The Raymer enterprise., 1923-08-09
CHAPTER XIV
The Craas.


The crags.
Glad indeed was Madeline to be lift.
ed of her horse beside q roaring ire-
to see steamIng pots upon red-ho,
Goals. Except about her shoulders
which had been protected by the slick.
er. she was wringing wet. The Msxi.
can women came quickly to help her
change In Z 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. II was not long until
Madeline and the feminine side Of the
party were comfortable. except for the
weariness and aches that only rest and
sleep could alleviate.
Neither fatigue nor pains, however,
nor the strangeness Of being packed
sardlnellke under canvas, nor the
howls Of coyotes, kept Madeline's
guests from stretching out with long.
grateful sighs, and one by one drop
ping into deep slumbef. Madeline
whispered little to Florence, and
laughed with her once or twice, and
then the light fickering on the canvas
faded and her eyelids closed. Dark.
ness and roar Of camp life, low voices
Of men, thump Of horses hoofs. coyote
serennde, the sense OF warmth and
sweet rest-all drifted away.
When she awakened sha dows Of
swaylng 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 naps. H
An exquisitely beautiful scene sur
prised and enthrallsd her gaze. Eager
to get out where she could enjoy an
unrestricted view, she searched for
her pack, found II In 4 corner, and
then hurriedly and quietly dressed.
Her favorits ag.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 q
cowboys bed rolled up In a turpaulln.
The cool air. fragrant with pine and
spruce and some subtle nameless tang
sweet and tonic, made Madeline stand
erect and breathe slowly and deeply.
1t was like drinking Of n magic
draught. She felt It In her blood, that
1t quickened lts 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 AZ. 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 iti
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 tree1
and came running. She was IKE q
young girl, with life and color and joy
She wore a flannel blouse. corduroy
skirt, and moccasins. And her hair
was fastened under 4 band like an In
dams.
"Castleton's gone with q gun, fol
hours, II seems" said Florence. "Gene
Just went to hunt him up. The Other
gentlemen are still asleep. I imagine
they sure will sleep up heah In this
air."
Then, business-liks, Florence fell Il
questioning Madeline about details Of
camp arrangement which Stewart
and Florence herself. could hardly ses
to without suggestion.
As the day advanced the charm o,
the place grew upon Madeline. Ever
at noon. with the sun beating down
there was comfortable warmth rather
than heat. II was the kind Of warmth
that Madeline liked to feel In thu
spring.
Presently q chorus Of merry CALI
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 al
rested, but lame, and delighted witt
the place. and 40 hungry as bear
awakened from Z winters sleep.
Then they had dinner, sitting on tn,
ground sitter the manner Of Indians
and II was . dinner that lacked msrri