diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old/60458-h/60458-h.htm')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/60458-h/60458-h.htm | 6560 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 6560 deletions
diff --git a/old/60458-h/60458-h.htm b/old/60458-h/60458-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 8e5aded..0000000 --- a/old/60458-h/60458-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6560 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> - <title> - The Project Gutenberg eBook of Midnight, by Rutherford Montgomery - </title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - <style type="text/css"> - body {margin: 3em 10%;} - .chapter, .section {page-break-before: always;} - h1, h2 {text-align: center; clear: both;} - h2 {font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 2em;} - p {margin-top: 1em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 1em; text-indent: 1em;} - .p180 {font-size: 1.8em;} - .p140 {font-size: 1.4em;} - .p120 {font-size: 1.2em;} - - /* General */ - .noi {text-indent: 0;} - .center {text-align: center; text-indent: 0;} - .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} - - /* Horizontal rules */ - hr {width: 60%; margin: 2em 20%; clear: both;} - hr.divider {width: 65%; margin: 4em 17.5%;} - hr.divider2 {width: 45%; margin: 4em 27.5%;} - hr.tb {width: 100%; border: none; margin: 1em;} - - /* Page numbers */ - .pagenum {position: absolute; right: 2%; text-indent: 0em; - text-align: right; font-size: x-small; - font-weight: normal; font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; - letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; - color: #999; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid; - background-color: inherit; padding: .01em .4em;} - - /* Images */ - img {max-width: 100%; width: 100%; height: auto;} - .figcenter {clear: both; margin: 2em auto; text-align: center; max-width: 100%;} - .caption {font-family: sans-serif;} - .width400 {width: 400px;} - - /* Front matter */ - .container {max-width: 25em; margin: 0 auto;} - .float-left {float: left;} - .float-right {float: right;} - .clear-both {clear: both;} - - /* Table */ - table {margin: auto; border-collapse: collapse;} - th {font-size: .8em;} - td {padding: .3em; vertical-align: top;} - .tdl {text-align: left; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;} - .tdr {text-align: right; padding-right: 2em;} - .tdr2 {text-align: right;} - - /* Notes */ - ins {text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 1px dotted #dcdcdc;} - .tn {max-width: 25em; margin: 2em auto; background: #dcdcdc; padding: .5em 1em;} - ul.nobullet {list-style: none; text-align: left;} - li {margin-bottom: .5em;} - - /* Show screen only */ - .hidehand {display: block;} - - @media handheld { - body {margin: .5em; padding: 0; width: 98%;} - p {margin-top: .1em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .1em; text-indent: 1em;} - hr.divider, hr.divider2 {border-width: 0; margin: 0;} - img {max-width: 100%; width: auto; height: auto;} - .tn {width: 80%; margin: 0 10%; background: #dcdcdc; padding: 1em;} - a {color: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;} - .container {max-width: 75%; margin-left: 12.5%; margin-right: 12.5%;} - .hidehand {display: none;} - table {width: 94%; margin-left: 2%; margin-right: 2%;} - .float-left {float: left;} - .float-right {float: right;} - .clear-both {clear: both;} - } - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -Project Gutenberg's Midnight, by Rutherford George Montgomery (1894-1985) - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: Midnight - -Author: Rutherford George Montgomery (1894-1985) - -Release Date: October 8, 2019 [EBook #60458] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MIDNIGHT *** - - - - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Laura Brown and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<hr class="divider" /> -<h1>Midnight</h1> -<hr class="divider2" /> - - -<div class="hidehand"> -<div class="figcenter width400"> -<img src="images/cover2.jpg" width="400" height="631" alt="Cover" /> -</div> -</div> - - -<div class="section"> -<hr class="divider" /> -<h2>THE AUTHOR</h2> -</div> - -<p class="noi">RUTHERFORD MONTGOMERY would rather -write than do anything else in the world. Most of -his books are about animals and the wilderness he -knows so well. As a boy, Mr. Montgomery would -listen to the tales told by hunters, and his favorite -sport then and now is going into the woodland and -sitting quietly on a log, observing the children of -the wild. He is a watcher, not a hunter.</p> - -<p>Mr. Montgomery was born in North Dakota, -and taught school for ten years in Wyoming and -Colorado after graduating from Colorado Agricultural -College. He saw service in the United -States Flying Corps in World War I. Later, he was -a county judge in Colorado and held state offices -there. He now lives in Los Gatos, California.</p> - -<p class="center p180">* * *</p> - -<div class="container"> -<p class="center">Other Books by Rutherford Montgomery</p> - -<ul class="nobullet"> -<li>Broken Fang *</li> -<li>Gray Wolf *</li> -<li>White Mountaineer</li> -<li>McGonigle’s Lake</li> -<li>Yellow Eyes *</li> -<li>Kildee House</li> -<li>Big Brownie</li> -<li>Ghost Town Adventure *</li> -</ul> -<p class="center">* <i>Available from Scholastic Book Services</i></p> -</div> - - - -<div class="section"> -<hr class="divider" /> -</div> -<p class="center p180">MIDNIGHT</p> - -<p class="center p140">RUTHERFORD MONTGOMERY</p> - -<p class="center p120"><b>SBS</b> SCHOLASTIC BOOK SERVICES<br /> -New York Toronto London Auckland Sydney</p> - - - - -<div class="section"> -<hr class="divider" /> -</div> - -<p class="center p140">To Earl Hammock<br /> -who knows the value of<br /> -the lonesome places</p> - - -<p class="noi">This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not be -resold, lent, or otherwise circulated in any binding or cover other -than that in which it is published—unless prior written permission -has been obtained from the publisher—and without a similar -condition, including this condition, being imposed on the subsequent -purchaser.</p> - -<p class="noi">Copyright 1940 by Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc. Illustrations -copyright 1949 by Pocket Books, Inc. This edition is published by -Scholastic Book Services, a division of Scholastic Magazines, Inc., -by arrangement with Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc.</p> - -<div class="container"> -<div class="float-left">8th Printing</div> -<div class="float-right">November 1969</div> - -<div class="center clear-both">Printed in the U.S.A.</div> -</div> - - -<div class="section"> -<hr class="divider" /> -<h2><a name="contents" id="contents"></a>CONTENTS</h2> -</div> - -<table summary="Contents"> -<tr> -<th class="tdr">CHAPTER</th> -<th class="tdl"> </th> -<th class="tdr2">PAGE</th> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdr">1.</td> -<td class="tdl">Pals</td> -<td class="tdr2"><a href="#i">1</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdr">2.</td> -<td class="tdl">Wild Horse</td> -<td class="tdr2"><a href="#ii">10</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdr">3.</td> -<td class="tdl">Horse Thief</td> -<td class="tdr2"><a href="#iii">20</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdr">4.</td> -<td class="tdl">Desert Winter</td> -<td class="tdr2"><a href="#iv">25</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdr">5.</td> -<td class="tdl">Wild-Horse Drive</td> -<td class="tdr2"><a href="#v">36</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdr">6.</td> -<td class="tdl">Midnight</td> -<td class="tdr2"><a href="#vi">45</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdr">7.</td> -<td class="tdl">The Way of the High Country</td> -<td class="tdr2"><a href="#vii">62</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdr">8.</td> -<td class="tdl">The Strong Survive</td> -<td class="tdr2"><a href="#viii">75</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdr">9.</td> -<td class="tdl">Prisoner</td> -<td class="tdr2"><a href="#ix">87</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdr">10.</td> -<td class="tdl">Escape</td> -<td class="tdr2"><a href="#x">94</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdr">11.</td> -<td class="tdl">New Trails</td> -<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xi">108</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdr">12.</td> -<td class="tdl">Doom of the Band</td> -<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xii">120</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdr">13.</td> -<td class="tdl">Tex Takes the Trail</td> -<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xiii">140</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdr">14.</td> -<td class="tdl">Beside the Castle Rocks</td> -<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xiv">147</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdr">15.</td> -<td class="tdl">Home to Stay</td> -<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xv">151</a></td> -</tr> -</table> - - - - -<div class="section"> -<hr class="divider" /> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">1</a></span> -</div> - -<div class="figcenter width400"> -<img src="images/frontis.jpg" width="400" height="571" alt="Frontispiece" /> -<div class="caption">Midnight tried to whirl but the ledge was too narrow.</div> -</div> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="divider" /> -<h2><a name="i" id="i"></a>1. Pals</h2> -</div> - -<p class="noi"><span class="smcap">Sam</span> was meditating. Tipped back in a chair made of -river alder and willow, he leaned against the log wall of -his cabin. His shoeless feet were swathed in wrinkled -socks of the kind that come to a point at the toe where -a tuft of thread keeps the cotton yarn from unraveling. -Sam’s blue shirt was faded from too many washings in -the creek below the cabin. The only unfaded portions of -the shirt were hidden by his wide, yellow suspenders.</p> - -<p>Sam’s tired, blue eyes stared out over his “stompin’ -ground,” which was a high mesa overlooking the blue -depths of Shadow Canyon. Across the mesa meandered -a chain of castle rocks. This outcropping was red and -yellow in color. It stood on edge, silent evidence of the -upheaval which had formed the Crazy Kill Mountains -millions of years before. Sam’s toothless gums clamped -down on the stem of his cold pipe. Keeping the pipe -right side up was the heaviest work Sam planned for -that morning.</p> - -<p>Out in a lush meadow which crowded like a green -carpet around the castle rocks there was plenty of -healthy contrast to the lazy inactivity that filled Sam. -He let his eyes wander fondly over the scene. Up near -the base of the biggest castle five fat yellowbelly whistlers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">2</a></span> -romped about among the rocks. A sixth sat like a -round ball of silver fur, perched on the top of a high -rock. The old rockchuck on guard was as relaxed and -lazy as Sam, except for his beady eyes. Those eyes saw -everything that moved, as far away as the spruce woods -which bordered the upper side of the mesa.