The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1945-11-16
CHAPTER xxi
s.Ioly smokel" he exclaimed.

"Holy smoked" he exclaimed.
Thunderhead and the mares dis
appeared in the twistings of the pas
sage. Ken began to trot after them
and Howard followed. Ken was still
calling desperately, "Come, boyl
Get your oatsl Here Thunderheadl
Oatsl"
The passage narrowed. They were
going through the keyhole, passing
directly underneath the great boul-
der which hung over it, and the next
moment there was the wide spread
of the valley before them, ghostly
with a faint luminescence through
which the dark forms of the horses
moved like shadows.
Then light flooded the heavens and
the shafts of rosy gold poured up
from the rising sun to bathe the
snow covered peaks of the Never
summer Range.
Not even the disaster of Thunder
heads rebellion could lessen the inn
pact of this sight upon Howard.
''Holy smoked" he exclaimed
again and stood motionless.
But Ken's agonized eyes found
what they were looking for. The
Albino, and his instant alert as
Thunderhead entered the valley!
The two stations saw each other at
the same moment. The Albino
rushed forward as if for immediate
attack, then turned and began to
round up the far flung band of mares
and colts behind him. At swift
twisting gallop he circled them,
gathered them all in and punched
them in an invisible corral. ALI his
actions were strained and nervous.
But Thunderhead moved with ex-
uberance and calm. His muscles
flowed smoothly under his satin coat
as he leisurely circled his little band
of stolen mares, punched and froze
them, then trotted out in front.
The two stations faced each other
about hundred yards apart, mo-
tionless as statues. The Albino
moved forward little, then stopped.
He did this again. Thunderhead
stood without CULVER, his head
high, his weight forward, his hind
legs stretched back.
Ken suddenly thrust the nose-bag
into Towards hands. "Hold that!
They're gonna fightl I've got to get
him!"
He ran to Thunderhead, calling his
name. Thunderhead did not even
witch an ear in his direction. He
was watching the Albino with a mi
mute, comprehensive stare that PEN
etrated the body and timed the
nerve fuses.
Ken seized the dangling halter
rope and flung his weight on it.
"Come awayi Come away, Thun-
derheadl"
He hauled with all his power, try
ing to break the stations fixation,
but he might as well have tried to
move rock. The stallion stared
over him, immobile.
The boy burst out crying and
struck at the stations head, jerking
to and fro with all his weight. ooh,
stop it, Thunderhead! Please, Thun-
derhead! Come away!"
Howard dropped the nose-bag,
rushed to his brothers side and
seized the halter.
Ken's voice reached Thunderhead
dimly but he made no response.
This was his world, his inheritance.
Ken had no part in it. But how to
become master of it? Only by the
destruction of that which barred his
way.
Rearing backward, he shook loose,
knocking Howard down and snap
ping Ken aside with whip-lash Of
his head. Then, screaming his chal-
lenge, he hurtled forward as from
q spring-board.
At the same instant the Albino
rushed to meet him and both ami
mails stopped short about thirty feet
apart and stood tensely cycling each
other. These were two antagonists
who had met before and had not
forgotten the event.
Mingled with Thunderhead's de-
sire to annihilate this obstacle be-
fore him was the satisfaction Of an
intense curiosity. Here at last was
the great being who had overshad-
owed his whole life, the image of
whom had hung in his blood as per-
sistently and as challengingly as the
snow scent hung in the mountain
Wind.
But the Albino was confused. His
feet shifted nervously as if taking
flrmer hold Of the earth. His reach
ing nostrils expanded and contract
ed slowly. In his sunken eye-sockets
his white-ringed eyes stared and
meditated, seeing there before him,
HIMSELFl His own superb and in
vincible youth He was therel He
was hereI But the strength was
as one. It flowed like current be-
tween them as If it were already
creating third horse that appeared
N q misty globe between them, and
In which they were both fused.
Power and fire and glory rushed
fhfough the old stallion and he trum-
pet6d with ecstasy at this transmu