Hungry Horse news and Columbian., 1947-04-18
ZMYoF Revenge F.
J A c K S o NC e

r black velvet of what would in the day
light hours be carpet of emerald green
] Then came the answer of another
: mountain cat.
And still no eye could have discerned
a single moving thing.
The great valley could have been
searched with spy-glass and yet the
earnest watcher would have failed to
discover that the uncanny cries that
, lifted eerily into the night were born
in the throats and mouths of two peo-
pie who moved like ghosts slowly, and
always in the thickest shadows of tree,
bush and rocks.
For Ell Cabalero Rojo and the young
Spanish girl were having their first
and only ecessary-rehearsa of their
most important signal, before they en-
tered Deep Water Valley, where death
and destruction might lie before them.
Michael Valdez smiled in the dark
ness, satisfied. Juanita had spoken truly
when she had told him that long ago
she had learned to initiate the calls of
the animals of the wild, as well as those
of the night birds. She was a constant
surprise, this beautiful half wild girl
Michael Valdez could not understand
the warm flooding of his veins at
thought of her. He put such Thoughts
sternly from him-because he did not
understand.
Soon, once more, the phantom riders |
were side by side, but in Juanita's voice |
there was something that said she had |
been subconsciously warned, as one of
the wild things she knew so we'll might
have been warned.
Il do not like this place, senor," she
said fatty. "We ride?"
Valdez did not answer. His very
silence, blending with his caballero cos
tune, which he had donned during
Juanita's short absence, made him a
red-headed specter in conchas
and silver in the moonlight. For every
inch of him now was the conquistador.
Juanita gave him a swift glance, then
her eyes were lifted to the shrine on
Mission Hill.
so that is Don Attero's Cross.
she said reverently, and her
ingers made swift sign of the cross
lcross her heart.
III Caballero Rojo nodded As he,
90, stared at the gigantic post with its
ong horizontal beam he was remem- s.
'ering the story of Don Attero, who
ad made Deep Water Valley a cara
llse that during his lifetime had known
either crime nor greed, want nor envy.
As his thoughts were deep with Don
Attero, suddenly Juanita reached out
nd gripped his arm tensely, staring
nth widened eyes at the distant symbol.
Something is on the cross, senor.~
he whispered. Something jumps up -
nd down at its basew
Someone has swung something from
ach end of the beam, Juanita," Valdez
aid slowly. "And yes, whoever is there
dragging something closer to the
'oss."
Isl! Something heavy, senior. Look
e throws ropes above to the cross
'am. You think he tries to get that
'aVy thing he drags up on the CROSSE"
She stopped short as Ell Caballero
oJo suddenly kneed Ell Cielo, and the
'rse leaped toward the brush.
wait, senor!' she cried anxiouslv
10 not go! I do not like"
But the frantic protest died on her
IS. For she knew that Michael Valdez
d decided-and few of his decisions =,
re ever changed. 1t was not for her
question them.
valdez advanced only few PAGES
% the night. He stopped then, melt
into the inky blackness beside q
'at rock. Then, quietly and decisive.
he moved on again, never our of
'er, but steadily advancing His keen
IS were riveted on a spot where tbe
ley walls came close together, and e
ere river, black silver in the moon "
1T, raced swiftly but noiselessly he. NJ
far, far below. N