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This Blighting
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1,1 ro ^IT blKCtS S eral U causes! boUi^e herediu^‘!, lk , the - v d< ™ a °P fronl the sa,,ie S e “-
povished blood Supply j ^ aild dependent upon an impure and lm- ^S^OOK V»
the lungs ; in Scrofula the glan&^f?} 1011 ^e disease fastens itseif upon -T
the eyes are inflanied and , f £ the neck and throat swell and suppurate, causing ugly running sores;
bones ache and white swell’ ■ there is a!1 almost continual discharge from the ears, the limbs swell,
the skin, producing iiidr,,?n Ire quently a result, causing the diseased bones to work out through
•rood • the'blood is Doisnn d P am and - suffering. Cutting away a sore or diseased gland does no
^generations has polluted every d ° ld scrofulous taint which lias probably come down through several
condHTo°n U beforl U ae S tIrriKl° U a- per5islent treatment. The blood must be brought back to a healthy
other poisonous mineralsusuafl'f^ ™ be St0pped ? itS WO ? ° f destruction Mercury potash and
and leave the system in a ST £> nvei ? 111 such cases do more harm than good; they rrnn the digestion
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SPIDER’S
CHAPS
BY
WOLCOTT
LE CLEAR
BEARD
TALE OF THE CATTLE THIEVES
OF AG-UA CALIEHTE.
JioOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Not tor a moment did rsuppose that i ng over the back of one cow after an
other and yelling frightfnllly as he
came, Hollis at last dropped with a
splash into the shallow water near the
shore. The cowboy cast loose the rope
from his saddle horn and cantered after
Lee.
Released from control, the cattle
scattered and soon, except for the three
dead ones, there was not a cow in sight.
Another attempt to cross the river then
was impossible. We bad done onr best
and had failed.
CHAPTER IIL
IK WHICH SPIDER MYSTERIOUSLY LEAVES
CAMP.
It was in a most dismal frame of
mind that we retnrned to onr camp,
rather to the place where onr-camp had
been. Onr reception was corresponding
ly dismal. In fact, it would be nearer
the truth to say that we had no recep
tion, for while we were .trying to get
the cattle over the river the Ballet Girl
had packed up everything there was to
pack and bad departed in search of a
ford ora boat or some means of getting
across without having to ferry himself
over on his timber leg. as be told ns
afterward. Therefore there was no din
ner awaiting tis when we arrived and
no means of getting any.
When, after considerable search, we
finally discovered our missing kitchen,
it had succeeded in crossing, and then,
in the face of the rising water, it had
to return. It was quite nightfall when
it reached ns. The Ballet Girl was in a
particularly bad humor. For this rea
son our supper, when we got it. was a
wretched one.
Still, bad as it was, it was welcome
As the men gathered about tbefire their
I should again see Hollis alive—not once
in a thousand such occurrences would I
have had an opportunity. As it was, by
a miracle of good fortune, he came up
near the heads of the cattle between
which he had fallen. I saw his hand
clutching at a horn. The head to which
the horn belonged bellowed and tossed
in its efforts to free itself. Twice it
broke his hold, and twice Hollis reap
peared, grasping for his life at the
nearest support.
Spider instantly turned his horse and
spurred straight into the press of cattle,
striking and shouting and trying to
scatter it. Only on the edge of the herd
did he succeed. The rest of the cattle
were packed too closely, and there was
not time for them to move. Still spur
ring, Spider snatched his lariat from
where it hung on his saddle, closing the
loop in order to increase its length. He
swung it and cast. The rope fell fair
and true across the neck of the steer to
which Hollis was clinging. Hollis grasp
ed it instantly.
The cattle heaved and pushed as they
felt the strain of the tightened line over
their backs. Spider tried desperately to
bring the end of his lariat to the saddle
horn, where ho could secure it, but he
was forced away by the cattle until the
rope would not reach. Then the cattle
gave back a little. Hollis took in the
slack afforded by this movement, and
opening the loop wi.th one hand, tried
to get it over his head and shoulders.