</p> - -<p>Sam studied the yellowbelly whistlers with a spark -of interest in his faded eyes. They were yellowish animals -with long, silvery hairs covering their brown coats, -giving them a shining appearance when they romped in -the sun. They had dark-brown heads and tails, and a -whitish band across their faces. They rolled through the -grass and over the rocks, front end up, hind end up, -rocking along on their stubby legs.</p> - -<p>Many smaller fellows courted the protection of the -yellowbellies, making good use of the sharp eyes of the -sentinel whistler perched high on his lookout. A dozen -rockchips dodged about in the grass while as many more -sat on little rocks and stared away toward the snow-capped -peaks of the Crazy Kill Range. These potbellied -little brownies of the high country were well content -with the crumbs from the great one’s table. The keen -eyes and the ready blast of warning from the high rock -removed their chief worries. The sentinel whistler was -sure to announce the arrival of the swift-hawk, the -laughing coyote, the martens, or the bobcat. There were -many other enemies of the air and the forest and the -whistler watched for and spotted all of them.</p> - -<p>Then there was the calico chip, a two-striped ground -squirrel whose vast energy always made Sam feel tired. -The calico chips dashed about with an energy which -had undoubtedly been intended for some much larger -animal, but must have been misplaced when Mother -Nature laid out the blueprints of creation. The calico -chips were always too busy chasing bugs or gathering<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">3</a></span> -and storing seeds to pause for meditation. They left -foolish gawking into space to the potbellied rockchips. -But their little ears were always tuned to catch the -warning blast of the big whistler.</p> - -<p>There was a sprinkling of lesser chipmunks, a dozen -or more. Sam noted with satisfaction that their number -was increasing. He had brought two pairs in with him -several summers before. They were active, noisy little -fellows, dashing about, hoisting their tails like flags -when they came to a halt. Every so often one of them -would dash to a rock and jump on top of it. He would -sit very straight and burst into song.</p> - -<p>“Chock! Chock! Chock!” in quick succession, like the -rattle of an old alarm clock. Sometimes the song would -be pitched higher and would go “Check, check, check, -chir-r-r-up!” No sooner had one chipmunk mounted his -song perch than all the others would dart to theirs, always -the same perches. The meadow would ring with -their chorus.</p> - -<p>Their round of music never failed to disturb the fat -sentinel whistler. He would shake his silver robe, stretch -his neck, then blast three short, sharp notes on his whistle, -after which he would settle back with a deep -chuckle.</p> - -<p>Sam’s pipe always rolled to the corner of his mouth -and turned upside down when the chorus began. One -fumbling hand would pull out his ancient, silver watch -and he would fix his gaze fiercely on the second hand. -From the chorus he would select one voice and count -the “chocks” while he timed the singer. One hundred -and seventy “chocks” per minute was the best time he -had ever recorded. The poorest, seventy per minute, was -made by a fellow whose little round belly hinted that he -might have a bit of rockchip blood in him.</p> - -<p>From far down the meadow, where a clear stream<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">4</a></span> -foamed over ragged rocks, came the eager whinny of a -horse. Sam’s eyes lighted, and he shoved the big, silver -watch into his pocket. Up the meadow galloped a trim -black mare. Her mane flowed in the wind as she shook -her head, and kicked her heels recklessly.</p> - -<p>“Purty, right purty,” Sam muttered as he took his pipe -out of his mouth.</p> - -<p>The trim mare slowed to a trot as she neared the -cabin. With a toss of her head and a playful leap to one -side, she trotted up to Sam and extended her soft muzzle, -nickering eagerly.</p> - -<p>“Mornin’, Lady Ebony,” Sam said affectionately. -“Think mebby ol’ Sam’s got a lump o’ sugar?”</p> - -<p>Lady Ebony pawed and nickered.</p> - -<p>Sam dug a hand into his pants pocket and brought -out two dingy lumps of sugar. He dusted off a grain or -two of tobacco and a little chaff, then held one of them -out.</p> - -<p>“Jest a bite, ol’ gal,” he said.</p> - -<p>Lady Ebony picked the sugar from between his thumb -and finger with a dainty movement of her lips. She -crunched the lump eagerly, and when it was gone she -pricked her ears forward and pawed.</p> - -<p>Sam grinned widely. “Dang me, if you can’t count,” -he said.</p> - -<p>The other lump of sugar was extended and Lady -Ebony took it. Sam let the forelegs of the chair down -and got to his feet stiffly. He patted the glistening neck -of the mare and talked softly to her. Lady Ebony accepted -the caresses. Sam sat down again and the mare -nosed around the cabin door a while before trotting out -into the meadow where she set to feeding on the tall -grass.</p> - -<p>The yellowbelly on the lookout perch paid no attention -to the mare. The calico chips and the chipmunks<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">5</a></span> -went on chasing bugs and hunting seeds. They knew the -black mare was a friend and that her enemies were their -enemies, the cougar and the gray wolf.</p> - -<p>Sam sucked on his pipe. His eyes followed Lady -Ebony. Ever since she was a wobbly colt she had summered -in this high pasture. She carried the brand of -Major Howard, an Easterner who had come west to raise -cattle and horses. He had many horses on the range -and paid little attention to any but his purebreds which -he kept at the ranch in the valley. But Sam knew a -fine horse. He had owned many slim, tough saddlers like -the black mare. He was too old and stiff to ride but he -wanted to own the black mare, just to have her as a pal. -He had babied her and petted her until she was devoted -to him.</p> - -<p>Sam looked into the cold bowl of his pipe. He wanted -to smoke, but his tobacco was inside the cabin. It was a -terrible nuisance the way he forgot things like that. His -eyes shifted to the fat sentinel on the rock. The yellowbelly -was sitting up very straight. Suddenly he shook -himself and whistled shrilly. Instantly the calico chips, -the rockchips, and the chipmunks vanished into the grass. -The feeding whistlers romped to their holes at the base -of the biggest castle rock.</p> - -<p>“Tarnation!” Sam muttered angrily. He reached back -inside his door, and dragged out an ancient single-barreled -shotgun. Laying the gun across his knees he -squinted up into the sky.</p> - -<p>“Thet durn hawk’s been askin’ fer it,” he muttered.</p> - -<p>But the danger signal did not herald an air raid. Sam -heard the thudding of ironshod hoofs. He did not bother -to turn around. A horseman galloped up to his door and -halted. The rider bent down and greeted Sam.</p> - -<p>“Morning, Sam.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">6</a></span> -“Mornin’, major,” Sam answered. A slow grin parted -his straggling beard.</p> - -<p>Major Howard’s gray eyes roved over the meadow, -and came to rest on the black mare. The major was an -energetic, hot-tempered person who rode hard and -drove hard bargains. The easy way of the western mountain -people irritated him. He respected Sam’s squatter -rights to the mesa and the old cabin because he had -more grass than he needed.</p> - -<p>“I was wonderin’, major,” Sam began slowly, “if you -wouldn’t sell me that black mare. I’d kind of like to have -her. Got a feeling like she’s a pal, havin’ her here so -much.”</p> - -<p>The major laughed and his gray eyes moved back to -Sam’s face. “That mare is purebred racing stock, Sam. -I never paid much attention to her until I saw her on -the run the other day. She’s fast, the fastest thing I have -loose on the range. This fall she’ll clean up the cow-pony -races at the state fair.” The major chuckled.</p> - -<p>“Me and the filly has hit it off right nice. I thought -mebby you’d sell her,” Sam said gently.</p> - -<p>The major looked down at Sam and his eyes twinkled. -“Tell you what, Sam,” he said jokingly. “I never had anything -I wouldn’t sell if I got my price. I’ll sell you that -black filly for five hundred dollars.” He bent forward -until the saddle horn creased his ample waistline. “But I -get to race her at the fair.”</p> - -<p>Sam grunted. “Reckon I may take you up,” he said -slowly.</p> - -<p>The major kept his face straight. He was sure Sam -didn’t have ten dollars to his name. The old prospector -always managed to scratch together enough dust to buy a -few groceries, but never had more than that. He nodded -his head. This would be a good joke to tell the boys at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">7</a></span> -the ranch. His eyes dropped to the ancient shotgun, and -to keep from laughing he asked abruptly:</p> - -<p>“What have you been shooting?”</p> - -<p>“Got her charged with rock salt an’ bird shot,” Sam -explained seriously. “Makes an ol’ gray wolf hit it lickety-split. -And one of them swift-hawks shore claws air fit to -shake out his tail feathers when I tech him up.” He -grinned widely.</p> - -<p>The major nodded. “Glad you keep that gun handy. -It will keep wolves and cougars away from the mare.” -He recalled stories the old hands on the ranch told about -Sam’s youthful prowess with a carbine and a forty-five -Colt. He supposed the old prospector’s eyes were so -bad he had to use a scatter-gun.</p> - -<p>“Got a shank o’ venison on the stove. Cold, but makes -right nice chawin’,” Sam said hospitably, but he didn’t -move.</p> - -<p>“Thanks, but I’ll have to be hitting the trail. I want to -ride down along the west drift fence today.” The major -clicked his tongue, and touched the flanks of his spirited -horse with his spurs. He galloped away over the meadow.</p> - -<p>Sam sat looking out across the waving grass. Five hundred -dollars. And he hadn’t missed the amusement which -greeted his offer to buy the mare. Sam was irritated. He -wanted the filly more than ever now. He smiled and -mumbled to himself.</p> - -<p>“The major’s goin’ to be plumb surprised when I dish -out that five hundred.”</p> - -<p>He got stiffly to his feet and moved into the cabin. -Setting the old gun just inside the door he took a muslin -sack from the table and filled his pipe. Then he absent-mindedly -laid the sack back where it had been. He -shuffled about the room looking at the objects he had -hung on the walls, a worn horseshoe, a belt with a holster -containing a forty-five Colt of the frontier model, several<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">8</a></span> -bright pictures cut from calendars. Finally he remembered -he hadn’t lighted his pipe. He shuffled to where a -packing box was nailed to the wall back of the stove -and got several matches from a rusty tomato can. After -lighting the pipe he puffed contentedly.</p> - -<p>That day Sam stirred around more than usual. He -made up a pack of food and small articles which he -wrapped in a blanket roll. The pack was set beside the -door. The job took up most of the afternoon.