CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
"Only a little way further, Peanut, old boy," Limber encouraged thepony, patting its neck as he swung once more to its back; and Peanut,knowing the distance home, started willingly on his way through thestorm.
They were on the main road which led directly to the Hot Springs ranch,but a few feet from the creek-crossing it forked to the Circle Cross. Asthey neared this Y, the pony jumped and stopped, snorting. Limber leapedfrom his saddle and sheltered by Peanut's body, crouched low, holdinghis pistol ready. When the next flash came, illuminating the landscapeas brilliantly as though it were midday, he slipped the pistol quicklyinto the holster at his hip and ran to a white heap huddled in the road.
Limber stooped at the woman's side and held his shaking hand against herheart; then he opened his flask and forced whiskey between the closedteeth, and chafed the cold hands. There was no response. Hurriedly, heunfastened the yellow slicker he was wearing, and gently wrapped itabout the unconscious form. Then, lifting her in his arms, the cowboymounted his pony, thankful that Doctor Powell was so near.
The wind blew the woman's hair across his lips, and a wonderful sense ofhappiness thrilled him. In the flashes he could see her pale face lyingagainst his wet coat, and his heart throbbed with love and tender pity.
Doctor Powell opened the door in response to Limber's call. A vividflash showed Peanut with Limber on his back holding Katherine in hisarms.
"What's the matter, Limber?"
"I found her at the forks of the road on the ground. She's just fainted,I think," explained the cowboy as he placed the unconscious form in thedoctor's arms.
Chappo ran from the house and took the reins from Limber, leading Peanutto the stable while the two men entered the house. The doctor laidKatherine on the couch and brought restoratives. Limber knelt beside herand gently chafed the cold hands.
"Glendon's broke jail at Tombstone with the rest of the bunch. There's aposse, comin' from Willcox. I was comin' out to let you know; but theycan't cross the Creek now. It's runnin' from bank to bank. Peanut justmade it by a scratch."
The light from the lamp fell across the cut and bruised face, andLimber's eyes turned to Powell.
"Do you think she done that fallin' in the road?" he askedsignificantly.
"No," was the positive reply, as Powell studied her face. "It looks likea blow; besides, those are finger marks on her throat. I saw her twohours ago--she was all right then--Juan is away--I left her there alone."
Limber rose from the side of the couch and looked into Powell's eyes."Nobody would lay a hand on her exceptin' Glendon."
Powell uttered no sound, but his face was pale with emotion as thecowboy went on speaking in low, tense voice.
"They got away at six o'clock, and if Glendon had a good mountain ponyand took the old Indian trail, he could've got to the Circle Crossbefore now. If I knowed he'd hit her, I'd kill him on sight! She's thenerviest woman I have ever seen--and the finest."
Doctor Powell held out his hand and gripped Limber's.
"You've been a loyal friend to her, Limber."
"Thar ain't nothin' I wouldn't do for her," said the cowpuncher, simply."Thar's lines that is drawed between humans, jest as in animals. Glendonwasn't meant for her, noway."
Understanding each other thoroughly, the two men who loved her satwatching the unconscious woman until her eyes opened slowly, restingcuriously on Limber; then as she saw the other man, her expressionturned to one of terror. With a cry, she tried to rise, but Powell'shand restrained her.
"Lie still," he said quietly. "You are safe."
She looked up wildly. "Bar the door! Quick!" she cried. "He is coming tokill you!"
Their first impression that she did not realize what she was saying,vanished as they listened to her story. She did not speak of the blow,nor her refusal to hide away the money, but told them that Glendon hadseen the doctor talking with her, and left the house with the avowedintention of killing him.
"Thar's been plenty time for him to get here ahead of you, Mrs.Glendon," Limber assured her. "He'd a been here long before I found youat the forks of the road, if he was comin'. I guess he was just bluffin'you, and when he found it didn't work he lit out with the two horses."