“Le' me have it 1’’ shrieked Spider.
“Le’ me have the slack—I can’t get the
rope t' the horn ’less you da I can’t
pull y’out with jus’ my ban’. Le’ me
have it—quick I”
Hollis strained the rope harder than
ever. Though ho could not get the loop
over bis shoulders, be did get one arm
through, and then, clutching the lariat
in his hand, he jerked the line danger
ously as he struggled to rise between
the cattle
“Slack off till I e'n fast the rope!”
called Spider despairingly “I can’t
hoi' ter my saddle else."
Tlio rope was strained until it sung
like a harp string. With a quick turn
of his wrist Spider wrapped the end of ~
the lariat around his hand and held on
with all the strength of bis tough little
body. Clinging to the horn with his left
hand, he was dragged farther and far
ther out of his saddle. Finally his hold
on the horn was broken, his pony dashed
riderless up the hank, while Spide.
hung by the rope, counterbalanced by
■ Hollis at the other end.
“Let gol” I roared to him aslpushed
my horses down the bank in order to
attempt the assistance that I knew I
could not give. “Let go the line and
get out while you can I Don’t you see
they’re closing around you ? Let gol”
Spider heard and shook his head. He
had no intention whatever of letting
go. Dragged upward by Hollis’ superior
weight, he was hanging with his feet
jnst touching the water. In spite of his
desperate hdld the lariat was slipping
through Spider’s hands. His face was
getting white under its tan, but his
teeth were set and still he held fast
“Let gol Let go, now!” I called
again. Spider did not let go, and then
it was too late. A bunch of cattle, con
fused by the stir, that were lumbering
aimlessly about, crowded against him
and hemmed him in. As I rode I drew
my pistol and fired three shots'in rapid
succession. It is a distress signal that
is universally known, and if it was
heard it could not fail to bring the men
back to Spider’s aid.
' For a moment no one answered.
There was no time for an answer. But
I did not realize that then. I rode at
the cattle and_ fired three more shots,
this time straight into them, and three
of them rolled .over into the muddy wa
ter. I was so close that I conld not
miss, and I would cheerfully have sacri
ficed the whole herd jnst then if it
•would have helped Spider out. Bnt my
.pistol was empty, and all I could do
. was to try, with the able assistance of
the little bay mare I rode, to scatter
the cattle that held him into the herd.
Indeed the mare did far more than I in
the minute that followed. Seeming to
realize the situation, she plunged,
" kicked and even bit as she tried to force
her way.
■ The press got thicker and thicker.
The Tittle mare could only struggle
faintly against it. I was quite close to
Spider now. but I might as well have
been a mile away, for I conld not reach
■him. I' caught sight of his red head
only once. The rest o f <he time I conld
see nothing but the strained line that
hummed between the hoy and the heavy
man tiia*. was trying to climb by it. I
ccnld still yell, and I did. Three shots
came back in answer, and in another
moment help had arrived.
The cattle that held us into the herd
were scattered. One of the cowboys
caught my mare by the bridle and led
her, protesting against the indignity,
up the bank. As we went I turned my
bead in time to see that Cappy Lee had
picked Spider np bodily by his belt and
that he looked more spiderlike than ever
with bis' legs and arms nourishing in
the air as lie was lifted to a seat in
front of his rescuer. At the same time
another man cut Spider’s rope. Then,
carrying the loose end to his saddle
horn, he took a qnick turn and gal
loped away Of course the strain on
Hollis’ arm mnst have been terrible. No
man could have held on. even though
Spider was sobbing ns though his heart
would break.
spirits rose amazingly, even though
their wet clothes steamed more than
the scalding coffee that the cook poured
into the big tin enps. It was all in the
day’s work—of a cowboy.
