Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-12-17

"a a CDdGk
but now, why she did not know. sba
took down Sandry's saddle and sluns
it on Black Bolt. Poppy followed her
movements, and by the time SIletz has
put foot in stirrup and swung I'D. sbo
had caught up her wide skirt ana
mounted. Siletz flared around at ha,
and her eyes were beginning tn
sparkle in a face pale with rage.
Without a word they galloped I'M
across the lonesome valley and toni
to what had once been a trail in the
nodding ferns. Now it was but a
slight depression running amid thu
blackened trunks, the endless heans
of ashes. Poppy Ordway followed ST.
letz, on a chance, a dare, a mere haz.
ard. She did not know the danger, tia
menace of the hills.
b was saying to herself after her
enticing habit of self-communion:
"I1l have my precious packet soon.
I know l shall. The gods are with
me. l feel it."
Once Siletz turned upon her.
go backl" she cried f1ercely, soma
thing is about to happen"
You're right" said Poppy, and for
once the hardness of her nature
showed like a rock under waves in
eyes and voice and manner, land IN
be in at the happening"
They spoke no more. Siletz checked
Black Bolt in another mile, rose in br
stirrups and looked over the appalling
spectacle before them. Over and be.
yond lay the tumbled hills, thick with
heavy timber, that ran into the Silets
basin. Somewhere in their Businesses
reared the mighty spine of the Hog
Back with its secret trail. And some
where up behind the Hog Back was
Sandry. Calm as she was by nature
Siletz shuddered as she looked upon
the world of flame and smoke. To
Poppy Ordway, ignorant of its mean,
ing and its might, it was a splendid
spectacle.
Siletz plunged down the ridge on thu
other side and the woman followed
The shadows of the smoke-illed val.
ley grew into an uncanny twilight. The
fine, light ashes made slippery going
and more than one Black Bolt slipped,
to catch his footing, catlike. They
rode ahead and entered the fire belt
itself. The dusk grew denser. The
heat lay like a tangible blanket in the
hollows and dips. Siletz urged Black
Bolt. Something was calling out Of
the gray dimness-chilling her heart,
hurrying her progress.
She had ridden for a time in deem
thought when a scream from the won.
an behind drew her UP with a start.
She turned just in time to see the biz
bay fall and go tumbling down the
mountain. With his first lurch he had
flung his rider out of the saddle and
into a pile of ashes. 1t was true to
her nature that the girl, %dismounting,
ran, not to the woman but down the
slope after the horse. She found him
prone and groaning In a little trench,
his right foreleg doubled back, the
white bone piercing the earth.
Poppy Ordway peered fearfllly
down, her trembling hands gathering
her ~dust-covered skirts.
Come here!" Siletz cried, com.
handing; come here!"
1t was the same voice, whimpering
with primitive rage, that had com
PEELED that ave "Sandry" from
Poppy Ordway's lips that night at the
pump, and as the woman had obeyed
then, so she obeyed now.
Siletz rose, reaching in the blouse
of her shirt, and brought out a gun.
Poppy Ordway shrank back, white as
chalk.
What do you mean?" she cried
shrilly, what r you going to dor
Horror widened her blue eyes gro
~tesquely.
II never shot a living thing in my
life," said Siletz solemnly, "but I've
got to kill him. And you stand by to
watch-it's your work"
There was a sharp report that did
not echo in the fire-deadened hills, and
the good horse closed his eyes in sud
den peace. Siletz turned away to
where Black Bolt looked on with won.
der, Coosnah %crouching beside him.
In a swift revulsion she flung the
weapon far down the mountain.
She started to mount without a
glance at the woman when the other
spoke.
what am l to do?"
do? I don't care what you do. Go
home. And l hope you never reach
therei"
my God!" cried Poppy Ordway
don't leave me like this! And look!
Look there!"
All along the valley by which they
had come a long, swift drift of smoke
was rolling, sent out like a current
from some newly fired c~ross-canyol
It's low-lying pail formed a bewilder'
ing mystery to anyone a W a native
of the hills. A woman on foot would
navor roanh camD through ita h1tnding