The Elk Mountain pilot., 1920-12-30

heavy man over such a trail as this,
and she was red-nostriled and lath-
cred before half q mile had been COW
cred. He made her leap up the rocks,
and on fairly level stretches he loosed
the reins and lashed her into gaIlop.
Only a mountain horse could have
stood that test. He gave no thought
to his own safety. His courage was
at the test. and no risk of his own
life must interfere with his attempt
to save Snowbird from the danger
that threatened her. He didn't know
when the horse would fall with him
and precipitate him down a precipice,
and he was perfectly aware that to
crash into low-hanging limb of one
of the great trees beside the trail
would probably crush his skull. But
he took the chance. And before the
ride was done he found himself plead
ing with the horse, even as he lashed
her sides with his whip.
The lesser forest creatures sprang
from his trail; and once the mare
leaped high to miss a dark shadow
that crossed in front. As she caught
her stride. Dan heard a squeal and a
ture as porcupine.
BY now lie had passed the first Of
the worst grades, coming out upon a
long, easy slope Of open forest. Again
he urged his horse, leaving to her
keen senses alone the choosing Of the
path between the great tree trunks.
Then he heard Snowbird fire for the
fourth time; and he knew that he had
almost overtaken her. The report
seemed to smash the air. And he
lashed his horse into the fastest run
she knew-a wild, sobbing figure in
the darkness.
'She's only got one shot more" he
said. He knew how many bullets her
pistol carried; and the danger-what-
ever it was-must be just at hand. Un-
derbrush cracked beneath him. And
then the horse drew up with jerk
that almost hurled him from the sad
die.
He lashed at her in vain. She was
not afraid in the darkness and the
rocks of the trail. but some Terror in
the woods in front had in an instant
broken his control over her. She
reared. snorting; then danced in an
impotent circle. Meanwhile, precious
seconds were fleeing.
He understood now. The horse
stood still, shivering beneath him, but
would not advance a step. The silence
deepened. Somewhere in the dark
ness before him a great cougar was
waiting by the trail, and Snowbird,
hoping for the moment that it had
given up the chase, was Fastening
through the shadows squarely into its
ambush.
Whisperfoot crouched lower: and
again his long serpent of a tail began
the little vertical motion that always
precedes his leap. He had not forgot
ten the wild rapture of that moment
he had inadvertently sprung on Landy
Hildreth-or how, after his terror had
died. he had come creeping back. BE
hunted his own way, waiting on the
trail; and his madness was at its
height. He was not just Whisperfoot
the coward. that runs at the shadow
Of q tall form in the thickets. The
consummation was complete. and that
single experience Of month before
had made Of him a hunter of men.
His muscles set for the leap.
So intent was he that his keen
senses didn't detect the fact that
there was q curious echo to the girls
footsteps. Dan Failing had slipped
down from his terrified horse and was
running up the trail behind her, pray
ing that he could be In time.
Enowbird heard the pat. pat Of his
feet: but at first she did not dare to
hope that aid had come TO her. She
had thought Of Dan as on the far
away marshes; and her father the
only other living occupant Of this part
Of the Divide. might even now he ly-
ing dead in his house. In her terror,
she had lost all power of interpreta-
tion of events. The sound might be
the cougars mate, or even the wolf
pack. jealous of his game. Sobbing,
she hurried on into Whisperfoet's am
bush.
Then she heard a voice. and 1t SEEM
ed to be calling to her. "Snowbird-
I'm coming, Snowbird," mans strong
voice was shouting. She whirled with
a sob of thankfulness.
At that instant the cougar sprang
Terrified though she was Snow
birds rehexes had kept sure and true
Even as the great cat leaped, long,
1.-THE shadow out of the shadow. her
finger pressed back against the trigger
Of her pistol. She had been carry
ing her gun in front of her, and she
fired 1t. this last time. with no con-
scious effort. 1t was just n last in
stinctive effort to defend herself.
One other element affected the is
sue. She had whirled to answer Dams
cry just as the cougar left the ground
But she had still been in range. The
only effect was to lessen. in some de-
gree, the accuracy of the spring The