The Elbert County tribune., 1914-11-06

fires 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 fugi-
tfves drew near the hrst encampment
they could hear the voices OF the night
guards as they rode about the horse
herd. Then. as they waited impatient
ly. the watch-fres died down, the
guards no longer sang their high fal-
setto. and even the burros were still.
This was their opportunity. II they
were TO get through that line of sleep
ing men 1t must be done by stealth.
Should they be discovered It would
mean one man against an army to
protect the woman, and the odds. great
as they were. must be taken If need
be-
1t was approaching the hour of mid
night. and as their horses twitched res
lively at the bits they gave them the
rein and rode ahead at venture.
At their left the last embers of the
fires revealed the sleeping forms OF
men; to their right, somewhere In the
darkness, was the night herd and the
herders. They lay low on their horses
necks. not to cast silhouette against
the sky, and let Copper Bottom pick
the trail.
With ears that pricked and swiveled..
and delicate nostrils snuffing the Mex
lean taint, he plodded along through
the greasewood. divining by some in
stinct his masters need of care. The
camp was almost behind them. and
Bud had Strengthened up in ahe sad
die. when suddenly the watchful Cop
per Bottom jumped and man rose UP
from the ground.
who goes there?" he mumbled,
swaying sleepily above his gun, and
Hooker refined his horse away before
he gave him an answer.
None of your business" he growled
impa.iently. 81 am going to the pass"
And as the sentry stared stupidity after
him he rode on through the bushes,
neither hurrying nor halting until he
gained the trail
Good luckl" he observed to Gracja,
when the camp was far behind. "He
took me for an officer and never saw
you at ALL"
mo. flattened myself on my pony"
answered Gracia with a laugh. He
thought you were leading pack
horse"
Good" chuckled Hooker; you did
fine! Now, don't say another word
because they'll notice woman's voice
and II we don't run into some more
of them we'll soon be climbing the
pass"
They had passed through some per-
ilous moments, but Gracia had hardly
realized the danger because of the as
surance of Hooker, who was careful
not to frighten her unnecessarily. But
1t was an assurance which he had not
felt himself. and he was not yet GER
tain of their safety.
The waning moon came out as they
left the wide valley behind them, and
then 1t disappeared again as they rode
into the gloomy shadows. of the can
yon. For an hour or two they plodded
slowly upward, passing through mar
row defiles and into moonlit spaces,
and still they did not mount the sum-
nit
In the east the dawn began to break
and they spurred on in almost panic.
The Mexican paisanos count them
selves late II they do not take the trail
at sunup-what If they should meet
some struggling party before they
reached the passf
Bud jumped Copper Bottom up a
series of cat steps: Gracia's roam came
scrambling behind; and then, just as
the boxed walls ended and they gained
level spot, they suddenly found them
selves In the midst OF camp of Mex
icans-men, saddles. packs, and rifles,
all scattered at their feet.
"Buenos dias!" saluted Bud, as the
blinking men rose up from their
blankets. Excuse me. amigos, / am
In hurry!"
"A donde va? A donde var" chal-
lenged bearded man as he sprang up
from his brush shelter.
ITO the pass. senor." answered Hook
er. still politely. but motioning for
Gracia to ride on ahead. "Adios!"
who is that mani" beloved the
bearded leader. turning furiously upon
his followers. Where Is my senti-
mel? Stop him!"
But 1t was too late to stop him. Bud
laid his quirt across the rump of the
roam and spurred forward in dash for
cover. They whisked around the point
of a hill as the first scattered shots
rang out; and. as frightened sentinel
jumped up In their path Bud rode him
down. The man dropped his gun to
escape the fury of the charge and in
mad clatter they flung themselves
at rock-slde and scrambled to the
bench above. The path was rocky.
but they pressed forward at gallop
until. as the sun came up. they beheld
the summit of the pass.
I'VE winin cried Bud as he sn,lrrad