The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1918-08-01

Inc iWO HcIugccS looked OOWn on
the Flooding Gap.
started until the eastern sky lightened
before the %retreating storm, and with
the first glimmer of daylight the two
were at the beginning of the narrow
foothold which lay for half a mile be-
tween them and safety.
The face of FL Captain presents,
midway, a sharp convex. Just where
1t is thrown forward in this keen
angle. the trail run u almost to Q
Knife-edge, and the mountain is So
nearly vertical that it appears to
overharg the moo of the valley.
They made half the stretch of this
angle with hardly a misstep, but the
advance for a part of the way was
n 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 1t toward the east, clouds scudding
over the open desert broke and shot
the light Of dawn against the beetling
arete.
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 1t 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. a 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 a rifle report cracked against
the face Of the cliff. They were so
startled, so completely amazed, that
they stood m%otionless.
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 a fourth bullet struck the rock.
man," he muttered, i've 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. "Is 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 a
dip In the trail which. to one stretched
fiat. afforded a slight protection. He
made her lie down, and just beyond
her refuge chose a point where the
path, broadening a little and rising in
stead of slOping toward the outer
edge. gave him a chance to brace him.
self between two rocks. Flattened
there like a target In midair, he threw
his hat down to Nan. and, resting on
one knee, waited for the shot that
should tumble him down FL Captain or
betray the man bent on killing him.
Another bullet> deliberately aimed,
Clipped the rock above him. Nan,
agonizing in her suspense, cried out
she must Join him and go with him
II he went. He steadied her with q
few words. A bullet struck again
viciously close between them. De
Spain spoke slowly: 'Give me your
rife." without turning his head. he