The Man of the Forest

tasks imposed upon him by his old friends at Pine

interrupted by Indian attacks. The Apaches had for some time, however, confined their fierce raids to points south of the White Mountain range. Auchincloss's house looked down upon barns and sheds and corrals of all sizes and shapes, and hundreds of

size had been laid end to end, with a deep trough cut in them, and they made a shining line down the slope, across the valley, and up the little hill to the Auchincloss home. Near the house the hollowed halves of logs had been bound together, making a crude pipe. Water ran uphill in this case, one of

ful build and great width of shoulder. He had no gray hairs, and he did not look old, yet there was in his face a certain weariness, something that resembled sloping lines of distress, d

be ordered off the place. He had not set foot there for years. Therefore it was with surprise tha

ted Dale, easily, as he leaned

not rise, but he

een you that I couldn't lay you flat on your back," repli

ain't very well," replie

a hoss thet had been strong an' willin', an' did too much.... Wal, you do

fine, an' time n

. I've wondered lately-since I had time to t

all I want

port anybody; you don't d

l," replied Dale,

n' you jest come over to p

First off, I'd like to say I'll pay back them s

' how'd you g

y many shee

r of fif

still think old Tom

I know damn

e reasonable, now. Let's don't fall out about th

work out that fifty head of sheep!" ej

ur

es at Dale. "What's got into you, Milt? Hev you heard about

th my deal," replied Dale, soberly. "But I ne

woman to fetch you out of the woods. But, boy, this niece of mine, Helen Rayner, will stand you on your

ed. Indeed, this was stra

, Al-"

t lie to a

ho live in towns an' are always makin' deals. I live

talkin' about them sheep your big cat killed. Wal, Milt, I can't prove it, that's sure. An' mebbe you'll think

n?" queried Dale,

s inside tradin', fer supplies, I reckon. It was like meetin' an enemy face to face. Bec

cted to be laughed a

a human being. "Sure I'd hate to doubt old Tom. But he's a cougar. An' the wa

it off. I'm takin' it square of you to make the offer. The

nted to say," began Dale, with he

into his face. Then he raised a big hand that shook.

rlookin' that you spoke up fer me to-day-stood fer my side. Lem Harden told me. I was glad. An' thet's why

nstrated Dale. "It's necessar

ot to me. I

turned Dale. "Beasley's after y

ering up, with his face now black-red. "Do you thin

hurriedly. "Worse! Your life's threate

!" roared Auchincloss,

all over, he backed into the door. A few seconds

friend-" began D

Milt Dale, I'm rich an' I'm a dyin' man. I trust nobody... But, you wild hunter-if you're my

lf falling, into the hou

k moment, and then, taking

amp of his four Mormon friends,

them look matured. Only a year's difference in age stood between John and Roy, and between Roy and Joe, and likewise Joe and Hal. When it came to appearance they were difficult to distinguish

ee miles from Pine; and, though working for Beasley, near the village, they had

and talked as usual when he met them, without giving any hint of the purpose forming in his mind. After the meal he helped Joe round up the horses, hobble them for the night, and drive the

Beasley?" he queried, by wa

bein' the end of our month, we got ou

you kno

hers all had that quiet, suppressed

on Dale. And hurriedly he told of Beasley's plot to abduct

y show of surprise or feeling. John, the eldest, took up a stick and

ou tell us thet?" h

me to talk down in the village. I thought of you boys right off. I ain't

Al's weakenin'. Beasley will git the

n it, you bet. But she oughtn't to be in it at all. ... Boys, somehow I'm goin' to save her. Will you help me? I reckon I've been in some tight corners for you. Sure, this 's different. But are you my friends? You know now what Beasley is

grip, and one by one the other brothers rose to do likewise. Their eyes flas

ve proved to ourselves thet he gets the sheep Anson's gang steals.... An' drives the herds to Phenix! Our people won't let us accuse Be

e one to whom adventure and peril called most. He had been oftenest with Dale, on many a long

you," he said, in a st

arkling the blaze curled up, fanned by the wind. As twilight deepened into night the moan in t

slow and deliberate attention to details. What they had to deal with here was a situation of unlimited possibilities; the horses and outfit needed; a long detour to reach Magdalena unobserved; the rescue of a strange gir

after Beasley?" queried

ilent and

y!" said John. "An' fel

and soon were asleep, while the red embers slowly faded, and th