The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1938-12-22
FIFTEENTH INSTALLMENT

for it Quivered its skin continu-
ally. Hanging his head a little,
Dave looked beneath his arm and
saw that his slidker. with the
sheriff's gun inside, was still be-
hind the cantle.
Reilly's thin whistling stopped
suddenly and he called to Lew.
The leader drew up and Dawes
horse stopped willingly.
.Give us drink" Reilly called.
Dave heard him dismount.
Reckon that jasper is alive?"
Lew asked.
Il dunno. I been watchin' him
and he acks just like he was
dead"
Take a look" Lew said.
Reilly walked back and, Selling
Dawes forelock, yanked his head
up off the horses neck. He felt
his chest.
"He's alive, all right" Reilly
hunted. Damned if 1 know
Why, though. I slugged that skull
of his till my arm was tired and
he still hung on to Sayres."
Lew laughed shortly. "That
kickin' Sayres give him didn't
help much
A high, jagged-edge hogback
rose before them and Lew nOSed
his horse into the trail that as
cended its side. The trail was
narrow; to the left there was a
long talus or windrift that sloped
abruptly to the cayon bottom
hundred feet below. Lew look
ed back and hauled up the rope
little, so as to bring Dawes
horse closer to him.
wonder now, is that boss
spooky?" Lew asked. eff he is l
reckon I'll let this rope 60 and
you drive him up"
NAV. He's dead on his feet,"
Reilly replied.
Lew said: 81 hope So" and
swung up into the sharply as
cending rocky trail.
He sagged loosely in the saddle,
heard bent down as his horse
swung into the scent. The steep
ness of he hill raised the horses
forequarters, letting Dawes sag
ging head slip down on the
shoulders. He rode low this way
for perhaps three minutes.
e1AHe steeled himself. "Here goes
Ie horse. Sorry" And he sunk
Tvs teeth in the horses withers,
ripping away a large piece OF
skin. Electrified by the soaring
pain in it's neck, the horse lunged
and let out a shrieking whinny
Dave bit again, savagely.
On that narrow ledge, the horse,
frantic with fright and pain,
started to pitch. Lewis efforts to
snub him with the rope were
savage but fruitless.
Hes Wlld!' Reilly yelled. Let
go and ride up"
Crazed with pain, the horse
Jared down stiff-legged again,
bumped it's back for another
pitch and Dave savagely rubbed
the raw flesh. Halfway up in its
arc, the horse started sunfish,
and when it landed Dave felt as
if he were going to be ripped out
of the saddle with the sudden
fall
The horse had gone over the
trail edge.
With Dawes weight on its back,
the horse started to plummet
down the steep slope. Dimly,
Dave realized that in the quick
descent, Lew, who had held to
the rope trying to fight the horse
down, had been swept from his
saddle by the swift yank on it.
Steady, boy" he called.
ND Steady, steady" he muttered
esoothingly and part of his calm
was communicated to the horse,
who stopped, trembling.
He had to be quick. Closing
his eyes he pulled savagely at
the thongs binding his wrists TO
the saddle horn. A sickening rip
of the skin and one hand was
free. Soon the other was able
to help him as he turned in his
saddle, struggled to free his
slicker
The slicker free, Dave unrolled
it swiftly and found the gun
Hank had given him. Then
reaching down and Selling the
bride as reins, he spurred the
horse slowly from behind the
rock, looking up at the trail. He
listened for the sound of horses
in the canyon bed.
They were coming, both ours
ing savagely, at gallop. Dave
pulled his roam close into the
rock and balanced his gun light.
ly- in his bloody palm his eyes
thin, finty Sits in his face.
oxx, xxyac fha fret to charge hv