Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1923-04-28

/ stamp fmpafTenfIy. raised his ears and
head, and acted as IL he was about tC
neigh
A warning "hist" from Ladd bads
Dick put a quieting 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 bad rOad-for
that became better-but probably ow-
ing TO caution exercised by the cow
boy guide AT the end Of half hour
this marked elaboration changed, and
the horses followed Ladd's at gait
that put Gale to his best walking
PAGES.
His steps were halted by Ladd's ac-
tons The cowboy refined in his horse,
listened moment, then swung down
out Of the saddle. He raised a eau
tioning hand to the others, then
slipped into the gloom and disap-
peared. Gale marked that the halt
had been made In rldged and cut-up
pass between low mesas. 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 peering at them, uncer-
tain what TO think, the shrill whistle
of horse pealed out, to be followed
by the rafting of hOOfs on hard stone.
Then a dog barked At the same
moment that Ladd hurrledly APP
peared In the road 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 dismounted.
To keep closely at Ladd's heels
without brushing the cactus or STUN
bling over rocks and depressions was
task Gale found impossible. II 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 nOiseless
The pack animals at times crashed and
ripped through the narrow places. 1t
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 II she was cold,
and she answered that she was, speak
ing especially of her feet, which were
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 a 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 long. uninterrupted mo-
ment studying the arroyo. A hoarse
laugh faint yet distinct, fioated upon |
the cool wind.
"Well, Laddy, what r you maxim Of
that OUTFIT" inquired Lash, speaking |
softly.
"Same as any OF them raider out
fits" replied Ladd They're across
the line for beef. But they'll run off