</p> - -<p>The next morning Sam was up early. Lady Ebony -came galloping across the meadow for her morning ration -of lump sugar. As he gave it to her he talked in a low, -confidential voice to the mare.</p> - -<p>“I don’t reckon nobody but you and me knows that -ol’ Sam’s got him a claim back under the rim.” He -chuckled. “Reckon, Lady, it’ll take ol’ Sam ’bout three -weeks to pan out five hundred in yaller dust.” He patted -her sleek, black neck. “You jest stay around here an’ -wait in this medder where there’s good grass. The ol’ -yallerbelly’ll keep an eye out for wolves and cougars.”</p> - -<p>The mare watched as he shouldered his pack and -trudged slowly up the slope. She did not follow him, but -she nickered several times. At the edge of the spruce -Sam turned around and waved his arm.</p> - -<p>Lady Ebony arched her neck and trotted out into the -meadow. The fat whistler on the high rock chuckled -and his beady eyes twinkled brightly as he watched her. -The sun wheeled higher, warming the grass, drinking -up the dew. The black mare wandered down the -meadow. She came to a halt near a sharp ledge which -broke off into Shadow Canyon. From the blue depths -rose the roar of Crazy River. Lady Ebony stirred uneasily. -A feeling of deep unrest filled her, an urge to run -far, to seek other horses. After a time she wandered back -into the meadow and began feeding, but she jerked up<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> -her head often, listening, staring into the twilight of the -spruce.</p> - -<p>A few yards from where the black mare fed, a little -hill lifted semibarren, yellow clay. It stood in sharp contrast -to the lushness of the green meadow. On this round -knob a prairie-dog town was located. The main section -of the village was a busy scene, with dogs moving, bellies -close to the ground, in quick sprints from one grass patch -to another or romping through the meadow grass. Sam -had brought several pairs of dogs to the mesa. He liked -the busy little fellows and had been lonesome until he -had a town started. The dogs posted sentinels but they -could not see far. The dog sentinels depended on the -yellowbelly. They listened for his blasting whistle of -warning.</p> - -<p>One of the sentinels sat on a mound. His short tail -jerked, but no other part of him moved. Suddenly the -air was split by the warning whistle of the big sentinel -on the high rock. The dog sentinels repeated the warning -in a wild chorus of “skr-skrr’s.” Dogs raced in from the -meadow. They paused for a moment to sit upright on -their mounds, then they went down their slides to the -tunnels below the ground. Out from the ground came -their defiant voices, “squit-tuck! squit-tuck!”</p> - -<p>A lank coyote stepped out of a clump of rose brier -close to the spruce woods. He stood gazing disgustedly -over the meadow, his green eyes watching the yellowbellies -as they romped to their dens at the base of the -castle rocks. The whistlers had warned the dogs and -ground squirrels of his presence. He ran at a lope across -the meadow. Lady Ebony snorted and shook her head -as he passed. Her eyes followed the glinting sun on his -fur. When he had vanished down the trail which led into -Shadow Canyon she returned to her feeding.</p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="divider" /> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">10</a></span> -</div> - -<h2><a name="ii" id="ii"></a>2. Wild Horse</h2> - - -<p class="noi"><span class="smcap">High up</span> under the snow rims, where the grass was short -but rich with moss and lichens, lay a little lake. Its upper -shore line was formed by a barren rockslide which tumbled -down from the naked cliffs above timber line, its -lower edge was fringed with spruce and balsam. Below -the lake nestled a little meadow. On this meadow fed a -band of twenty horses.</p> - -<p>At the head of this band of wild horses ran a chestnut -stallion, a heavy-chested, thick-legged fellow with a -splashed white star in his forehead. His protruding eyes -were set wide apart and his heavy jaws and massive neck -showed his battling qualities, while his wide chest and -thick barrel indicated great strength.</p> - -<p>The chestnut stud moved restlessly as he fed, jerking -up his head, listening, testing the air with flaring nostrils. -The mares with their colts close beside them cropped -the short grass, content to let him keep a wary watch -for danger.</p> - -<p>And there was danger ahead on every trail. There -was the lank cougar whose desire for colt flesh was -greater than any urge in his tawny body except the hot -flames that fired him when the mating call floated up -through the twilight under the high spruce. There was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">11</a></span> -the wolf pack, not so dangerous in summer but always -ready to kill. The chestnut stallion knew that at this season -the old lobos would be running with their sons and -daughters in bachelor packs. They were training their -young to kill and would attack any colt or mare that -strayed far from the band. There was the bear gone -killer, the brute who had deserted his vegetable diet and -turned killer. He was not a common enemy, but one that -was terrible in savage lust for slaughter. Lastly, there -was the most dreaded enemy of all, man.</p> - -<p>The chestnut had learned that man was the most ruthless -and dangerous of the killers. He walked upright -and his eyes were in front of his head, not at the side -as in animals who do not kill but are pursued by the -killers. The ranchers did not like wild horses because -they ate the range grass and often crossed with the ranch -mares, who then brought forth scrubby, worthless colts, -mean and useless as saddle stock. The chestnut stallion -stole mares from the range when he could coax or drive -them from their pastures. With savage daring he led his -band into the tall-grass range in the summer. If the -cowboys with their rifles hunted him too persistently -he faded away to a distant range down in the desert. In -this he was like the lobo wolf. When poison and traps -and guns become too evident an old lobo shifts his range.</p> - -<p>The chestnut stallion had begun to feel that it was -time for him to lead his band out of the Crazy Kill country. -He was being steadily hunted. Rifles spat in the -misty dawn, riders swooped down on the mares when -they came out into the open to feed. Major Howard had -given orders to kill or run the wild band off his range. -He wanted no crossing of his good stock. At first he -had played with the idea of having the chestnut stud -brought in alive, but his riders could not trap or outrun -the big fellow in the rough, broken country. There<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">12</a></span> -were too many avenues of escape, too many canyons and -tangled mats of down timber. So the major gave the order -to shoot the big stud and to exterminate his band.</p> - -<p>The steady drives and constant ambushes had thinned -the ranks of the band from thirty to twenty mares. The -big stallion was ready to leave the tall-grass country. He -jerked up his head and snorted shrilly, then he circled -the herd at a fast trot. When he had gone once around it -he halted and stood listening, rigid, his head up, his -mane flowing in the wind. He heard a rock rattle from a -trail above; then he saw a man. The man was on foot and -he was toiling upward, a pack strapped on his back. He -did not seem to be interested in the band of wild horses, -but the wind carried a strong man smell to the meadow. -The scent was rank with the odor of an old pipe.</p> - -<p>The chestnut stallion laid back his ears and bared his -teeth. With a shrill warning he lunged at the rump of the -nearest mare. She whinnied with fright as she galloped -away. The stallion drove the other mares into a thundering -stampede. They charged across the meadow and into -the timber, the colts bounding along at their mothers’ -sides.</p> - -<p>As soon as they were in deep cover the chestnut took -the lead. He headed up a steep trail and did not stop until -the band had reached a saddle in the snow range. Here -he halted to let the mares and colts blow. The colts shouldered -against their mothers, their pink noses and lips -reaching under sweat-streaked flanks in search of milk. -Their curly tails bobbed and jerked as they drank. The -mares looked up at the snow peaks out of big, calm eyes. -They were used to the sudden frenzied retreats of the big -stallion, but they never became as excited as he, except -when rifles spat and men raced shouting upon them.</p> - -<p>After the rest spell the chestnut led the band down -along a wooded ridge. He kept to deep cover so that an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">13</a></span> -enemy posted on a peak or bare rim could not see the -moving mares and colts. Toward midafternoon he halted -the band in a little meadow to feed. The mares and colts -began pulling the long grass eagerly. They were aware -that the rest period might be short, and wanted to get -their bellies filled as quickly as possible. They were right. -The big stallion allowed time for but half a meal. He did -not want them heavy and sleepy from overfeeding.</p> - -<p>They moved down the mountain toward the deep, blue -slash which was Shadow Canyon. The chestnut halted at -the edge of a wide meadow. His protruding eyes had -sighted a little cabin at the upper end of the meadow. He -was about to lead his band back into the spruce when he -saw a black mare standing with head up and ears pricked -forward. He heard the blast of a whistler sounding a general -alarm, and his ears flattened. The whistlers always -annoyed him. He liked to move through the woods unnoticed -and unheralded. But he remained at the edge of -the timber watching the black mare, his nostrils twitching -eagerly.</p> - -<p>No one came out of the cabin. The stallion pawed and -whinnied low. His call was answered by the black mare. -There was eagerness in her whinny. The chestnut cast -caution aside. Here was a sleek and slender mare he -could add to his band. He trotted out into the meadow, -neck arched, red mane floating in the wind.</p> - -<p>Lady Ebony stood for a moment looking at the chestnut -stallion, then she arched her neck and kicked her -heels high. With a toss of her head she trotted toward -him. They met in the center of the meadow with the -mares watching out of calm, uninterested eyes. The -mares fell to feeding while the colts bucked and bounced.</p> - -<p>For a moment the noses of the two horses met, then -the black mare whirled and lashed out at the stallion with -her trim hoofs. He dodged and whinnied shrilly. Lady<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">14</a></span> -Ebony broke and ran down the meadow with the stallion -thundering after her. He laid back his ears and charged -with all his speed, but the flying black mare was faster. -She pulled easily away from him and the sight of her -slim body slipping away made the big stallion scream -savagely. Never before had a mare been able to outrun -him, to slip away from him with ease.</p> - -<p>Seeing that she was leaving the big fellow behind, -Lady Ebony whirled and halted, her front feet on a little -hummock of grass. She waited until he was almost upon -her, then she dodged past him and raced toward the -mares. Again she outran him easily.