Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-12-05


dark line of advancing horsemen;
then a riderless steed sheered off to
the right. Blanco Sol seemed to turn
rs on a pivot and charged back
toward the lower end of the valley.
He circled over to Gales right and
stretched out into his run. There
were noY five raiders in pursuit, and
they came sweeping down, yelling and
shooting, evidently sure Of their
quarry. Ladd reserved his fire. He
kept turning from back to front in
his saddle.
Manjfestly he intended to try to
lead the raiders round in frSnt of
Gales position, and, presently, Gale
saw he was going TO succeed. The
raiders, riding like vaqueros, swept
on in a curve, cutting of what dis
tance they could. Blanco Sol pound
ed by, his rapid, rhythmic hOofbeats
plainly to be heard. He was running
easily.
Gale tried to still the jump of heart
and pulse, and turned his eye again
on the nearest purSuer This raider
was crossing in, his carbine held
muzzle up in his right hand, and he
was coming swiftly. 1t was long
shot, upward of five hundred yards.
Gale had not time to adjust the sights
of the Remington, but he knew the
gun and, holding coarsely upon the
swiftly moving blot, he began to shoot
The rifle was automatic; Gale needed
only to pull the trigger. Swiftly he
worked it. Suddenly the leading
horse leaped convulsively, not up nor
aside, but straight ahead, and then
he crashed to the ground, throwing his
rider like q catapult and then Slid
and rolled. He half got up, fell back,
and kicked; but his rider never moved.
The other rangers sawed the relns
Of plunging steeds and whirled to
escape the unseen battery. Gale
slipped a fresh clip into the maga-
zine Of his rifle. He restrained him
self from useless firing and gave eager
eye to the duel below. Ladd began to
shoot while Sol was running The
.4O5 rang out sharply-then again
The heavy bullets streaked the dust
MI the way across the valley. The
raiders spurred madly In pursuit
loading and firing. They shot ter
times while Ladd shot once, and ali
In vain; and on Ladd's sixth shot o
raider toppled backward, threw his
carbine and fell with his foot catching
In stirrup. The frightened horse
plunged away, dragging him in a patti
of dust.
Ladd had emptied magazine, ant
now BlancO Sol quickened and length
ened his running stride. He ran away
from his purSuers. Then it was thai
the rangers ruse was OWNED by the
raiders. They hauled sharply up ant
seemed to be comforting. But that
was a fatal mistake. Blanco Sol wal
seen to break his gait and slow dOwr
in several jumps, then square away
and stand stockstill. Ladd fired at the
closely grouped raiders. An instant
passed. Then Gale heard the spat o;
n bullet out in front, saw q puff 0.
dust, then heard the lead strike the
rocks and 90 whining away. And it wa,
after this that one Of the raiders fel
prone from his saddle. The steel
iacketed 400 had gone through hin
on its uninterrupted way to hum pas
Gales position.
The remaining two raiders fran
tically spurred their horses and fled VI
the valley. Ladd sent Sol after them
The raiders split, one making for thu
eastern outlet, the other circling baCl
of the mesquites. Ladd kept on aftel
the latter. Then puffS Of white SmOkl
and rife shots family cracking told O.
Jim LaShs hand in the game. How
ever. he succeeded only in driving tht
railer back into the valley. But Ladt
had turned the other hOrSeman, ant
now it appeared the two raiders wer
between Lash above on the stOn,
slope and Ladd below on the level
There was desperate riding on par
of the raiders to keep from beinl
hemnIed In closer. Only one OF them
got away, and he came riding for life
down under the eastern wall. Blanco
Sol settled into his graceful, beautiful
swing. He gained steadily, though he
was far from extending himself.
Some few hundred rods to the left
of Gale the raider put his horse to the
weathered slope He began to Climb.
ZigZag they went up and up, and when
Ladd reached the edge Of the slope
they were high along the cracked ana
guttered rampant. Oncc-twice Laid
raised the long rifle, but each time he
lowered it. Gale OWNED that the
rangers restraint was not on account
OF the Mexican, but for that valiant
and faithful horse. Up and up he
went, and the yellow dust clouds rose,
and an avalanche rolled rafting and
cracking down the slope. 1t was be-
yond belief that horse, burdened or
unburdcned, could find footing and
hold it upon that wall of narrow
ledges and inverted, slanting gullies.
But he climbed on, sure-foOted as a