Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-11-09
Copyright, 1918, by Doubleday, Page G. Co.

dim moonlight. "Want to get after
them?' he inquired.
"You bet" said Buck emphatically.
'They may have McNally, and if they
haven't they've got our horses"
'There's six of u.s., and we can shore
make it interesting for that lot" agreed
1ank. Can we get to where they
are?"
Il think So" said Bagsby.
We rode for another hour, slanting
down the mountain side toward the
pickering fire. Every time a horse roll
ed a rock or broke a dried branch it
seemed to me that the mountains re-
verberatcd from end to end. I don't
believe allowed myself to weigh over
six ounces all told. Finally we left
the slope for the bottom of the valley.
I'D rather be below their camp than
above it. It's going to be hard to get
out this way" complained Bagsby,
"but it's the best we can do" He dis
mounted us, and we crept forward an
other half mile, leading u animals.
""This is as close as 1 dare take the
hosses," whispered Bagsby. "Vasquez,
you stay here with them," he said in
Spanish, "and when 1 yell twice quick
and sharp you answer, SO We'll know
where to find you. Come on"
We raised our pieces. but before the
command to fire was given one Of
the sleepers threw aside his blanket,
stretched himself and arose. 1t was a
white man!
1 confess that for Il moment 1 turned
physically sick.
'Hello!' called Bagsby. quite I'M
moved.
The white man seized his rifle, and
the recumbent forms leaped to life.
"Who are you?" he demanded sharp
ly. "Speak quick!'
"Keep yore ha'r on" drawled the
trapper, advancing into the light.
We're perfectly respectable miners,
OF looking for a lost man, and we saw
yore fire"
The rest Of us uttered q yell of joy
and relief. One Of the men who had
been sleeping around the fire was Nc
Nally himself.
We drew together, explaining, con
graduating. The strangers. six in
number, turned out to be travellers from
the eastern side Of the ranges. They
listened with interest and attention to
u account of the Indian attack. Nc
Nally explained that he had been un-
certain Of his route In the dark, SO that
when he caught sight Of the fire he
had made his way to it. We were still
engaged in this mutual explanation
when we were struck dumb by a long
drawn out yell from the direction of
our own horses.
1T is NasqueZ," explained Barry.
Gle wants to let is know where he
is" And he answered the yell.
But at that moment one Of our own
horses dashed up to the bunch of pick
eted animals and wheeled. trembling.
Its rope bride danglcd broken from it's
head. Sam Bagsby dartcd forward to
seize the hanging cord.
ITS cut!"' he cried. Quick! Out
across the valley, boys"
We followed him into the moonlight,
SfaSplnS u rlueS. A later u
compact band swept toward us at full
speed, u horses in the lead, their
rope halters dangling, a dozen Indians
on horseback following close at their
heels and urging them on.
"Shoot, boys!' yelled Bagsby, dis
charging his W piece.
Our rifles cracked. 1t was impossi-
BILE to take aim, and I am sure we hit
nothing. But the horses swerved aside
from the long fiery flashes, and so ran
into the picketed lot and stopped. The
Indians flew on through our scattered
line without stopping, pursued by a
| sputter of shots from our Colts re-
vOlverS.
awhile ago 1 was sorry we had to
stop above camp" said Bagsby, with
| satisfaction, "but it was a lucky thing
for us. They had to come by us to
git out"
"And Vasquez?" Yank struck across
| our exultatiOn.