Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-04-19

| two years ago"
'YOu don't believe, then. he's dead
| Bob?" demanded Jeffries impatientIv
Not till 1 see him dead" persisted
| Scott unmoved.
De Spain, when he climbed into Sas-
soon'S saddle, was losing sight and
consciousness. He knew he could no
longer defend himself, and was so
faint that only the determination of
putting distance between him and any
Dursuers 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. ana
was relieved to find his revolver, after
his panicky dash for safety. safe in its
place. He put his hand to his belt for
fresh cartridges. The belt was gone,
The discovery sent q shock through
his failing faculties. He could not
recollect why he had no belt. Believ-
ing his senses tricked him, he felt
again and again for it before he would
believe it was not buckIed somewhere
about him. But it was gone. and he
stuck back in his waistband his useless
Blood running Continually into his
eyes from the wound in his head made
him think his eyes were gone, and di-
rection was a thing quite beyond his
power of compass. He made little eff
fort to guide, and his Infatuated horse
flew along as if winged.
A 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 hurriedly wiped
the cloud from his eyes his vision
seemed to have failed, and he could
only cling to his horse to put che miles
as fast as possible between himself
and more of the MOrgans.
A perceptible weakness presently
forced him to realize he must lock 10
his wounded foot. Before he slackened
speed he tried to look behind to recon
hotter. With relief he perceived his
sight to be a trifle better, and in scan
ming the horizon he could discover no
pursuers. Choosing a secluded spot,
he dismOunted cut open his boot, and
found that a bullet, passing down
ward, had torn an artery under the
arch of the foot Making a rude tour
niquet, he succeeded in checking pretty
well the squirting flow that was sap
ping his strength. After he had adj
justed the bandage he stood up and
looked at it.
Then he drew his revolver again and
broke it. He found five empty shells
in 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 d cartridge under the hammer
Of 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 1--we.
He climbed again into the saddle,
anu IIuIllS W d IluSe5 IOOkeu CdIClullg
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 a 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 a 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 a long time he headed
with some hesitation cautiously toward
it, 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