We bad nearly finished supper when
I noticed that Spider was not there. It
was so unusual for him to absent him
self from a meal that I went in search
of him, fearing that something might
be wrong. It was some time before I
conld find him in the darkness; but,
hearing an odd sound from behind my
tent. I followed it With his arms
thrown around the neck of the horse
that he had ridden that day, Spider
was sobbing as though his heart would
break. I stood still tor a moment, sur
prised. He had not heard me. and 1
knew that he would be terribly morti
fied should he find that I had been a
witness of his weakness, so I coughed in
a discreet manner to warn him of my
approach. The effect was instantaneous.
Spider straightened up immediately and
began to hum a little tune to himself,
while the horse looked around at him
with an expression of mild surprise at.
bis sudden change of mood.
I asked him why he did not come to
supper. He answered that he “didn’
seem ter want none jus now somehow.
This was very startling. When I com
mended his bravery and magnanimity
in doing what he bad done to save the
life of an enemy,, he observed that “it
wasn’ no great shakes nohow, ” and that
as be intended to square matters with
Hollis sooner or • later he didn't want
Hollis drowned, as that obviously would
prevent any snch reckoning..
It was like Spider to attach the low
est possible motive to anything that he
might do. but I knew better. There
was no nse in saying anything more. 1
held put my hand. Spider winced as he
took it. Then I found that his right
palm had been ent almost to the bone
by the rope that bad been polled through
it I took him back to the camp and
dressed his band as well as I was able
l-ith the limited resources at onr com
mand, "and at last he rolled np in his
blanket and fell into the deep sleep of
ntter exhaustion.
I had retnrned to my own tent .and
sat under the fly, looking out at the
dismal landscape and feeling very bine
indeed. There was nothing, as far as
the eye conld reach, bnt rock, cactus
and sand. How the cattle were to live
I conld not - see Something mnst be
done. I was about to call the foreman
for a consultation when I saw him
coming toward me.
“Evenin,” he remarked as though he
had not seen me before that day
“Though: I'd come over an see what
we’d best do with them there critters
while the river's goin down We can't
his life depended upon it, but Hollis | stay here.’’ . u
had.secnreil the loop around his wrist I didn’t in the least kno
what to
going dov n It was rising.
“Yaas, so 'tis. That’s what made me
think that maybe, after all. we’ll have
ter take the herd ter ol' Lorena’s range
fer a bit. Can’t do no better as I e’n
see. ”
“Where is Lorena’s range?” I asked.
“Is there feed there ?”
“ ’Bont 40 mile down the river. Oh.
yes,' there’s grass there, all right
enough. ’’ He spoke so dubiously that
I asked for an exjdanation. “Oh, yes,
there's grass there, all right enough,”
be repeated. “But then Lorena, he’s
there too. 1 don't like Lorena none
too well. He’s a greaser, an therS ain’t
no worse one nowhere. He’s got an all
fired bad lot aronn him, too, down there
to Agua Caliente. Yon'M have ter pay
fer the nse er the range, of course, an I
reckon maybe we won't have no trou
ble. Anyhow, it looks like it’s all we
;’n do. ”
I was not borrowing trouble. I said
that I thought we'd better start for Lo
rena’s as soon as we conld get away in
the morning.
“I reckon,” agreed the foreman.
“Now there's another thing I wanted ter
say. Yon see how we was at the river
thismornin. We’re short handed, that’s
what we are. an we want more help.”
’ This fact was not news to me, and I
said so.
“Well, we’re shorter’n ever now,”
the foreman went on. “Hollis he won’t
be no good fer awhile—one of his arms
is a foot an a half longer’n the other,
an it'll take er month ter get it hack
where it was.- Now there’s that kid—
Spider. He done some mighty good
work yes’day iu the lierdin, not ter talk
erbont that job he done fer Hollis—a
man what tried ter throw him down all
he knowed. S’pcse we take him on. ”
“Bnt what will the cook do?” I ob
jected.
“He’s all right. We c'n pick nn a
Chinaman er snnthin fer him bimeby,
an now he says the kid'll be a sight
more nse roun the cattle than ever he
was with the cook outfit. I guess we
c'n call that settled, so fur es the Bally
Gurl goes. Conrse I know the kid can’t
do a man’s work yet, an I enjy mean
ter give him boy’s pay fer now, till we
see how he does. Are yon willin?”
