, 1922-10-25

still on the trail. But the horse killed,
flight would be impossible, and what
would transpire thereafter she did not
dare to think. She had not forgotten
Simon's threat in regard to any attempt
to go down into the settlements. She
knew that 1t still held good.
or course, If Bruce made the excur-
sion, the sentry's target would be
somewhat different. He would shoot
him down as remorselessly as he would
shatter a lynx from a tree top.
The truth was that Linda had
guessed just right. Its the easiesr
way" Simon had said. They'll be
trying to get out in a very few days.
If the man-shoot straight and to KILL
If Linda, plug the horse and bring her
here behind the saddle"
Linda turned softly, then started
back. She did not even give n sec
ond's thought to the folly of trying to
break through. She watched the SEN
tinel over her shoulder and saw him
turn about. Far distant though he
was, she could tell by the movement
ne made that he had discovered her.
h was almost four hundred yards
away by then. and she dashed her
horse into a gallop. The man cried
to her to halt, a sound that came dim
and strange through the burn. and
then a bullet sent up a cloud of ashes
n few feet to one SIDE. But the range ,
was too far even for the Turner's, and
she only urged her horse to q faster
pace.
Sha flow dnun fha nnrrN,- trau
turned into the main trail, and gal
loped wildly toward home. But the
sentry did not follow her. He valued
his precious life too much for that.
He had no intention of Offering him
self MS n 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 he
fall growth of alfalfa. The two men
walked slowly away from the workers,
toward the fringe of woods.
'It looks as If well 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, IL
you've done that"
Wont you wait till Tve told you
how 1t happened? 1t wasn't Bruce; 1t
was Linda. For some reason j can't
dope out, she went up in the big burn
back of me and saw me-when ! was
too far off to shoot her horse. Then
she rode back like Il witch. They'll
not take that trail again"
1T meal 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"
mot necessarily. / don't know how
many guns they've got. IL n of you
were worth our salt, you'd find out
those things. l wish Dave was here"
And Simon spoke the truth for once
in his life; he did miss Dave. And ii
was not that there had been any love
lost between them. But the truth was
9iAiOA h1N@A NOhlu hafoH
admitted 1.-THE weaker mans cunning
had been ofethe greatest aid to his
chief. Simon needed 1t sorely now.
And we can't wait till tomorrow
night-because we've got the moon
then" Young Bill added. 'Just a new
moon, but it will prevent a surprise
attack. l suppose you still have hopes
of Dave coming back?"
~ 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.
l 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 I'M
dertones of passion. The truth was
hat he had slowly become aware thai
Young Bill vas 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 lntentness about
his facial lines when he turned pack
to Simon. You haven't missed any