The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-01-08

spheres. On the hottest days of snai
mer the canyon was COOL for wind
drew always through II from its I'M
known head somewhere in the Deep
Hearts themselves far to the north
and east Buckskin felt the mysteri.
Gus influence of the soundful silence.
pricking his ears, listening, holding his
breath to let II out In snorts. and
Nance laughed at his uneasiness.
"Buckskin,' she said one day, as she
lay stretched at length on fat rock
beside boiling rifle, you're bundle
of nerves, a natural-born finder of
fears. There isn't a thing bigger or
uglier than yourself In all the canyon
unless it's a panther skulking up in
the branches, and he wouldn't come
near for fortune-though what could
be fortune to cougar, wonder?" she
went on to herself, smiling at the strip
Of sky that topped the frowning RIM
rock, "only full belly. guess-the
murderer"
She lay long time basking in the
sun that shone straight down, for II
was noon, reveling In the relaxation
of her young body, long worked to the
limit and frankly tired
She took her bread and bacon from
pocket and ate with the relish which
only healthy youth can muster. clear
ing up the last crumb, drank from the
stream, her face to the surface, and
finally rose with long breath of sat
isfaction.
"You can stay here, you old fraid-
cat" she said to the pony. dropping
his rein over his head. sits hard on
your feet, anyway. Me-Tm going on
up ways"
Buckskin looked anxlously after her,
but stayed where he was bid, as well
trained horse should do, and the girl
went on up the canyon. her fair head
bare. her hands on her hips.
She drank in the somber beauty of
the dull blue walls, hung to their tow
ering rims with corruscation and
prominence carved Enthusiastically by
erosion of uncounted years-listened.
lips apart the better TO hear, to the
deep blended monotone of the talking
voices.
She skirted great boulders fallen
from above, waded a rifle here, leaped
a narrow there. and always the great
cut became rougher, wilder, more for.
bidding and mysterious.
She stood for long time beside
pool that lay, still-seeming and dark,
behind huge rock, but in whose shad-
owed depths she could see the swirl
ing of white sand that marked Its tur-
MOL.
When the SHOWS melted in the high
gulches of the Deep Hearts a little
later, this place would be roaring
race. She thought of its foamy vol
ume pouring from the canyons mouth
to swell the food of Nameless a BIT
below her southern boundary. But it
was a lone and lovely spot now, what
with it's peopled silence and its blue
toned walls.
These things were passing through
her mind as she watched the swirling
sand, when all suddenly. as If an in
visible hand had brushed her, she be
came alert in every fiber.
She had heard nothing new in the
murmurous monotone, seen no shadow
among the pale shadows about her
yet something had changed. Some diff
ferent element had intruded itself into
the stark elements of the place.
Her skin rose In tiny prickles. she
felt her muscles stiffen. She had lived
in the face of menace so long that she
was supersensitive. had developed a
seventh sense that was quick to the
nth degree.
She stood for moment gathering
her powers. then she whirled in her
tracks. sweeping the canyons width
with eyes that missed nothing.
They did not miss the movement
which was almost too swift for sight
the dropping of some dark object be-
hind a rock, the passing of bit Of
plumy tail.
The rock itself was between her and
mass that had tumbled from the wealth
cred face. For long time she stood
very still, waiting, watching with I'M
winking eyes. Then, at the rocks edge.
but farther away, she caught another
glimpse of that tail-tip Its wearer
was making for the wall-foot, keeping
the rock between A wolf would do so
but there was something about that
bit of plume which did not spell wolf
1t was tawny white, and it was more
loosely haired. not of the exact quality
of VOLTS brush. Once more tiny
tip showed-and on a sudden daring
impulse Nance Allison leaped for the
rock, caught its top with both hands
and peered over.