Ranching for Sylvia

among the trees. This done, George stood still for a few moments, looking about. A dark, cloud-barred sky hung over the prairie, which was fast fadi

they reached the sloo, where they hid themselves among the gr

creeping through the bushes behind him, but he was glad of the confused sounds, because they would cover his movements when the time for action came. His companion, a teamster b

l strike the bluff on the other side," he said. "Night's kind of wi

dowed the prairie, promising the deluge he eagerly longed for; and then, toward evening, they cleared away, and pitiless sunshine once more scorched the plain. Grain grown upon the stiff black loam withstood the drought, but the light soil of th

as if it couldn't rain. We ought to go

ertainly have their troubles. We had a good many calves missing, a

of any cattle-ste

used to be. Indians have been pretty good, but I've known them make lots of trouble in other districts by killin

rants that were pouring in. Grant had pithily said that once upon a time the boys had come there to work; but it now looked as if a certain proportion had arrived on the prairie beca

he first thing to be done is

and clashed, but now and then the breeze died away for a few moments, and there was a curious and almost

said. "Guess

it was lost as the branches rattled and the long grass swayed noisily before a r

, would they bring

y do a little rough farming on the reservation. It would lo

re. It is never very dark in summer on the western prairie, and George could see across the sloo, but there was no movement that the wind

flit, half seen, through the grass. Then one of the shadowy objects stooped, lifting something, and they went back as noiselessly as they had come. In a few more moments they had vanished, and the branches about th

to come up until there's light enough to

and mounted. The grass stretched away, blurred and shadowy, and though they c

d," said the teamster. "G

y had gone several leagues when they came to the edge of a dark bluff. Dr

l runs through;

hear nothing ahead, and George looked about carefully as they crossed a more open space. The trees were getting blacker and more distinct; he could see their tops clearly against the sky, and guessed that dawn was near. Ho

faint rattle of wheels reached them from the dep

s you can. The reservation's not far away, and

tle of wheels and thud of hoofs grew sharply dis

he cried. "We've g

t ride. The trail, he knew, was riddled here and there with gopher holes and partly grown with brush that might bring his horse down, but this did not count. He was glad, however, that the teamster was behind him,

n behind. "If one of us gets thrown,

ge's horse plunged with

s companion cried. "Guess

st time, with the sound of wheels leading them on. Then in the gap before them they saw what seemed to be the back of a

ht!" cried

h a load in his arms. The man looked around. George could dimly make out his dark face; and his figure was almost clear. He was a

s of trees. Seeing it was too late to pull up, he shook his feet clear of the stirrups. He felt the horse plunge down, there was a shock, and he was flung violently from th

er, and he realized that he had fallen into a ravine. There was a small tree near by, against which he supposed he had struck his head; but somewhat to his astonishment he could no

he smoked it out. The sunlight was creeping down the gully, it was getting pleasantly warm, and George felt dull and le

he asked, on r

serious; I feel half asleep and stupid.

ngly. His eyes were heavy and h

uiet a while. I didn't miss you until I'd got out

avoided fallin

sts sharply and runs along the edge of the ravine. I s

n the Indian who left the wagon. Then he ask

anion he

e'd once been roughly handled by mean whites, he tried to get away. Then as I didn't know what to do, I allowed I'd keep him in sight until Constable Flett turned up, and by and by we came to a deserted

eave him with

into the bluff to look for him, he might have slipped out and driven off, so I stood by the beasts quite a while. I

had arrived before he

d been saved a long

?" he

ail, and then said we'd better take the team along and look for you. I left w

slope, where his companion left him and went off for the cons

ed off with the liquor, though one wouldn't expect him to ca

. I'm inclined to think

, and he's the tallest buck in the crowd. I'll stick to the team until we come across som

me back carrying it, and set it do

to see what's in these

I get o

ly, "besides, it's the kind of stuff a white man can't drink." Then he

my horse?" G

he teamster. "I struck his trail,

some trouble, and the teamster

o put before a cour

this matter up; anyway, it looks as if we could only fix it on the Indians. T

ng. "They feel real bad when the court lets a fellow off; seem to think

, and the teamster

trooper handy when a train-hand found me at a lonely side-track. Well, that policeman didn't know what to do with me. It was quite a way to the nearest guard-room; they don't get medals for corraling a man who's only stolen a ride, and

aused and adde

the drinks up if I ever meet that man off duty.

who're running Hardie's tempera