Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-02-08
CHAPTER v.
In Deep Water.

B
In Deep Water.
The dawn thrust aside nights SOM
her curtains while they ate, revealing
a sky overcast with slaty clouds. What
with her wanderings of the night be-
fore and the journey through the dark
with Roaring Bill, she had absolutely
no idea of either direction or locality.
The Unfolding timber shut off the out
look.
''Do you suppose I can get home in
time to open school?' she inquired
anxiously.
Roaring Bill smiled. 81 don't know,"
he answered. ut all depends"
"You know where you are now,
don't you?" she asked.
mot exactly" he responded. But
will before long-I hope"
The ambiguity of his answer did not
escape her. She puzzled over 1t while
silk ambled sedately behind the other
horses. She hoped that Bill Wagstaff
knew where he was going. If he did
not-but she refused to entertain the
alternative And she began to watch
eagerly for some sign of familiar
ground.
For two hours Roaring Bill trampled
through aisles bordered with pine and
spruce and fir, through thiclSets of
berry bush, and across limited areas Of
grassy mendow. Not once did they
cross road or a trail Eventually Bill
halted at n small stream to get drink.
Hazel looked at her watch. 1t was
half past eight.
"Aren't we ever going to get thereT'
she called impatiently.
"Pretty soon," he called bnck, and
struck out brislSly again.
Another hour passed. Ahead of her,
leading one pack horse and letting the
other follow unt-ammeled, Roaring
Bill kept doggedly on, haltihg for moth
ing. never looking back.
They crossed ravine and slanted
up a steep hillside. Presently Hazel
could look away over an area of wood
land undulating like a heavy ground
swell mt sen. Here and there ridges
stood forth boldly above the general
roll. and distantly she could descry 9
white-capped mountain range. They
turned the end of thick patch OF pine
scrub, and Bill pulled up in u small
opening. From a case swinging at his
belt he took out pair Of field glasses
and leisurely surveyed the country.
"Well2" Hazel Intercepted.
Nothing In sight, is thsre?" Bill saiC
thoughtfully. 'If the sun was out
now. Funny can't spet that Sodi
Greek trail"
Don't you know this country a
all7" she said gloomlly.
II thought did" he replied. "Bu
7 can't seem to get my bearings 4
work out correctly. I'm awfully sorr.
to keep you in such a pickle. But
can't be helped"
He lookup the lead rope and move
on. They dropped over the ridg
crest and once more into the woods
Roaring Bill made his next halt besid
spring, and fell to unlashing tn
packs.
"what are you going to dor" Hazt
asked.
Cook q bite, and let the horse
Craze" he told her "Do you realiz
that we've been going since daylight
It's near noon. Horses have to eat an
rest once in while, just the same g
human beings"
The logic of this Hazel could NJ
well deny, since she herself was tire
and ravenously hungry. BY her watC
II was just noon.
Bill hobbled out his horses on Il
grass below the spring. made fir
and set to work cooking. He work,
silently Mt the meal getting frit
steaks of venison. and boiled pot
coffee. They ate. He filed his pip
and smoked while he repacked. Alt
gether. he did not consume more tbs
forty minutes at the noon halt. Haz
now woefully saddle sore, would fa
have rested longer, and, in default
resting, tried to walk and lead Sill
Roaring Bill offered no objection
that. But he hit faster gait. S
could not keep up, and he did n
slacken pace when she began to Fl
behind. SO she mounted awkward
and SILK iolted and shook her with ]
trotting until he caught up with ]
mntes Bill grinned over his should
You're learning fast" he call
hack. "You1l be able to run pa
train by and by"
The afternoon wore on withC
bringing them any nearer Garth
Meadows so far as Hazel could $
Travelling over a country swathed
timber and diversified in contour, $
could not tell whether Roaring I
swung in a circle or bore straight
some given point
She called halt at four O'Clock.
"AIr. Wagstnffr
Bill stopped his horses and ca
back TO her.
"Aren't we ever going to get a
where?" she asked soberly. &c
afrnld I can't ride much longer.
could walk II you wouldn't 60 so II
Aren't there any ranches in this co
try mt allT'
He shook his head. They're
and far between" he said. "D'
worry. though. II isn't life-and-de
matter. If we were out here with
grub or horses II might be toU
You're in no danger from exposure
hunger"
"You don't seem to realize the p
ton n puts me In" Hazel answered.
wave Of despondency swept over
fld her eyes grew suddenly bri
,~,,h .ho tears she strove to keep bi