I was perfectly willing—more than
that. I was delighted to give Spider his
chance, but I did not say so. I only
asked how Spider was to get a suitable
outfit—apart from the horse. If he had
taken a fancy to the ugly brute he bad
ridden that day he might have the
creature and welcome.
' “I guess that lets us cut—the horse.’
responded the foreman. “The boys has
got np a sorter chip in fer the rest
Hollis, he’ll come up with consid’able
of it, I reckon. He will fer tho chaps
anyhow. He owes it. ”
Hollis certainly did owe the chaps,
but I was rather surprised from my
knowledge of the man that he should so
readily acknowledge his debt.
“Oh, yes. Hollis is mighty grateful. I
reckon," replied the foreman when I
expressed my astonishment “Hollis’ll
come down with the money all right,
don't yon fear." There was something
peculiar in the foreman’s tone that
made me suspicions.
“Does Hollis know that he’s expected
to contribute?" 1 asked.
“No, not yet. He will, though. I’m
a-gonter see him now. ’’ The foreman
hitched his holster conveniently for
ward and departed. I shouted an order
after him to the effect that, whatever
Hollis might or might not be willing to
give, there should be no coercion in the
matter. I never knew whether or not
this order was obeyed. I rather think it
was not
I did not witness the announcement
of Spider’s promotion. Long before sun
rise I had started ont with the foreman
to arrange with Lorena for the nse of
his pastures. The herd was to follow ns.
As the foreman had said, I found Lo
rena to be a. most villainous old Mexi
can and surronnde-l by a most villain
ous crew of followers. He knew that we
were at his mercy, and. therefore over
charged us frightfully. The pasturage
on his range was good, and that at least
was a comfort, but I didn't at all like
the prospects in other ways. Two days
later, when the cattle arrived, we
camped, as before, on the banks of the
river. Our ostensible reason for camp
ing there was. of conrse. that we would
be on hand at the earliest possible mo
ment when the river should fall enough
to allow ns to cross. Bnt teally we
chose this place, the foreman and I, in
order to he as far away as we could
from the wicked little town of Agna
Caliente. the headquarters of Lorena
and his friends. At best the town was
far nearer us than we liked. The dis
tance was only 20 miles or so
For a week or two after we arrived
we did not seem to me to have much
cause for alarm. In fact, I wonld have
been rather relieved had not the fore
man kept np a continual croaking. The
cattle were in no way interfered with.
It is true that many of onr men would
avail themselves of every possible .op
portunity to get to Agna Caliente, and
wonld frequently stay there much
longer than, they ought; but this, in
view of the time that had lapsed since
they had seen a town of any kind at
all, was no mere than one mnst expect
There was little for the men to do.
In fact, for this first fortnight, the
life settled back to its old monotony as
far as I was concerned. To Spider the
new responsibilities that he had as-
snmed seemed a never failing delight.
He worked indefatigably. and at night
was quite ready to go to sleep without
the preamble of setting the camp by
the ears, according to his former habit.
Apart from other reasons, I think that
Spider wonld at this time have consid
ered such an outbreak beneath his dig
nity, unless committed for weighty and
well considered reasons. Besides,- his
outfit arrived.'which placed him, when
the first stunning shock of surprise had
subsided, on the pinnacle of all earthly
bliss.
Spider might well be pleased. The
“boys’’ had done their best, and Spider
was equipped from head to heel with
cowboy paraphernalia—saddle, bridle.
cm. rue'new .leather.’made ms legs, so
the men said. look like, those of a newly
hatched chicken, they were so yellow
So taken with them was Spider'that he
was nearly thrown several times the
first day he wore them becanse. instead"
of looking.to see where his horse was
going, be-if as admiring his legs "But a
glory greater even than the chaps lay
in his “gnp. ■' the heavy pistol, that
with its holster and well filled car
tridge belt Spider proudly buckled
around his waist He seemed to have
grown two inches taller as he strutted
about the camp. The outfit wonld have
been woefully incomplete without this
weapon. If a herder becomes nnhorsed,
the' half wild cattle will attack him
oftener than not and without this means
af defense he would be helpless.
