The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-01-04
Free then to pack, Jim applied him.


She mounted unassisted. Jim helped
her into the long slicker.
eth be q tough day." he went on.
"But we're starting dry. Hang on az
long as You can. We absolutely must
get out of these brakes"
With that he lined up the pack AMI
mails, and they were off.
Jim travelled as best he could, keep
ing to no single direction, though the
trend was 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
ran in shoots off the rocks.
At length the fugitives came to a
veritable river at which the lead
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.
"Tn carry you while you hang on
to your bridle," 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 1t, 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 I don't
like the look ahead"
When once more they were on the
way Jim gave her biscuit and 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 long, green, winding val
ley. A red river, surely the Dirty
Devil, ran, ridged and frothy, under
a steep wall of earth.
II can't hang on-longer," faltered
Helen, family.
"Pll carry you. Why didn't you tell
me sooner?" reproved Jim. He 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 storm at hand
were wearing away even his indom-
liable 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 trail
passed around the corner.
whoa, Bay" called Jim hauling up
to wait for the gray. II 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. If that narrows round
there you want to step sure"
1t did narrow. Eight feet, six feet
less! Bits Of the steep bank were
crumbling away. But the pack horses
had gone round. 1t would not be safe
to try to turn now.
Suddenly Jim encountered a still
narrower point, scarcely five feet wide.
The edge had freshly crumbled. 1t
was crumbling now.
Bay stepped carefully, confidently.
He knew horses with wide packs had
safely passed there. He went on
Jim felt him sink. One hind foot had
crushed out a section Of earth, letting
him down. But with a snort he
plunged ahead to wider trail.
Jim's heart had leaped to his throat
He heard thud Of hoofs behind, q
heavy, sliddery rumble. Looking back
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 to
the bluff, slid down In an avalanche.
r"Close shave for us ALL" cried Jim
huskily.
Right at his feet red torrent rushed
with a wrestling, clashing sound from
out a deep-walled gorge Of splintered
rocking walls.
This was q tributary, a vicious
child Of the hideous Dirty Devil. 1,
barred Jim's progress. Thirty PAGES
to the fore. on the widest part of the
bank, stood the pack horses. jim
forced his startled gaze to the rear
No rider would ever come or 60 that
way again.
Jim dismounted carefully with Heller
and, STOPPING as he moved under the
leaning rock, he set her down on dry
dust.
SIS It the end for us?"
He did not answer. Folding the
slicker into a pillow he laid her head
back upon it. Scrambling up, he re
moved the saddle from Bay and
dropped it under the shelter. Then
leading the horse. he stepped forward
to where the gray and the pack ami
mails had halted.
TO BE CONTINUED.
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