The Snowflake herald., 1922-12-29

lhfs precious rrre too much FOR that.
He had no intention of offering him.
self as a target to Bruce's rifle as he
neared the house He headed back to
report to Simon
Young Bill--for such had been the
identity of the sentry-found his chief
in the large field not far distant from
where Bruce had been confined. The
man was supervising the harvest of the
fall growth of alfalfa. The two men
walked slowly away from the workers,
toward the fringe of woods.
"It looks as If we'll have to adopt
rough measures, after ALL" Young Bill
began.
Simon turned with flushing face.
'Do you mean you let him get past
you-and missed him? Young Bill, II
you've done that"
won't you wait till I've told you
how 1t happened? 1t wasn't Bruce; 1t
was Linda For some reason l can't
dope out, she went up in the big burn
back of me and saw me-when l was
too far off to shoot her horse. Then
she rode back like witch. They'll
not take that trail again"
''It means one Of two things" Simon
said after a pause "One Of them Is
to starve 'em out. 1t won't take long
Their supplies won't last forever. The
other is to call the clan and attack
tonight"
"And that means loss Of life."
"Not necessarily. / don't know how
many guns they've got. If any Of you
were worth your salt, you'd find out
those things. / wish Dave was here
And Simon spoke the truth for once
in his life; he did miss Dave And it
was not that there had been any love
lost between them. But the truth was
although Simon never would have
admitted 1.-THE weaker mans cunning
had been of the greatest aid to his
chief. Simon needed it sorely now
"And we can't wait till tomorrow
night-because we've got the moon
them" Young Bill added. "Just q new
moon, but it will prevent a surprise
attack. l suppose you still have hopes
of Dave coming back?"
II don't see why not. I'll venture
to say now he's off on some good piece
OF busineSs-doing something none of
the rest of you have thought of. He'll
come riding back one of these days
with something actually accomplished
/ see no reason for thinking that he's
dead. Bruce hasn't had any chance
at him that l know of. But if thought
he waS-there'd be no more waiting.
We'd tear down that nest tonight"
Simon spoke in his usual voice
with the same emphasis, the same un-
dertOnes of passion. The truth was
that he had slowly become aware that
Young Bill was not giving him his full
attention, but rather was gazing Off
unfamiliar speculation in his eyes
toward the forests beyond.
Simon's impulse was to follow the
gaze; yet he would not yield to 1t.
'Well?" he demanded. I'm not talk
ing to amuse myself
The younger man seemed to start.
His eyes were half-closed; and there
was a strange look of intentness about
his facial lines when he turned back
to Simon. "You haven't missed any
stock?" he asked abruptly.
Simon's eyes widened. "NO Why?
Look there-over the forest
Young Bill pointed. Simon shielded
his eyes from the sunset glare and
studied the blue-green skyline above
the fringe of pines. There were many
grotesque, black birds wheeling on
slow wings above the spot. Now and
then they dropped down, out of sight
behind the trees.
"BuZzards! Simon exclaimed.
'Yes," Young Bill answered quietly.
"You see, it isn't much over mile
from FOlger's hOuSe-in the deep
woods. There's something dead there,
Simon. And / think we'd better look
to see what it is"
''YOu think" Then Simon hesi-
tated and looked again with redden-
Ing eyes toward the gliding buzzards.
II think-that maybe we're going
to find Dave" Young Bill replied.
CHAPTER XVI