The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-11-14
it'll break that brOnch's back"

"His back won't break so easy. -.
Dick, take plenty of shells for your
Remington. An don't forget your
field glass"
In less than an hour after the time
of the raid the three rangers, heavily
armed and superbly mounted on fresh
horses, rode out on the trail. AS Gale
turned to look back from the far bank
of Forlorn river. he saw Nell waving
a white scarf. He stood high in his
stirrups and waved his sOmbrerO.
Then the mesquite hid the girls slight
figure and Gale wheeled grim-faced
to follow the rangers.
They rode in single file with Ladd
in the lead. He took Decline course
for the white escarpment pointed out
by the Yaqui; and nothing save deep
washes and impossible patches Of
cactus or rocks made him swerve
from it.
At noon the rangers got out Of the
thick cactus. The desert floor inclined
perceptibly upward. When Gale got
an unobstructed view Of the slope Of
the escarpment he located the raiders
and horses. In another hours travel
the rangers could see with naked eyes
a long, faint moving streak Of black
and-white dots.
'They're headin' for that yellow
pass" said Ladd, pointing to break
in the eastern end Of the escarpment.
"When they get out of sight We'll
hot hn1
the Yaqui spoke of lays in the pass
The rangers Travelled swiftly over
the remaining miles Of level desert
leading to the ascent of the escarp-
ment. When they achieved the gate
way of the pass the sun was low in
the west. Ladd gave the word to
tie up horses and 60 forward on foot.
The narrow neck Of the pass opened
and descended into valley half mile
wide, perhaps twice that in length,
1t had apparently unscalable slopes of
weathered rock leading up to beetling
walls.
keep down, boys" said Ladd.
"There's the waterhole, an bosses
have sharp eyes. Shore the Iaqui
tiggered this place. 1 never seen its
like for a trap"
Both white and black horses showed
against the green, and thin curling
column of blue smoke rose lazily from
amid the mosquitoes.
II reckon we'd better wait till dark,
or mebby daylight" said Jim Lash.
LET me figger some. Dick, what
do you make of the outlet to this
hole? Looks rough to me-"
With his glass Gale studied the mar
row construction of walls and rough
ened rising floor.
daddy, it's harder to get out at
that end than here" he replied.
ashore that's hard enough. Let me
have look. Well. boys it don't
take no figgerin' for this job. Jim,
I'll want you at the other end blockin'
the pass when we're ready to start"
"When II that be?' inquired Jim.
"Soon as it's light enough in the
mornin' That Greaser outfit will hang
till tomorrow. There's no sure water
ahead for two days, you remember"
vantage point and returned to their
horses, which they united and left
farther round among broken sections
Of cliff. For the horses It was a dry,
hungry camp, but the rangers built a
fire and had their short though
Strengthening meal.
Jim Lash rolled in his saddle
blanket, his feet near the fire, and
went to sleep. Ladd told Gale to do
likewise while he kept the fire up and
waited until it was late enough for
Jim to undertake circling round the
raiders. When Gale awakened, Jim
was up saddling his horse, and Ladd
was talking low.
With Ladd leading, they moved
away into the gloom. Advance was
exceedingly slow, careful, silent. Final
ly the trail showed pale in the gloom.
and eastern stars twinkled between
the lofty ramparts Of the pass.
Ladd halted and stood silent a mo-
ment. Luck again." he whispered.
THE winds in your face, Jim. The
horses won't scent you. Try to get up
as high as this at the other end Wait
till daylight before riskin' a loose
slope. I'll be ridln' the job early.
That's ALL"
Ladd's cool, easy speech was scarce
~ significant of the perilous under
taking. Lash moved very slowly
away, leading his horse. Then Ladd
touched Dicks arm, and turned back
up the trail. 49,,
Together they picked a way back
through the winding recesses of cliff
The campfire was smoldering. Ladd
replenished it and lay down to get a
few hours sleep, while Gale kept
watch. The after part of the night
wore on till the paling of stars, the
thickening of gloom indicated the
dark hour before dawn. Ladd awoke
before the faintest gray appeared
The rangers ate and drank. When the
black did tighten to gray they sad
died the horses and led them out to