The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1918-04-18

next instant ne cauSnt ner under the
arms, and, with the leverage of her
one foot in the stirrup, set her gently
In the seat of the saddle.
you're such little person." he
said, "these stirrups are mile too
long. Put your feet in the leather
above-so. Now play follow your
leader. Give silk his head"
He moved away. Obedient to Bills
command, she let the reins dangle, and
silk followed close behind his mates.
Hazel lurched unsteadlly at first, but
presently she caught the swinging mo-
tion and could maintain her balance
without holding stiilly to the saddle
horn.
The night seemed endless as the will
derness itself. Unused to riding, she
became sore, and then the sore mus
cles stiffened. The chill of the night
air intensified. She grew cold, her
fingers numb. She did not know where
she was going, and she was assailed
with doubts of Roaring Bill's ability to
find CaribOO Meadows.
"Mr. Wagstaff" she called.
"YOurs truly" his voice hailed back,
away to one side. "I'll be there In
minute"
In less time he appeared beside her.
"Will you fall off, or be lifted offT
he said cheerfully.
"Where are we?" she demanded.
"Ask me something easy" he re-
turned. "Tve been going it blind for
an hour, trying to hit the Soda Creek
! trail or any old trail that would show
me where / am. It's no use. Too
dark"
"What on earth am l going to do?"
Hazel cried desperately.
Scamp here till daylight" Roaring
Bill answered evenly. "The only thing
to do. Good Lord ~ His hand acci-
dentally rested on hers. you're like
Ice. ] didn't think about you getting
cold riding. Get down and put on a
coat, and I'll have n fire in n minute"
81 suppose If l must, / must; but l
can get off without any help, thank
you" Hazel answered ungraciously.
Roaring Bill made no reply, but
stood back, and when her feet touched
solid earth he threw over her shoulders
the coat he had worn himself. Then
he turned away, and Hazel saw him
STOPPING here and there, and heard
the crack of dry sticks broken over
his knee. In no time he was back to
the horses with an armful of dry stuff,
and had small blaze licking up
through dry grass and twigs. AS 1t
grew he piled on larger sticks till the
bright flame waved two feet high,
lighting up the nearby woods and
shedding bright glow on the three
horses standing patiently at hand. He
paid no attention to Hazel until she
came timidly up to the fire. Then he
looked up at her with his whimsical
smile.
"That's right" he said; "come on
and get warm. No use wOrrying-or
getting cross. l suppose from your
civilized, conventional point of view
it's a terrible thing to be out in the
woods all night alone with a strange
man. But I'm not bear-I won't eat
you"
I'm sorry If I seemed rude" Hazel
said penitently; 81 can't help thinking
of the disagreeable side of it. People
talk so. | suppose I'll be nine days
wonder in Cariboo Meadows"
Bill laughed softly.
LET them take 1t out in wondering"
he advised. "Cariboo Meadows Is a
very small and Insignificant portion of
the world, nnyEay,"
lie went TO one Of the packs, and
came back with canvas cover, which
he spread on the ground.
"Slt on that" he said. "The earths
always damp W the woods"
Then he stripped the horses of their
burdens and tied them out Of sight
among the trees. That task finished
no took an AK and rustled pile of
wood, dragging dead poles up to the
fire and chopplng them into short
lengths. When finally he laid aside
his ak. he busted himself with gather.
ing grass and leaves and pine needles
until he had several armfuls collected
and spread in an even pile to serve as
mattress. Upon this he laid his bed.
ding, two thick quilts, two or three
pairs of wooden blankets, a pillow the
whole inclosed with long canvas
sheet, the bed tarpaulin of the cattle