The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-01-16
CHAPTER xiII-contInued.

The latter came down the slantlng
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 brackish, but still
fairly clear and pure, brought new
hfa. the animal wandering about in
his fresh environment, nibbling con-
fentedly at the scattered tufts of
grass, while Deborah studied her sur
roundings with awakened interest.
Old Tom Meager, In their rides to-
gether, chad taught her some Of the
fundamentals Of plainscraft, how to
,bserve this thing and that, when
alone in the wilds. Now she applied
these lessons eagerly, searching for
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-
GENTLY below the level to conceal
their movements, and yet furnishing
water for their stock. Surely they
must have left some trail behind.
But if so no trace remained alon-
the western shore. Convinced of tbs.
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 q half
dozen emptied cartridge shells. Later,
upstream few rods, she found where
a dozen horses had been tied to a
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
mounted to battle her face in the run
ming water, but had found it so diff
cult to climb up into the saddle again
she dare not venture a third time.
She could dply cling tight to the POM
mel, with eyes closed, and let the
horse pick his own way along the out
law trail. Box canyonI Could this
be Box canyon? She opened her eyes
TO look up, the great cliffs towering
80 high above she could scarcely gain
glimpse Of ribbon of blue sky. 1t |
was like twilight where she rode, the |
walls purplish blue, nothing clearly |
visible a dozen yards ahead She |
shuddered at the dreary loneliness,
he awful silence. If this was Box
canyon, 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
Then the horse stopped as though
yripped by a hand, and a voice said
hortly:
Gee but it's a woman. Say, wake
lp, sister, and tell us what yer doin'
lere."
She stared at him dumbly, boy in
.haki. his hand grasping her bride
Elm, a short rifle in the hollow of his
Their arm, his face featuring aston
shment.
ASLEEP, was yer? HI of a place
er Sleep"
"Are you a soldlerT she asked,
with her dizziness, "a cav
lryman|
"Sure-U. S. You're Yank too,
int yer? That's what bothers me;
ow If yer was Mex, I'd know what
} do
"Whatr
Hustle yer on to the Lieut.; he an
,e rest of 'em are back there"
Eyes. yes, l know" she exclaimed
you are here to intercept
ln-runners across the line. II have {
cen hunting for you all night. He c
2 Is dead-killed."
"Deadi Who's dead?"
Captain Kelleen." h
She reeled In the saddle, everything 4
ack before her. The trooper sprang
Id caught her as she fell. t