Glacier County chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1931-1940, 1939-05-26
CHAPTER 1v-Cssti.usa

ILL.,
"Ain't that too bad nowf" said
Weller. casually stuffing his pipe.
1--WE can't do q thing"
How about tools Of your own7"
Breck demanded.
Amt got none, mister"
Weller lied and Breck knew II, He
surveyed the groups of men, DUG
lied. Why this backing away from
q fire when usually they wanted
government money? It was certain
ly because someone else was paying
them of.
A roar Of fire burst from the
mountain. Breck pushed the one
shovel to Weller. "Take that. I've
got an extra ak. Get a horse and
come with me-"
Weller shook his head. mo horse
here. You see :"
"Walk then!"
Brock turned and mounted, de-
liberately. ignoring what might 90
on behind his back. He heard a
muttered conversation, then VEL
ler's sullen call: "Kid, fetch Pete!"
In a moment a boy came from the
blacksmith shop riding dun burro
and leading brown mule. He halt
ed near Brock, looking at him with
serious, old mans eyes. Breck re-
turned the glance, seeing boy of
perhaps ten, bare-footed, dressed in
cast-off, COW country shirt and
breeches. But his face was not ten;
having more the solemn lines of a
long hard life.
The expression moved Brock. He
smiled and reached one hand across
to him. Hello, son. Going to fight
fre?"
His grip was returned sturdily.
my names Jack. That's Luger
gun you got, amt III"
Brock laughed at the abrupt ques-
tioning. He drew the weapon from
his holster. Ever see one before?"
"Yep. In window down at Lone
Tree. A soldier brought it home
from the war. Was you SOLDIER"
For awhile" Breck affirmed.
Two brown eyes surveyed him
with unconcealed worship. "I'd sure
admire to 60 fire-fghtin' with ye,
but Pap amt allowin' Of it,"
SIS Weller your Pap?" Brock
asked, returning the gun to his belt.
Jack nodded.
"Then I'll ask him to let you CO."
Instantly the solemn face lighted.
"Would ye now?"
Weller approached from the group
and mounted his mule without q
word. Brock wheeled away. The
boy started to follow, timidly, his
eyes upon the other man. Seeing
him. Weller snapped, "You, kid!
Get out of here!"
Brock turned in his saddle. "I'm
hiring him to tend camp" He met
Weller's glare evenly. "Come on,
Jack"
He had not realized the full ex-
tent of the job that confronted him
until he came fully upon the fire.
line. Two men and boy against
more than a mile. front Of blazing
timber. Don Quixote and the wind
MILL
The only way was fire against
fire. Upon approaching as near the
front as possible Breck halted at a
stream, threw off the pack and left
the boy there to make camp. Then
taking Weller, he continued upward,
circled the blaze and came to belt
OF thin pine half a mile above it.
Weller had remained silent during
their climb. Now he swung one leg
over his mules back and squinted
down the mountain. "Figurin' to
start your back fire here, eh?"
Breck studied the spot. 1t seemed
right. An afternoon wind had not
yet sprung up to carry the lower
flames rapidly.
Eyes," he answered, "anything
wrong with it,"
Weller shrugged. ''Suits me.
You're the ranger"
Breck would have given much for
advice. This was his first fire. But
the screwed-up expression Of the
nester's face foretold that any ques-
ton would be useless.
Breck swung from Kit, tied him,
and then with shovel and brush-hook
went furiously to work. There was
AsosAAAA6 AAAAoAo oOO0t VCLCI I1clIl-
cd. Brock presently began to realize
the wisdom Of slower effort. At the
rate he started, his strength would
be spent long before sufficient
back fire had been built.
Foot by foot they cleared q path
and lighted it on the down side,
until by mid-afternoon they had
made considerable of q fireline.
Resting a moment, Brock wiped the
CRIME from his face and stared
through burning eyes along the
mountain. In a few hundred yards
he would have the main blaze COM
pletely paralleled. A surge Of victory
swept him.
But at three o'clock the wind
changed. He heard Weller shout
from behind him. Better get out
of herei We amt goin' to make i'll"
A rumble like distant cannonad-
ing rolled up the mountain. Breck
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