Spider threw himself into his. work
with an energy greater, if possible, than
before. Lack of energy was at no time
one of Spider's faults. aDd this was
most fortunate, for we Deeded him and
every one on whom we could depend
more and more as the days passed by.
Matters in the camp were going from
bad to worse.
Those men who went most frequent
ly to Agna Caliente began going often
er than ever. Sometimes they would
leave their work in order to go there,
and when they retnrned they would be
filled with the malignant whisky preva
lent in that region or with the still
more malignant mescal Conld we have
replaced them these men would have
been discharged at once, bnt we could
not replace them. For a time I was
comforted by the reflection that as soon
as their money gave out this conduct
must cease. It did not cease, bntin-
stead it became worse than ever. Some
of the cowboys left. Some became so
useless that, great as our need was. we
had to discharge them. Of all the men
who went often to Agna Caliente. Hollis
alone wonld return sober.
“An he’s jus’ the las' one I care
about,” said the foreman as for the
hundredth time we were holding a
conneil. “He’s ban’ in glove with Lo
rena an the hull gang It's them what
get the boys away—it’s their reg'lar
trick. They wants ter weaken us all
they can an then sneak the cattle. Been
stealin cattle fer years, they have, only
no one couldn't prove nothin They
ain’t takin uo chances they c'n help,
but the river's goin down party fas’
now. an they know it. so I reckon
they'll make ther try fer onr herd in a
night er two—t'uight. inaybe Better
get the cattle together There ain’t no
nse in our foolin onrselves—things
don’t look none ton gandy. no way you
c’n see ’em.
What the foreman said was perfectly
true I fully realized that now. and at
once gave orders to round np the cattle.
The river had fallen considerably, and it
was decided that we should move the
camp and gather the cattle at the near
est ford, 12 miles below. In this way it
was just possible that, if the river al
lowed ns. wo might get across and away
before there was an opportunity for
tronble
All of onr men were at snpper that
night, and all of them, with the excep
tion of Hoilis. were trustworthy. The
others bad been weeded ont days before.
As the’hasty meal was finished the fore
man stood up and made a little speech
to the men. it was very short.
“Boys." he said. “I reckon you all
knows what yen got ter do. New yon
wauter saddle up an do it jus' as qnick
as you know how. There'll he tronble
else at both ends erthe line. Now’s the
time ter start. "
The boys saddled and started. In a
few minutes, except for the Ballet
Girl, who was hurriedly striking camp,
there was not a human-being in sight..
Driving the spare horses ahead "of me,
I went directly to onr new camping
place, gathering by the way what few
Rattle I conld get. I was the first to ar
rive at the ford. I built a fire to guide
the others to this point and eat down
to keep it going until the cook conld
come np and relieve me.
Few of the cattle had strayed far
Followed by a shouting cowboy or two.
small bunches soon began to come in
These bunches would be united on the
river bank, and their- herders wonld
gallop off after more. Then the cook
wagon drew np at the fire, which was
utilized by the Ballet Girl for the man
ufacture and maintenance of a huge pot
of coffee, kept for the benefit of all
comers. There was no time to stop and
eat.
The men came and went and came
again, all of them, except Spider and
Hollis. I had not seen them since sup
per. I began to get very uneasy about
Spider and made inquiries as the men
came in. Capjiy Lee, it seemed, was the
last to see them. It was early in the
evening. Spider was spurring along di
rectly in Hollis’ wake and both of
them heading for Agna Caliente. It
was long jiast midnight when Lee in-
scorn
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FIRST- Because, if any member
- of the family has a hard cold, it
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SECOND- Because, if the chil
dren are delicate and sickly, it will
make them strong and well.
