The St. Johns herald., 1921-08-18
CHAPTER xIv-contlnued.


 '"That is why I am coming back, she insisted. q told you could GhOot."
 ! "AlI right" he grinned cheerfuliy' "cOTne along, then only you keep oown out of the way. and let me do the sniping Ther0I now you lost me shot Did you see that buck dooge between those two rocksf Hell trS that trick again presently.
 Olga came back, creeping out eau tiOusly and finding place siignCly behind where he lay. She helo UO one weapon, laying the other on tne rocks. together with belt filled "lIn cartridges. Shelby barely swept hIs eyes towarG her, his whole attention concentrateu on what was occurring below. some thing was taking place down tnere' but exactly what could not immediate ly be determined. He had perceiVeu men moving beyond range, dodgng along from rock to rock, mere gltmpses of dark figures, yet plainly enough Indians. Once he was almost sure he distinguished a white man, through rift In a gully, but the feeting view gained was not convincing. NeVer- theless he had no doubt but what there were white men present. The method of attack was too bold, ana determined, for savages alone; It was not the Sioux idea of war. Besides the one man who would have a real object in this assault would be Lauo. Beyond all question 1t was he who was behind the effort, urged on by personal hatred. as well as a desire to gain possession of Olga. Shelby wondered what the fellow might know. Could he be aware of the escape or Macklin? and that Pancha had ridden forth in search for help3 If he dld that might account for his desperate eagerness to overcome what resistance they could offer before she returned. Yet probably not. for If he did know the coward in him would cause him to seek flight before he could be cOrnered in this place, It was far more likely that he believed himself opposed mere ly by Shelby and the girl. armed with a revolver or two. and having a Iim- ited supply of ammunition. He saw little peril in the adventure, and ng- ured that a quick, sharp rush, his war .fOrs leapiDg from covert to covert, would win an easy victory. He would keep up a steady rife fire from be- hind the rocks, forcing the defenders to keep under cover, and then sudden ly send a charging party to end the affair.
 Shelby smiled grimly at the mental picture, never turning his head as he spoke to the silent girl beside him.
 Flows Macklinr"
 "Dead, I think, Tom. He didn't seem to breathe even faintly."
 ''The poor devil; 1t will be mighty hard on Paneha though. You got your gun2"
 "Yes."
 "AlI loaded, I reckon; If not you better fill it up. There Is goin' to be h-l to pay presently. When say 80, you let drive. Keep down out O sight till then, but when you begin to pump make her act like a gatling."
 'But can't those rifiemen see you there?"
 "WeII, it dpesn't look much like they can, the way they are pepperin' that rock. Nice little tune the bucks are bIayln'. That's what makes me think something's up; they aim to keep us down cut O sight, so we won't glimpse what's comin'. 'Tain't Indian nature to waste lead that way. Laud's back there somewhere playin' this game. think I got sight of the sneakin' cuss a minute ago, but he was out of range"
 "YOu believe they intend to try and get up herer
 'SThat's my present notion; they don't look for much trouble either. I. Is ap to us to give that outfit the surprise of their lives"
 She reached out her hand and found his, as it rested on the belt of cart ridges.
 'aToml"
 "Yes," he answered without remov- ing his gaze from the trail below.
 Don't worry about me-" she said earnestly. You know what I mean l; don't think about me when they do come. I'll take care of myself, all right"
 He cast a quick glance into her face.
 "Sure, I know you will You are a trump, a good pardner. I thought that for a long while. You won't forget what told you"
 "FIl not forget"