</p> - -<p>The chestnut was filled with a wild desire to drive this -fleet mare into his band and lead her away. He swerved -and charged. She dodged and leaped past him. Lady -Ebony was not trying to escape, she was giving play to -the pulsing life within her. The coming of the chestnut -stallion was something she had expected. She had been -restless and nervous; now that restlessness was gone and -she was filled with surging energy.</p> - -<p>The chestnut raced around the meadow again, trying to -overtake Lady Ebony. He finally halted and stood with -heaving sides. There was a savage light in his protruding -eyes. Lady Ebony trotted toward him and stood nickering -softly. She wanted to run some more. But the big stallion -knew he was beaten. He was aware that he had made -a great deal of noise, and noise was likely to bring riders -with rifles. He turned and began driving his band off the -meadow.</p> - -<p>As they trotted toward the narrow trail leading down -into Shadow Canyon, Lady Ebony tossed her head and -trotted after the band. The big stallion lunged at her with -bared teeth. She humped her back and jigged up and -down, warning him that if he nipped her she would lash -out at him. He reached out to snap at her flanks and was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">15</a></span> -met by two small hoofs which smashed against his wide -chest. With a snort he leaped aside. He did not lunge at -her again. She was much to his liking, a fighter and a -swift runner.</p> - -<p>Lady Ebony fell in with the mares and the band moved -down into the deep, green twilight of the canyon. They -kept going until they reached the bottom. There they -paused, crowding to the edge of the river, thrusting their -muzzles into the cold water foaming over the rocky bed.</p> - -<p>When the horses had drunk their fill they moved on -down the canyon. Several miles of fast moving brought -them to a high wall of red cliffs. Here Crazy River turned -east and the canyon deepened. The chestnut sent the -band up a trail which switchbacked and looped up out of -the depths. With bared teeth and smashing hoofs he -shoved the band up the trail and onto a mesa. Out on flat -ground he let them rest. He was heading toward the -desert where they would be free of attack from armed -riders.</p> - -<p>The mares fed on the bunch grass which carpeted the -mesa. They kept well together and jerked up their heads, -whinnying to their colts when the little ones strayed. -There was danger in each adventurous trip the colts -made, for they had not yet learned to watch and to listen. -This broken country was the natural home of the -cougar. It was also the den area for the gray wolves. -When the colts trotted too far, their mothers followed -and herded them back.</p> - -<p>Above the mesa towered the snow peaks of the Crazy -Kill Range. The snowbanks were not so close as they had -been that morning, but seen through the high, thin air -they seemed to be brooding no more than a short canter -above the tableland. To the south, seen through a forest -of trees and leaves much lighter green than the spruce, -lay the desert, flat, eroded, purple in the evening light.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">16</a></span> -The meadow was bordered on the lower side by an aspen -grove. When the wind came up out of the canyon, the -aspens seemed to shudder. A cross made of aspen wood -had once been lifted on Calvary, so the preachers and -the circuit rider said; possibly the aspens remembered. -They quaked and their round leaves rattled and rustled -like a million tiny cymbals. Below the aspen belt lay the -scrub oaks, stunted trees with twigs as tough and hard as -iron.</p> - -<p>The chestnut stallion felt safer here on the edge of the -wild, high country. A short run would take his band into -the scrub oaks where no rider could follow without dismounting.</p> - -<p>The sun dipped downward and hung on the blue rim -of the western horizon. It looked like a huge ball of red -fire. Slowly it settled from sight. Then shafts of red and -gold light radiated upward, filling the sky and the air -with a bloody haze. The wind died down and silence settled -over the aspen grove. For a short space the world -was aflame, then the sunset cooled and steel-blue dusk -crept up out of the big canyon. The round moon, which -had been dimmed to faint paleness by the sunset, flooded -the mesa with soft light.</p> - -<p>The chestnut moved close to Lady Ebony. He nickered -low. She tossed her head, and they were off on a wild -gallop around the meadow. They ran through the moonlight, -disregarding rocks and gopher holes, leaping over -sage clumps and patches of buckbrush, their manes and -tails billowing in the wind, their rushing bodies surging -with power. They circled the meadow twice. Lady Ebony -easily keeping ahead of the big stallion.</p> - -<p>After the second round, the black mare swerved and -raced to a high, jutting point. Here she halted and the -chestnut charged up beside her. He pawed and shook his -head, then reared on his hind legs and his powerful forefeet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">17</a></span> -curved under him. When his forefeet settled to the -ground, Lady Ebony moved closer to him, her shoulder -pressing against his muscled chest. The chestnut nickered -proudly.</p> - -<p>From an aspen stand below the feeding mares leaped -five shadowy gray forms. They ran with long leaps, their -black muzzles lifting and falling with an even, graceful -flow of motion. Red tongues lolled over white fangs and -yellow eyes flamed in the moonlight. From shaggy chests -came eager yelps. The chestnut blasted a shrill warning -to the mares, but the wolves did not swerve to attack the -colts. They raced across the mesa, running for the pure -joy of giving play to their stringy muscles.</p> - -<p>At the lower edge of the meadow they startled an old -doe who had come out of the aspens to feed. One of the -gray killers turned in along the edge of the woods, the -others fanned out and their eager yelps changed to a -chorus of savage howls. The old lobo at their head had -sounded the cry of the kill.</p> - -<p>The startled mule deer doubled her slim legs under her -and bounded. She landed many yards down the slope, -and bounded again. Her white rump patch flashed in the -silvery light as she fled. Three of the wolves raced after her -while two turned right and leaped away around the hill. -The doe reached the edge of the mesa and bounded down -the steep slope at a pace which rapidly outdistanced her -pursuers. When they were out of sight she swerved and -ran around the hill. She intended to return to her feed -ground by doubling back, a trick used by both mule deer -and big rabbits. She broke out on the mesa a little below -where she had been feeding when the killers startled her. -Behind her she could hear the faint yelping of the three -following lobos. She suddenly planted her feet and tried -to pivot so she could plunge back down the hill. Two -savage, grinning killers had appeared, one a little above<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">18</a></span> -her and one a little below. They were cutting in on her -as fast as they could leap over the brush and rocks.</p> - -<p>The doe whirled back down the slope, but before she -had taken three jumps she was met by the three killers -who had stayed on her trail. They were fanned out, running -well apart. She slid to a halt and turned to run -around the hill, but she was too late. The killers swarmed -over her, the two attacking wolves leaping in at almost -the same instant. She went down bleating and kicking.</p> - -<p>In a few minutes the night was filled with the snarling -and growling of the feeding pack. Up on the ledge Lady -Ebony crowded closer to the big stallion. He snorted defiantly -and rubbed his head against hers.</p> - -<p>That night the wild horses stayed on the mesa. The -next day Lady Ebony loped down into the desert, one of -the wild band, a willing member of the chestnut stallion’s -harem. They traveled at an easy lope which their tough -bodies could hold for many hours. They halted in little -meadows to feed and sought streams and water holes -when they were thirsty.</p> - -<p>As they moved into the canyon-slotted, eroded world -of the desert they left the clear streams behind, and had -to depend upon the knowledge of the chestnut stallion or -one of the old mares for the location of pools and springs. -The grass was shorter, curly buffalo and gamma, growing -in clumps that defied shifting sand and hot wind.</p> - -<p>The world changed quickly. The spruce, the aspens, -and even the scrub oak vanished and in its place there -was juniper—dry, defiant of the heat, sending its roots -deep into the yellow earth, down cracks in the sand rock. -The canyons were walled with red and yellow sandstone. -The washes were bedded deep with sand instead of -water, and the wind made the sand creep along, piling it -into the dunes on the mesas, knifing it out in drifts from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">19</a></span> -the ledges of rimrock. The days were hot and dry, but -the nights were cool to the point of chillness.</p> - -<p>From sentinel buttes or rims they sometimes sighted -copper-skinned Navajos riding always at a gallop, on -lean, bony ponies. The Navajos were always hurrying, -though they had no place to go and all eternity to get -there in. Once Lady Ebony sighted a summer hogan with -two Navajo women and four children sitting in the shade -of a canopy of dry leaves and cottonwood branches. The -women were patiently slipping colored thread across a -loom, back and forth, back and forth, one thread above -another. Below the hogan a sad-looking band of sheep -and goats cropped at the short grass.</p> - -<p>The chestnut stallion snorted angrily when he smelled -the grass where the sheep had been. He did not like -sheep taint. He led the band far from the pasture lands -of that Navajo family.</p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="divider" /> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">20</a></span> -</div> - -<h2><a name="iii" id="iii"></a>3. Horse Thief</h2> - - -<p class="noi"><span class="smcap">Sam’s</span> claim was not a gold strike or a bonanza. It was a -pocket, very definite, and -<a name="certainly" id="certainly"></a><ins title="Original has 'cerainly'">certainly</ins> -limited in the amount -of gravel and black sand which carried much fine and -some coarse gold. Sam knew its extent and its possibilities. -He had kept its location a careful secret. It was not -legally staked, for in staking it he would have brought a -swarm of gold seekers to the ridge, and he wanted this -country to himself. He would take out enough to buy the -black mare plus enough to buy supplies for the winter. -When he finished there would still be gold left, a sort of -bank account to be hoarded against the coming seasons.</p> - -<p>For three weeks Sam shoveled and panned. At last he -had enough yellow dust in his buck-hide pouch. He carefully -buried his shovel, pick, and pan under a pile of -rocks, covered his workings, and faced down the ridge.