Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1917-03-29
g NAN Of 9
MUSIC MOUNTAIN
By frank II. SpedrmdN
Author Of Whispering Smith,
Author Of Whispering Smith,

putting distance between MIN and any
pursuers held him to the horse after
he Spurred away. With the instinct of
the hunted, he fumbled with his right
hand for his means of defense. and
was relieved to find his revolver, after
his panlcky dash for safety, safe In its
place. He put his hand to his belt for
fresh cartridges. The belt was gone.
The discovery sent shock through
his failing faculties. He could not
recollect why he had no belt. Beliey.
Ing his senses tricked him, he felt
again and again for it before he would
believe 1t was not buckled somewhere
about him. But 1t was gone. and he
stuck back In his waistband his useless
revolver. One hope remaineu-flight,
and he spurred his horse cruelty.
Blood running continually into his
eyes from the wound In his head made
him think his eyes were gone, and di-
rection was Il thing quite beyond his
power of compass. He made little eff
fort to guide, and his Infatuated horse
flew along as if winged.
warm, sticky feeling in his right
boot warned him, when he tried to
make some mental inventory of his
condition, of at least one other wound.
He could not see twenty feet ahead or
behind Even when he hurredly wiped
the cloud from his eyes his vision
seemed to have failed. and he could
only cling to his horse to put the miles
as fast as possible between himself
and more of the Morgans.
A perceptible weakness presently
forced him to realize he must look to
his wounded foot. Before he slackened
speed he tried to look behind to recon-
hotter. With relief he perceived his
sight to be a trifie better, and in scan
ming the horizon he could discover no
pursuers. Choosing secluded spot
he dismounted cut open his boot, and
found that bullet, passing down
ward, had torn an artery under the
arch of the foot. Making a rude tour
niquet, he succeeded in checking pretty
we'll the squirting flow that was sap.
ping his strength. After he had ad-
1usted the bandage he stood up and
looked at 1t.
Then he drew his revolver again and
broke it. He found FIVE empty shells
an the chambers and threw them away.
The last cartridge had not been fired.
He could not even figure out how he
had happened to have six cartridges in
the cylinder, for he rarely loaded more
than five. Indeed, it was his fixed
habit-to avoid accidents-never to
carry a cartridge under the hammer
or his gun-yet now there had been
one. Without trying to explain the
circumstance, he took fresh stock Of
his chances and began to wonder
whether he might yet escape and live
He climbed again into the saddle,
and, riding to ridge, looked carefully
over the desert. 1t was with an effort
that he could steady himself, and the
extent of his weakness, surprised him.
What further perplexed him as he
crossed long divide, got another good
view and saw no pursuit threatening
in any direction, was to identify the
country he was in. The only landmark
anywhere in sight that he could recog-
nize was Music mountain. This now
lay to the northwest and he knew he
must be long way from any country
he was familiar with. But there was
no gainsaying, even in his confused
condition, Music mountain. After
looking at it long time he headed
with some hesitation cautiously toward
1t, with intent to intercept the first
trail to the northeast. This would take
him toward Sleepy Cat.
As his eyes continued to sweep the
horizon he noted that the sun was
down and it was growing dark. He
was aware at intervals that he was
steadying himself like a drunken man.
His efforts to guide the horse only be-
wildered the beast, and the two tray
eled on maudlin curves and doubled
back on their track until De Spain de-
cided that his sole chance of reaching
any known trail was to let go and give
the horse his head. A period of uncon-
seriousness, a blank in De SPANS mind
soon followed. How long he rode In
this way, or how far, he never knew.
He was reused to consciousness by the
unaccustomed sound of running water
underneath his horses feet.
1t was pitch dark everywhere. The
horse after the hard experience of the
evening was drinking welcome draft
DE Spain had no conception of where
he could be, but the stream told him he
had somehow reached the range.
though Music mountain itself had been
swallowed up in the night A sudden
and uncomfortable thirst seized the
wounded man. He could hear the wa
Ter falling over the stones and climbed
slowly and painfully out of the saddle
TO the ground. With the lines in his
left hand he crawled toward the water
and, lying fiat on the ground beside the
horse, put his head down to drink. The
horse, meantime, satisfied, lifted his
mead with gulp, rinsed his mouth.
ana pulled backward. The lines
slipped from De SPANS hand. Alarmed
the weakened man scrambled after
them. The horse startled cbfod a.a