Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-10-30

N4HJtA3ms ASAes ~ hAA1Ah n s&A4A4t0
Continued from last week
Gracia slept, the heavy-neaded Bud
watched the plain from the heights
above.
As he watched he dreamed Of q
home In which this woman now sleep
ing beside him was the queen. He
dreamed OF years to come with I'M
bounded happiness throughout all Of
them Thoughts of Phil and duty to
his pardner were far away. Nothing
on the plain below served to distract
him from this dream OF happiness
As FAR as he could see there was
nothing that savored Of danger for
the woman in his keeping. There
were no sounds or signs OF either
federal or revolutionary troops, from
both Of which they were fleeing, and
from both of which he must guard
her. Again they were in a world that
was all their own, an Eden with but
one man and n woman.
For an hour and more he watched
and dreamed, and with the dreams
came the desire for sleep, the cry 81
nature for rest. Gracia stirred, then
spoke softly to him, calling him by
name. and her voice wal as music
far away.
When she awoke and found him nod
ding Gracia insisted upon taking his
place. Now that she had been re-
freshed her dark eyes were bright and
sparkling, but Bud could hardly see
The long watching by night and by day
had left his eyes bloodshot and swol-
len, with lids that dropped In spite of
him. If he did not sleep now he
might doze in the saddle later, or ride
blindly into some rebel camp; 30 he
made her promise to call him and lay
down to rest until dark.
The stars were all out when he
awoke, startled by her hand on his
hair, but she treasured him with a
word and led him up the hill to their
lookout It was then that he under
stood her Silence. In the brief hours
during which he had slept the de-
serted country seemed suddenly to
have come to life.
BY daylight there had been nothing
to suggest the presence OF men.
But now as the velvet night set
tied down upon the land 1t brought
out the glimmering specks OF q hun
dred camp-flres to the east ano to the
north. But the fires to which Gracia
pointed we're set fairly in their trail,
- L~~ h.-~oa &ho $40 ~ GadaAou
'Looki. she said. Il did not want
to wake you, but the fires have sprung
mp everywhere. These last ones are
right in the pass"
When did you see them7" asked
Hooker, his head still heavy with
sleep. Have they been there long?"
mo; only a few minutes" she an
Bwered. "At shutdown ! saw those over
to the east-they are along the base
of that big black mountain-but these
flashed up just now; and see. there
are more. and more!"
Some outfit coming in from the
north" said Bud. They've crossed
over the pass and camped at the first
water this side"
who do you think they are?" asked
Gracia in an awed voice. 'Insurrec
tos?"
Like as not" muttered Bud. gazing
from encampment to encampment
But whoever they are" he added.
they're NO friends OF ours. We've got
70 go around them Efsa 500
sAuA a. ura naus& - ,u.ra.@oA H.
ella.
II reckon well have to go through,
them" answered Hooker grimly. We
don't want to get caught here In the
morning.
ride right through their camp,-.
gasped CraciA.
Let the sentries get to Sleep" he
went on, half to himself. Then, Just
before the o comes up, we'll try 70
edge around them. and If 1t comes to
q showdown, wen ride for it! Are
you gamer
He turned to read the answer, and
she drew herself up proudly.
Try mel" abe challenged, drawing
nearer to him in the darkness. And 50
they stood. side by side. while their
hands clasped in promise. Then, az
the night grew darker and no new
fires appeared, Hooker saddled up the
welHfed horses and they picked thst1
way down to the trail
The first fires were tar ahead, bui
they proceeded at . walk, their horses
feet falling silently upon the ncddnn
ground Not a word was spoken snd
they halted often to listen, for others
too might be abroad. The distsxd
1ires were dying now, except q few
where men rose to feed them.
The braying Of burros came IN from
the fats to the right and as the fug4
tives drew near the first encampment
they could hear the voices Of the ntgtd
guards as they rode about the horse