</p> - -<p>As he trudged slowly through the fields of columbine -and mountain lupine, he smiled softly to himself. The -major would be completely flabbergasted. Sam laughed -aloud, startling a cocky jay. The gaily dressed fellow -fluffed his feathers and his purple crest bristled. He burst -into a volley of angry chattering as he hopped about in a -young balsam tree.</p> - -<p>“Got a right to ha-ha,” Sam said aloud. “The ol’ glory<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">21</a></span> -hole come through with five hunnert an’ some extra fer -grub. Left me a bit fer seed, too.” He continued to -chuckle as he tramped along.</p> - -<p>He trudged on until he could see his mesa through the -red trunks of the spruce. Breaking out at the edge of the -meadow he halted and stood looking over the familiar -scene. Every detail was so familiar to him that he seemed -to be entering a room where he had lived a long time. -The old yellowbelly whistler sounded a blasting warning -and plunged from his high perch. Ground squirrels -romped to their dens. On the semibarren little hill the -dogs began scolding, “squit-tuck! squit-tuck!” Sam -grinned.</p> - -<p>“Yuh ol’ fool, don’t yuh go makin’ me out no enemy,” -he said aloud.</p> - -<p>His eyes moved eagerly up and down the meadow, -then he whistled a few high notes. There was no answering -pound of hoofs. The black mare must be at the far -end of the mesa.</p> - -<p>“Must be off cattin’ around,” he mumbled as he shuffled -to his cabin door.</p> - -<p>Before Sam entered the cabin the old whistler discovered -his mistake. He sounded an all-clear whistle and the -meadow came to life. Sam dropped down on his old chair -to watch the busy scene. After a time he got to his feet -and pulled the latch thong. The door swung inward protestingly. -Everything was as he had left it, except that -a wandering cowboy had stopped and made himself a -pot of tea and fried a snack of bacon. Sam knew, because -the skillet was carefully washed and polished and -the cracked teapot was washed and turned upside down -on the table.</p> - -<p>Sam shuffled about the cabin peering at the familiar -things within its walls. He finally built a fire. He was -hungry for oven biscuits and stove-cooked coffee.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">22</a></span></p> - -<p>He was poking the pine-knot fire to high heat when a -voice from the open door made him turn. His faded eyes -lighted up eagerly as he saw Major Howard standing -there. The major had a grim set to his eyes and his mustache -bristled angrily.</p> - -<p>“Come on out, Sam,” he said gruffly.</p> - -<p>“Howdy, major,” Sam said. He began to chuckle. Might -as well spring the big surprise right away. Then he saw -that there were two men with the major, men wearing -nickel-plated stars on the flaps of their wool shirts. He -blinked his eyes.</p> - -<p>“Howdy, sheriff,” he said. He barely knew Sheriff Miller, -had met him only a couple of times.</p> - -<p>“Now, Sam,” the major broke in harshly, “come clean. -What did you do with that Lady Ebony horse?”</p> - -<p>“Me?” Sam stared at the major.</p> - -<p>“Yes!” the major snapped. “You took an awful fancy to -that filly, wanted to buy her. You’ve been away a long -spell. I brought the sheriff up here, so you better talk and -talk fast.” The major’s face was beginning to redden as -his anger rose.</p> - -<p>Sam looked from one man to the other, slowly, his gaze -searching their faces. Yes, they were in earnest. A horse -thief? Bony fingers pulled at his straggling beard. This -wasn’t the way men did, it wasn’t square shooting. He -did not pause to consider that Major Howard was not a -born western mountainman. He stared defiantly.</p> - -<p>“So yuh came up here to make me out a hoss thief?”</p> - -<p>The sheriff stepped forward and spoke gruffly to the -major. “I’m not here, Howard, to help you badger this old -coot. You swore out a warrant for his arrest. I’m here to -serve it.” He turned to Sam. “Get whatever you want to -take along. This warrant calls for your arrest—charge is -stealing one black mare.”</p> - -<p>Sam blinked and his eyes shifted to the sheriff’s face.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">23</a></span> -In all his life the law had never laid a hand on him. He -had had some experiences of his own with horse thieves. -When he caught a man with the goods he handled the -affair himself. And claim jumpers were met and dealt -with according to a man’s rights. He rubbed his bony -fingers together. He could explain, he could even take -the sheriff to his hidden claim, he could produce the -pouch of dust. But it wasn’t the right of any man to ask -where he had been or what he had been doing. Besides, -the claim wasn’t staked and if fools who didn’t know -pockets and glory holes saw that ground there’d be a -rush and the whole ridge would be turned upside down. -His eyes glinted brightly as he turned toward his door.</p> - -<p>He backed past the table and one hand lifted to the -belt hanging from its willow peg. His gnarled fingers -closed around the familiar butt of his forty-five Colt. The -gun slid down and snuggled against his hip. Then he -shuffled toward the door.</p> - -<p>“Get! Get—afore I blast yuh!” he whispered hoarsely as -he stepped into the sunshine.</p> - -<p>The deputy saw the gun first. He came to life with a -jerk and his hand shot down to his own gun. Sam shot -from the hip. His aim wasn’t steady; the black muzzle -wavered a little because Sam’s old eyes couldn’t see clearly. -Black-powder smoke billowed in a blue-white cloud, -filling the doorway. Through the smoke Sam saw the -deputy double over, then pitch forward. He was swinging -his gun around to bring it down on the major when -the sheriff’s boot shot upward and sent it spinning from -his hand. The officer’s voice out through the smoke.</p> - -<p>“Now you got something to answer for, you old coot!”</p> - -<p>He stepped forward and a heavy hand dropped upon -Sam’s shoulder. He was jerked forward and in less than -a minute his wrists were handcuffed together. He stood -silently watching the sheriff and the major plug the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">24</a></span> -deputy’s wound. The man was weak and sick, but he was -alive.</p> - -<p>The major straightened and glared at Sam. He had -never intended to have the old fellow jailed, he merely -wanted to scare him into revealing what he had done -with the black mare. Sam’s reaction irritated and puzzled -him. Now the old fool could take whatever the law -handed him; the major made up his mind to that.</p> - -<p>Sheriff Miller had a different slant on the affair. He was -a mountainman himself. All his life he had dealt with -cowhands and miners. He recognized that Sam was acting -as most of them would act under the same conditions. -He blamed himself because he had thought Sam too old -to have any fire left.</p> - -<p>“I’m not too proud of this job,” he said sourly to the -major.</p> - -<p>“You’d better do your duty,” the major snapped.</p> - -<p>The sheriff nodded his head. He turned to Sam.</p> - -<p>“Now get what you want. We’re going. I’ll go into the -cabin with you just to make sure you don’t try anything -else.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t reckon I need anything,” Sam answered.</p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="divider" /> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">25</a></span> -</div> - -<h2><a name="iv" id="iv"></a>4. Desert Winter</h2> - - -<p class="noi"><span class="smcap">Life</span> for the wild horses in the desert was a never-ending -battle for food, for protection, and for the chance to slip -through the gray dawn to a water hole where eager muzzles -could be thrust into murky, yellow water. The chestnut -stallion was a hard but wise leader. He knew that -man controlled the best of the grazing lands, that -mounted riders patrolled the foothills and the deep valleys -back against the mountains. He had only savage disdain -for the geldings and mares who submitted to man’s -saddle and steel bit. No patriot ever cherished his freedom -more than the chestnut stallion.</p> - -<p>In the desert there were Indian hunters to be watched -for. The Navajo people were not like the whites in their -way of life. They were wandering nomads, following -their herds, never making a home in any permanent spot. -In summer they built branch-covered shelters. In the -winter they crowded into log and mud hogans. They -were children of the wild, untamed desert, as cunning as -the gray lobo. The Navajo had strange customs. Among -them the women owned the sheep, the goats, the hogan -and the children. The men owned the horses, and the -hunting weapons, along with the turquoise jewelry they -wore. Horses to a Navajo were the same as gold to a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">26</a></span> -white man, they were his measure of wealth and standing. -So the Navajo men stalked the wild bands, capturing -colts and mares to add to their wealth.</p> - -<p>The Navajos knew every water hole in the desert. Like -the tawny cougar and the savage lobo, they knew the -wild bands must drink, that sooner or later they must slip -down to the water hole. So they stalked them near the -water holes and swarmed after them, riding in relays, -keeping the band moving, keeping them from drinking or -resting.</p> - -<p>The chestnut stud considered all these things in his -own way and met the problems with sharp wits, keen -eyes, and keener sense of smell, keeping a constant, alert -watch for enemies. He kept his band in the broken country -where mesas dropped away in sheer, steep slopes to -the depths of the sand washes. From the top of such a -mesa the band could easily thunder down into a canyon -at a moment’s warning.</p> - -<p>Lady Ebony accepted the hard life. She liked the sudden, -wild charges, the long runs under the white stars, -the savage freedom which was so costly. When the chestnut -stallion sounded the alarm she always led the rushing -charge, flying ahead of the reaching, pounding hoofs of -the mares and colts, slowing her speed to allow them to -overtake her. The band foraged for grass at dawn or in -the first grayness of dusk, coming out of a canyon to -spread over the mesatop. Then as she pulled the scant -grass she remembered the high mountain mesa where the -grass grew knee-deep and cold, crystal streams rushed -over gleaming rocks. She remembered the red and the -yellow and the purple flowers, the solid masses of blue -lupine, the flaming orange of acres of daisies.</p> - -<p>This silent, terrible land was in such sharp contrast to -the mountain country that the chestnut’s desire for it -seemed foolish to her. Fear of man grew but slowly within<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">27</a></span> -her. Man had always been her friend and protector. -Sam with his lumps of sugar and his petting, Tex riding -up in the fall with the rest of the major’s boys to take her -down to the winter pastures. The savage anger of the big -stallion when he smelled man scent, the mad charge -down the rocky slopes, these were confusing to her, but -she accepted them and began to snort and shake her -head when the scent came to her.