The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1924-07-04
CHAPTER xIIl-continued.


them Tkey had short lyrate horns,
white faces, and rufous bodies And
then hs understood what the herd sig
mined
The herd was not sheep, but ante
lope-springtuck. 1t was, in fact,
: one of the periodical migrations of
these animals, OF which Winton had
heard. After a Drought, when the
rain falls, they travel from the inte-
ror in countless numbers In search of
water. turning aside for nothing, pass
Ing even through populous cities.
Herds of half million have been en-
countered.
And what had looked like an orderly
progression, seen at a great distance,
was succession of the gigantic leaps
that have given the animal its name.
The springbuck were streaming into
the valley, jumping to height OF ten
or dozen feet, and jostling against
the riders horses, as If devoid OF fear
WInton galloped through the ad-
vance guard in pursuit of Davis. who
was far In advance of him and ear
ing the village. He emerged out of
the pass suddenly, almost into the
middle space among the beehive huts.
The village appeared deserted, ex-
cept for an old man and an aged
woman who had crouched over the
embers of dying fire. The woman
was the old queen of the tribe; the
man was Seaton- He rose and faced
Davis.
Winton saw the judges hand tight
eA4upon bis revolver. But suddenly
the weapon was lowered. The judge
was looking into the old woman's face;
his own seemed to become rigid as
plaster cast, and he noticed Seaton no
longer.
$50 It is you, Amy?" he said. II
have found you at lastf'
Eyes, 1t is l." answered the woman
In strange cultural voice, speaking
as If the words were difficult to pro-
nounce.
II have come to take you home,
my dear; you and the child"
Homer mumbled the old woman
Home" the judge repeated impa-
fiently, passing his hand across his
forehead.
How long ago it seems since you
went awayl You must have been ILL.,
i think. Or perhaps 1t is 1. Bring
our baby; 1 want to see her. What
did we call herr l have forgotten"
Il forget what we called her." an
swered the old woman; "but she is
called Sheila now"
"A pretty name," answered the
Judge
AS he spoke, Sheila came out of one
of the huts. She fixed her eyes on
Winton in inquiry he could see that
Seaton had told her the truth. Then
she looked at Davis. She stepped
toward him.
Il am here" she said In a low
voice
Judge Davis did not appear to no
tice her.
81 wish she would come" he said
"She must be big girl by now.
Where is she Amy?"
II don't know" muttered the wom-
an. passing her hand across her fore
head
And Winton knew that the past
twenty years had been completely
from Judge Davis mem
DRY. He had no notion that 1t was
his own daughter who stood before
him. If the old woman had kept her
wits, they were gone now, perhaps
through the shock of the meeting. |
And a strange metamorphosis had |
come over her. The withered old |
woman assumed the attitude of one |
of thirty years. There was vivacity |
in her gestures.
"I1l go home with you now, my |
dear" she said advancing and laying |
her hand upon the horses neck. 81
have been waiting such a long time
for you. Did you have hard journey
here. my dear?"
mot very hard" answered the
Judge I'm carry the child, and you
shall ride my horse. Where is she?
Wait a moment, though. Amy; there
was something else had to do"
Seaton, recognizing the situation.
had stolen quietly away toward
ridge of rocks behind the village
Watching him, Winton saw him I'M
ether and saddle horse that was graz
ng there. He was not greatly interested
n this maneuver The man -yithout
people seemed to have become an
,utcast once more.
There was only one passag, from
he huts which stood on small ele-
ration half way up the hill, into the
valIey. Seaton climbed into the saddle
md started down this track. The
movement arrested the judges atten-
ion.
Instantly he remembered. His old
ace flushed He spurred his horse
md set off in pursuit, leveling his
evol, er.
Seaton's horse stumbled, but the
ider pulled him to his feet and dashed
Iown, the winding trail. Winton was
lear enough to see the look of terror
N the old mans face. The Judge
night have been fifty feet behind him
he old woman watched the two men
mpassively. probably her stunned