THIRD—Because, if the father or
mother is losing flesh and becom
ing thin and emaciated, it will build
them up and give them flesh and
strength.
FOURTH —' Because it is the
■ standard remedy in all throat and
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No household should be without it.
It can be taken in summer as wail
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50c. and $t.oo, all druggists.
-■ ■ '
lormea me" or mis. tailing the rore-
man, I hurriedly told him about Spi
der’s absence and iu whose, company he
was last seen. I also told him that I
was very much afraid that something
had happened to the boy and that I in
tended to start out at once in search of
him. •
“Ridin jealous er Hollis, I s’pose, liko
he always does." said the foreman.
“Well. I reckon yon’d better go,"he
went on, after thinking a moment.
“Oughtn’t ter go alone, though”—
“He won’t go alone, you bet yon.”
Lee interrupted. “Jus’ wait till I sad
dle up a fresh horse an get my rifle
outer the wagon. I won’t be long.”
“What about yer work?” asked the
foreman reprovingly.
“Have ter get 'long without me the
best it kin, I reckon." responded Lee as
he walked away to make his prepara
tions. The foreman made a qnick stride
after him and then stopped.
“He hadn't no bnsiness ter talk like
that, bnt I reckon he’s right. He onght
ler go, an maybe I'd dene the same if I
was him. Look here. Don't you get in
ter no fights yon c'n help. If you don't
come hack by an honr after sun np, er
if ther's anything ben done ter that ther
kid. I'll let the cattle go. an I'll take
every one er the boys—I'll head 'em
myself—an I'll burn Agna Caliente nn
shoot every man ther is in the place."
I laughed.
“Yon needn’t ter laugh," cried the
foreman indignantly. “You know’ I
don’t talk 'less I mean it. If me an the
boys can live ter do it. I’ll do every
las’ thing I said. ”
At first I had thought that he was
joking, but it was as he said. He meant
every word. Of course I would not for
a moment consent to snch a plan as
that he proposed, one that might in
volve the killing of men who had not
done or intended ns any harm. I gave
the foreman orders to stop where he
was nntil the following noon, and then,
if we had not retnrned. to send a search
party. Bnt I ccnld not see that we were
in any danger.
“Danger?" responded the foreman
obstinately. “Well, I reckon maybe I
know some better than yon do If yon
ain’t back when I said, we’ll all be a
search party I’m boss when you ain’t
here. I’m a-gonter hoi' all the boys as
they come in an give 'em a night’s rest.
We c’n start work in the mnrnin one
way er another—an hour after sun np.
Hoi’ on a minute."
He ran to the wagon and took out a
rifle, which he fastened to my saddle.
“Take this along. Maybe you'll want
it,” he said, shoving a handful of car
tridges into my pocket “Here comes
Lee."
As he spoke the cowboy, freshly
mounted, came cantering up. and we
started off.
“Yon needn’t be afraid of ns hnrtin
no innereent men,” tho foreman called
after ns reassuringly. “We wouldn’t
do that." He waited until we were
some distance away, and then, making
a speaking trumpet of his hands, he
bawled;
“In—Agna Caliente there—ain't—
no—innereent—men 1"
CHA-PTER IV.
IN WHICH TIIK CATTLE ARE STAMPEDED BY
LORENA’S QANO.
I had not an idea as to Spider’s prob
able whereabouts. The desert was so
very large and Spider so very minute a
speck upon its surface that it struck me
after we had started out that onr qnest
was a singularly hopeless one Lee.
however, differed from me.
“I don’t see no tronble in knowin
where ter go. ” he said. “Png Hollis,
he’ll be prntty sure ter strike to’rds
Agna Caliente. an Spider’ll sure be in
bis wake. Ali we got ter do is ter go
ter Agna Caliente, too; that’s all. If
anything’s wrong an that kid’s alive,
he’ll be makin some noise er other ter
let ns know. He’s a star at makin a
noise, Spider is. It’s right in his line.”