</p> - -<p>The desert was a mass of broken mesas, eroded hills, -and deep-gutted canyons. There were many rivers, but -no water. The eyes of the band could see far, but the -scene was the same always. And yet this vast world was -filled with a silence that was calm and restful. The desert -was a canvas of shifting, changing color. Under the -white-hot glare of the day the reds and yellows flamed. -At dawn and at sunset it was purple and mauve and steel -blue. And always to the north stood the shining mountains, -etched blue against the sky, with the white snow -line gleaming like a crown above the deep blue of the -forests. Lady Ebony often stood and stared through the -haze at the ragged outline of the Crazy Kill Range.</p> - -<p>Summer slipped past, and fall rains woke the short -grass to life, a brief and hurried growth before the cold -and the snow came. The wild ones cropped avidly, pulling -the tender shoots from their crowns, tasting them -eagerly before swallowing them. The chestnut stallion -kept the band moving south, down off the higher benches -to the deeper canyons where blizzards would not rage so -fiercely.</p> - -<p>Indian summer slipped away and the purple mists -lifted from the cathedral rocks and the spires of the ship -rocks. The air cleared and the mornings were cold, with -white frost covering the ground. The colts frisked and -bucked and raced in little circles until the sun warmed -their shaggy coats. Even the mares became spirited when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">28</a></span> -the white frost was on them. Lady Ebony slipped into -the slower, less wild way of the mares. She did not run -except when the band took alarm, but she still ran at the -head of the thundering herd.</p> - -<p>One day a wind came down out of the north. It carried -fine snowflakes which swirled along the ground and -curled upward on the lee side of rocks. Toward night the -storm thickened until it became a driving blizzard riding -a shrieking wind. The horses turned their tails to the lash -of the storm and drifted slowly south, led by one of the -old mares. That night they bunched close together in a -deep canyon. They crowded under a projecting lip of -sandstone where the wind and the snow did not strike -them. Fine white particles sifted down, covering their -shaggy coats and making them look like white horses as -they stood with their heads down waiting for the blizzard -to blow itself out.</p> - -<p>The shelter they had found had been formed centuries -before by the action of wind and water on the layers of -rock forming the crust of the desert. The upper layer was -hard and did not weather away as fast as the lower layers. -Thus a great, projecting roof was formed with a ceiling -that sloped back under the cliff. A thousand years earlier, -brown men had passed that way. They had halted in the -bed of the canyon and looked up at the great cave. They -had held a council and decided to build a city under the -rim.</p> - -<p>Those brown cliff dwellers had built houses of hewn -stone, room upon room, like apartments. Their masonry -still stood, back under the rim. The ceremonial kivas built -under the ground in circular form with laced log roofs -had caved in but the tiers of houses stood against the cliff, -their open windows staring into the canyon. The brown -men had vanished, down into the canyon, south toward<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">29</a></span> -the plains, and west toward the great ocean, but their -homes remained.</p> - -<p>The wild horses saw the houses piled story upon story, -the staring windows and the heaps of broken pottery -decorated with strange designs. They were not afraid of -the dead houses because the man smell had long since -vanished, carried away by the wind and the heat, toward -the south and the west.</p> - -<p>At night an old lobo wolf halted his bachelor pack on -a high rim above the ancient city. The wind lashed and -tore at the gray bodies as though trying to tear them from -the rocky cliff. The old lobo bared his fangs and lifted his -muzzle. He sounded a savage paean of howls and high, -dismal calls and his sons joined in the chorus. Their howls -rang down the wind curling along the face of the cliff to -where the wild horses stood. The mares jerked up their -heads, and the big chestnut snorted savagely. But the -howls of the pack had none of the savage cry of the kill. -The gray ones were defying the storm, daring it to sweep -them from their lofty crag. They were answering an age-old -urge to challenge the elements, to dare them to do -their worst. After a while the old lobo led his sons in a -wild chase down the ridge. They leaped along, riding the -fierce wind, snapping and snarling eagerly.</p> - -<p>For two days the wild band remained under the rim; -then the blizzard broke and the sun struggled through -the gray clouds to shine feebly into the canyon. The -mares moved out and began pawing among the tumbled -rocks, digging for grass. They scooped the new snow and -swallowed it to wet their throats. Above them, against -the turquoise sky, a pair of buzzards wheeled and circled, -their round, hard eyes peering down hungrily, watching -the horses, eager to see if any showed signs of weakness. -The undertakers of the air would follow the band daily,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">30</a></span> -hoping the cold and the scant feed would bring death to -some of the band.</p> - -<p>The chestnut stallion met the rigors of winter with the -same disdain he held for hunters. The colts were watched -more closely because the snow and the cold had driven -the natural food of the cougar and the wolves to cover. -Many of the little dwellers were curled up in deep, warm -burrows sleeping. Most of the birds had flown south. But -the big killers did not sleep. Winter was a time when -hunger and famine stalked their world, when they ran -for days with lean, gaunt bellies driving them on. The -hunger which cramped their stomachs made them savage -and daring, it sharpened their cunning, and made their -raids more deadly.</p> - -<p>One evening a hungry colt strayed from the band, seeking -a spot where the snow was not so deep. His mother -was busy pawing through a drift where she had located a -clump of bushes with tender twigs in abundance. The -colt wandered up to a stand of juniper which stood -sprawled against the snow. He dug down experimentally, -found no curly buffalo grass and moved on, farther up -the slope, closer to the green trees.</p> - -<p>He was pawing into a drift when he heard a savage -snarling. He jerked up his head and snorted, his round -eyes staring with fright. Out of the juniper woods leaped -four gray wolves. Their broad chests rose above the snow, -spraying it aside in fine spurts. Their red tongues rolled -between their bared fangs. The pack was lean and gaunt, -but they did not sound the cry of the kill, they ran silently, -emitting low snarls.</p> - -<p>The colt whirled and floundered toward the mares. The -chestnut stallion was the first to see the wolves. With a -squeal of rage he charged toward them. The colt plunged -along but he had wandered far from the band. Behind<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">31</a></span> -him the killers rapidly closed in. Their white fangs -slashed the muscles and tendons of his straining legs, -hamstringing him. He went down plunging and kicking, -and the gray killers leaped upon him ripping and tearing.</p> - -<p>At the sound of the chestnut’s shrill warning the mares -jerked up their heads and charged to the rescue of the -struggling colt. Lady Ebony leaped ahead close beside -the big stallion. For a moment the wolves stood their -ground, then they faded back, snarling and howling, to -circle around the band. The mares milled and stamped -around the colt while his mother nosed him and whinnied -eagerly. He kicked a little, then lay still.</p> - -<p>In the sky above the buzzards shortened their circles -and dropped. Their long wait had been rewarded. The -mares kept a close guard around the carcass of the colt for -a long time. The wolves sat on the snow and stared out of -flaming yellow eyes, waiting with slaver-flecked jaws, -sure they would feast in due time. They looked up at the -buzzards now sweeping low above the snow and growled -defiantly.</p> - -<p>The frantic mother kept nosing her colt, trying to get -him to his feet so that she could lead him away from the -blood smell and the wolf taint. The chestnut charged the -wolves many times. They leaped away before his lashing -hoofs, darting behind him, jumping at his legs and heels. -And the buzzards settled down on the snow to wait.</p> - -<p>The mares guarded the dead colt for over an hour, then -they moved away leaving the mother alone. She remained -standing over the twisted carcass, whinnying nervously. -Then the killers leaped in and circled around her, darting -toward her, two behind and two in front. She lashed at -them, pivoted, kicked wildly, her pounding hoofs striking -nothing. The chestnut stallion came to her rescue and -drove the wolves away, then he drove her down the slope<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">32</a></span> -to where the band was feeding. She went slowly, halting -to stand with her head up and nicker softly. The wolves -leaped on the carcass and began devouring it while the -buzzards walked over the snow, halting with their necks -stretched out, their hard eyes glittering. They must wait -for their share, which would be the gnawed bones.</p> - -<p>And so the battle against the snow and the cold went -on through the long winter. Another colt was lost to the -gray killers, and an old mare went lame. She dropped behind -in spite of the savage nipping and crowding of the -big stallion. That night she bedded down alone in a little -canyon and a gaunt cougar came upon her in the gray -dawn. Her end came swiftly, without a struggle.</p> - -<p>Then spring came with rushing torrents, slush in the -arroyos, and slick, yellow mud on the hillsides. Streams -boiled out of the dry canyons thick with raw clay and -sand. This was the season when nature carved deeply -into the face of the desert. Only the sand washes and the -dunes on the flats resisted the water. The sand ate it up -and packed hard so that it did not cling and drag when -the band galloped over it.</p> - -<p>With the speed of a miracle the desert bloomed. The -sage flats flared white with the blossoms of the primrose -and the mariposa lily. Countless other stunted plants put -forth flowers, eager to create and ripen seed before the -heat and drought of summer came. And the grass shot out -of the ground, rich and sweet. The band cropped and -moved on, ever searching for taller grass.</p> - -<p>The mares were lean and gaunt, their ribs pushing -ridges up under their shedding coats. The chestnut stallion -was lean, too, but in a hard-muscled way. Lady -Ebony had lost much of her fire and love for frolic. The -sun was warm and the air soft but she needed rest. She -looked away toward the white slopes of the Crazy Kill<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">33</a></span> -Range. Spring would not reach the high mesa for another -month, but she was restless. She would have headed away -into the foothills but the big stallion kept close watch -over his band.