The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-08-31

between them Greasers and h-l!"
Don Carlos gave Stewart one long
malignant stare; then he threw back his
head, swept up the sombrero, and his
evil smile showed cleaning teeth.
"Senor-" he began.
With magnificent bound Stewart was
upon him. The guerrilla's cry was
throttled In his throat. A fierce
wrestling ensued, too swift to see
clearly; then heavy, sodden blows, and
Don Carlos was beaten TO the ground.
Stewart leaped back. Then, crouch
ing with his hands on the butts of
guns at his hips, he yelled, he thun-
dered at the guerrillas. He had been
quicker than panther, and now his
voice was SO terrible that it curdled
Madeline's blood, and the menace of
deadly violence in his crouching posi-
ton made her shut her eyes. But she
had to open them. In that single in
slant Nels and Monty had leaped to
Stewards side. Both were bent down.
with hands on the butts Of guns at
their hips. Nels' piercing yell seemed
to divide Monty's roar of rage. Then
they ceased, and echoes clapped from
the crags. The silence of those three
men crouching like tigers about to leap
was more menacing than the nerve
racking yells.
Then the guerrillas wavered and
broke and ran for their horses. Don
Carlos rolled over, rose, and staggered
away, to be helped upon his mount.
He looked back, his pale and bloody
face that Of thwarted demon. The
whole band got into action and were
gone in moment.
II knew it," declared Ambrose.
"Never seen a Greaser who could face
gun-play. That was some warm. And
never get over that. l reckon, Miss
Hammond, we're some lucky to avoid
trouble. Gene had his way, as you
seen. Well be maxim tracks for the
ranch in about two shakes"
"Why?" whispered Madeline, breath
lessly. She became conscious that she
was weak and shaken.
Because the guerrillas sure will get
their nerve back, and come sneakin'
on our trail or try to head us off by
ambushin'," replied Ambrose. That's
their way. Otherwise three cowboys
couldn't bluff a whole gang like that
Gene knows the nature of Greasers.
They're white-livered. But i reckon
we're in more danger now than before,
unless we get a good start down the
mountain. There! Genes calm.
Come! Hurry"
Helen had slipped down from her
vantage point, and therefore had not
seen the last act in that little camp
fire drama. 1t seemed, however, that
her desire for excitement was salts
fed, for her face was pale and she
trembled when she asked if the guer-
rillas were gone.
Ambrose hurried the three women
over the rough rocks, down the cliff.
The cowboys below were saddling
horses in haste. Swiftly, with regard
only for life and limb, Madeline, Helen,
and Christine were lowered by lassoes
and half carried down to the level. BY
the time they were safely down the
other members of the party appeared
on the cliff above. They were in ex-
cellent spirits, appearing to treat the
matter as huge joke.
Ambrose put Christine on a horse
and rode away through the pines;
frankie Slade did likewise with Helen
Stewart led Madeline's horse up to
her, helped her to mount. and spoke
one stern word, "Wait!" Then as fast
as one of the women reached the level
she was put upon horse and taken
away by cowboy escort. Few words
were spoken. Haste seemed to be the
great essential. The horses were
urged, and, once in the trail, spurred
and led into swift trot. One cowboy
drove up four pack-horses, and these
were hurriedly loaded with the partys
baggage. Castleton and his COM
panions mounted, and galloped off to
catch the others in the lead. This left
Madeline behind with Stewart and
Nels and Monty.
They're goin' to switch off at the
holler tibet heads near the trail few
miles down. Nels was saying, as he
frightened his saddle-girth. "Thet hol-
Ter heads into big canyon. Once in
tibet, it'll be every man fer hisself.
reckon there won't be anythin' wuss
than a rough ride"
Nels smiled reassuringly at Made
line, but he did not speak to her.
Monty took her canteen and filled it
at the spring and hung it over the
pommel Of her saddle. He put couple
of biscuits in the saddle-bag.
Don't fergit to take drink an
bite as you're ridin' along" he said.
"An' don't worry, Miss Majesty. Stew
art ii be with you, an me an Nels
hangin' on the back trail"
His somber and sullen face did not
change in its strange intensity, but
the look in his eyes Madeline felt she
would never forget. Left alone with
these three men, now stripped of all