Powell agreed heartily with Limber, but to calm her fears, the cowboybarred the door. Katherine, succumbing to the sedative the doctoradministered, relaxed gradually. Her lids closed wearily, but her lipsmoved, and in half-broken sentences she went over the terrible scene;pleading with her husband for Powell's life, or talking to the dead dog,begging it not to let the little scarlet thread reach her; then she sankinto silence, unconscious of all that she had revealed.
The men's eyes met. They read each other's thoughts. Limber's face wasset and white, as, with a nod to the doctor, he rose and tiptoed fromthe room into the kitchen where Chappo was sitting near the stove.
The cowboy took his pistol from the holster at his hip, and looked atthe cylinder. Twisting it between his fingers he slipped the cartridgesfrom it. They were wet from the rain.
"Got some lard?" he asked Chappo, and when the Mexican brought it,Limber greased the cartridges and put them back into the cylinder, thendropped the pistol into the holster of his cartridge belt. A Winchesterrifle hung in a leather scabbard on the kitchen wall, and Limber liftedit down.
Chappo watched him examine the magazine of the gun.
"Eet is all right," he said. "Eet shoots good." The Mexican's eyes metLimber's. "You go hunting, Leember? Take heem."
"Yes. Give me some jerky, Chappo. I may not get any game for a couple ofdays."
Chappo understood, and hastened to get the stiff strips of sun-driedmeat which he put in a small cotton sack and handed to the cowboy,saying, "Good luck, Leember! Shoot straight!"
With a grim smile the Mexican saw the cowboy and gun disappear.
Peanut looked up in surprised reproach as his master reached for thesaddle hung on a peg. The pony knew he had well-earned his blanket andbin of oats that night.
"We've got some more work to do, Peanut," said Limber, throwing thesaddle across the pony's back, and Peanut, with a final bite at theoats, turned again to face the storm with his master. The cowboy wassure that Glendon had pushed on toward the border, and not knowing aboutthe gold he was carrying with him, supposed he had taken Fox as a relayhorse. This would give Glendon the advantage should the chase beprotracted; but, Limber knew that Peanut's nervous energy and stayingqualities in the mountains made him equal to any two ordinary horses.
"We'll follow him till Hell freezes over, Peanut, and we'll sure get himin the end," said the cowpuncher as he rode into the night.
He did not try to justify himself by recalling that Glendon was anoutlaw, whose capture or death was demanded by the law of the country;he did not remind himself that Glendon had killed old Paddy and hadbroken the unwritten law of fair play. It was the recollection of thewoman with the cut face and finger-marked throat that sent Limber outinto the storm. The woman Glendon had tried to drag into the mire of hisown infamy as a reward for nine years of loyal devotion; the woman whomLimber had held in his heart and worshipped reverently.
Peanut slipped on the rain-sodden earth, and Limber, leaning forward inhis saddle, kept his Winchester ready as he listened for the faintestindication of Glendon's presence. Limber did not believe that Glendonhad carried out his assertion that he would go to the Hot Springs.Otherwise, he would have been there long before. It was more possiblethat he had doubled back on his tracks, and struck out through themountains toward the south, heading for the border, in order to coverhis trail as much as he could by dawn. He would have to keep well-hiddenin the day time.
Suddenly, from the darkness sounded the shrill neigh of a horse. Limberthrew himself on Peanut's neck and reached down, grasping the pony'snose firmly to prevent him from answering. Still keeping a grip onPeanut's nostrils, the cowboy dropped to the ground, and stood back ofthe pony's shoulder, believing that Glendon had seen him and wascreeping on him in the dark. The fla
shes of lightning were lessfrequent. The rain and wind raged more furiously.
Then from the gloom trotted a riderless pony, calling again and again asit approached them. A flash enabled Limber's keen eyes to recognize Fox.With a little nicker of delight, it trotted to Peanut's side and stoodrubbing its nose against the other pony's shoulder. Limber saw aweather-beaten saddle and new saddlebags on Fox's back, while a brokenhalter-rope dangled from the animal's neck. He knew the horse had brokenaway from Glendon, and was probably making its way back to the CircleCross, the only home it had ever known. If so, Glendon would followuntil he caught it, for he would need the extra horse in his longflight.