</p> - -<p>One day a horseman rode out on a rim. He sat on his -bony horse and looked down on the wild band feeding on -a bench. For a long time he sat there looking intently before -he rode away. Yellow Man smiled as he galloped toward -his hogan. There were many good colts in the band -and one black mare. The black mare was a horse such as -he had never seen before, the sort of mount he had always -dreamed about. He would tell the other men about -the band, but the black mare was to be his because he -had been the first to see her.</p> - -<p>He rode to his hogan and picketed his pony. Walking -to the glowing fire which flickered inside the door he -stooped and held out his hands. Four men sat along one -wall while a half dozen brown-faced women sat on the -other side. On the men’s side of the hogan lay riding -things, bridles and blankets, a saddle. On the women’s -side were the cooking pots and the blankets. Yellow Man -sat down. For a long time he said nothing. His black eyes -were on the fire.</p> - -<p>Finally Yellow Man lifted his eyes to the face of an old -man beside him.</p> - -<p>“I have seen many good horses,” he said.</p> - -<p>The old man grunted softly while the others bent forward.</p> - -<p>“There is a black mare who will have a colt this spring,” -Yellow Man said.</p> - -<p>They all nodded. The black mare was to belong to -Yellow Man, that was understood. Now they waited for -him to go on.</p> - -<p>“Tomorrow we will run the band. There will be horses -for all. The big one who leads may have to be shot. I will<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">34</a></span> -take the rifle. The big one is strong and will fight.” Yellow -Man’s eyes returned to the fire.</p> - -<p>The others nodded and began eagerly planning the -drive. Through the long winter they had kept busy with -sings and chants, meeting with other families in religious -dances and ceremonies. This would be the first hunt of -the season.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>To the north, behind the high gray walls of the state -prison Sam knew when spring came. Through a high, -barred window he could see a square of sunlight on the -stone wall. Across the upper corner of the square drooped -the branches of a cottonwood tree. Sam watched the buds -swell and burst into pale-green leaves.</p> - -<p>The warden and the guards shook their heads when -they walked past his cell. Eight years. The old fellow -would be lucky to finish two of them. He refused to work -outside, he hated even to exercise in the closed-in yard. -He wanted to be left alone, to sit and stare out the little -window. But Sam did not share their belief that he would -never leave the gray walls. He was sure he would return -to the high mesa. He wasn’t going to die cooped up in a -gloomy cell; when he died it would be out in the open -with his boots on, under a mountain sky.</p> - -<p>He did not brood over his trial. His attorney had been -irritated to the point of anger when Sam refused to tell -where he had been and what he was doing during the -three weeks of absence from his cabin. That was his business; -he’d need his cache when he got out. Nobody was -going to find out about it. His stubbornness had convinced -the jury of his guilt. Sam had paid the attorney -well though the judge had offered to let the state pay the -fee. He didn’t think much about those things, he just sat -and stared at the cottonwood branch.</p> - -<p>Tex, Major Howard’s foreman, had talked to him. Tex<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">35</a></span> -understood better than any of the others, but Sam wasn’t -trusting anybody. He had learned from years of battling -for gold that the yellow metal was poison to friendship -and trust. Tex was a right fine feller, but there was no call -to push him too far.</p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="divider" /> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">36</a></span> -</div> - -<h2><a name="v" id="v"></a>5. Wild Horse Drive</h2> - - -<p class="noi"><span class="smcap">The</span> snow had vanished and the desert was dry and -thirsty again. Dust spurted up around the hoofs of the -wild horses as they loped down a long ridge. The east was -beginning to show a pale flush of red and day came -quickly to the barren country, lighting the tall spires and -castle rocks and the sharp points of the pinnacles, making -the monument valley below appear alive.</p> - -<p>The chestnut stallion swung along behind the mares. -At their head ran an old roan. She was trailwise and wary. -Her nose was leading her unerringly to a big water hole -at the base of a cliff. The others pounded along behind -her with the colts frisking beside their mothers. The -chestnut halted every little while to whirl and sniff the -morning air. He held his head high and his protruding -eyes rolled as he stared back over the broken country -they had left behind.</p> - -<p>The roan trotted off the ridge and down through a -jumble of rocks to the base of a cliff. The horses nickered -softly as they smelled water. The roan’s muzzle was a -scant foot from the yellow surface of the pool when wild -yells shattered the morning calm. The band whirled and -stood with heads up, staring toward a rocky slope.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">37</a></span> -Above them the big chestnut screamed a warning and an -order to charge away.</p> - -<p>Down the slope toward the water hole galloped four -riders. Their naked bodies gleamed copper-red in the -new sunlight as they bent low over the necks of their lean -ponies. With squeals of fright the band whirled and -charged down the canyon. A cloud of yellow dust billowed -at their heels. The chestnut stallion crashed down -on their flanks with bared teeth and pounding hoofs. -When a mare lagged he drove her squealing into the -band. The mad charge carried the wild horses away from -the four pursuing Navajos, but the trailers did not give -up the chase.</p> - -<p>Back of the dust cloud Yellow Man rode beside his -three sons. Their faces were expressionless; only their -black eyes showed the eager excitement that filled them. -They did not try to make their gaunt ponies overtake the -thundering band but were content to keep a steady pace. -The trail left by the wild horses was broad and easy to -follow.</p> - -<p>Lady Ebony ran ahead of the band, keeping well out -in front without effort. She was not badly frightened and -the wild panic of the other horses had not gripped her. -But she raced along just the same, enjoying the surging -flight which gave full play to her powerful muscles. The -big chestnut charged in and turned the band up the -ridge. As they swept over the top of the rocky hill they -saw the Indians galloping along the canyon bed below.</p> - -<p>Yellow Man shifted his seat on the bare back of his -pinto. His black eyes were following the flight of the -black mare, and there was a fierce eagerness in them. The -chestnut leader was doing just what he wanted him to do. -The big fellow was swinging his band into a wide circle, a -curve which would carry them back into the country they -had just left.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">38</a></span></p> - -<p>The band thundered down off the ridge and headed -up a sand wash. The drag of the sand and the uphill going -slowed them but they kept pounding along, the stallion -saw to that. He stayed behind and used his teeth -savagely on the rumps of the laggards.</p> - -<p>Yellow Man and his sons galloped up the ridge and -dropped into the sand wash. A thin smile parted the lips -of the tall hunter as he noticed how fagged his horse was. -They were chasing no ordinary wild scrub ponies. The -chestnut stallion had trained his band well and kept them -in fine condition. They had run the legs right out from -under the Navajo ponies. He urged his pinto up the sand -wash as fast as the little beast could travel.</p> - -<p>The chestnut saw the riders coming and noticed that -they were working their way to the side as though aiming -to come up alongside. He suspected a trick though he was -disdainful of the slow-running ponies coming up from -below. He changed his course a little to the north. Now -the pursuers would have to travel much farther than his -band to overtake them. The Navajo riders swung north -too, and kept following close to the dust cloud.</p> - -<p>The chase thus took a circular course with the chestnut -keeping the mares moving as fast as the colts could follow. -But now the horses’ sides were heaving, sweat was -streaking their flanks and caking in lather-matted ridges -above the hair. The big stallion snorted triumphantly as -they topped a ridge. They had run away from their pursuers. -The Indians were plodding along far behind. He -allowed the mares to slow their pace to a lope while he -galloped to right and then to left, looking down into -washes and canyons for a hiding place.</p> - -<p>Suddenly the mares heard yells from their right. They -saw five red-bronze riders charging down on them from -a cover of junipers. Mounted on fresh horses, these braves -came swiftly from their ambush. The chestnut stallion<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">39</a></span> -rushed on his band and sent them racing down into a -canyon. The retreat led over a ledge and down a rocky -hill. The slope was steep and covered with loose stones, -but the sure-footed horses took the broken ground at a -mad rush. One of the mares slipped and went down, rolling -over and over, until she was stopped by a big boulder. -She struggled to her feet and staggered around the hill. -Her colt bounded after her nickering wildly.</p> - -<p>The charge of the hunters carried them close on the -heels of the flying band. When the mare went down, two -of the hunters swerved and followed her. The chestnut -let her go and gave his attention to speeding the rest of -the band. In a few seconds the speed of the wild horses -carried them ahead of the Navajos’ lean ponies. But the -three hunters following the mares kept yelling and galloping.</p> - -<p>The two hunters who had swerved to follow the crippled -mare and her colt soon overtook them. They paid no -attention to the mare but charged down on the colt. One -of them swung a rope. The loop sailed out and dropped -over the straining neck of the little fellow. The colt fought -and kicked, but the Navajo boy knew how to handle a -fighter. He kept his rope tight, almost to the choking -point, and let the little horse wear himself out. In a short -time he had mastered the colt and was heading toward -camp with him. His companion galloped away to overtake -the band.</p> - -<p>The chestnut stallion could not understand the attack -of the Navajos. They did not start shooting when they got -in close and they did not try to rope any of the mares. -They just kept riding on the heels of his fast-tiring band, -yelling and waving their arms. They were not like the -wolf or the cougar, they did not strike when they got -close, but they never left the heels of the herd. The big<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">40</a></span> -stallion shifted his course and again they began moving -in a wide circle.