Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-12-29

to Go Forward More Slowly.
probation. Gale loved the horse, and
was loved in return. They had saved
each others lives, and had spent long
days and nights of desert solitude to-
gether.
The spot of secluded ground was
covered with punches of galleta grass
upon which Sol began to Craze. Gale
made long halter of his lariat to
keep the horse from wandering In
search of water Next Gale kicked
off the cumbersome chapparejos, with
their Tapping, tripping folds of leather
over his feet, and drawing long rifle
from his saddle sheath, he slipped
away into the shadows. In the soft
sand his steps made no sound. The
twinkling light vanished occasionally.
like a Jack-o-lantern, and when it did
show it seemed still long way off.
Gale was not seeking trouble or in
viting danger. Water was the thing
that drove him. He must see who
these campers were, and then decide
how to give Blanco Sol drink.
STOPPING low, with bushy mesquites
between him and the fire, Gale ad-
vanced. The coyotes were In full
cry. Gale heard the tramping. stamp
ing thumps of many hoofs The sound
worried him. Foot by foot he adj
vanced, and finally began to crawl.
The nearer he approached the head
of the arroyo, where the well was To-
Gated the thicker grew the desert veg
citation He secured a favorable posi-
tion, and then rose to peep from be-
hind his covert.
He saw a bright fire. not cooking
fire, for that would have been low and
red, but a cracking blaze of mes
quite. Three men were in sight, all
close to the burning sticks. They were
Mexicans and of the coarse type of
raiders, rebels, bandits that Gale had
expected to see. A CLINT of steel
caught his eye Three short, shiny
carbines leaned against a rock. A lit
tie to the left, within the circle of
light, stood a square house made of
adobe bricks. This house was a
Papagon Indian nabitation, and a
month before had been occupied by a
family that had been murdered or
driven off by a rowing band of out
laws. A rude corral showed dimly in
the edge Of freight, and from a black
mass within came the snort and stamp
and whinny of horses.
Gale took in the scene in one quick
glance, then sank down at the foot
of the mesquite He had naturally
expected to see more men. But the
situation was by no means new This
vas one. or part of one, of the raider
bands marrying the border. They
were stealing horses, or driving a herd
already stolen. Gale revolved Ques-
lions in mind. Had this trio of out
laws run across Ladd? 1t was not
likely, for in that event they might
not have been 50 comfortable and care
free in camp. Were they waiting for
more members of their gang? That
was very probable. With Gale, how
ever, the most important coDs;dera-
ton was how TO get his morse TO w0-
ter. Sol must have a drink if it cost
fight. There was stern reason for
Gale to hurry eastward along the trail.
He thought it best to go back TO
where he had left his horse and not
make any decisive move until day
light.
With the same noiseless care he
had exercised in the advance, Gale re-
treated until it was safe for him to
rise and walk on down the arroyo.
He found Blanco Sol contentedly
grazing. Gale carried his saddle,
blankets and bags into tie lee of q
little greasewood-coyered mound, from
around which the wind had cut the
soil; and here in a wash, he risked
building fire. BY this time the wind
was piercingly cold. Gales hands were
numb. and he moved them to and frC
in the little blaze. Then he made
coffee in a cup. cooked some slices OF
bacon ON the ead of stick, and toos
a couple of hard biscuits from a sad
dlebag. OF these his meal consisted
After that he removed the batter from
Blanco sol, intending to leave Lin
free to craze for while.
Then Gale returned to lis little fire
replenished it with shcrt sticks o
dead greasewood and mesauite. and
wrapping his blan'.et round his shoul
ders. he sat down to warm himSei
and to wait till it was time to brin,
in the horse and tie him ~.
The fire was inadequate, AMI Gal
was cold and wet with dew Iinn~o
and thirst were with him. His bono
ached. and there was dull dec
seated pain throbbing in his unhealc
wound