Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1922-11-17

would transpIre thereafter she I'D not
dare to think. She had not forgotten
Simon's threat in regard to any attempt
to go down into the settlements. Shs
knew that it stiH held good.
OF course, II Bruce made the excHr-
sion, the sentry's target would be
somewhat different. lie would shoot
him down as remorseIessly as he would
shatter lynx from a tree top.
The truth was thar Linda had
guessed just right. Its the easiest
way" Simon had said. They'll be
trying to get ont in very few days
II the man-shoot straight ard 10 xiii
II Linda. plug the horse and bring her
here behind the saddle
Linda turned softly, then started
back She did not even give a 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
he made that he had discovered her.
She 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. AMI
then bullet sent up a cloud OF ashes
a few feet to one sde. But the range
was too far even for the Turner's. and
she only urged her horse to a faster
pace.
She flew down the narrow trail,
turned into the main trail, and gal
Ioped 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 as a target 10 Bruee's rifle as he
neared the house. He headed back 10
report to Simon.
Young BiIl-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
1T looks as If we'lI 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 hlm7 Young Bill. IL
you've done that
Wont you wait till I've told you
how IT happened? It wasn't Bruce; IL
was Linda For some reason l can't
dope ont. she went up in the big burn
back Of me and saw m-when I was
too far off TO shoot her horse. Then
she rode back like a witch They'll
not take that trail again"
'sIr means one OF two things Simon
said after d pause. -One OF them is
10 starye 'em out II won't take long
Their supplies won't last forever. The
other is to call the clan and attack
tonight
And thar means loss of life
Not necessarily. iou'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 il
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 row.
and we can't wait till tomorrow
night-because we've got the moon
then" Young Bill addict Just new
moon. but it will prevent surprise
attack I suppose you still have hopes
of Dave coming backT
II don't see why not III venturs
to say now he's of on some good piece
of business-dOing something Esne Of
the rest OF you have thought of. He'll
come riding back one II these days
with something actually accomplished.
I 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 ruil
attention, but rather was gazing Of
unfamiliar speculation in his eyes
toward the forests beyond.
Simon's impulse was 10 follow the
gaze; yet he would not yield 10 It.
''Well?" he demanded. I'm not talk
ing TO amuse myself
The younger man seemed 10 start.
His eyes were haif-cIosed. and there
was strange look OF intentness about
his facial lines when he turned back
to Simon. you haven't missed any
stockT' he asked abruptly.
SimOn's eyes widened. NO. Why7"
Look rhere-Ovsr the forest
Young BIZ pointed. Simon shielded
bis eyes from the sunset glare aud
studied fhe blue-green skyline above
the fringe u pines. There gere many
r0tesQue black birds wheeling 90