The Jasper news., 1917-03-08
{ Jeffrles didn't interrupt. but he
lin rned hta knan eharniy st

on box of dynamite. md shoot into
1t, and expect to live to tell It." con-
tinued Scott mildly, ''as to shoot into
that fellow In room with closed doors
and expect to get nway with 1t. The
only way the bunch can ever kill that
man, without getting killed themselves.
is to get him from behind; and at that,
John, the man that fires the gum" muir
INJURED the scout, 'ought to be behind a
tree. rs
"You say he is hit. grant it," he
concluded. "But l knew him once,
when he was hit, to lie out in the bush
for n week. He got cut off once from
Whispering Smith and Kennedy after
scrimmage outside Williams Cache
two years ugo."
"You don't believe, then, he's dead,
Bob2" demanded Jeffries impatiently.
"Not till see him dead" persisted
Scott unmoved.
De Spain, when he climbed into Sas-
soon's saddle, was losing sight and
consciousness. lie knew he could no
longer defend himself, and was so
faint that only the determination of
putting distance between him 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, ind
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 falling faculties. He could not
recolleet why he had no belt. Believ-
Ing his senses tricked him, he felt
again and again for 1t before he would
believe 1t was not buckled somewhere
about him. But 1t was gone, and he
stuck bnck In his wnistband his useless
revolver. One hope remained-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 d.
recti0n was thing quite beyond his
power of compass. He made little eff
fort to guide, and his infuriated horse
| new along as III 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 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
noiter. With relief he perceived his
sight to be tri1e better, and In scan
ming the horizon he could discover nc
pursuers. Choosing secluded spot
he dlsmounted, cut open his boot, and
found that q bullet, passing down
ward, hnd torn I'M artery under the
arch of the foot. Making rude tour
niquet, he succeeded In checking pretty
well the squirting flow that was sap
ping his strength. After he had nd
justed the bandage he stood up ant
looked at It.
Then he drew his revolver again ant
broke 1t. He found FIVE empty shell!
in the chambers and threw them away
The last cartridge had not been fred
He could not even figure out how h,
had happened to have six cartridges Fl
the cylinder, for he rarely loaded NOR,
than five. Indeed, 1t was his fxe,
habit--to avoid accidents--never I,
carry a cartridge under the hamme
of his gun--yet now there had beef
one. Without trying to explain tn
circumstance, he took fresh stock, O
his chances and began to wonde
whether he might yet escape and live
He climbed again into the saddle
and, riding to a ridge, looked carefuli
over the desert. 1t was with an effor
l'that he could steady himself, and tn
. extent of hts weakness, surprised hin
Whit further perDlexed him 40 h
crossed long divide, got another goo
i view and saw no pursuit threatenln
In any direction, was to identify tn
country he was In. The only lnndmar
anywhere In sight that he could reeol
, niae was Music mountain. This no'
lay to the northwest, and he knew b
; must be a long, way from any countr
I ne was familiar with. Bot there wa
! no gainsaying. even In his confuse
condition. Music mountain. Afts
r looking at 1t a long time he, heade
! with some hesitation cautiously towar
Q 1t. with intent to intercept the FRI
1 trail to the northeast. This would tai
/ him toward Sleepy Cat. S.