Limber hastily tied the broken halter-rope to the horn of Peanut'ssaddle, and left the two animals standing in the centre of the road as adecoy, while he crawled to a projecting clump of brush and slowly wormedhis way parallel to the road. He was following Apache tactics, now. Aprolonged flash of quivering, dazzling light, and Limber's half-blindedeyes scanned the brush and trees. Then the rifle leaped to his shoulderand his finger rested on the trigger.
Down the road he had seen Glendon. At the same time he knew that Glendonhad seen him. Back into the brush he slipped lying flat on his face andwrithing cautiously forward. There would be no time for a secondshot--Glendon was waiting, too. How close was he, now? Inch by inchLimber dragged himself. Somewhere in the night, another man was crawlingtoward him, gun in hand--The man who had left the marks of his fingerson a woman's throat. God! Would there be no flash of lightning now thathe needed just one more.
It came, as though in answer to his prayer. Dazzling, blinding and withfrightful crash as though the whole world had fallen into space andcrushed another world to atoms. A sharp tingling pain shot throughLimber's muscles, his gun dropped from his hand and exploded; hewondered if Glendon had hit him, but it was rain, not blood that soakedhis sleeve.
He gripped his gun and threw another cartridge into place. Once more hebegan creeping and waiting. When another flash came, the cowboy loweredhis gun, and rose to his feet. At the side of the road ahead of him wasan uprooted cottonwood tree. Under it lay a horse and a man.
Uncertain whether the man was dead or merely stunned, Limber crouchedwarily in the brush, waiting a tell-tale movement. But the horse and mandid not stir.
Then the cowboy approached and looked down in the fitful glare of theflashes, and saw an immovable figure--face distorted with agony--openeyes staring unseeing into the storm--clothes across a charredbreast--an odour of burnt flesh and singed hair--the body of a deadhorse.
Limber gazed down at the man, his mind filled with conflicting emotions.He had intended killing Glendon as he would have killed a mad coyote ora rattlesnake, and he would have felt no regret; but, now--
He raised the dripping hat from his head. Not because of the brokenthing that lay at his feet, but in recognition of something higher andmore incomprehensible which rules the Universe--with its threeunfathomable mysteries, Life, Death and Eternity.
Replacing his hat, Limber made his way back to the horses and slippedthe Winchester into the scabbard which hung from Peanut's saddle.
"It's worked out all right, Peanut," said the cowboy as he mounted thepony and faced the Hot Springs ranch. "I'm glad I didn't have to killhim. Just the same I'd a done it ruther than let him drag her throughHell another hour. He can't bother her no more, now."
He stabled Fox and Peanut, then went to the kitchen where Chappo, like afaithful old watchdog, was dozing beside the stove. He started to hisfeet as Limber entered, but asked no questions when the cowboy, withouta word, hung the Winchester on the pegs where he had found it.
Powell, sitting by the couch in the front room, heard Limber's steps.With a glance at the sleeping woman, he rose softly and went to the doorthat led into the kitchen. He closed the door and his eyes met Limber's.
"He's dead," said the cowboy. Then, reading the unspoken question in thedoctor's eyes, he added, "No. It was the lightning done it. A tree fellon him and his horse."
"Thank God!" said Powell, but his tone was reverent, not jubilant.
"Is she all right?" asked Limber anxiously.
"Resting quietly. We'll take her over to Mrs. Traynor in the morning,Limber. She needs a woman friend, now."
"The Little Lady will look out for her," said the cowboy. Then heglanced at Chappo, and after a slight hesitation continued, "I wishyou'd come out and take a look at Peanut's ankle, Doc."
