The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-08-14

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edge around them, and II it comes to
a showdown. Wen ride for It. Arr
you gamer"
! He turned to read the answer, and
she drew herself up proudly.
Try mel" she challenged, drawing
nearer to him In the darkness. And so
I they stood, side by side, while their
hands clasped In promise. Then. as
/ the night grew darker and no new
/ fires appeared, Hooker saddled up the
well-fed horses and they picked their
way down to the trail
! The first fires were far ahead, but
they proceeded at walk their horses
feet falling silently upon the sodden
ground. Not word was spoken and
they halted often to listen, for others,
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 fats to the right and as the fugi-
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 impatient
ly, the watch-fires 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 II need
be.
It 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 snuff1ng the Mex
lean faint, 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 the sad
die, when suddenly the watchful Cop
per Bottom jumped and q 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. Il am going to the pass"
And as the sentry stared stupidity after
him he rode on through the bushes.
neither hurrying nor hating 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"
mo, l flattened myself on my pony"
answered Gracia with laugh. He
thought you we're leading a pack
horse"
Good" chuckled Hooker; you did
fine! Now. don't say another word
because they'll notice woman's voice
and If we don't run into some more
Of them wen 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
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 it 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 deflles 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 a panic |
The Mexican paisanos count them
selves late II they do not take the trail |
at sunup-what II they should meet
some struggling party before they
reached the pass?
Bud jumped Copper Bottom up
series Of cat steps; Gracia's roam came
scrambling behind; and then, just as
the boxed walls ended and they gained |
a level spot. they suddenly found them
selves in the midst of camp of Mex
saddles. packs. and rifles.
all scattered at their feet
'Buenos dias!" saluted Bud, as the
men rose I'D from their