Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-10-04
CHAPTER XIV
Tho craas.

The crags.
Glad indeed was Madeline to be lift
ed off her horse beside roaring fire
to see steaming pots upon red-hot
Goals. Except about her shoulders
which had been protected by the slick
er, she was wrlnging wet. The Mexi-
can women came quickly to help her
change in a tent nearby; but Made
line preferred for the moment to warm
her numb feet and hands and to watch
the spectacle of her arriving friends.
warm clothes-hot drinks and grub
warm blankets" rang out Stewards
sharp order.
Then, with Florence helping the
Mexican women, it was not long until
Madeline and the feminine side Of the
party were comfortable except for the
WEAKNESS and aches that only rest and
sleep could alleviate.
Neither fatigue nor pains, however,
nor the strangeness of being packed
sardinelike under canvas, nor the
howls of coyotes, kept Madelines
guests from stretching out with long,
grateful signs, and one by one drop
ping into deep slumber. Madeline
whispered little to Florence, and
laughed with her once or twice, and
then the light Pickering on the canvas
faded and her eyelids closed. Dark
ness and roar Of camp life, low voices
Of men, thump of horses hoofs, coyote
serenade, the sense of warmth and
sweet rest-all drifted away.
When she awakened shadows OF
swaying branches moved on the sunlit
canvas above her. Slow, regular breath
ing attested to the deep slumbers of
her tent comrades. She observed pres
emily that Florence was missing from
the number Madeline rose and peeped
out between the flaps.
An exquisitely beautiful scene sur
prised and enthralled her gaze. Eager
to get out where she could enjoy an
unrestricted view, she searched for
her pack, found it In a corner, and
then hurriedly and quietly dressed.
Her favcrite stag-hounds Russ and
Tartar, were asleep before the door,
where they had been chained. She
awakened them and loosened them,
thinking the while that ii must have
been Stewart who had chained them
near her. Close at hand also was a
cowboys bed rolled up in tarpaulin.
The cool air, fragrant with pine and
spruce and some subtle nameless tang.
do =
erect and breathe slowly and deeply.
1t was like drinking of a magic
draught. She felt it in her blood, that
it quickened Its flow. Turning to look
in the other direction, beyond the tent,
she saw the remnants Of last nights
temporary camp, and farther on Q
grove Of beautiful pines from which
came the sharp ring Of the ak. Wider
gaze took in wonderful park, not
only surrounded by lofty crags, but
full of crags Of lesser height, many lift
ing their heads from dark green groves
Of trees. The morning sun, not yet
above the eastern elevations, sent its
rosy and golden shafts in, between the
towering rocks to tip the pines
Madeline, with the hounds beside
her, walked through the nearest grove.
The ground was soft and springy and
brown with pine-needles.
Florence espied her under the trees
and came running. She was like
young girl, with life and color and JOY.
She wore flannel blouse, corduroy
skirt, and moccasins. And her hair
was fastened under a band like an In
dams.
"Castleton's gone with a gun, for
hours, it seems" said Florence. Scene
just went to hunt him up. The other
gentlemen are still asleep. imagine
they sure will sleep up heah in this
air."
Then, business-like, Florence fell to
questioning Madeline about details Of
camp arrangement which Stewart,
and Florence herself, could hardly see
to without suggestion.
AS the day advanced the charm Of
the place grew upon Madeline. Even
at noon, with the sun beating down,
there was comfortable warmth rather
than heat. 1t was the kind of warmth
that Madeline liked to feel In the
spring.
Presently chorus Of merry calls
attracted her attention, and she turned
to see Helen limping along with Doro-
thy, and Mrs. Beck and Edith sup
porting each other. They were all
rested. but lame, and delighted with
the place, and as hungry as bears
awakened from a winters sleep.
Then they had dinner, sitting on the
ground after the manner of Indians
and 1t was a dinner that lacked merri-