|chords of music. When he looked
away it was only to have another
pair of eyes gazing at him some
where within himself-Madonna eyes
wide and sweet, with that look Of
pity-and horror, too.
And then-night was coming on
and vague shadows formed mistily
in front Of his eyes-phantasmagoria
of bars and clanking corridors, and
dim windows. Another scene follow
ed swiftly; vision of himself with
bandaged eyes, face to the white
glare of a pitiless wall; the crash
of the Mexican volley and himself
crumple at his own feet.
The wind brought the bay of the
hounds down to him from the upper
reaches of the canyon. His horse lay
dead back there somewhere; and he
knew he was cut off below by not one
but several posses. He had climbed
painfully some distance up the sheer
sides of the gorge and had seen them
toiling along the rugged lower trails.
The outlaw looked down at his feet
His boots were worn through, and a
sharp stone had gashed his left foot.
The leather was smeared with his
blood, and he left tinges of it on the
rocks as he walked. He laughed again
scornfully, and limped through the
icy waters of the ford to the other
bank, where he paused to take
drink, at length on his stomach.
"Might as well die a prohibitionist
as an alkali desert" ne unused with
grim humor, and sat down to
wait, the rifle over his knees. The
baying drew nearer; an eery sound in
the dusk, with it's demoniac jangle
from the cliffs. The multitudinous
echoes might be the shrill voices of
spirits who had passed from earth
thousands of years ago; for this is
me of the oldest corners of the world
he land of the cliff dwellers.
But Black Steve sat there with his
black eyes focused on the trail, his
,ars atune to the nearing clamor of
he bloodhounds. The ancients meant
lothing to him. He had neither eaten
Tor slept for 4S hours, and his face
vas haggard with suffering.
A dog came baying to the other
lie of the stream and stopped,
retking into chorus of yelps. Steve
rot stiffly to his feet, the action
how lg his WEAKNESS and indiffer-
nee. Three more of the dim, sinis-
err shi res joined the first and gazed
cross he stream at him with an
intent. g eenish flare in their eyes,
Ike evil oirits in clamor. The bes-
ial racket might well be pandemo-
ium; but tie man stood there coolly,
nth watchfu, eyes. Even when the
lood lust seized upon them and they
lunged toward him, he did not shift
is attention from the trail For he
iust get them all; and the leash dog
yas back along trail
When the brutes emerged, dripping
nd sprang for his throat with slav-
ring jaws the man awoke. He dash
d the stock of his rifle against the
kull of one after another and they
led there together, as brave as they
ERE cruel. The one they called Car
len buried her fangs in the mans
raggled boots; and then she died,
DO, without a whimper.
He waited, the bodies still warm
bout his feet. The clink of steel on
tone fell on his ears from up the
rail and sang in his blood like a
king war song. To the death! He
topped into the darkening willows