The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1915-12-16
CHAPTER 1.
Out of the Vine Naples.


her chin. on the fat top OF a fl
stump. Beside her lay Coosnah, heay!
muzZle on huge paws. his eyes as pale
as the girls were dark. They were
hill-bred both. Perhaps that account
ed for the delight both found in the
solitude of this aerie, where they
could look down toward the west or
the feathery, green sea OF close-packec
pine and fr. Of spruce and hemlock-
and toward the east on the narrow
strip of tide-water slough and the un
painted shacks Of the lumber camp
huddled above its rollway. 1t was
the magnificent timber country Of the
great Northwest.
Siletz was wondering, as she always
did, how far the mountains ran to the
south. how far IL was to that Frisco
Of which she had heard so much from
the tramp loggers who came and went
with the seasons, their turkeys" on
their backs and the joyous liberty OF
the irresponsible forever tugging at
their eccentric souls.
Over the facing ridge she knew
that the cold Pacific roared and
coaxed IN the ships. to play with them
In the hell OF Vancouver coast. She
could hear ii sometimes when the
pines were still; yet she had never
seen II.
She had pictures OF it in her mind,
many pictures. She knew we'll how
It would look when she should see
it-a gray floor, a world Of it, shot
through with the reds and puppies Of
a tardy un. or the cities she had
no clear pictures. They were artificial,
man-made, therefore alien to her, who
knew only nature. though she had
listened inten:ly to from ev-
cry corner OF the globe; for Daily's
lumber camp had seen a queer lot.
II all resolved itself into these
dreams when she sat on the edge Of
a fir stump. or, better yet. in the ex-
allied cloud-high airiness of the very
apex OF the Hog Back.
There had been no sun, neither to-
day nor for many days; and yet there
was as surely prescience of approach
Ing night as II shadows forewarned.
Siletz had hoped for a break, one OF
those short pagsants when the SUI
should shoot for a moment into the
gloom. TRANSPORTING the world. Now.
as she scanned the west, the dog sud-
denly rose from beside her, peering
down with his huge head thrust for
ward, his pendulous ears swaying. A
hundred feet below in a tangle of vine
maple something was laboring. Pres
emily the slim trees parted and out
OF their tangle struggled a horse. q
magnificent black beast with faring
nostrils and full. excited eyes. After
every few steps II turned its head to
right or left with the instinct of the
breed TO zigzag. and as often
the man in the saddle pulled 1t sharp
ly back.
With the first sight Of the intruders
the girl On the high stump had sprung
up. leaning forward. a growing excite
ment In her face. II was the horse
that caused II. Something was stir
ring within her all suddenly and her
heart beat hard She gripped her
braids tight in both hands and swaL
lowed
"Blunderer." she said aloud. "oh.
the blunderer,"
Then she cupped her hands at her
lips and called down: Let him alone!
he knows how TO climb! Let him
alOnet"
The man looked up startled. and
frightened his grip on the rein. The
gallant animal went down upon it's
ssfs. rolling completely over. to lodge
sse< Downward. against a stone The
Ezs srsng stdewise out Of the saddle.
ssy7ng hinseif with a splendid quick.
nssG Beso-s he could gather him.
ssf Tor action the girl tore down upon
kk-a
What have you done?" she cried
Wildly. What have you done to IT."
Che dropped or her kaees and her
hands went f~utterfng over the black
head In a very passion Of pity. touch
ing the white star on the forehead.
smoothing the qnivering nostriis.
Why didn't you let him Climb his
own way? He knew-he's bunch
eraser. Nothing could go straight
up!"
She raised her eyes to him anc he
saw they we're burning behind a nlm
Of tears. He saw also what rave him
. strange feeling OF shock--a faint.
blue tracery extending from the left
corner OF her lips downward nearly
to the point Of the chin. a sharp,y
broken fragment OF a tattooed design.
Her eyes we're very dark and her halr
parted after the first fashion of won.
IN. was straight n very dark also.
tn accusing words irritated MIN
you're right" he said coldly. moth.
ing could-in such q country. Stani
hack. please.
sfletx Io0ked up at him and instinc.
lively rose 10 her feet. though [, !.
I'm BODY was alert with an uncon.
clous yeadiness for prevention Of
n tbs nm Only stepped to the
oesd- fSg1eened The rein ! BIZ
Heeurko1 Ucc1Eoolngly.
~ on66 sharpRy. ~up,