White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1924-09-05

Thus was John Fiske left alone in
the midst of the mountains with Bunt.
And there came into his head then
how he was there to begin with, how
he was there at all, as buffer be-
tween two clashing temperaments.
Would he long to turn this now two
some into a three-some? So he won
dered for moment, alone with Bunt.
He hoped that, in the encircling Of the
silent places he would not feel a sense
of inability to bear more Of his com
panion, such as he had read OF, such
as he had heard of, such as Walter
and Blunt admitted very definitely
when they asked him to accompany
them. With the Wolfer and himself
all had gone well. John had almost
a prayer in his heart that all would go
amicably with Blunt, too. The big
peaks, Immediately they were left
alone there, had the appearance OF
rising up another thousand feet, loom.
ing closer, and the woods on the
slopes seemed suddenly more dense
and awe-inspiring.
They had crossed the plateau, every
tread of horse crushing down Alpine
flowers, or the springy stalked red
bryanthus, the false heath" Of these
uplands. They had view Of forest
tops below by the league, twists Of
creeks glinting white here and there
in their awesome and dark greer
depths.
Look" and Blunt pointed. "Right
over there is where old Bush's pros
pect is. You see we're on the SUNNI
here. That water is running the othel
way. We're past where the hills drai1
to Maclntyre Creek. Here, them pack
horses don't know which way to go
Well have to bunch them first. II
go down, and you go up, and we'll &c
them together"
Away he rode, circling down hill
while John circled upward. AS the.
did so great eagle, slowly cranin
it's neck, humping it's shoulders, soal
ed up from rock. Above again maj
mot whistled its clear whistle Q
warning. The horses punched tt
gether.
&c.," said Blunt, "Tll ride ahead t
lead 'em, and show them the wa.
You can wait behind and see them a
string after me. The trail goes roun
the edge here, and down into the1
woods"
Blunt rode on, coasting the edge @
the hill of false heath and boulders
The horses, nervous-looking there, a
though the altitude affected then
raised their heads and glared; the
one, and then another, followed hin
The third remained tearing grass an
John rode close to him, flicking h
haunch. He snorted and went afte
his fellows. On the hills edge, coas
ing round on its further side, the ira
again showed clear, but in places roc
slides had rushed over it.
"The trails all wiped out here wit
a slide," Blunt shouted, "but it goe
down at an angle anyhow. We're lab
! to slide bit. I'll go ahead to civ
. them courage, and you holler to the
if they kind of pause too long an
get rocks round them too thick"
Off he set-as it were fording til
rock-slide, keeping his horse in m
ton, but for every yard Of progress
across the hill it's surface at that pa
moved down.
Head them straight Quit" Bul
shouted. Don't let 'em head dow
hill into the slide. Head EN- straigl
out as If you were crossing a cri
They'll slide enough anyhow"
One by one they stepped into I'll
slide. The last hesitated, seeing no
his fellows fared-sliding down thre
feet for every forward step.
go on! Get on! Gee there!
whooped John.
He saw that there might be cata
trophe If they did not have "hors
sense" enough to try to follow tt
lead pony Blunt rode and guide
When one showed sign Of drifting tc
far down without trying to step on d
rectly across the moving rubble job
yelled: Get up! Gee up!" Plungin
along, with rocks gliding down owe
their fetlocks, to their knees, heade
straight across the hill, they all can
gliding to the side, but still with the
heads toward the next solid slope
hill. On to firm ground digging dow
their hoofs one by one they can
again; and there was the trail ono
more clear before them. Blunt swun
round in his saddle, looking back /,
their legs.