The Washington herald., 1915-07-18
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Intend TO go into the Hills ana give
the Indian any chance to ambush him.
Besides, he reasoned. with the optim-
ism Of youth. that the particular In
dian who had sworn to kill him could
not figure on his coming. and SO
would not be on the watch for him.
The road led over almost level
country to the base Of the mountains.
but when Will reached it he found
that all the fuel convenient to hand
had been gathered. He must penetrate
tance to find a dead tree and drag it
down piece-meal to his wagon. After
some hesitation, the boy tied the
horse. made sure that his rifle was
in order. and. carrying it ready for
instant use. started inte the woods.
He had not yet found the dead
tree he was looking for when a deer
leaped up before. him and bounded
away. but running as II wounded.
Then Will Hammond did just what
any other full-blooded boy or man
would probably have done in his
place. They were short of meat down
at the cabin. and If he could add a
hundred pounds of venison to his load
of fuel IT would be a thing TO boast of.
So away he went after the deer. and
In a few minutes had traversed dis
tance Of half a mile. He was still
going. and was just passing a big
bowlder, when a bullet struck it and
threw dust in his face. That bullet
was meant for him! The Indian who
had threatened vengeance was on his
trail. and had cut OF his retreat by
the way he had come. The boy hastily
sought shelter behind the bowlder and
began rapidly. yet coolly. to think
what he should do.
Will, with the impetuousness of
youth. started of at a hot pace: and
another bullet whizzed past within a
foot of his head as he left the rock
behind him.
As he sped along. and he began to
look shorply about for a place where.
in comparative safety. he could drop
down and fre on the red man as he
found himself on the bank of a deep
gorge with a creek far down at its
bottom. A hundred feet to the right
was a bridge of a single tree that had
fallen. Its roots rested on one side.
its top on the other of the gorge.
span of 1fty-five feet. as actual meas
urement. made long time after. ac-
tually proved. Instantly the thought
flashed into the boys mind that if
he could get on the other side he
could work back to his horse, and
also go into ambush among the powders
and have a shot at his pursuer.
A man or a boy will do things in
the heat of peril that he would draw
back from with a shudder in cooler
moments Will Hammond made
straight for that bridge without a
seconds pause. He did not notice, as
he ran across, the excitement Of the
moment helping him to maintain al
most perfect balance on the slender
foothold. that the tree must have
fallen years before. that the moss and
toadstools were growing thick upon
it. But he heard A shot whiz uncom-
fortably by his head as he reached
the further side. This was followed
by a whoop. Will hastily dropped down
on firm ground for a shot at his pur-
suer.
peared in the open on the opposite
bank. His desire for revenge must
have blinded him, or else he under
rated the ability of his quarry to pro-
tect himself, for he must have known
that the boy had a rife and that a
bullet fired at that short distance by
any one possessing even fair marks
manship. could not miss: yet the In
dian stood for a moment on the side
of the gorge and hurled taunts and
threats across II at the concealed boy.
He would have the white boys scalp:
he would burn him alive: he would
kill the mother.
Will Hammond lay well sheltered
and took careful aim at his foe. but
he did not press the trigger The
killing of a human being. even II he
is seeking to Kill you. is something
to hesitate over The boy kept whis
pering to himself: Now hre' Nc-'
Now" But he did not-could not
fire.
Right there under his eyes. the In
dian inspected the log and finally
sprang upon 1t to make his way
across.
Fire, Fire. Fire" the boys brain
comma nded but his finger did not
press the trigger
The next moment Will saw. with
start. that the tire, was sagEins dan
rerously under the Indians weight
Then came an ominous crack. and a
great toadstool fell down into the
depths AS the Indian reached the
center Of the bridge II saEged still
further. and the crack that ensued
sounded like the report Of a rife. The
Indian stood stock still. but II was
plain that the bridge was giving a
little every instant Suddenly he
seemed TO realize that there was no
going ahead-no going back. He let
,is rifle fall to lesson the weight on
log. but that action had come too
re.
In his horror Of xne fate that was
st closing in upon his enemy. VIII
Sc up to view and looked the In
an full in the eyes. The savage
-yed the lad stolidly.
white boy. shoot me-" he said. in
a quiet voice.
Will shook his head. The next in
slant, with a noise that rang through
the forest. the tree parted. and IL and
the red man went down to the cruel
rocks below. the Indian with arms
folded and without cry on his lips
As for VIII Hammond. his legs re-
fused longer to support him. and as he
half fell. half sat down by the side
Of the gorge, his eyes were full Of
tears and his chin quvering.
(Copright by the Associated Liteslry P.esaI