The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1922-12-07

ed and was peering ahead in evident
caution. Mercedes horse began to
stamp lmpatiently, raised his ears and
head, and acted as If ne was about to
neigh.
A warning "hist" from Laid babe
DICK put a Quietins hand on the
horse. Lash came noiselessly forward
to join his companion. The two then
listened and watched.
Presently Lash went to the rear
and Ladd started ahead. The prog
ress now, however, was considerably
slower, not owing to a bad road-for
that became better-but probably ow-
Ing to caution exercised by the cow
boy guide, At the end of a half hour
this marked deliberatlon changed, and
the horses followed Ladds at a gait
that put Gale to his best walking
PAGES
His steps were halted by Ladd's &C.
tons. The cowboy refined in his horse,
listened moment then swung down
out Of the saddle. He raised a eau
tlOnlng hand to the others, then
slipped into the gloom and diSap-
peared. Gale marked that the halt
had been made In a ridged and cut-up
pass between low mpSas. TO the right,
up under the lodges some distance
away, stood two square black objects,
too uniform, he thought, to be rocks.
While he was peerlng at them, uncer-
tain what to think, the shrill whistle
Of horse pealed out, to be followed
by the rattllng of hoofs on hard stone.
Then a dog banked. At the same
moment that Ladd hurriedly ap-
peared in the road a light Shone out
and danced before one of the square
black objects.
keep close an don't make no
noise" he whispered, and led his
horse at right angles off the road
Gale followed, leading Mercedes
horse, AS he turned he observed that
Lash also had dismountcd.
TO keep closely at Ladd's heels
without brushing the cactus or stun
bling over rocks and depressons was
task Gale found impossible. It was
no easy matter to lead a spirited horse
through the dark, winding lanes walled
by thOrns. Dick saw that the travel
was fast, but by no means nolselesS.
The pack animals at times crashed and
ripped through the narrow places. It
seemed to Gale that anyone within
a mile could have heard these sounds
Presently Ladd led out into &
wider lane that appeared to run
straight. The cowboy mounted his
horse, and this convinced Gale that
they had circled back to the road
The march proceeded then once more
at a good, steady, silent walk. When
Dick consulted his watch he was
amazed to see the hour was still early.
He asked Mercedes If she was cold
and she answered that she was, speak
ing especially of her feet, which were
growing numb. Then she asked to be
helped down to walk awhile. At first
she was cold and lame, and accepted
the helping hand Dick proffered After
a little, however, she recovered and
went on without assistance. They
had reached the summit of what was
evidently a high ridge sloped with
much greater Steepness on the far
side. 1t was only after a few more
forward steps, however, that Dick
could see down the slope. Then full
In view flashed bright campfire
around which clustered group of
dark figures. They were enCamped in
a wide arroyo, where horses could be
seen grazing in black patches of grass
between clusters Of trees. A second
look at the campers told Gale they
were MeXicans. At this moment Lash
came forward to join Ladd, and the
two spent IL long, uninterrupted mo-
ment studying the arroyo. \ hoarse
laugh. faint yet distinct, noated upon
the: cool wind