Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1923-05-12

gether.
The spot of secluded ground wa
covered with punches of galleta gras
upon which Sol began TO Craze. Gall
made a long halter OF his lariat t
keep the horse from wandering II
search of water Next Gale kicked
Off the cumbersome chapparejos, witt
their Tapping. tripping folds of leather
over his feet, and drawing a long rife
away into the shadows. In the soft
sand his steps made no sound The
twinkling light vanished occasionally
like Jack o'-lantern, and when 1t did
show it seemed still long way off
Gale was not seeking trouble or IN
viting danger. Water was the thing
that drove him. He must see who
these campers were and then decide
how to give Blanco Sol a drink.
STOPPING low, with bushy mesquites
between him and the fire, Gale adj
vanced The coyotes were In full
cry. Gale heard the tramping, stamp
ing thumps of many hoofs. The sound
worried him. Foot by foot he adj
vanced, and finally began to crawl.
The nearer he approached the head
of the arroyo where the well was To-
Gated, the thicker grew the desert veg
citation. He secured a favorable posi-
ton, and then rose to peep from be-
hind his covert
He saw a bright fire, not cooking
fire, for that would have been low and
red, but a cracking blaze of mes
quite. Three men were in sight, all
close to the burning sticks. They were
Mexicans and of the coarse type Of
raiders, rebels. bandits that Gale had
expected to see. A CLINT Of steel
caught his eye. Three short, shiny
carbines leaned against a rock. A lit
tie to the left, within the circle of
light, stood a square house made of
adobe bricks This house was a
Papagon Indian habitation. and a
month before had been occupied by
family that had been murdered or
laws. A rude corral showed dimly in
the edge of freight, and from black
mass within came the snort and stamp
and whinny of horses
Gale took in the scene In one quick
glance, then sank down at the foot
of the mesquite. He had naturally
expected to see more men But the
situation was by no means new. This
was one or part of one, of the raider
bands marrying the border. They
were stealing horses, or driving herd
already stolen. Gale revolved ques-
lions in mind. Had this trio of out
likely, for in that event they might
not have been so comfortable and care
free in camp. Were they waiting for
more members of their gang? That
was very probable. With Gale, how
ever, the most important considera-
ton was how to get his horse to wa
ter. Sol must have drink if 1t cost
a fight. There was stern reason for
Gale to hurry eastward along tn trail.
He thought 1t best to go back to
where he had left his horse and not
make any decisive move until day
light.
With the same noiseless care he
had exercised in the advance, Gale re-
treated until it was safe for him to
rise and walk on down the arroyo
He found Blanco Sol contentedly
Gale carried his saddle,
blankets and bags into the lee of a
little greasewood-cove mound, FROM
around which the wind had cut the
soil; and here, In a wash he risked |
building a fire. BY this time the wind I
was piercingly cold. Gales hands were
numb, and he moved them to and fro
IN the little blaze. Then he made |
coffee In a cup, cooked some slices OF |
bacon on the end of stick, and took |
l couple of hard biscuits from sad
1lebag. OF these his meal consisted. |
After that he removed the halter from
Blanco Sol, intending to leave him
Tree to Craze for while.
Then Gale returned to his little fire,
1t with short sticks OF
lead crossword and mesquite, and,
his blanket round his shout
iers. he sat down to warm himself
and to wait till it was time to bring
n the horse and tie him up.
The fire was inadequate, and Gale
was cold and wet with dew. hunger
md thirst were with him. His bones
,ched. and there was dull, deep
seated pain throbbing in his unhealed
wound.
Judged by the great average OF
deals and conventional standards Of
ife. Dick Gale was a starved, lonely,
suffering, miserable wretch. But in
lis case the judgment would have hit
,nly externals. would have missed the
-itaI inner truth. For Gale was happy
With a kind Of strange, wild glory in
he privations, the pains, the perils,
md the silence and solitude to be en-
Iured on this desert land.
He had a duty to a man who relied
m his services. He was cOmrade. a
- = .-ol,,abIo oily fo riding fight