The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-10-31
CHAPTER xIll-ContInued.

-13-
The latter came down the slantinI
Bank gingerly and made for the near
est water hole, the girl slipping
quickly from the saddle and seeking
to quench her thirst farther upstream
The water. slightly brackisfi, but still
fairly clear and pure, brought new
hfa. the animal wandering about II
his fresh environment, nibbIing con
fentedly at the scattered tufts o.
grass. while Deborah studied her sur
Youndings with awakened interest
Old Tom Meager, in their rides to
gether, had taught her some of the
fundamentals Of plainscraft, how tC
,bserve this thing and that, wher
alone In the wilds. Now she applied
these lessons eagerly, searching fol
some evidence of that trail which she
felt convinced must run up this lonely
valley. Nothing could be better
adapted to the purpose Of these out.
laws than the course Of this desolate
stream, mere thread extending
through leagues Of sand, lying suffi-
ciently below the level to conceal
their movements. and yet furnishing
water for their stock. Surely they
must have left some trail behind.
But II so no trace remained alon =
the western shore. Convinced of Inns.
Deborah, leading her horse. crossed
the narrow stream, stepping from rock
to rock, and clambering up the level
plateau on the other side. Even here
little was visible, and she would have
overlooked even these signs but for
old Toms training. Evidence was
found-the scattered dead ashes Of a
fire; the mark Of a shod horses hoof,
an open sheath knife. the blade not yet
rusted from exposure, and a half
dozen emptied cartridge shells. Later,
upstream a few rods, she found where
a dozen horses had been tied to
picket rope, stamping their hoofs into
the soft sod. But beyond this point
the soil ceased, and, whatever trail
there was vanished on a surface of
hard rock which left no trace. Never
theless she mounted once more, and
rode on, still with her course to the
south.
How terribly exhausted she was,
Keeling In the saddle from faintness
She ached from head to foot, and she
felt strangely dizzy. Twice she dis
to battle her face in the rum
hing water, but had found it so diff
,ult to climb up into the saddle again
she dare not venture a third time.
She could anly cling tight to the POM
mel, with eyes closed, and let the
lorse pick his own way along the out
aw trail. Box canyonl Could this
re Box canyon? She opened her eyes
o look up, the great cliffs towering
10 high above she could scarcely gain
glimpse of ribbon of blue sky. 1t
vas like twilight where she rode, the
walls purplish blue, nothing clearly
'isible a dozen yards ahead. She
Murdered at the dreary loneliness,
he awful silence. If this was Box
anyon, then she had come too late
here were no soldiers there.
She closed her eyes again, struggling
or control, for courage, clutching at |
he pommel to hold herself upright. |
hen the horse stopped as though |
ripped by a hand, and a voice said |
hortly:
"Geel but it's woman. Say, wake
p, sister, and tell US what yer doin'
ere."
She stared at him dumbly, boy In
haki, his hand grasping her bride
Elm, short rifle In the hollow of his
Their arm, his face featuring aston
;hment.
ASLEEP, was yer? HI of a place
,r Sleep"
"Are you a soldierT she asked,
.ruggling with her dizziness, "a cav
ryman|
"Sure-U. S. You're Yank too,
mt yer? That's what bothers me;
DIV If yer was Mex, I'd know what
do"
"What?"
"Hustle yer on to the Lieut.; he an
e rest of 'em are back there"
Eyes, yes, know" she exclaimed
you are here to intercept
ln-runners across the line. II have
zen hunting for you all night. He
Is dead-killed."
Dead! Who's dead?"
captain Kelleen."
She reeled In the saddle, everything
ack before her. The trooper sprang
ID caught her as she fell.
CHAPTER XIV 8