Yellowstone Jack: Trappers of the Enchanted Ground — page 56: what you’re looking at

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

be o’ much account, but ho’s too w 64 and he knew his comrade too well to attempt a remonstrance. Instead, he said : “So be it, then. Brindle Joe mayn’t nite to sneak out o’ a scrape which his papa ner means to face. I reckon you D Id orter be a match fer the old ‘un, even lf she does lead us thar—so pitch yur jinny !”* Cautiously scaling the rocks, Yellow- stone Jack peered over the top. He - could see nothing of the woman, but he did discover something else that drew a cry from his lips as he scrambled for- ward. Several drops of fresh blood were sprinkled upon the white rocks. It was here that the woman had last been seen. Heyond a doubt this blood was hers. “ How air you, spook!” laughed Jack, his face brightenmg. “ Now what ye th sak, Brindle Joe! ibs “ Lreckon we've bin makin’ pizen fools o ourselves,” quoth the trapper, after elo sely examing the _ telltale spots. “Spooks don’t hey blood—leastwise so BI. ack Harris sais. He said he rammed daylight clear through Ars spook, at the me dicine spring, 2 round dozen o’ times, an’ nary: & drap o blood did it let out. I reckon we've struck a crazy critter, ‘stead o’ a spook.” _ “ Crazy or not, she rubbed out Mexy. Dow't fergit that,” quickly replied Yellow- stove Jack. “Thar she goes!” cried Brindle Joe, pointing atin, “ Makin’ fer the medi- cine valley, too. ’F’ she gits thar fust, it’s good-bye John!” Yellowstone made no roply, but sprang forward at full speed after the fleein woman. Their delay in reloading sad examining the rocks had given the chased woman fully a mile start, and she was running swiftly, heading for the valley of the Boiling Spring, now not more than two-thirds of a mile distant. Yellowstone Jack was a _ splendid runner, and gradually left Brindle Joe in the rear, rapidly gaining upon the fugitive. He was not more than two hundred yards behind when she entered the valley, and strained every nerve to its utmost tension, hoping to overtake her before she could reach the spring *** Pitch your jinny,” a once popular bit of Western slang, though from what devived 1 | asongt learn, YELLOWSIGNE JACK : s . ie where she had so mpaeadoale eluded bith a once before, even dropping his rifle in or eagorness. The witch gained the curb sarntindan the spring, and flung herself headlon forward. But just at that moment the strong hands of Yellowstone Jack closed upon her skin garments, and he strove to to drag her back. She kicked vigorously, ; and striking his shin, knocked his feet from under him, and then both fell | O- gether into the Boiling Spring. a A ery of horror burst from Brindle Joe’s lips as he saw them disappear, and saw the spray dash up, telling him that both had fallen into the medicine spring + And the superstition that was his secon self whispered him that Yellows Jack had fallen blindly into a trap set os him by the spook, who had led them on in this wild race for no other purpose. And still, while believing this, the 2 faithful fellow ran forward and igre up the curv. He stood thero as_ petrified. Taen a violent trembling sated Ls upon his limbs. . The spring was quietly bubbling upin the centre, as usual, Tits waters were clear andlimpid. The bottom was clearly. . visible, es well as the sides. There was not a trace cf either Yellowstone or tlie witch! Where had they gone? : With a cry of horror, Brindle ‘Tol tumbled down the white curb and dashed swiftly down the valley. But he did not run far before he checked himself, and glanced back. Then he uttered, huskily : “Durned ef I do! I tole Yellowstone I'd see it through, an’ I will—or die fort! He's gone. Ifeelitin my bones. "Tuin't likely he’ll ever bo let come’ back, she will; she did oncet, fer this mule twicet I've see’d her j jump in thar. when she does come, shell fine me Mebbe ’twon’t do no good, but Til shoot her ef powder an’ lead kin do the job. S’posin’ it don’t—what then? Mebbe she'll take me to whar Jack is!” and, strange as it may seem, the rongt trapper found consolation in the idea! — It was no common bond that united the trappers. Their love for each othe was stronger and purer than that existiz 8 between most brothers. | Brindle Joe retraced his steps an¢ crouched down beside the curious mount already referred to. Then, with cockec tiie he watched the medicine ar ng Le searcely had seated bimeslf in Uy _ r * - a rh