Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-03-15

mosquitoes. ManifestIy this was what
Laid had been awaiting. He took the
long 400 from its sheath and tried
the lever. Then he lifted a cartridge
belt from the pommel of his saddle.
Every ring held shell and these
shells were four inches long. He
buckled the belt round him.
Come on, Dick"
Laid led the way down the slope
until he reached a position chat com.
manded the rising Of the trail from
a level. 1t was the onl7 place man
or horse could leave the valley for
the pass.
"Dick, here's your stand. If any
raider rides in range take crack at
him. Now I want the lend Of
Jour hoss"
"Blanco Sol!' exclaimed Gale, more
in amaze that Ladd should ask for the
horse than in reluctance. to lend him.
''Will you let me have him?' Laid
repeated, almost CURLY.
Certainly, Laddy."
A smile momentarily chased the
dark, cold gloom that had set upon
the rangers lean face.
"Shore | appreciate it, Dick. I
! know how you care for that boss. /
guess mebbe Charley Laid has loved
boss An one not so good as Sol.
was only tryin' your nerve, Dick,
askin' you without, tellin' my plan.
Sol won't get a scratch, you can
gamble on that! I'll ride him down
into the valley an pull the Greasers
out into the open They've got Short
ranged carbines. They can't keep out
of range of the .405, an I'll be takin'
the dust of their lead. They can't gain
on Sol, an he'll run them down when
/ want. Can you beat it?'
mo. It's great, But sup
pose raider comes out on Blanco
Diablo?"
II reckon that's the cne weak place
in my plan. But if they do, well, Sol
can outrun Diablo An I can always
kill the white devil -
Ladd's strange hate of the horse
showed in the passion of his last
words in his hardening jaw and grim
set lips.
Gales hand went swiftly to the
rangers shoulder.
lady. Don't kill Diablo unless
it's to save your life."
"All right. But by Cd, If 4 get
a chance I'll make Blanco Sol run him
off his legs!''
He spoke no more and set about
changing the length of Soils stirrups.
When he had them adjusted to suit, he
mounted and rode down the trail and
out upon the level He rode leisurely
| as If merely going to water his horse.
| The long black rifle lying across his
saddle, however. was ominous.
Gale securely tied the other horse
to mesquite at hand, and took a
| position behind low rock over which
he could easily see and shoot whea
necessary. Ladd rode a quarter Of a
mile out upon the flat before anything
happened. Then a whistle rent the
| still, cold air. A horse had seen or
scented Blanco Sol The whistle was
prolonged, faint, but clear. It made
the blood thrum in Gales ears. Sol
halted His head shot up with the
old, wild, spirited sweep. Gale leveled
his glass at the patch of mesquites.
He saw the raiders running to an open
| place, pointing, gesticulating. Then
he got only white and dark CLEANS of
moving bodies. Evidently that moment
was one of boots, guns and saddles
for the raiders.
Then Gale saw a rider gallop
swiftly from the group toward the far
Their outlet of the valley. This might
have been owing to characteristic
cowardice; but it was more likely a
move of the raiders to make sure OF
retreat Undoubtedly Laid saw this
galloping horseman. A few waiting
moments ensued. The galloping horse
man reached the slope, began to climb,
With naked eyes Gale saw a puff of
white smoke spring out of the rocks.
Then the. raider wheeled his plunging
horse back to the level, and went rae
ing wildly down the valley.
The compact bunch Of bays and
blacks seemed to break apart and
spread rapidly from the edge of the
mesouites. Puffs Of white smoke in
dicated firing, and showed the nature
Of the raiders excitement. They were
far out of ordinary range; but they
spurred toward Ladd, shooting as they
rode. The raiders bullets, striking
low, were skipping along the hard,
bare floor of the valley. Then Laid
raised the long rife. There was no
smoke, but three high, spanging re-
ports rang out. A gap opened in the
dark line of advancing horsemen:
then a riderless stoed sheered off to
the right. Blanco Sol seemed to turn
as on 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 now five raiders in pursuit, and
they came sweeping down, yelling and
shooting. evidently sure of their
quarry. Laid reserved his fire. He
kept turning from back to front in
his saddle.
Manifestly he intended to try to
lead the raiders round in front of
Gales position, and, presently. Gale
saw he was going to succeed. The
raiders. riding like vaqueros, swept
-o o1++inO off what die.