The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-04-13
DESERT GOLD

leading to the ascent Of the escarp-
ment. When they achieved the gate
way Of the pass the sun was low In
ths west. Ladd gave the word to
tie Up horses and 60 forward on foot
The narrow neck Of the pass opened
and descended into 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 hosses
have sharp eyes. Shore the Yaqul
figgered this place. I never seen Its
| like for trap"
Both white and black horses showed
| against the green, and a thin curling
column of blue smoke rose lazily from
amid the mesquites.
II reckon we'd better wait I'LL dark,
or mebby daylight" said Jim Lash.
LET me figger 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
"Laddy, It's harder to get out at
that end than here" he replied.
ashore that's hard enough. Let me
have look. Well, boys, 1t don't
take no figgerin' for this job. Jim,
I'll want you at the other end blockin'
the pass when we're ready to start"
"When III that be?" inquired Jim.
"Soon as It's light enough in the
mornin'. That Greaser outfit will hang
till 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 left
| farther round among broken sections
Of cliff. For the horses 1t was 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. Ladd told Gale to do
| likewise while he kept the fire up and
waited until IL was late enough for
| Jim to undertake circling round the
raiders. When Gale awakened, Jim
was up saddling his horse, and Ladd
was talking low.
With Ladd 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 mo
ment. Luck againl" he whispered
THE winds In your face, Jim. The
horses won't scent you. Try to get vi
as high as this at the other end. Wal
till daylight before riskin' 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.
| Together they picked a way back
through the winding recesses Of cliff
The campfire was smoldering. Ladd
replenished 1t and lay down to get a
few hours sleep, while Gale kept
watch. The after part Of the night
wore on till the paling Of stars, the
thickening Of gloom indicated the
dark hour before dawn. Ladd awoke
before the falntest gray appeared
The rangers ate and drank. When the
black did tighten to gray they sad
died the horses and led them out to
the pass and down to the point where
they had parted with Lash. Here
they awaited daylight
| The valley grew clear of gray
shadow except under leaning walls on
the eastern side. Then straight col.
umn Of smoke rose from among the
i