Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-01-18

one. Without trying 10 eyp.ain the
circumstance, he took fresh stock of
his chances and began to wonder
whether he might yet escape and live.
lie climbed again into the saddle.
and, riding to q 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 10 identify the
country he was In. The only landmark
anywhere in sight that he could r0cog-
niZe was Music mountain. This now
/ lay to the northwest, and he knew he
+ must be Il long way from any country
he was familiar with. But there was
! no gainsaying, even in his confused
( condition, Music mountain. After
looking ut 1t 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 ut intervals that he was
! steadying himself like Il drunken man.
T 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 90 and give
the horse his head. A period Of uncon-
sciousness, . blank in De Spain's mind,
soon followed How long he rode in
this way, or how far. he never knew
He was reused to consciousness by the
unnccustoncd 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 he. 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 crawlcd toward the water
and, lying fat on the ground beside the
horse, put his head down to drink. The
horse, meantime, satisfied, lifted his
head With gulp, rinscd his mouth,
and pulled backward. The lines
Slipped from De Spain's lland. Alarmed,
the weakened man scrambled after
them. The horse, startled, SHE'D, and
before his rider could get to his feet
scumpered of in trot While De
Spain listened in CONSERVATION, the es-
capped horse falling into an easy stride,
gal!opcd away into the night.
Stunned by this new misfortune, and
listening gloouiiy to the rctrcatin2
hoof-beats, De Spain pondcrcd the stu
"t!on in which the disaster left him.
1t WAS the worst possible blow that
could have fallen. but fallen it had
. and he turned With such philosophy is
he could to complete the drink of water
that had probably cost him his life.
: Whdn he had slal;cd seemingly I'm.
Qucnchabe craving he dashed the run.
!, ming water, first with one hand and
tlcn the other, over his face. lie tried
S. fcebly to wash away some of the alkal
e that had crCstcd over the wound in thl
j. front Of HIS head and was singing ant
$ burning in it. There WAS now moth
: ing to do but to sccrcte himself unit
g daylight and wait till help should reaol
him--lt WAS manifcs.ly impossible fol
It him to sock it.
o Meanwhile. the little stream beside
3 him offered first aid. He tried ii witt
!. his foot and found it slight and shall
n low, albeit with rocky bed that mad,
d wading in his condition difficult. Bu
n he felt 50 much better he was able t
q attempt this, and keeping near TO on,
IS side Of the current, he began 10 follow
II it slowly upstream. The ascent wa
at times prrcipitous which please,
y him, though it depleted his new
o strength. 1t was easy in this way t
ID hide his trail, and the higher and fast
A. or the stream took him into the NOM
~ tnins tho safer he would he from any
:, Calabasas pursuers. When he had re
;. gained n little strength and orientet
y, himself, he could quickly get down int
~ the hills.
:, Animated by these thoughts, he hell
=. his way upstream, hoping at ever,
!, step TO reach the gorge from whicl
the flow issued. He would have know
;, this by the sound of the falling water
=, but, weakening soon, he found he mus
abandon hope Of getting up to It. How
"a ever, by resting and scramhlng Vi
=, the rocks, he kept on longer than h
:. would have believed possible. Encoun
= tering at length, as he struggled ul
,n ward, a ledge and Il clunp of bushes
T., he crawlod weakly on hands and knee
rn into 1t. too spent to struggle farther
"a stretched himself on the llnttene
-, bralnbles and sunk into heavy slccI
or He woke in broad daylight. Cor
on seriousness returned slowly and h