Powell, catching the peculiar tone, nodded and followed to the barnwhere the ponies stood contentedly in their stalls. Limber closed thestable door and spoke in a low voice.
"Glendon was ridin' the horse and saddle he stole in Tombstone. It's aLazy F pony. The lead-rope on Fox was busted."
"All right. I'll notify the Lazy F people," Powell replied wondering whyLimber thought secrecy necessary.
"That ain't what's troublin' me. You see when Glen was arrested he ridhis own saddle to town with the posse. I was with 'em, and I knowed hissaddle. Besides, I bought it from Juan afterwards, when they was hard upfor dinero. Mrs. Glendon didn't know I bought it. That saddle's over tothe Diamond H and been thar for two months."
He walked to the corner of the barn and pointed at the saddle he hadtaken from Fox.
"That's the saddle that was on Fox," he said slowly. "It belonged to oldDoctor King--we all thought the Apaches got it."
Powell grasped Limber's arm. "You don't think Glendon killed King, doyou?"
"Thar ain't no way I can see to think he didn't," responded thecowpuncher. "From all we could find out, King and Glendon rid to theforks together and separated. King was goin' down the San Pedro andGlendon to Jackson's Flats. You can see how easy Glendon could of shotfrom the upper trail. The bullet went into King's head above the lefttemple and came out behind the right ear. You seen that yourself. Ithought it was kinder queer when I heard Mrs. Glendon say the Apachesdidn't reach the Circle Cross till noon and you said King had been deadover night. But then I figgered the Indians was snoopin' round that partfor a couple of days."
"What object would Glendon have had?"
"He'd pick a fight with any one when he was tanked up a bit. You know healways wanted the Hot Springs, and King wouldn't sell it to him. Hedidn't know the land was patented, and mebbe he figgered that if Kingwas dead it would be easy to jump the Springs. Of course, he didn't knowabout King makin' any Will, nor that you and the Boss was workin' up adeal with King. That's why Glendon's had it in for the Diamond H and foryou ever since."
The chain of circumstantial evidence seemed conclusive as forgottendetails were recalled.
"Thar's a heap of gold coins in the saddle bags that was on Fox," Limberwent on. "Looks like it was Paddy's money that every one was huntingfor. We all knowed that he had thirty-five thousand dollars in goldburied some place around. Thar was twenty-five thousand in thatflower-box he guv to Jamie and the Little Lady; and this makes ten more.Paddy scattered it around."
"I wonder how Glendon happened to locate it?" mused the doctor.
Limber whirled about. "He located that money before he killed old Paddy!That's why he done it, and Alpaugh stood in with him! Glendon was toomuch of a coward to do anythin' exceptin' shoot old men and bully hiswife. He was too rotten to live and too damn rotten to die! But, nowwhat I want to know, Doc, is what are we goin' to do about that saddleand money? The posse will be here soon as the creek falls."
"Suppose I take charge of it and consult an attorney," suggested Powellafter a few minutes' thought. "We have no absolute proof that itbelonged to Paddy. As he had no heirs I am rather at sea about theproper procedure."
"All right. I'm goin' to take that saddle of King's and bury it,"asserted Limber. "Thar ain't no use shoutin' about it now. Glen's deadand 'twon't do King no good, and Mrs. Glendon's got enough trouble topack without havin' this extra bunch."
Powell returned to the house and told Chappo to go to bed. Out where thebrush grew most thickly, Limber dug a deep hole like a small grave, andDoctor King's saddle was covered
, while the steadily pouring rainobliterated all tell-tale marks of disturbed earth.
As the hours passed, the thunder grew faint and fainter; the lightningceased; the rain fell in a soft patter, like children's voiceswhispering in the night. A dim, grey light mingled with the darkness ofthe sky, sleepy chirps and twitters sounded from rain-soaked nests, thepink fingers of Morning reached out and caressed the tips of themountains.
Down the canyon near the crossing a man stood waiting to guard the womanhe loved from knowledge of what had happened in the night. The rushingtorrent was fast subsiding.
