The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1917-05-26

the first glimmer of daylight the two
were at the beginning of the narrow
foothold which lay for half mile be.
twsen them and safety.
The face of Ell Captain presents,
midway, q sharp convex. Just where
It is thrown forward in this keen
angle. the trail ruIz out almost to .
knlte-edge, and the mountain is Sc
nearly vertical that it appears tc
overhang the floor of the valley.
They made half the stretch of this
angle with hardly misstep, but the
advance for part of the way was
q climb, and De Spain, turning once
to speak to Nan, asked her for her
rifle, that he might carry it with his
own. What their story might have
been had she given it to him, none
can tell. But Nan, holding back, re-
fused to let him relieve her. The
dreaded angle which had haunted De
Spain all night was safely turned on
hands and knees, and, as they round
ed it toward the east, clouds scudding
over the open desert broke and shot
the light of dawn against the beetling
nrete.
De Spain turned in some relief to
point to the coming day. AS he did
so a gust Of wind, sweeping against
the sheer wall, tipped him sidewise,
and he threw himself on his knees to
avoid the dizzy edge. His rifle, which
lay under his hand on the rock,
slipped from reach. In the next in
slant he heard it bouncing from rock
to rock, five hundred feet below.
Greatly annoyed and Inundated, he
regained his feet and spoke with a
laugh to reassure Nan. Just as she
answered not to worry, little sing
! Ing scream struck their ears; some
thing splashed suddenly close at hand
against the rock, wall; chips scattered
between them. From below, the
sound Of rifle report cracked against
the face of the cliff. They were so
startled, so completely amazed, that
they stood motionless.
De Spain looked down and over the
uneven floor Of the gap. The ranch
houses, spread like toys in the long
perspective, lay peacefully revealed in
the gray of the morning. He could
discover no sign Of life around any of
the houses. But in another moment
the little singing scream came again,
the blow of the heavy slug against the
splintering rock was repeated, the dis.
tant report Of the rifle followed.
"Under fire." muttered De Spain.
He looked at Nan. 'We'd better keep
moving" he said. "Come! whoever is
shooting can follow us a hundred
yards either way" In front Of De
Spain fourth bullet struck the rock.
man, he muttered, give got you into
a fix. If we can't stop that fellow,
he is liable to stop us. Can you see
anything?" he asked, waiting for her
to come up.
'Henry!" She was looking straight
down into the valley and laid her hand
on De SPANS shoulder. els there any.
thing moving on the ridge-over there
-see-just east of Sassoon's ranch.
house?"
De Spain, his eyes bent on the point
Nan indicated, drew her forward to
dip in the trail which, to one stretched
flat, afforded slight protection. He
made her lie down, and just beyond
her refuge chose a point where the
path, broadening little and rising in.
stead of sloping toward the outer
edge, gave him chance to brace him.
self between two rocks. Flattened
there like target in midair, he threw
his hat down to Nan, and, resting on
one knee, waited for the shot that
should tumble him down Ell Captain or
betray the man bent on killing him.
Another bullet, deliberately aimed,
Clipped the rock above him. Nan,
ngonizing in her suspense, cried out
she must join him and 60 with him
i if he went. He steadied her with q
few words. A bullet struck again
viciously close between them. De
Spain spoke slowly: "Give me your
rifle" Without turning his head, he
held out his hand, keeping his eyes
rigidly on the suspicious spot on the
ridge. GLOW far is it to that road,
Nan?"
She looked toward the faint line
that lay in the deep shadows below.
"Three hundred yards"
''Nan, if it wasn't for you, couldn't
travel this country at ALL" he re.
marked with studious unconcern.
Last time I had no ammunition-this
time, no rifle-you always haze what's
needed. How high are we, Nan?'
"Seven hundred feet"
ELEVATE for me, Nan, will your"
Remember the wind" she faltered,
adjusting the sight as he had asked.
With the cautioning words she
passed the FURNISHED weapon, glitter.
ing yet with the raindrops, into his
hand. A flash came from the distant
ridge. Throwing his rifle to his shout.
der, De Spain covered hardly per.
ceptible black object on the trail mid.
way between Sassoon's ranch-house
| and a little bridge. Then he fred be.