The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1938-07-29
CHAPTER VIII

CHAPTER VIII
Uncle Jim strobe over to where
Earto still lsat astride his trembling
frightened horse.
what In burnin' blue blazes did
you do to that horse?" he almost
shouted, his voice blurring with
anger. do you know you came
so near KILN a man that 1t was
only the grace O. God that saved
! him? And Steve Mallory he
added. Sarto might be guest
but that didn't save him.
Ibid you kick or hit him
back there? What made him jump
like that? Mister, he's been ridin'
this trail for years and he never
done nothin like that before"
Sarto climbed down from the
saddle sullenly.
How do you get that way" He
was snarling. who do you think
you're talkin' to? l don't know
anything about horses. How should
I know what happened?" Uncle
Jim examined the girths.
Bancroft's quiet, purring voice
broke in.
mr.. Sarto isn't accustomed to
horses and mountain trails" he
said. Perhaps I shouldn't have
insisted that he come along"
He shot a quick glance at his
companion.
II didn't intend that anything
like this should happen. 1 think
he will get along better when we
get to the camp"
Maybe I was little hasty,"
hpologized Uncle Jim, but he re-
formed the line and put Sarto
Just behind Rance, Bancroft next
and the others trailed them.
Nikki studied the group while
this conversation went on. Fiske
had regained his calm and gave
no indication that he thought the
matter anything but an accident
6arto's face didn't tell her any
thing. She had never seen 1t any
thing but sullen darkness. She
reached over and touched Steve
and wished for a moment they
were both back at the ranch. She
had fully decided to tell Steve
everything. If had done that in
the first place we'd all be safer,
she thought. Steve said:
you all right?" and she smiled
back and nodded. They continued
on up the trail.
Just before dark they reached the
cabin where it squatted among the
trees at the edge Of the timberline
on q plateaued ridge Of Squaw
Mountain. 1t had been built there
several years before as base for
hunting parties. There was one big
room with a wood fireplace that
served the double purpose of heat
ing the cabin and for cooking in
bad weather. This room was lined
with double-deck hunks. Behind it
was q smaller auxiliary room with
only four hunks. This Uncle Jim
turned over to Nikki, as the hunks
In the larger rom would easily &C
commodate the men.
In pleasant weather all the
cooking was done outside over an
open campfire and the hunters
squatted around this same fire on
their heels to eat from tin plates
and to drink coffee from tin cups
which unquestionably were hotter
than anything else ever devised
Within a few minutes of their
arrival Woody had a big fire 60
ing. A few minutes later the salts
factory kissing of soaring steaks
accompanied the mysterious night
sounds Of the mountains that al
ways begin the moment the sun
has set. The fire light sent flick
ering fingers Of light scurrying off
into the darkening fringe OF
timber.
Nikki strolled over to Steve and
said:
"Steve dear, please be careful.
Tn going to tell you about Ban
croft and Dad and all just as soon
as we get minute alone. But
will you please be careful in the
meantime? And don't get into any
trouble with Bancroft, or Sarto,
either. Will you promise?"
Sure. But nothings going to
happen to me. How about little
promising on your account?"
I'm all right" she assured him.
Except that I'm getting a little
bit scared"
Scared of what? You're not
letting that little accident this
afternoon frighten you? Wait a
minute. You don't think Sarto de-
1iberately tried to push Fiske off
the trail?"
II don't know, but that's why l
want you to be careful. I can't
tell you any more. Here comes
Rance"
well" said Rance. How'd you
stand the trip? Feel any the worse
for your dive this afternoon, Steve?"
mot o bit. Feeling fine"
"Thats good" A frown Wrin-
killed. RANGES forehead. Il can't
understand how 1t could have
happened. We've brought 20 par
ties up here and that's the first ac-
cident. I know that equipment
was all right. I saddled Sartos
horse myself this morning." He
turned. We'll, I've got to go
rkro i0lfov, o,,f tho huo+;yn ,t,,fy