Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-10-04
CHAPTER xIv-continued.

horses.
Guess we're ready" he said. "Pll
make the count" He went back along
the line, and on the return Madeline
heard him say several times, Nov,
everybody ride close to the horse in
front, and keep quiet till daylight
Then the snorting and pounding of the
big black horse in front of her told
Madeline that Stewart had mounted.
"All right we're off," he called.
Madeline lifted Majesty's bride and
let the roam go. The trail led in a
roundabout way through shallow gull
lies full of stone and brush washed
down by floods. At every turn now
Madeline expected to come upon wa
ter and the waiting pack-train. But
time passed, and miles Of climbing.
and no water or horses were met. Ex-
pectation in Madeline gave place to
desire; she was hungry.
Stewart kept on. 1t was eight o'clock
by Madeline's watch when, upon turn
ing into a wide hollow, she saw horses
grazing on spare grass, great pile of
canvas-covered bundles, and a fire
round which cowboys and two Mexi-
can women were busy.
Madeline sat her horse and reviewed
her followers as they rode up single
file. Her guests were in merry mood,
and they all talked at once.
Breakfast and rustle,' called
out Stewart, without ceremony.
hot 1nc 81
Helen did not show any marked con-
trast to the others. The hurry order
did not interfere with the meal being
somewhat in the nature of picnic.
As soon as the pack train was In
readiness Stewart started it Off In the
of shrub interspersed with rock and
cactus covered the slopes; and now all
the trail appeared to be uphill. The
pack-train forged ahead, and the trail
ing couples grew farther apart At
noon they got out of the foothills to
face the real ascent of the mountains.
Stewart waited for Madeline, and
as she came up he said: "We're going
to have storm. Shall call a halt
and make camp?"
Here? Oh mol What do you think
best?"
"Well, If we have a good healthy
thunderstorm 1t will be something new
for your friends. i think we'd be wise
to keep on the 60. There's no place
to make good camp If 1t rains, let
1t rain. The pack outfit is well COW
cred. We will have to get wet"
Surely" replied Madeline; and she
smiled at his inference She knew
what storm was In that country, and
her guests had yet to experience one.
IF 1t rains, let It rain"
Stewart rode on, and Madeline fol-
lowed. The way led in a winding
course through matted, storm
wrenched forest Of stunted trees. Even
up to this elevation the desert reached
with its gaunt hand. The clouds over
spreading the sky, hiding the sun,
made welcome change. The pack
train rested, and Stewart and Made
line waited for the party to come up.
Here he briefly explained to her that
the ranch some time in the night. The
air grew oppressive; the horses painted.
Sure it'll be hummer" said Stew.
art. "The first storm almost always Is
bad. l can feel it in the air.
The air, indeed, seemed to be
charged with heavy force that was
waiting to be liberated.
One by one the couples mounted to
the cedar forest, and the feminine
contingent detained eloquently for
rest. But there was to be no perma-
nent rest until night and then that de-
pended upon reaching the crags. The
pack-train wagged onward, and Stew
art fell in behind. The storm-center
gathered slowly around the peaks;
low rumble and bowl of thunder in
creased in frequence; slowly the light
shaded as smoky clouds rolled up; the
air grew sultrier, and the exasperating
breeze pulled few times and then
failed.
An hour later the party had climbed
high and was rounding the side of a
great bare ridge that long had hidden
the crags. The last burro of the pack
train plodded over the ridge out of
Madeline's sight. She looked back
ward down the slope, amused to see
her guests change YEARLY from side to
side in their saddles. Far below lay
the cedar fiat and the foothills Far
TO the west the sky was still clear.
with shafts of sunlight shooting down
from behind the encroaching clouds.
Stewart reached the summit Of the
ridge and, though only a few rods
ahead, he waved to her, sweeping his
hand round to what he saw beyond. 1t.
was an impressive gesture. and Made
line, never having climbed ss high as
this, anticipated much.
Majesty surmounted the last few
steps and, snorting, halted beside
Stewards black. To Madeline the
scene was as If the world had changed.
The ridge was mountain-top. 1t
dropped before her into black, stone
ridged, shrub-patched. many-canyoned