By this time we were well away from
the camp, ont cf sight of the fire. Bnt
for the pole star that hung burning
brightly over our heads I- would not
have had the faintest notion of the di
rection in which we were going. But
Lee, with the plainsman’s unerring in
stinct, loped steadily along without
ever raising his eyes. Lee was not a
talkative person The only sonnd that
broke the oppressive stillness was the
dismal yell) of a distant coyote, the
smothered pad of the hoofs of our
mounts as they fell on the soft sand
and the regular click of the spur chains
against our heavy wooden stirrups
Only once did Lee speak.
“Moon’scomin np. SeeV That’s tine.
C’n tell what we’re doin now." He
pointed to a silvery sheen on ihe dark
bine horizon, into which a few minntes
later the full moon climbed, streaking
the rolling surface of the Resort with
bright light and blackest shadow and
silvering the stately forms of the tree
cactns that studded the desert thickly
A faint white line a mile ahead marked
the conrse of a trail, toward which, by
tacit consent, we turned onr horses.
Suddenly Lee held np his hand as a
signal that I should listen. At first I
could hear nothing Then, sounding
faint in the distance, there came three
pops of a pistoL
“That’s him—somebody what wants
help, anyhow, ” called Lee “Over be-
yon’ the rise, thar, they are. We c’n see.
from the top. Le’s hustle—quick I’"
Putting spurs to our horses, we soon!
were climbing a long, stony ridge that ]
for miles divided the plain, concealing
one half from the other. !
Onr horses stopped of their own ac- •’
cord as they reached the top. At first,
we conld see nothing. Then my atten-’
tion was attracted by a moving blot'
near the edge of the black shadow
thrown by the ridge. As we looked the 1
blot passed ont of the shadow and was
at once defined as a bnneb of cattle
driven by three horsemen toward Agna
Caliente. Who these men were we
conld not tell at that distance, but they
were not of onr force, and one of them,
from the peaked crown of his hat, was
probably a Mexican. They were driving
the cattle rapidly. One of the men stop
ped, and, tnrning. looked intently in
the direction from which he had come.
One of his companions came back and
joined him. Then, after a moment, they
both wheeled and galloped back to the
herd, where the third man seemed anx
iously to await them. Evidently the
three were uneasy about something.
“They think somebody is a-follerin
’em.’’ said Lee softly in my ear. They
were not far from the truth if they did
think so. A horseman emerged from the
shadow, and the brilliant moonlight fell
on the diminutive form and bright,
new chaps of Spider.
The men saw Spider nearly as soon as
I. Two of them at once polled np their
horses and stopped, evidently intending
to bar the way Spidc-r stopped also.
The men rode on. and Spider followed,
preserving his distance nnchanged.
They repeated this maneuver two or
three times nntil at last the man with
the Mexican bat lost his temper. He
turned suddenly and darted after Spider
at the full speed of his horse.
Firing three quick shots at his pur
suer, Spider whirled about, and. with
a yell of delight, vanished into the shad
ow. aisappeartng as completely
though the earth had swallow^
Evidently recognizing the p
getting closer to an,y
seen himself, cane” _
rarireir ms nbrse toward tne neru.
Emerging once more from the shadow.
Spider fallowed as before.
Jnst what Spider was trying to do I
did not know. It was plain, however,
that he was in some need of assistance,
as there were three men opposed to him:
I was about to start at full speed down
the hilt when Lee stopped me.
“HoV. on!" he whispered excitedly,
catching my horse by the bridle.
“Don’t start ter run down this yer
slope—you'll only break yer neck, an
then yon won't be no good to nobody.
Ther's plenty er time. That kid, he’s
jus’ worrvin them three chumps into a
fit—without no danger to himself too.
Don’t you see how he keeps jus’ outer
pistol shot? Take it easy down the
slope. Once we’re on the level, then
we’ll rush 'em."
Onr horses picked their own way
down the dark, bowlder strewn hillside.
When we reached the plain, there was
an instant's pause. Lee drew his rifle
from the becket that rested nnder his
left knee.
