The Argosy, April 1912 — page 108: what you’re looking at

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

94 THE ARGOSY. “At our destination. And unless I’m greatly mistaken we shall be well rewarded for all our trouble.” “Sh!” exclaimed Border jumping from his horse and motioning to Huntly to do likewise. The sheriff then crept quietly forward. Huntly caught sight of a dark form mov- ing in the bushes. “Throw up your hands!” commanded Border as he covered the figure with his re- volver. CHAPTER X. THE END OF THE TRAIL. It was a nervous moment for Huntly. “Throw up your hands there!” again or- dered the sheriff, but a rustling sound and an oncoming figure proved that his words were unheeded. “Another step and I'll shoot,” warned Border, moving forward with his weapon ready in his hand. 3 The next instant his foot caught on a pro- jecting root and he fell heavily to the ground, the pistol being discharged at the same instant. Simultaneously with the report the dark figure in the bushes made a leap forward. Huntly, meantime, had drawn his own weapon and held it in readiness for the unknown to declare himself. But to his amazement he discovered that the dark form was not that of a human be- ing at all. It was a huge, black bear. Another instant and the beast would have attacked the sheriff. But Huntly was too quick for him. There was a loud revert, followed by the sound of a heavy body crashing through the bushes. ““A bear!” exclaimed the sheriff in sur- prise. “Looks like it,” observed Huntly coolly as he replaced his revolver in its holster. “And you laid him out?” went on Border..: “Well, anything astonishing in that?” “No,” replied the sheriff, “only I didn’t know you Eastern chaps were such good shots.” : “Oh, I’m nothing wonderful,” said Huntly. “You saved my life,” added Border. ‘Glad to have been of service,” answered the other. “You can’t do much more for a man than that,” continued the sheriff, “and I want to tell you that I’ll never forget it.” ‘““Nonsense,’’ rejoined the Easterner. “It was nothing at all. Any one would have done as much.” “Well, who would have thought that we would see a bear!” went on the sheriff. “I must say I never had the pleasure of meeting one before,” said Huntly. “They’re not exactly pleasant acquaint- ances,” proceeded Border, “especially when they are mad and hungry as this one seems to have been. It’s all the more wonderful that you landed him since this is your first experience.” The two men examined the carcass. “My, but he’s a big fellow! One of the biggest I have ever seen in these parts,” de- clared the sheriff. “What shall we do with him?” asked Huntly. “That’s for you to decide. He’s yours.” “Well, we can’t very well take him along with us, can we?” “Tt wouldn’t be advisable just at pres- ent,” said the sheriff with a smile, ‘“ espe- cially as we shall probably have a more precious prize to bring back with us. We must be on our way. We can’t lose time worrying about a dead bear when there’s a young and pretty girl in danger.” “Yes, we must find her,” added Huntly. “T make you a present of the bear.” “This is too much,” said the sheriff, who had visions of the money to be derived from the flesh and skin. “A mere nothing—Jjust to show my regard for the sheriff,” declared Huntly. “Say, Mr. Huntly, you’re all right,” re- marked Border, greatly pleased. “We'll just leave the fellow here till we get back. Then I'll send somebody up to cart him into town.” “All right, then. Now on,” said Huntly. “Tf there’s anything I can ever do to show my appreciation, just call on me,’ re- marked Border gratefully. “Why, you are already going to do some- thing that will please me more than any- thing you could possibly imagine,” replied the Easterner. ‘“ You are going to help me get back my fiancée; what more could I ask than that?” The next minute the two men had mount- ed their horses and were once more on the trail. Meantime they had lost sight of their followers. “Never mind,” said the sheriff, “we comicaoolkks