He lifted his head at the sound of galloping hoofs and men's voices,then he turned and looked down at the posse from Willcox. They reachedthe opposite bank of the stream and let the reins fall loosely on theirponies' necks as they recognized Limber.
"Hello, Limber! You was lucky to get here last night," called theleader. "We all were stuck at the mouth of the canyon till this morning.Seen any signs of Glendon?"
Limber was among them now. "Yep. He's on the road between here and theCircle Cross," was the answer.
"All right. Much obliged. Hurry up boys;" but Limber's upheld hand madethem pause.
"You all don't need to hurry. Glen's dead. Lightnin' hit him and hishorse. Mrs. Glendon's up here. She's sick and don't know nothin' aboutit yet. Doctor Powell is goin' to take her over to the Diamond H Ranchthis mornin' to Mrs. Traynor."
"Gosh! It's sure tough on her anyway you put it."
"Is there anything we can do for her?" asked the leader of the posse.
"Jest don't let her know you're here, and try to manage so's to getGlendon away without her seein' him. That's all."
"We'll sure do that, Limber. She's a fine woman and we're glad to doanything we can for her. Glendon was no good to any one. Not even tohimself."
"Juan is away with the Circle Cross team, but I'll send Chappo down withthe wagon," were Limber's last words as the posse rode slowly down thecanyon.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
A year and a half passed by. Katherine sitting in her room at theDiamond H Ranch, was thinking of the many changes that had come into herlife. Doctor Powell and Limber had brought her to Mrs. Traynor, and forlong weeks afterward they had battled untiringly to save the life thatthreatened to slip away. With tender, encouraging words they fought thereaction of despair; but it was Nell who suggested sending for Donnie;Nell, who laid her baby boy in Katherine's arms; Nell, whose constantwatchfulness and loving little caresses, finally brought answeringsmiles to Katherine's pale lips.
Donnie and Jamie at once struck up a friendship akin to David andJonathan, and when the two lads would wake the ranch with their happylaughter--it was tonic to Katherine's bruised and aching heart.
For a long time she had believed that Glendon had escaped to Mexico; butat last Nell told her the truth. Donnie knew only that his father hadbeen killed by lightning in a storm. Over at the Hot Springs, work wasbeing pushed rapidly on the Sanitarium, and Limber and Powell dividedtheir time between the two places.
There had been a "surprise party" as Bronco called it, when a couple ofweeks previously, Traynor and Powell had called the four cowboys intothe office, and handed each one an official envelope addressed by name.Upon opening it, they discovered that the Hot Springs, PL, Diamond H andCircle Cross ranches had been incorporated into the "Galiuro CattleCorporation," Traynor as president; Powell, secretary and treasurer; andLimber, general manager. Bronco, Roarer and Holy were astounded toreceive stock to the value of five thousand dollars; but Limber'senvelope held, not only the five thousand dollars worth of stock, likethe other boys; but also his note which he had given Traynor in returnfor the half interest in the PL herd. Limber looked at it puzzled, thenhe saw across the face of the note, the endorsement, "Paid in full withcompound interest in loyalty and devotion." Beneath these words were thesignatures of Allan Traynor, Nell Traynor and Cuthbert Powell.
The cowpuncher tried to speak, but was unable to utter a word. Insilence he gripped Traynor's hand.
That was an uproarious evening on the Diamond H. The boys and old Fongsurrounded the foreman in the bunkhouse after dinner. Fong, once again,had fashioned a huge cake. When it was set down on the wooden table, theChinaman lifted the tissue paper that veiled it, and the boys let out awild whoop. A five-strand fence bounded the edge of the cake; a smallwhite cabin loomed in the centre, with a desperate attempt at a cow inicing beside it. A naturalist might have scorned the cow, but there wasno mistaking the Diamond H brand in red icing that was the finishingtouch on the animal's hip.
