The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-03-09
CHAPTER xviii.
Eirea Within Fire.

great black horse carried into the
mystery of the shrouded country
Hatred was like a wall between them
and Poppy's fingers, clinging perforce
t to Siletz' shirt, twitched with desire
How short a distance to the packet in
the bagging blouse!
SO they rode with smarting eyes
and aching lungs. down into a dim val
ley and up again. between fires. under
ing out Black Bolt, a shining beauty.
eager for the turf.
I'm going too" painted Poppy,
reaching for a bride that hung behind
the bay.
Siletz had always ridden bareback,
but now, why she did not know, she
took down Sandry's saddle and slung
1t on Black Bolt. Poppy followed her
movements, and by the time Siletz had
put foot in stirrup and swung up, sho
had caught up her wide skirt and
mounted. Siletg flared around at her
ana her eyes were beginning to
sparkle in q face pale with rage.
Without a word they galloped up
"N'SSo nv iOllCoOLlc valley anu IOOh
to what had once been q trail In the
nodding ferns. Now il was but a
slight depression running amid the
~blackened trunks, the endless heaps
OF ashes. Poppy Ordway followed 81
letz, on a chance, a dare, a mere haz-
ard. She did not know the danger, the
menace OF the hills.
She was saying to herself after her
enticing habit of self-communion:
III have my precious packet soon.
know ! shall. The gods are with
me. feel IT,"
Once Siletz turned upon her.
Go back" she cried fiercely, some
thing is about TO happen"
You're right" said Poppy, and for
once the hardness of her nature
showed like a rock under wave in
eyes and voice and manner, and III
be In at the happening"
They spoke no more. Siletz checked
Black Bolt in another mile, rose in her
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 Siletz
basin. Somewhere In their Businesses
reared the mighty spine OF the Hog
Back with It's secret trail. And some
where up behind the Hog Back was
Sandry. Calm a she was by nature,
Siletz shuddered as she looked upon
the world OF flame and smoke. To
pnnnU nrIy,p, Jr,o "
Ing and its might, it was a splendid
spectacle.
Siletz plunged down the ridge on the
other side and the woman followed.
The shadows Of the smoke-hlled val
ley grew into an uucanny twilight. The
fine, light ashes made slippery going
and more than once 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 deep
thought when a scream from the wom-
an behind drew her up with a start.
h turned just in time to see the big
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, d~ismounting,
ran, no to the woman but down the
slope after the horse. She found him
prone and grooming In a little trench,
his right foreleg doubled back, the
white bone piercing the earth.
Poppy Ordway peered fearfully
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 craven "Sandry" from
Poppy Ordway's lips that night at the
pump, and as the woman had obeyed
then, 80 she obeyed now.
Siletz rose, reaching in the blouse
OF her shirt. and brought put a gun.
Poppy Ordway shrank back, white as
chalk.
What do you mean?" she cried
shrilly, what are you going to dot"
Horror widened her blue eyes gro
.tesquely.
Il 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 repor: that did
not echo in the fre-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 q swift revulsion she flung the
weapon far down the mountain.
She started to mount without q
glance at the woman when the other
spoke.
What am I TO dor"
do? I don't care what you do. Go
home. And / hope you never reach
there!"