The Yale expositor., 1916-03-16

Daily's orders and fel. TO with a will.
beating out the surface flames. cutting
every sapling In sight. digging
trenches to head off any ground fires
that might be started.
But destiny was against the Lii.
lingworth. The wind-"unusual." 10
use that overworked word OF the re-
gion truly for once-grew steadily,
and despite the trained work, for ev-
cry man knew this business, IL rushed
the flames through the underground
faster than they could handle It.
( Daily. black with smoke and ashes.
was everywhere. Sandry chung at his
| heels, watching his methods. learn.
ing everything he could. listening,
| picking up, catching on with light
ming rapidity He knew himself to
be ignorant, and where he was the
head with his interest at stake he
must MAKE himself competent.
BY night Daily was grim and silent.
hoarse with shouting. and he stamped
into the porch, where the women
watched the flames that fared red
against the night in q hundred
! places on the vest ridge and up the
hills on both Stiles at tho cutting.
"Sletz, honey" he rasped, IN have TO
call on you agin. They's a new
one over the first shoulder toward
the East Belt-up in tn old cuttin'
Ride down 20 Toledo an tell 'em to
send tn town. Well need EN- all.
|
six to hunt tn devil behind this, an
IL / ketch him III kill him, damn
him!"
SOM" said Ma from the shadows
So Siletz and Black Bolt and Coos
nah Numbered down through the
darkness to save the Dillingworth.
and the heart in the girls breast was
throbbing with anxiety for Sandry-
black as Daily. and as rough looking
! lighting with his lesser strength.
Westerner at last by every sign.
By midnight the town was there
and Daily saw among the crowd Har-
ris, his old saw-tiler, young Anwor-
thy and several more of those who
had deserted to the god OF gold. They
/ kept sheepishly in the background
! but they were there for the common
| good that Daily had spoken of-they
would have answered a call from a
real enemy in such a crisis. for that
is the way Of the West
] Ma Daily, passing her interminable
tin cups of coffee-she had brought a
great iron kettle and boiled il over
fire on the ground-stopped before
Anworthy. the curly headed boy OF
whom she was very fond. with a hand
on his shoulder.
I'm mighty glad to see you, son. ="
she said kindly. and the young scape
/ goat had the grace to blush.
Destiny was against the billing
worth. The wind leaped and shout
ed up between the hills and by mid
night the flames suddenly leaped up
as il a restraint had been removed
Huge. red streamers flung themselves
out against tho black night sky
reaching half way to the zenith
Dense clouds OF smoke leaped and
bollied to the heavens. while the roar
that appalls n woodsman's heart began
to sound throughout the hills.
John Daily. working like a giant
went white beneath his CRIME at
sound Of il.
MY God" he cried hoarsely. it's
goin away from u.s."
And SanGry. halted a pace away
by that cry of despair, looked upon
the first really great sight % his life.
More men!" shouted the foreman
hoarsely. You Harris. go telephone
to Corvallis for more men,"
IT'S done. Johnny" said Ma Daily,
painting in the light. her sleeves
rolled up from brown. capable arms.
81 sent S1etz some time back. She's
4 calm fer all the stations between"
The valley was as light as day. illu-
mined all up and down its length, and
three horsemen were looping up it's
level floor Lean, 1.-THE men they
were. clad in sober khaki. and they
leaped from their horses with bust
nesslike alacrity. dropping reins over
saddle horns instead Of on the ground.
Those three horses we're well trained.
intelligent aids, ready TO stand for
hours in one spot, to come at a
whistle, and they wanted no drag.
ging straps to hinder.
Were forest rangers" announced
the spokesman. a quick-eyed. steady
young chap. to Sandry. give me your
men,"
Thank tn Lord" said Daily fer
vently. take command"
The newcomer talked a moment
with his two companions, motioning.
dividing localities. sketching a quick
plan. Then he gathered twenty men.
putting them under one of his aides.
Go up over that ridge" he direct
ed briefly. "and cut forty-foot fall
straight across the dip behind the
fire. Go on and cut it UP over the big
ridge Don't stop to fight"
AS the men hurried of with cross
cuts and axes. he plunged into tho
smoke and FIRE. shouting terse com.
mands. taking men from what seemed