The boys clapped Fong on the back till his pigtail squirmed like an eel,and his grin threatened to split the lower part of his face.
Traynor standing outside watched the proceeding, then went over to tellNell and Katherine.
"Poor Limber had to make a speech," he chuckled. "Fong joined with therest, and they kept at him till he had to say something to get peace.Say, Nell, I wish you could have seen him! He stood up, looked at them,got red in the face, opened his mouth, shut it, then burst out, 'You'rethe orneriest bunch of boys in Arizona Territory, and if you don't quitpesterin' me, I'm goin' to fire the whole outfit the very first thing Ido!'"
"Poor Limber!" laughed Nell, but the laugh was very tender. "They doworry him; but he knows they would give their lives for him!"
Like a panorama, these memories flitted swiftly before the eyes ofKatherine Glendon, obliterating the darker days of her life. There wasno bitterness now. Like the terrible storm of the canyon, they had passedaway forever, and over the broken places bloomed beautiful flowers; amessage of forgiveness.
The bit of lace she was sewing on a dress for Nell's baby, slipped fromher hands, and her eyes wandered through the open door to the snow-capof Mt. Graham across the Valley.
At first, Powell had hesitated to allow her return to the Hot Springs tolive, dreading the effect of those terrible memories upon theirhappiness. When he told her of this, and that he would find a partner tolive at the place, she had convinced him that her happiness lay helpinghim with his work at the Springs; so it had been decided. Now, that theproject was nearing completion, Powell received offers from manysources, so that he might carry out the plans on the most extensivescale. The money found in the saddle-bags the night Glendon died, hadbeen also added to the funds, after communication and consultation withproper legal authority. This provided for the maintenance of additionalchildren.
All the plans had been discussed between Powell, Traynor, Nell andKatherine, and the two women had made many suggestions the menoverlooked. There were even toys, games, books with wonderful fairytales, already unpacked at the Springs.
Two weeks had been passed there happily, arranging, sorting and workingtogether. Donnie and Jamie, with their ponies and Juan and Chappo asguides, had explored trails and planned many future adventures. The twoold Mexicans were as happy as children, and at night, when they relatedtales of Mexico, or Chappo told of his captivity among the Apaches, theboys felt that life could hold no more fascinating experiences.
Katherine's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of steps. She rosequickly and turned to the open door. A pink Rambler rose in full bloomtwined above the porch, and a puff of wind caught the blossoms andshowered the fragrant petals over her as she held out her hands towelcome the man she loved. He looked at her with happy eyes and saw--nolonger a vague dream--a living, glorious reality, smiling with no shadowon her beautiful face, his Lady of the Pool.
The rose leaves fell softly, about them. "See, dearest," he said, "it isa symbol of our future. The roses are shedding their petals on yourpath, so that not even the tiniest pebble shall bruise your feet!"
She smiled at him, her eyes misty with happiness, then together theyentered the room, to discuss their plans.
"I've got to have a talk with Donnie today," said Powell. "I hope hewill understand."
They heard the noise of ponies dashing into the stable, the laughter ofhappy voices. Like a small cyclone, Donnie rushed into the room andfaced Powel
l in boyish delight.
"Is the Sanitarium almost done?" he asked breathlessly.
"Finished, at last!" Powell's arm was across the lad's shoulder. Hesmiled into the glowing, upturned face, thankful that it bore noresemblance to Glendon. Donnie was his mother in every feature. "Thefirst children will be here next month!"
"I bet they'll get good and well after we have them awhile," prophesiedDonnie. "You know, you promised I could be your partner."
"Yes, old man! I want you to study so that when you grow up you can workwith me. I'm going to take you over to the Springs so you can start yourstudies very soon. How will that suit you?"
The boy's face clouded. He glanced from Powell to his mother.
"I can't leave Marmee alone. I'm her Knight, and the only one she's gotto look out for her, now."
"How about taking her over with us?" suggested Powell.
"Oh, will you?" Donnie's face glowed with delight. "Marmee, you will go,won't you?"
