Mexico Missouri message., 1914-10-29

AANg blAbl W llHltIt lOI
too. might be abroad. The distant
fires were dying now, except few
where men rose to feed them
The braying OF burros came in from
the flats TO the right and as the fugl-
tives drew near the first encampment
they could hear the voices Of the night
guards as they rode about the horse
herd. Then, as they waited inpatient
ly. the watch-fres died down, the
guards no longer sang their high fall
setto, and even the burros were STILL
This was their opportunity. If they
were to get through that line Of sleep
ing men It must be done by stealth.
Should they be discovered II 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 a 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 a silhouette against
the sky. and let Copper Bottom pick
the trail.
With ears that pricked and swiveled,
and delicate nostrls snuGing the Mex.
lean faint, he ploddcd 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 the 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
impatiently. 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 luck!" he observed to Gracia,
when the camp was far behind. He
took me for an officer and never saw
you at all"
No, fattened myself on my pony"
answered Gracia with a laugh. He
thought you were leading a pack.
horse"
Good" chuckled Hooker; you did
finel Now, don't say another word
because they'll notice a woman's voice
and II we don't run into some more
OF them Wen soon be climbing the
pass"
They had passed through some per.
llous moments. but Gracia had hardly
realized the danger because of the as
surance of Hooker. who was careful |
not to brighten her unnecessarily. But |
It 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 sunup7-what II they should meet
some struggling party before they
reached the pass?
Bud jumped Copper Bottom up a
series of cat steps; Gracias roam came
behind; and then. lust as
the boxed walls ended and they gained
A level spot, they suddenly found them.
selves in the midst Of a camp of Mex.
saddles, packs. and rifles.
an scattered at their feet.
"Buenos dias!" saluted Bud. as the
men rose up from their
blankets. Excuse me, amigos, I am
In a hurry"
"A donde va? A donde var" chal-
lenged bearded man as he sprang up
from his brush shelter.
ITO the pass, senior" answered Hook. |
er, still politely, but mouoning for
Gracia TO ride on ahead. "Adios!"
Who Is that man." 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
rcan and spurred forward in a dash for
cover. They whisked around the point
Of a hill as the first scattered shots
rang out; and, as a 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
a mad clatter they flung themselves
at rock-slide and scrambled to the
bench above. The path was rocky. |
but they pressed forward at a gallon
until, as the sun came up, they beheld |
the summit of the pass.