The Detroit times., 1913-05-15

, Stephen and Rogers had watched
their movements closely and In
silence: now Landray turned to the
Californian: What does that mean?
he asked.
Rogers shook his head. He looked
at Stephen as II he expected him 10
say something more, but evidently no
suspicion had entered the latter's
mind: yet TO the Californian the dis
guise was so apparent that he won
dered at this. A few fiuttering
| blankets and q smear OF red dirt
would never have deceived him; the
silence they had maintained with
never a shout nor shot as they spur
red In pursuit OF the wagons, was
characteristic OF men who saw no
glory in mere murder though they
might be keenly DESTROYS OF the
profits IL could be made TO yield
What are they doing. Steve?'
Bushrod asked. stepping TO his broth
er's side.
They seem to be waiting"
9They act as though they had peck
eted us and could finish this business
In their own way and time, said
Bushrod. with troubled laugh.
II reckon that won't come any TOO
easy to their hands said Rogers
quietly.
Look here said 5usnrod, what do
you say to my banking up the earth
under the wagons"
Its an excellent idea; I'd do II,
said Stephen.
Come said Rogers. lets you ana
me take look around, Mr.. Landray.
reckon they're in no hurry to try
this hill; | wouldn't be II | was them
They crossed the barricade. and in
spected their surroundings. The top
Of the hill WAS perfectly fiat. and an
acre or more in extent; beyond this
level space the ground fell gently away
to the plain below.
Its right smart Of a place for a
fight" said Rogers, after brief
glance about.
Stephen nodded; he admitted 10
himself that with such an enemy the
spot had its own peculiar advantages;
he could believe that they might hold
II for an almost indefinite period. even
against much greater odds. His mem
DRY reverted to the glories of the
freshly fought fields OF Texas and
Mexico: Odds? What had odds
meant in the past to the men OF Amer
lea: and what were they still mean
ing on a thousand miles of lonely
frontier?
mountains, a fringe Of cottonwoods
and willows marked water course !;
there the heritage Of the plain was
q richer green. Stephen almost fan
cied he could see the water spark.
ling among the trees. then he remem'
bered that their own supply was
wholly exhausted. Rogers seemed to
understand what was passing in hia
mind; he touched him on the arm.
I'VE could never have made It, Mr..
Landray," he said regretfully. They'd
have cut us OF in the Open"
The horsemen who had ridden away
toward the west were now nearing
the cotton woods. Rogers turned from
regarding them to look at the forted
wagons.
"Your brother'll fix the camr
,snug enough. reckon after he gets
finished We can make II hot for the
redskin who thinks his road lays
across the top OF the hill"
You have told me of these fights;
what chance have we" asked Stephen
gravely.
mo twenty men that ever lived
can cross them wagon poles unless
we are willing they should"
But why should they attempt that
when they can keep US here on a
strain until our powder and lead Is
exhausted, or the need Of water forces
us to abandon the hill?"
81 reckon that1l be their game: but
see here. by the time our guns are ST.
lent we may have them pretty con-
siderably crippled up. needn't tell
you that twenty men In the open
against six with good cover like We
got, have their work ahead OF them"
Look" cried stephen, pointing
On the edge Of the cottonwoods
which they had just reached. the
horsemen were joined by a much
larger party which suddenly rode out
OF the timber.
I'VE reckoned EN- too quick and
too few aid Rogers simply,
There's forty or fifty OF the var
ments."