The doctor laid his hands on the boy's shoulders and looked at himseriously. "Donnie, would you let me be your father, so that I can takecare of your mother and you, and we all be partners as long as we live?"
The child's startled eyes wandered from the man to the woman. For abrief space he made no reply. Then flinging his arms about his mother'sneck, he clung to her in the first pang of renunciation. The eyes thatlooked at him were very tender.
With a strange little dignity, he drew himself up and held out his handto the doctor, saying, "I'm awful glad she likes you." The voicetrembled, the lips were uncertain, a lump hurt in his throat. Donnie wasafraid that he was going to cry. He was too big to cry now--hisshoulders squared. Quickly, he turned and left the room. The man andwoman watched the pathetic little figure, with drooping head, pass thewindow.
"He will understand soon that I am not going to take you away from him,"Powell's voice was gentle, "but I know how it hurts at first."
Drawing some letters from his pocket, he seated himself beside Katherineon the couch. "These are from the children and the matron who willtravel with them and help care for them at the Springs," he explained.
Together they read misspelled words scrawled in crude characters. Onechild wanted to know if he could have a real, live chicken; anotherasked nothing but a chance to see trees and places where 'the cops don'tmake you keep off;' a third begged permission to bring his cat, Nigger,"becoz Nigger ain't got no one to luv him but me--becoz he has got acrooked tail and one eye's gone, but I luv him and he luvs me and he'llbe lonesome after I go way."
Katherine remembered the dog that had been her sole companion so manyhours--the dog that Limber had buried in a little grave at the CircleCross.
"Of course, Nigger is coming?" she laughed with a catch in her voice.
"A special invitation has already gone for him, and the matron isauthorized to buy a basket for Nigger's comfort;" was the answer.
Katherine was silent for a moment, and Powell leaned toward her. Hishand lifted her face gently, "Sweetheart, what are your thoughts?"
Her eyes were dim and her voice trembled, "'And a Knight shall come thatshall have a head of gold, the look of a lion, a heart of steel,conditions without weakness, the valour of a man, and faith and beliefin God. And he shall be the best Knight in the world.'"
Powell's arms slipped about her and he drew her close. "May I proveworthy to be your Knight for all the days of my life, dear Lady of thePool!"
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Only the Galiuros knew that a pinto pony had trodden unbroken trailsthrough the night, until it reached a spot where the tangled growth ofbrush thinned and ended on a high ledge overlooking the undulating flatof the Sulphur Springs range.
The mysterious beauty of coming dawn merged with dying starlight, wherefaint shadows outlined the rugged peaks of the Grahams across the broadValley. Above them all Mt. Graham lifted its glorious, snow-capped head.Unconquered, unscathed by the storms of centuries past, it gazedsteadfastly at the sky above it, while the world slept at its feet.
Limber sat on the back of the pinto pony. His grey eyes shone with awonderful light, for the strength of his loved mountains had crept intohis heart during the long hours of his silent battle. Out of the stormand turmoil, the trail had led to peace.
A faint rustling sounded sibilantly. It was a vagrant, gossiping breezetelling the leaves and grasses that a new day had been born.
Yesterday, with its joys and sorrows, its ambitions and disappointments,was dead. Its ghost floated into the clear blue sky that smiled downbetween the drifting clouds.
Today came laughing over the mountains. Her gold-shod feet twinkled asshe ran. The sunbeam in her hand gleamed like a magic wand, transmutingeach thing to dazzling beauty. It reached a little pinto pony standingon an overhanging ledge. Like the flash of a golden lance, the sunbeamrested on the shoulder of the man, who craved no greater privilege thanto give all, and ask nothing in return.
His head was bare. The sunlight touched his upturned face and the tendersmile on his lips.
"God bless her, and make her happy," he whispered softly.
* * * * *
{Transcriber's Note: Hyphen variations left as printed.]
The Long Dim Trail Page 41