The Dolores star., 1918-12-06
CHAPTER S-continued.
10


10
on the second day they crossed the
Skaena. a risky and tedious piece OF
business. for the river ran deep and
strong
Presently the way grew ruugheT. II
anything Roaring Bill increased his
pace He himself no longer rode.
When the steepneSS Of the hills and
canyons made the going hard the packs
were rehivided. and henceforth Satin
bore co his back a portion OF the sup
plies Bil led the way tire'essly.
Through files. river crossings. camp
labor. and all the petty irritationS OF
the trait he kept an unruffled spirit, a
fna. enduring patience that Hazel mar
veIed at and admired. Many a time.
Weakening at some slight stir. she
would find him cooking breakfast. In
every way within his power he saved
her
Many a strange shift were they put
10. Once Bill had to fell great
spruce across twenty-fOOt creyice. II
took him two days to hew it fiat 50
that his horses could be led over. The
dep:h was bottomleSs 10 the eye but
from far below rose the cavernous
grow, Of rushing water. and Hazel
held her breath as each animal stepped
gincerly over the narrow bridge. One
miSStep-
Once they climbed three weary days
up a PERCEPTIONS mountain range. and.
turned back in sight of the crest BY
an impossible Cliff were forced to
back track and swim: a itty-Inile de-
tour September was upon them The
days dwindled in length. and the nights
grew to have frosty nip.
Early and late he pushed on. Two
camp necessities were fortunately
abundant. grass and water. Even so.
the stress OF the tran told on th.
horses. They lost flesh. The extreme
steepness of succeeding hills bred gals
under the heavy packs They grew
leg weary. no longer following each
other with sprIghtly step and heads
high. Hazel pitied them. for she her
self was trail weary beyond words.
"he vacHbond Instinct had fallen
asleep. The fine aura OF romance no
longer lowered over the venture.
Sometimes when dusk ended rhe
days journey and she swung her stiff
fened limbs out of the saddle she
would cheerfully have foresone all the
gold In the North to be at her ease
before the fireplace in their distant
cabin. with her mana head nesting In
her lap. and no toll OF weary miles
looming sternly on the morrow's hort
1on. It was all work. trying work. the
more trying because she sensed a
latent uneasiness on her husbands
part. m uneasiness she could never In
duce him To embody in words. Never
thelesS. It existed. and she resented Its
existence trouble she could not
share. But she could not put her fin
ger on the cause FOR Bill merely smiled
n denial when ste mentioned IT.
Nor did she fathom the cause until
npon certain day which fell upon
the end OF weeks wearisome traverse
o, the hardest country yet encountered.
They broke out of canyon up
which they had struggled all day onto
level plot where the pine stood in
somber ranks. A spring creek split the
fiat in two. Beside this tiny stream
BIZ unlashed his packs. 1t still lacked
two hours of dark. But he made no
comment, and Hazel fnrbore to trouble
him with questions. Once the packs
were off and the horses at liberty. Bill
caught up his rifle.
Come on. Hazel" he said. Lets
take q little hike"
The fat was small and once clear
of II the pines thInned out on a steep.
rocky slope so that westward they
could overlook a vast network of can
yons and mountain spurs But ahead
OF them the mountain rose to an up
standing backbone of jumbIed granite.
and on this backbone Bill wagstaff
bent an anxious eye. Presently they
sat down on a bowider to take a
breathing spell after stiff stretch Of
climbing. Hazel slipped her hand In
his and whispered:
what Is 1t. BilIy-boyf"
"rm afraid we can't get over here
will: the horses" he answered slowly.
.And IL we can't find pass of some
kInd-we,l. come ont It isn't more
~ quarter Il q mile to the top"