The Raymer enterprise., 1923-08-09
CHAPTER xiv-contlnued.


ID
Stewart led Majesty out into the
1arkness past q line Of mounted
horses.
"Guess we're ready" he said. "I'll
make the count" He went back along
the line. and on the return Madeline
heard him say several times. snow.
everybody ride close to the horse In
front. and keep quiet till daylight"
Then the snortlng and pounding Of the
Dig black horse In front Of her told
Madeline that Stewart had mounted.
"All right. we're or" he called.
Madeline lifted Majesty's bride and
let the roam 60. The trail led In
roundabout way through shallow gul.
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-
pectatlon In Madeline gave place to
desire; she was hungry.
Stewart kept on. II was eight o'clock
BY Madeline's watch when. upon turn
ing into wide hollow, she saw horses
grazing on spare grass, great pile Of
eanvas-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
de. Her guests were In merry mood,
and they all talked at once.
"Brsakfast - and rustle," called
out Stewart. without ceremony.
For that matter. Madeline observed
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 q picnic.
Az soon as the pack.train was In
readiness Stewart started It of In the
lead to break trail. A heavy growth
OF shrub interspersed with rock and
cactus covered the slopes; and now NIL
the trail appeared to be uphill. The
packtrhln forged ahead. and the trail.
ing couples grew farther apart. Al
noon they got out Of the foothills to
face the rea. ascent OF the mountains
Stewart waited for Madeline. and
as she came UP he said: "we're goIne
to have storm. Shall I call hal,
and make campf'
"Here1 Oh no! What do you think
bestf'
swell. II we have n good healthy
thunderstorm II will be something new
for your friends. think we'd be wise
to keep On the go. There's no place
to make good camp II It rains, lei
II rnln. The pack outfit Is well Gov
cred We will have to get wet"
"Surely," replied Madeline: and she
smiled Mt his inference. She knew
what storm was In that country. and
her guests had yet to experience one
"If II rains. let II rain"
Stepart rode on, and Madeline fol
lowed. The way led In a winding
course through matted, storm
wrenched forest Of stunted trees. Ever
up to this elevation the desert reached
with Its gaunt hand. The clouds over
spreading the sky. hiding the sun
made a welcome change. The pack
train rested, and Stewart and Made
line waited for the party to come up
Here he briefly explained to her tina,
Don Carlos and his bandits had lef
the ranch some time In the night. Tht
air grew oppressive; the horses painted
"Sure It'll be hummer" said Stew
art. ''The first storm almost always Il
bad. ! can feel 1t In the mir"
The air, indeed. seemed to b,
charged with n heavy force that wal
waiting to be liberated
One by one the couples mounted Il
the cedar forest, and the femlnin,
contingent declalmed eloquently fol
rest. But there was to be no perma
nent rest until night and then that de
pended upon reaching the crags. Tn,
pnck,traln wagged onward. and Stew
art fell In behind. The storm-centel
gathered slowly around the peaks
low rumble and bowl Of thunder In
creased In freduence; slowly the ligh
shaded as smoky clouds rolled up; thu
air grew sultrier. and the exasperatlnl
breeze puiTed few times and ther
failed.
An hour later the party had climbed
high and was rounding the side Of {
great bare ridge that long had bidder
the crags. The last burr0 Of the pack
train plodd.d over the ridge out o.
Madellne's sight. She looked back
ward down the slope, amused to Sc,
her guests change wearily from side L
side In their saddles. Far below lay
the cedar fat and the foothills. ra,
10 the west the sky was still clear
with shafts Of sunlight shooting dowr
from behind the encroaching clouds.
Stewart reached the summit Of tn,
hdge and, though only Z few rodi
ahead. he waved to her. sweeping bill
hand round to what he saw beyond. Il
Sas an impressive gesture, and Made
line. never having climbed a. high a
This, anticipated much.
Majesty surmounted the last few
steps and, snortlng, halted besId,
Stewards black. To Madeline thu
scene was as II ths world had changed