“Ready?" he asked. I was quite as
ready as I was likely to be. but he wait
ed for no reply Dropping the reins on
the neck of his horse, he sent home his
spnrs and dashed ont into the moon
light, yelling like an Indian and pump
ing his repeating rifle with both hands
as he went. As we came Spider swerv
ed his horse and drew his pistol. Then
he recognized ns.
“Hooray!" he yelled at the top of his
shrill voice. “I knowed yon’d come.
We got 'em! Whcopl Yip. yip, yip 1
Come on I I ben a-follerin them thieves
all night."
Lee and I were riding side by side.
Spider was some little distance ahead,
shouting these remarks over his shoul
der. He intended to stay ahead, too, for,
ride as we might, neither Lee nor I
conld catch him The three men who
were driving onr cattle did not wait for
ns. Firing an ineffective shot or two
they turned to one side and vanished in
the shadow of the hill Spider turned
his horse in pnrsuit.
“Come back!” called Lee. “Come
back here, you kid! You crazy?"
Spider paid no attention whatever,
but rode on at the best speed his pony
conld show
“Come back, 1 say. or I'll rope your
pony an throw him!" shouted Lee
again.
“Have ter get within east first, an
yon can't do it,” retnrned Spider de
fiantly What he said was quite true
We were losing ground at every stride
We were well into the shadow now.
“Come back!" I called in despair.
“Will yon obey orders or not?” Spider
stopped instantly.
“Conrse, if it's an order it goes,” be
eaid. “But what d'yon wanter pnll np
fer when we jus’ got er chance ter get
them- thieves?" Lee had no words to
waste at the time He took Spider by
the collar of his flannel shirt, lifted
him half out of bis saddle, shook him
soundly, cuffed his ears and then re
tnrned him. with a thnmp, to his seat.
“S’pose yon wanter get.er hole shot
in your fool little hide jus’ because you
think it’s smart." said Lee. when he
had completed these operations to his
satisfaction “Yon couldn’t tell where
them rustlers was a-waitin fer you in
the dark there. Now get them cattle
movin fer home er I’ll take off yer
chaps an spank you with ’em." To my
great surprise Spider took these correc
tions and cantered away to obey his
orders without a word. But. then. Lee
had always been very good to Spider.
“S’pose I reeliy oughter not a shook
’im so.” the cowboy went on regretful
ly when Spider had left. "I couldn’t
let ’im get so uppity, though. Ther
"HoorayP’
wonldn’ be no livin in the same camp
with ’im. But he scared me, that’s a
fact. That’s reeliy why I thumped ’im.
I’d be mighty sorry if that kid got
hurt, an he was fixin ter get hurt the
very best he knowed. Here he comes,
now, grinnin sn the grin runs ever his
face all down his back."
“Them rustlers was a-waitin fer me,
was they?” called Spider as soon as he
got close enough. “Well, jus’ yon look
over there once." He pointed to a
moonlit space between two deej) shad
ows nearly a mile away. Three men on
horseback were crossing it rabidly,
going in the direction of Agna Caliente.
There was no doubt about their being
the thieves. No other men wonld have
been likely to be in that deserted place
at such a time. or. if they had been,
they wonld have shown themselves be
fore when Spider was firing distress
signals.
“Do you snppose that those fellows
will go after more men and then come
down on us?" 1 asked Lee as Spider re
tnrned to his work.
“Nope," replied the cowboy "They
can’t afford fer take no chances, er
they’d ’a’ staid an fonght it ont. It ain’t
no joke fer a man ter get ketched Iiftin
cattle ronn here. Yon c'n raise the
country ter go after 'im. an if he’s
caught he don't get ter jail alive. Them
fellers was gonter take these here cattle
across the line into Mexico—it ain't
more'n 20 miles from Agua Caliente—
an sell 'em there. Better get them cat
tle over the divide an movin to'rds
home, though, as soon ns we kin It’s
mos’ snn up now "
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“The battle of Manila was won in
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