The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-07-03


els will let US. an l guess that's what
they'll have to do whether they want
to or not"
They rode on together for some dis
lance. the girl seemingly oblivious of
the dangers which surrounded her.
and Hooker watching carefully for ev-
cry sign Of difficulty.
What is there up here?' inquired
Bud. pointing at fainter trail that
led off toward the north. This coun-
try is new to me. Don't know, Ell?
Well, If we followed that trail we'd
run into them rebels. anyway. SO we
might as well go to the west. Is your
saddle all right? Well hit it up then
I'd like to strike road before
dark
They hurried en-, following a we'll
marked trail that alternately climbed
ridges and descended into arroyos,
until finally 1t dropped down into
precipitous canon where swollen
stream rushed and babbled and. while
they still watched expectantly for the
road, the evening quickly passed.
They had no opportunity for CONVEX
sation. for the trail was too narrow
to permit of their riding side by side.
Bud was thinking not only Of the dan
gers that surrounded them. but Of this
errand on which he was engaged, and
what the end of 1t meant to him.
First the slanting rays OF the sun
struck fire from the high yellow crags,
then the fire faded and the sky glowed
an opal-blue; then, through dark blues
and puppies the heavens turned to
black above them and all the stars
came out. Thousands of frogs made
the canyon resound with their throaty
songs and strange animals crashed
through the brush at their approach.
but still Hooker stayed in the saddle
and Gracia followed on behind.
If she had thought in her dreams of
an easier journey she made no COM
ment now and. outside of stopping to
cinch up her saddle, Bud seemed hard
ly to know she was there. The trail
was not going to suit hint edged
of too far to the southland yet, in the
tropical darkness, he could not search
out new ways to 60.
At each fork he paused to light
match, and whichever way the mule.
tracks went he went also, for pack
mules would take the main trail. For
two hours and more they followed on
down the stream and then Hooker
stopped his horse.
You might as we'll get down and
rest a WHILE" he said quietly. This
trail is no good-it's taking US south
Well let our horses feed until the
moon comes up and I'll try to worl
north by landmarks"
"Oh-are we lost?" gasped Gracia
dropping stifly to the ground. But o.
course we are" she added. I've beer
thinking 80 for some time.
"Oh, that's all right" observed
Hooker philosophically; Il don't MIND
being lost as long as I know whert
I'm at Well ride back until we ge
out OF this dark canyon and then IL
lay a line due north.
They sat for q time In the dark
ness while their horses champed a
the rich grass and then. unable to keel
down her nerves, Gracia declared for
start A vision Of angry pursuers ros'
up in her mind-of Manuel del Re!
and his keen-eyed rurales, hot upol
their trail-and It would not let he
rest.
Nor was the vision entirely the re
suit Of nervous Imagination. for the.
had lost half the advantage Of thei
start, as Hooker we'll knew. and II b.
made one more false move he woult
find himself called on to fight. Al
they rode back through the blacl
canyon he asked himself for the hun
dredth time how 1t had all happenet
why, at q single glance from hes
he had gone against his better jude
ment and plunged himself into thi
tangle. And then, finally. what wa
he going to do about It?
But he knew what he was going Il
do about 1t. He knew he was goin,
to take this girl through to Gadsde1
and to Phil. and his loyalty was sucl
that he would not admit, even to him
self. that Phil did not deserve her.
Alone, he would have taken to tn
mountains with a fine disregard TO
trails, turning into whichever serve
his purpose best and following tn
lay of the land. Even with her in hi
care 1t would be best to do that YET
for there would be trailers on thei
track at sunup, and it was either rid
or fight.
Free at last from the pent-in canyon
they halted at the forks, while Blu
looked out the land by moonlight. Dir
and ghostly, the square-topped peak
; and buttes rose all about him. hug