Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1923-01-05

reIuSeQ 10 rue one OI DelullS )
whites. He was quick and cold.
sect me a long-range rifle an lots
of shells. Rustic, now" he said. 81
want a gun that'l outshoot the dinky
little carbines an muskets used by
the rebels. Trot one out an be quick"
1--WE got a .4O5, a long-barreled
heavy rifle that1l shoot a mile. 1 use
it for mountain sheep. But Laddy,
it'll break that brOnch's back"
"His back won't break so easy.
Dick, take plenty of shells for your
Remington. An don't forget your
field glass"
In less than an hour after the time
of the raid the three rangers, heavily
armed and superbly mounted on fresh
horses, rode out IN the trail. AS Gale
turned to look back from the far bank
of Forlorn river, he saw Nell waving
a white scarf. He stood high in his
stirrups and waved his sombrero.
Then the mesquite hid the girls slight
figure, and Gale wheeled grim-faced
to follow the rangers.
They rode in single file with Laid
in the lead. He took a Decline course
for the white escarpment pointed out
by the Yaqui; and nothing save deep
washes and impossible patches of
cactus or rocks made him swerve
from 1t.
At noon the rangers got out of the
thick cactus. The desert floor inclined
~perceptibly upward. When Gale got
an unobstructed view of the slope of
the escarpment he located the raiders
and horses. In another hours travel
the rangers could see with naked eyes
a long, faint moving streak of black
and-white dots.
They're headin' for that yellow
pass" said Ladd, pointing to a break
In the eastern end of the escarpment.
"When they get out of sight Wen
rustic. I'm thinkin' that waterhole
the Yaqui spoke of lays In the pass"
The rangers travelled swiftly over
the remaining miles of level desert
leading to the ascent of the escarp-
ment. When they achieved the gate
way of the pass the sun was low in
tile west. AdQu gave thC WVAu "
tie up horses and go forward on foot.
The narrow neck of the pass opened
and descended into a valley half a mile
wide, perhaps twice that in length.
1t had apparently unscalable slopes. of
weathered rock leading up to beetling
walls.
Keep down, boys" said Ladd.
"There's the waterhole, an bosses
have sharp eyes. Shore the Yaqui
fggered this place. I W seen its
like for a trap"
Both white and black horses showed
against the green, and a thin curling
column of blue smoke rose lazily from
amid the mosquitoes.
81 reckon we'd better wait till dark,
or mebby daylight" said Jim Lash.
Let me fgger some. Dick, what
do you make of the outlet to this
hole? Looks rough to me-"
With his glass Gale studied the mar
row construction of walls and rough
ened rising floor.
daddy, it's harder to get out at
that end thar here" he replied
ashore that's hard enough. Let me
have a look. Well, boys, 1t don't
take no fggerin' for this job. Jim,
TIL want you at the other end blockin'
the pass when we're ready to start"
"When IL that be?' inquired Jim.
"Soon as it's light enough in the
nornin'. That Greaser outfit will hang
III tomorrow. There's no sure water
ahead for two days, you remember"
The rangers stole back from the
vantage point and returned to their
horses, which they united and lert
farther round among broken sections
of cliff. For the horses it was a dry,
hungry camp, but the rangers built a
fire and had their short though
strengthening meal. :
Jim, Lash rolled in his saddle
blanket. his feet near the fire, and
went to sleep. Laid told Gale to do
likewise while he kept the fire up and
waited until 1t was late enough Tor
Jim to undertake circling round the
raiders. When Gale awakened, Jim
was up saddling his horse, and Laid
was talking low.
With Laid leading, they moved
away into the gloom. Advance was
exceedingly slow, careful, silent. Final
ly the trail showed pale in the gloom,
and eastern stars twinkled between
the lofty ramparts of the pass.
Ladd halted and stood silent a mo-
ment. Luck againl |" he whispered.
"The winds in your face, Jim. The
horses won't scent you. Try to get up
as high as this at the other end. Wait
till daylight before riskin' a loose
slope. I'll be ridin' the job early.
That's ALL" =
Ladd's cool, easy speech was scarce
ly significant OF the perilous under
taking. Lash moved very slowly
away, leading his horse. Then Ladd
touched Dicks arm, and turned back
up the trail.
h0nIE