The Snowflake herald., 1918-02-15

L
'Now you're shouting. my friend
agreed old Gideon. II guess, Elilot'
you can loosen up on the chefs throat
awhile. He's had persuading enough
don't you reckon? I'll sit here ana
sorter keep the boys company while
you cut the pack-ropes and bring 'em
here. But first I'd step in and unload
all the hardware they're packing. II
you don't one of them is likely TO get
anxious. I'd hate to see any of them
commit suicide with none or their
friends here to say, Don't he look nat
ural?'"
Elliot brought back the pack-ropes
and cut them into suitable lengths.
Holt's monologue rambled on. he was
garrulous and affable. Not for a long
time had he enjoyed himself so mucn.
Gordon tied the hands Of Big Bill
behind him, then roped his feet togeth-
er, after which he did the same for
HOlway. The old miner superintended
the job and was not satisfied till he
had added a few extra knots on his
own behalf.
''That'll hold them for awhile, i
shouldn't wonder. Now if you'll just
cover friend chef with this sawed-off
gat, Elliot, I'll throw the diamond
hitch over what supplies we'll need to
get back to Kamatlah. I'll take one
bronch and leave the other to the con-
victs," said Holt cheerfully.
"Forget that convict stuff" growled
Macy. ''With Macdonald back of us
and the Guttenchilds back of him,
you'll have a hectic time getting any
thing on u.s."
"That might be true if these folks
were back of you. But are they?
Course / amt any Sherlock Holmes,
but it don't look to me like they'd play
any such fool system as this"
After Holt had packed one Of the
animals he turned to Elliot.
II reckon we're ready"
Under orders from Elliot Dud fixed
up the smudges and arranged the mos
quito netting over the bound men so
as to give them all the protection pos
sible.
"We're going to take Dud with us
for a part of the trip. Well send him
back to you later in the day. You'll
have to fast till he gets back, but out
side of that you'll do very well if you
don't roll around trying to get loose.
Do that, and you'll jar loose the mos
quito netting. You know what that
MEANS" explained Gordon.
'It amt likely any grizzlies will
come pokin' their noses into camp. But
you never can tell. Any last words
you want sent to relativesT asked
Gideon Holt.
The last words they heard from Big
Bill as they moved down the draw
were sulphuric.
1t was three o'clock in the morning
by the watch when they started. About
nine they threw off for breakfast. By
this time they were just across the
divide and were ready to take the
down trail.
II think we'll let Dud go now," FL
liot told his partner in the adventure.
Better hold him till afternoon. Then
they can't possibly reach us till we
get to Kamatlah."
,"What does it matter if they do?
We have both rifles and have left them
only one revolver. Besides, don't
like to leave two bound men alone in
so wild a district for any great time.
No, We'll start Dud on the back trail.
That grizzly you promised Big Bill
might really turn up"
The two men struck the headwaters
of Wild Goose creek about noon and
followed the stream down. They trav-
eled steadily without haste. So long
as they kept good lookout there was
nothing to be feared from the men
they had left behind. They had both
long start and the advantage of
: weapons.
If Elliot had advertised for a year
he could not have found a man who
knew more of Colby Macdonald's past
! ; than Gideon Holt. The old man had
worked a claim on Frenchman creek
with him and had by sharp practice
so at least he had come to believe
Ibeen lawed out of his rights by the
shrewd Scotsman. For seventeen years
donald, and he was never tired of talk.
: ing about him. One story in particu.
/ lar interested Gordon.
} ''There was Farrell O'Neill. He was
a good fellow, Farrell was, but he had
Just one weakness. There was times
} when he liked the bottle too well. He'd
, let it alone for months and then lust
lap the stuff up. 1t was the time OF
the stampede to Bonanza creek. Well
} the news of the strike on Bonanzs
reached Dawson and we all burnt ur
; the trail to get to the new ground
first. O'Neill was one of the first. He
got in about twenty below Discovery
, if I remember. Mac wasn't in Dawson
but he got there next mo- MIN and
: heard the news. He lit ouE for Bo
} nanza pronto."
The old miner stopped, took a chew
] of tobacco, and looked down into the
3 valley far below where Kamatlat
: could just be seen, little huddle OF