The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1920-09-16

n Oft on him, an start the minute
1t gets dark enough so them lads can't
see what's goin' on out yere."
We'll fight orr way through"
mot a fight, my son Wen make
it so softly that not a son-of-a-gun will
ever know how 1t happened. When
they wake up Wen be twenty miles out
In the desert, an still a goin'. Thar's a
big log clinging ter the upper end o.
III rock. / saw It when ! fust come
over; an bout an hour e crept
back through that gully an took a
good look. A shove will send IL tioatin'.
An with a good pair o. legs to steer
with, thar amt nuthin' TO stop 1t this
side the curve, an | don't calculate
any o. the rife brigade will be down as
fur as that. 1t sounds blame good ter
me, Jim; what dye sayT'
Westcott's hand went out. and the
fingers Of the two men clasped silent
ly. Their was no need for more
speech they understood each other.
The night closed down swiftly, as IT
does in the West, the purple Of the
hills becoming black as though by
some magic. There was a heavy
cloud hanging In the Western sky, con-
stantly sweeping higher in pledge of
a dark night. The banks of the stream
N""amn ohscured. and finally vanished
altogether; while the water ceased to
giimmer and turned to an inky black
ness. Lights twinkled in the distant
shacks, and the front of the Red Dog
burst into illumination. Brennan
chuckled, and pointed his finger at
the glare.
Lacy amt fergettin' the profit in
all this" he whispered hoarsely. "The
boys are goin' ter be dry, an he'll sell
EN- all they want-wouldn't mind If |
had some myself. Is 1t dark enough,
mater"
The sooner the better"
That's my ticket. Come on then,
but don't make a sound them lads are
more liable TO hear than they are to
see us. Let me go first"
The log was at the other end of the
little island, but there was a consider
able rift in the rock surface, not deep,
but of sufficient width to permit the
passage of a body. The jagged stone
made the way rough in the dark, and
Westcott found himself at the upper
extremity, gashed and bruised by the
contact.
Brennan lowered himself into the
water, assisted in the downward climb
by some low, tough bushes whose ten
drills chung tenaciously to the smooth
rock. Westcott followed silently, and
found footing in about three feet Of
water, where it swirled around the
base of the island. Brennan put his
lips close to his companions ear.
Got yer cartridges tied up? That's
all right hand 'em over. You hang
on to the outside, an I'll push off. IL
yer have ter paddle ter keep in the
current, don't let yer hands er feet
come to the surface-understandf"
Certainly"
"All right then; are you all set?
Holy smoke, this is going to be some
yacht ride"
III Tvs hih tNNh iol1 as Il iOO
ened its Slight hold on the rock, and
began the voyage downstream. The
current was swift enough to bear
ii and its burden free from the island,
although 1t moved slowly and noise
lessly on its way. The two men deep
ly submerged on either side, with heads
held rigid against the wet bark. were
indistinguishable. Out from the deep
er shadow, Brennan gently controlled
the unwieldy affair, and keeping it as
nearly as possible 10 the center, by the
noiseless movement Of a hand under
and at last. confident that they were al.
ready safely below the extent of the
guard line. the two men, clinging to its
wet sides, ventured to kick out quietly,
and thus hasten its progress. 1t came
ashore at the extreme end Of the curve,
and, after a moment of intent listen
Ing. the voyagers crept up the sand,
and in whispers discussed the next eff
fort OF their escape. The belts were
unstrapped from about the log, reload.
ed with cartridges, and buckled around
dripping waists, before they clambered
cautiously up the low bank. The road
was just beyond, but between them
and II arose the almost shapeless form
OF a small house. a mere darker
shadow in the gloom Of the night.
where are wei" questioned West
colt.
"Just back Of old Beecher's shack.
He's trucking down Benson way, but Is
liable to have some grub stored inside.
I was countin' on this for our COM
missary department. Come on, Jim
time is money just now"
The door was unlocked, and in less
than ten minutes they emerged once
| more into the open bearing their spOils
-Wescott, a slab of bacon and a small
frying pan; Brennan a paper sack Of
| cornmeal, with a couple of specimens
Of canned goods. He had also resur-
| rected a gunny sack somewhere, in
which the things were carefully
| wrapped, and made secure for trans
| ~portation.
Didn't feel no terbacco. did yer.
Jim?" the marshal questioned solic-
itoasiy. IL reckon not, though; OF
| Beecher never would leave nuthin'
49, 49, l.su, ~~xul vyr.l -, -