River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1923-07-12
Observation-Disclosures
Copyright 1922. by J. Allan Dunn
Continued from page seven)

Continued from page seven)
They crouched, listening to the soft
padded sounds that told of the APP
proach of man and horse. These
ceased. Still they could see nothing.
Then there came a sharp shrill whistle,
answered from the levels. Followed
instantly the thud of galloping ponies
going at top speed parallel, one be-
tween the watchers and the tent as
they saw the swift shadow shade the
glow for an instant, the other between
the tent and the creek. There was a
sharp swishing as of something whip
ping brush.
"Yi-yi-yippy!" The cries rang out
exultant as the horses dashed by the
tunnel The light in the tent wavered,
went out There was shout Of sur
prise and dismay, twang like the
swapping of a mighty bow-string and
then came the whoops of the trio from
the Three Star as they realized what
the attempt had been and how 1t had
failed.
Two riders, trailing rope, had
raced down the valley hoping to sweep
away the tent, to send It's occupants
sprawling, its contents scattered In
confusion Of which advantage would
be taken to chase the three off their
claims, taken by surprise, made ridicu-
louS.
Sandy and Sam, searching for con-
venient tent site, had happened upon
a mass of outcrop, overgrown by
brush. Over this they had pitched the
tent, using the rock for table, propping
their dummies about it. If dynamite
was flung 1t would find something to
work against. They had not antici-
pated the use of the rope to demOlish
the canvas, any more than the two
riders had expected to bring up
against q boulder. The impact, with
their ponies spurred, urged on by. their
shouts to their limit, tore the cinches
of one saddle loose, jerked it from the
horse and catapulted the unprepared
rider over it's head, flying through the
air to land heavily, while his mount,
unencumbered, frightened, went ca
reering off leaving its breathless mas
ter stunned amid the sage.
AS the cinches had given way at
one end, the line itself had parted at
the other The second pony had STUN
bled sidewise, rolling before the man
was free from the saddle. They could
hear 1t thrashing in the willows, the
rider cursing as he tried to remount
while Sandy ran cat-footed down the
hill, leaving Mormon and Sam to
handle the other.
The two found their man grooming
and limp.
Don't believe he's busted any
thing" announced Sam, "1ess he's
druv his neck inter his shoulders. Got
his saddle. MOrmon?"
"Yep. Want the roper"
They trussed their captive with the
lariat still snubbed to his saddle-horn.
Down in the willows there was a flash,
a report, a scurrying flight punctuated
by an oath almost as vivid as the shot
Sandy came up the hill toward them.
"AIiss himT asked Mormon.
at was sure dahk" said Sandy,
"and ! hated to plug the hawss. So /
only took one shot to cheer him on his
way. He was mountin' at the time
an it was a snapshot. aimed at the
seat of his pants. / w'udn't be sur
prised but what he's ridin' soft of one
sided. Who you got here? Tote him
downhill. / don't believe they busted
the lantern. Well take look at him."
Sandy retrieved the lantern from
the collapsed canvas and lit it. Nor
mon and Sam took the senseless man