The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1918-03-22
CHAPTER x-continued.


on the second day they crossed the
Skecna, Il risky and tedious piece OF
business. for the river ran deep ana
strong.
Presently the way grew rougher. If
anything, Roaring Bill increased his
pace. lie himself no longer rode.
When the steepness of the hills and
canyons made the going hard the packs
were redivided. and henceforth Satin
bore on his hack portion of the sup
plies. Bill 'cd the way drelessly.
Through flies, river crossings, camp
Tabor, and nj: ,he petty irritations of
the trail he kept an unruffied spirit,
fine. enduring patience that Hazel mar
vclCd ut and admired. Many time,
wakcning at some slight stir, she
would find him cooking breakfast. In
every way within his power he saved
her
Many strange shift were they put
TO. Once Bill had to fell a great
spruce across twenty-foot crevice. Ii
took him two days to hew it fiat so
that his horses could be led over. The
depth was bottomless to the eye, but
from far below rose the cayernous
rrowl Of rushing water, and Hazel
held her breath as each animal stepped
gingerly over the narrow bridge. One
'miSstep-
Once they climbed three weary days
up n precipitous mountain range. and
turned back in sight of the crest by
nm impossible cliff, were forced to
back track and swing ffty-mile de-
tour. September was upon them. The
lays dwindled in length. and the nights
grew 10 have frosty nip.
Early and late he pushed on. Two
ramp necessities were fortunately
abundant, grass and water. Even so,
The stress of the trail told on the
horses. They lost flesh. The extreme
stcepness of succeeding hills bred gals
under the heavy packs. They grew
leg weary, no longer following each
other with sprlghty step and heads
high. Hazel pitied them, for she her
self was trail weary beyond words.
The vagabond instinct had fallen
asleep. The fine aura of romance no
,onger hovered over the venture.
Sometimes when dusk ended the
days journey and she swung her stiff
fened limbs out of the saddle, she
would cheerfully have foregOne all the
gold In the North to he at her ease
before the fireplace In their distant
sabin, with her mans head nesting In
her lap, and no toll of weary miles
looming sternly on the morrow's hori-
son. II was all work, trying work, the
uiore trying because she sensed a
tatent uneasiness on her husbands
part. an uneasiness she could never in
.luce him 20 embody In words. Never
;heless, n existed, and she resented its
eXiStence-a trouble she could not
share. But she could not put her fin.
f,tr on the cause. for Bill merely smiled
:, denial when she mentioned II.
Nor did she fathom the cause until
upon a certain day which fell upon
th, end Of weeks wcarisome traverse
-oi the hardest country yet encountered
They broke out OF canyon ur
which they had struggled all day onto
a level plot where the pine stood IN
sonbcr ranks. 4 spring creek split tn,
flat in two. Beside this tiny stream
B.ll unlashed his packs. II still lacked
two hours of dark. But he made n,
comment, and Hazel forbore to troubl,
him With questions. Once the pack,
were of and the horses at liberty, Bill
caught Nh his rife.
Come on. Hazel" he said. Let
take Il little hike"
The fat was small. and once clea
of II the pines thlnned out on n steer
rocky slope 50 that westward the
could overlook vast network of can
yoDs and mountain spurs. But ahea
of them The mountain rose to an M
standing backbone of iumbled granite
md on this backbone Bill Wagstaf
bent an anxious eye. Presently the.
sat down on bowldcr to take /,
breathing spell after stiff stretch o.
climbing. Hazel slipped her hand II
his and whispered:
"What is IL. Billy-boy?"
.~rm afrai,i we can't get over here
with The horses" he ansn cred slowly
-Ani ii we cant flnd noss OF some
fias-weIl, come on, II isn't more
thar "a gusrtar OF a mile to the top"