Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1934-12-06

'N' ''ttf 49, tANt1NA -
Free then to pack, Jim applied him
self with swift, methodical hands.
She mounted unassisted. Jim helped
her into the long slicker.
'sIt'll be a tough day." he went on
But we're starting dry. Hang IN as
long as sou can. We absolutely must
get out of these brakes"
With that he lined up the pack anil
mails. and they were off.
Jim travelled as best be could. keep
Ing to no single direction. though the
trend vas northerly and following
ground that appeared passable. The
pack horses led. He followed them.
and Helen brought up the rear.
The rain fell all morning and let
up at intervals. Then black clouds
gathered. and a storm. with thunder
and lightning, burst upon them. Water
raj In shoots off the rocks.
AT length the fugitives came to a
horse baked. Bay. however, did not
show any qualms. So he put Bay to
the task. The big horse made 1t easily,
with water coming up to his TANKS
Whereupon Jim rode him back. after
which the pack horses. intelligent and
sensible, essayed the ford.
Then Jim returned for Helen.
"Ill carry you While you hang on
to your Bride" said Jim, riding close
to the gray. He had to lift her sheer
Off her horse and around in front of
him, where he upheld her with his
left arm.
They made it, with the splendid
horse staggering out under his double
burden just In the nick Of time.
You are doing fine. We have come
eighteen or twenty miles. But | don't
like the look ahead"
When once more they were on the
way Jim gave her a biscuit and a strip
of meat. Eat. The rain will be on
us sOon.'
Late in the afternoon there was a
%momentary Frightening Of massed
clouds In the west.
They rode down out Of these low
gravel hills that had limited their
sight, into d long, green, winding val
ley. A red river, surely the Dirty
Devil, ran, ridged and frothy, under
a steep wall of earth.
Il can't hang on-longer,' faltered
Helen, family.
"Ill carry you. Why didn't you tell
me %sooner?' reproved Jim. lie knotted
her reins and dropped the loop over
the pommel of her saddle. Then he
lifted her off her horse onto his.
SO Jim rode on, aware that her col
lapse and the terrible nature OF the
desert and another -sterfT"~st hand
were wearing away even his lndom.
table spirit.
Ragged, red bluff stood up all along
his right, with acres of loose rock
ready to slide.
They swung In behind the bluff, and
then out again to the higher and mar
rover bank upon which the old tral'
passed around the corner.
whoa, Bay" called Jim hauling III
to wait for the gray. i don't like this
place. Don't look, Helen"
AS she made no reply Jim leaned
back to get a glimpse of her face
Asleep!
Come on, Gray" he called to the
horse behind, and to Bay: STEADY
old fellow. II that narrows round
there you want to step sure"
1t did narrow. Eight feet, six fee
less! Bits Of the steep bank wers
crumbling away. But the pack horses
had gone round. It would not be SAT,
to try to turn now.
Suddenly Jim encountered q still
narrower point, scarcely five feet wide
The edge had freshly crumbled. r
was crumbling now.
Bay stepped carefully, confidently
He knew horses with wide packs hat
safely passed there. He went on
Jim felt him sink. One hind foot hat
crushed out a section Of earth, iettin,
him down. But with a snort h
plunged ahead to wider trail.
Jim's heart had leaped to his throat
He heard thud OF hoofs behind,
heavy, sliddery rumble. Looking bacl
he saw the gray horse leap from a sec
ton of wall, beginning to gap out
wards to solid ground ahead. Next In
slant six feet of the trail, close up t
the bluff, slid down In an avalanche.
"Close shave for us all !" cried jim
huskily.
Right at his feet a red torrent rushe'
with a wrestling, clashing sound fror
out a deep-walled gorge of splinteret
rocking walls.
This was a tributary, a viciou
child of the hideous Dirty Devil.
barred Jim's progress. Thirty pace
to the fore, on the widest part of tn
bank, stood the pack horses. Jir
forced his startled gaze to the real
No rider would ever come or 60 tina
way again.
Jim dismounted carefully with HeleI
and, STOPPING as he moved under tn
leaning rock, he set her down on dr..
dust
is 1t the end for us?'
He did not answer Folding tn
slicker into a pillow he laid her hea