Yellowstone Jack: Trappers of the Enchanted Ground — page 55: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

‘ * bow! Glider the: ee ue advanced, until, | a t last, the e A ed fast er than at a walk. e ould hear her forcing a passage through fi e vine-clad — bushes, whenever he eer sed. to listen, Nothing would be ~ e8 sie) ih than for her to slip into some of. th 1@ numerous coverts that lined both sides of the canyon and lie still until the ot wo trappers had passed by, then take the » back trail and give them the slip. ; if he could | once drive the game from _ the canyon, he felt confident of the result. : Bi rely two. trappers could run down a if oman in a fair chase. hs _ Separating, he and Joe advanced - leisurely, _ thoroughly beating the cover before them, to make sure the game was a: ill afoot. Owing to their activity, they still advanced at a fair rate. Yonder she goes!” cried Brindle a Joe, pointing ahead, where he had just fe cau vibe ht a glimpse of the woman fleeing AS et speed and vigour. ke for the spot at once, then; no 4 ; ae oO 'wastin’ time beatin’ up wh ar We aw ‘she ain't,” replied Yellowstone a ack, increasin his speed. e Little did either of the trappers dream vhat a prize they had missed by leaving this patch of brush unsearched. Even at moment a pair of dark eyes were a laring at them from the cover. At any ‘ er time the acute sight of Brindle a Bie would have detected signs of a fresh ail, but now neither he nor Yellow- - stone had eyes for aught other than for Ay the s rer of their comrade, Chavez. a ft Taally b’lieve the critter zs a ie ook,” muttered Brindle Joe. “Look 10W she holds her own; we'd ’a’ run a i buck Injun down afore this, an’ she don’t | if "pear to be fagged one mite.” “Spook or human, I’m goin’ to see the wir id-up, or else bu’st somethin’,” replied ae Yellowstone Jack. “’F I cain’t ketch _ her -a-rapnin’, I'll try what vartue thar is ne @ quarter-ounce 0’ lead.” “Wish you’d’a’ run up that silver | | am! atiey muttered Joe ey: “Lead’s ny “he ie « a was flesh an’ blood. Don't fe eckon a spook ’d’a’ fell so solid as she did a, pinst the rocks. But thar, spread fe mnust keep her afore us ef we t to male a coup.” ay is 8 manner the chase aeean over | SELLOWSTONE TACK AND THE WITCH. | gates nearly two miles of the canyon bed. At two trappers could not pro- | times the trappers would lose sight of the woman, and fearimg she had sought 16 woman had disappeared, but Jack some covert, hoping thus to give them the slip, they would beat the bushes, peer into every rocky niche as they passed, and presently catch a glimpse of their game far ahead of them. Then another spurt would end as before. Yet they knew that this cou!d not last much longer, for the canyon ended iess than half-a-mile further, after which ground was more open. And upon this down, unless, indeed, she should prove ee witch they had at first believ ed er. “Jest laok at the pizen cat!” ex- claimed Brindle J oe, In a tone of wonder, pointing ahead. Active and quick-footed almost as a chanted valley was scaling the rocks that blocked up the end of the canyon. As Brindle Joe spoke, she gained the top, and waved her staff with a little cry of triumph toward the pursuers. his rifle at the witch and fired. When the smoke cleared, there was nothing to be seen but rocks ‘and bushes. The trappers The same thought might have been read in the eyes of both. Their superstition was fully aroused. didn’t winch,” muttered Brindle J oe, nervously. nek drawed a fair bead ; nur I ain’t in the habit o’ missin’ marks o’ that ges so clost by. downed her, shore ‘““Reckon we'd better take the bacl: trail.. I don’t like this kind o’ business overly much-——t don’t set well on my stomach,” added Joe, with a sickly smile, “You kin, ’f ye hke, but I won’t. TN see this thing through or bu’st. I sot out to foller the—the critter, an’ folier her I will, ef she leads me to the very of Hades itself,” deliberately uttered Yellowstone J ack, as he careful i y reloaded his rifle. Though his face was pale and set there was a look of determination ir his eyos that Brindle Joe could not mistal a, 7 > 53 the they hoped to soon run the woman mountain goat, the witch of the en-— “ Ef ye’re human, hy’ar’s what'll make —_— ye @ sperrit in good airnest,” cried Yellowstone Jack, ‘as he hastily levelled — Bune at euch other. s “7? went smack through her, an’ she Ef she’s human, Id ’a’_ mG (E(0) IOOKS ao