The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1918-02-27

horses. She hoped that Bill Wagstaff
knew where he was going. II 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 thickets of
berry bush, and across limited areas of
grassy meadow. Not once did they
cross road or a trail. Eventually Bill
halted at 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 back, and
struck out briskly again.
Another hour passed. Ahead of her.
leading one pack horse and letting the
other follow untrammeled. Roaring
Bill kept doggedly on. hating for moth
ing, never looking back.
They crossed a ravine and slanted
up steep hillside. Presently Hazel
could look away over an area of wood
land undulating like a heavy ground
swell at sea. Here and there ridges
stood forth boldly above the general
roll, and dlstantly she could descry
whlte-capped mountain range. They
turned the end Of n thick patch of pine
scrub. and Bill pulled up In small
opening. From a case swinging at his
belt he took out pair of field glasses,
and leisurely surveyed the country.
"Well?" Hazel Intercepted.
"Nothing in sight, is there?" BIZ said
thoughtfully. "If the sun was out,
now. Funny I can't spot that Soda
Creek trail"
Don't you know this country at
all?" she said gloomily.
~ thought I did," he replied. But
can't seem to get my bearings to
work out correctly. I'm awfully sorry
to keep you in such a pickle. But It
can't be helped"
He took up the lead rope and moved
on. They dropped over the ridge
crest and once more into the woods.
Roaring Bill made his next halt beside
spring. and fell to unlashing the
packs.
what are you going to dor" Hazel
asked.
/ Cook a bite. and let the horses
Craze" he told her. do you realize
that we've been going since daylight?
It's near noon. Horses have to eat and
rest once In while, Just the same as
human beings"
The logic of this Hazel could not
well deny. since she herself was tired
and rnvenously hungry. By her watch
1t was just noon.
Bill hobbled out his horses on the
grass below the spring. mnde a fire.
and set to work cooking He worked
silently at the meal getting, fried
steaks of venison. and boiled a pot of
coffee. They ate. He filled his pipe.
and smoked while he repacked. Alto
gether, he did not consume more than
forty minutes at the noon halt. Hazel.
now woefully saddle sore. would fain
have rested longer, and. in default of
resting, tried to walk and lead SILK.
Roaring Bill offered no objection to
that. But he hit faster gait. She
could not keep up, and he did not
slacken pace when she began to fall
behind. So she mounted awkwardly.
anu DIN JOittu h'i
trotting until he caught up with his
mates. Bill grinned over his shoulder.
You're learning fast" he called
back. you'll be able TO run a pack
train by and by"
The afternoon wore on without
bringing them any nearer Cariboo
Meadows so far as Hazel could see
Travelling over country swathed in
timber and diversified in contour, she
could not tell whether Roaring Bill
swung in circle or bore straight for
some given point.
She called II halt at four o'clock.
MIR. Wagstan :"
Bill stopped his horses and came
back To her.
Aren't we ever going to get any
wheref" she asked soberly. "Tm
| afrnid | can't ride much longer. I
could walk If you wouldn't go so fast.
Aren't there any ranches in this coun-
try at all7"
He shook his head. They're few
and far between" he said. Don't
worry. though. II isn't life-and-death
matter. If we We're out here without
grub - horses II Ilight he tough.
You're In no danger from exposure or
lung. ="
Continued Next Week.