</p> - -<p>This time the chestnut widened the circle, cutting back -into the steep hill country, turning up crooked washes, -crossing ridges, and doubling back occasionally. The -Navajos stayed on the trail, keeping as close to the band -as they could, cutting across when they sighted the mares -doubling on their course. And now they were hanging -close on the heels of the wild ones. Twice the chestnut -stallion whirled and faced the hunters as though about to -challenge them to a fight. The braves slid their hands -down to where their guns hung about their naked waists. -They did not wish to kill the big stallion unless he -charged their ponies, nor did they care to try taming him. -They wanted the black mare and the colts.</p> - -<p>The chestnut did not charge his tormentors. Fear of -man and man’s far-killing gun sent him back to biting -and shoving the mares into faster flight. He could not use -the tactics which always succeeded against the wolf or -the bear.</p> - -<p>Topping another ridge, he headed his band into a deep -canyon. He knew they were almost winded from running -uphill. The steep slope would help them to recover. One -of the Navajos shouted:</p> - -<p>“He is doubling back! Head him!”</p> - -<p>The Indians sent their ponies charging recklessly down -the dangerous slope, leaping over boulders and water-gutted -ditches. But the band would not be headed. Going -downhill had eased them and given them new life. -They plunged along with sides heaving and nostrils flaring. -Lady Ebony led them, keeping her pace down to -their speed.</p> - -<p>One of the hunters headed his pony up out of the canyon. -He halted on a jutting rock and sat looking down -over the desert. His black eyes watched the fine spirals of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">41</a></span> -yellow dust rising from the canyon and he nodded his -head. The scattered groups of hunters would be able to -locate the new direction the band had taken.</p> - -<p>The sharp eyes of three hunters hiding in a juniper -grove on the rim of the canyon saw the spirals of dust rising -from the dry watercourse above. They slipped across -and waited.</p> - -<p>The chestnut began to breathe easier. Once again the -band had outdistanced their pursuers and no raiders -could be seen. But he was nervous and determined to -keep the mares moving until they were deep in the rough, -canyon-slotted country to the south. The weary horses -slowed their pace to a trot. They were suffering for water -and their hard muscles were crying for rest. They were -used to sudden, wild charges when they would race at -top speed for a while, but they were not used to a steady -grind, hour after hour.</p> - -<p>Several of the mares began weaving away from the -herd, sniffing for water, looking for a spot where they -could halt and rest. Suddenly the yells they had come to -dread broke the silence and echoed along the canyon -walls. Three riders came charging toward them from below. -The chestnut screamed a warning. For a moment he -hesitated. There was an enemy pack behind them, and -now one faced them. With a snort and a toss of his head -he sent the band up the far slope out of the canyon. The -hunters raced whooping and yelling after the mares.</p> - -<p>Escape from the canyon did not bring freedom from -the worrying red riders. The desert seemed full of them. -After every run, when the big stallion thought he had -slipped away from his pursuers, a new and fresh band -would charge from cover on the jaded mares. In desperation -the big horse headed down a deep canyon. The -mares could not travel uphill any more. They could not -move fast but the hunters did not seem anxious to close<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">42</a></span> -in and strike. They kept on the heels of the wild ones. -Now there were a dozen of them and they kept up a savage -yelling as they stayed close to the band.</p> - -<p>Up ahead Lady Ebony began to tire. She was not -driven by frantic fear and she was eager to stop and rest. -At first she had enjoyed the flight, but now she was -thirsty and her sides were heaving. She galloped ahead, -leaving the band behind. As she raced along she saw a -side canyon. Its floor was solid rock, worn smooth by -wind and water. She slipped into the narrow opening and -halted behind a shoulder of rock. She lowered her head -and stood blowing hard. She had left no tracks on the -rocky floor.</p> - -<p>The wild horses galloped past the mouth of the side -canyon. A great cloud of dust rolled up after them. Lady -Ebony heard the Navajos go whooping past. She stood -listening until the pounding of hoofs and the yelling died -away. Shaking her head, she trotted up the narrow canyon. -She craved water and she wanted to be alone, to lie -down and rest. She headed north because to the north lay -the tall-grass meadows with clear streams bubbling across -them. She moved along steadily, keeping to the bottom of -the canyon where she was hidden from sight of any -black-eyed hunter who might be sitting on a rim high -above.</p> - -<p>A black rain cloud billowed up above the rims to the -north. It rolled down across the desert on the wings of a -driving wind which raised clouds of dust and sand. At -dusk it swept over the canyon where Lady Ebony was -marching along steadily north. It drenched her and gave -her needed drinking water, then it moved on down to -where the chestnut was making his last stand.</p> - -<p>In the canyon the big stallion had settled down to the -grim job of lashing his mares into movement. They were -not able to go fast but he kept them pounding along, just<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">43</a></span> -ahead of the yelling hunters. Their gaunt bellies were -drawn and their dry nostrils flared red inside their dust-caked -rims. The Navajos were shouting to one another, -their spirits high. They were sure of their catch now and -eager to close in as soon as the mares quit.</p> - -<p>Then the dusk of evening came and with it the downpour -of rain. Nowhere in the world outside the tropics -can so much water fall in so short a time as in the desert. -The storm was bad luck for the hunters, but it spelled -escape for the wild horses. It blotted out everything, -bringing sudden, inky night. Its rushing, swirling waters -wiped out the tracks of the horses. The chestnut stallion -played wise. He took a side canyon, forcing his charges -out on a rocky ridge. From that canyon they crossed another -ridge and turned north. The big stallion was headed -out of the desert.</p> - -<p>The hunters spread out and worked up and down the -canyon but the darkness and rain defeated them. They -finally gave up and turned their ponies toward their -camp.</p> - -<p>All that night Lady Ebony kept moving. The storm -passed and the moon came out with stars beyond it, stars -that hung low over the barren country, brilliant with red -and blue lights winking outside white centers.</p> - -<p>A pair of gray wolves flashed past like shadows. They -leaped along, side by side, shoulder to shoulder. One was -a big, broad-chested fellow with a wide muzzle and frost-cropped -ears. The other was a slim gray one with slender -legs and body. They paid no attention to Lady Ebony. -They were not hunting, they were running, answering the -call of spring, heading for a trysting place on a barren -ridge.</p> - -<p>Lady Ebony heard them holding their spring concert -on a high knoll. They howled and snarled and yelped. -There was much yearning, much that sounded like deep<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">44</a></span> -laughter in their song, and there was tenderness in the -notes of the slim gray one. In their mating time they had -lost the savagery of winter. There was no specter of -famine in the springtime, no blasting blizzards, no deep -snow. There was food and there was an urge to find a -snug den.</p> - -<p>Something of the feelings expressed by the gray wolves -filled Lady Ebony. Just before dawn she halted and began -feeding. She fed on through the morning. She saw no -other horses and heard no savage yells. At midday she -lay down and rested until late afternoon.</p> - -<p>When she moved on she headed north, toward the -snowy ramparts of the Crazy Kill Range, and she went -at a long, ground-devouring lope. That night she halted -at a spring in the lower foothills. Berrybushes and willow -grew around the spring and there was tall grass. Lady -Ebony pulled the juicy grass contentedly. She was glad -to be away from the teeth and smashing hoofs of the -chestnut stallion. She did not miss the herd at all.</p> - -<p>The spring was so much of a change after the parched -desert that she bedded down close beside it and rested -until morning. With the gray dawn she was up and feeding -on the lush grass. For several hours she fed, then she -drank deeply and faced northward. Again she set her -pace at a fast lope.</p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="divider" /> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">45</a></span> -</div> - -<h2><a name="vi" id="vi"></a>6. Midnight</h2> - - -<p class="noi"><span class="smcap">Lady Ebony</span> held her course until late afternoon. She -was high in the red foothills when she halted. A little -stream bubbled over red rocks, willow grew along the -banks, and the grass was green. On each side of the -water red rocks rose high against the sky. Along the -base of the cliffs lay great slabs and piles of stone, broken -loose from the walls by wind and rain, piled in confusion -over the floor of the wild gorge. Lady Ebony moved -among the tumbled rocks. A bobcat bounded from a -thicket of rose brier where he had been hunting cottontails. -Lady Ebony snorted and shook her head.</p> - -<p>She kept moving slowly along the stream until she -came to a grove of cottonwoods. Close beside the grove -grew a dense thicket of tangled brush. Lady Ebony -dropped her head and began pulling the tender gamma -grass. She did not look up at the Crazy Kill Range again. -After she had eaten her fill she drank at the stream and -lay down.</p> - -<p>Sunset flamed across the sky and died into cool shadows. -The red bluffs changed from deep purple to slate -gray. By almost unnoticeable degrees the moon brightened -and flooded the valley and the cliffs changed color -to match the white light. Now they were silvery with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">46</a></span> -bands and squares of black shadows across them. And the -stars hung, big and white, close to the ragged tops of the -rims.</p> - -<p>In this garden of red rocks close beside the little stream -a colt was born. The morning sun beating down on the -floor of the gorge shone on a wobbly little horse crowding -close to Lady Ebony’s side.</p> - -<p>The black colt jerked his curly tail and butted his head -against his mother’s side as he got his first breakfast. His -legs were long and heavy-boned. They were wobbly legs -but they showed promise of great strength. His head was -finely molded like his mother’s, and his sleek coat was all -black, except for a white star in his forehead. That white -star and the heavy-boned frame were his inheritance from -his father, the chestnut stallion.</p> - -<p>Lady Ebony was proud and excited over her handsome -jet-black colt—so black that he could well be called Midnight. -She kept turning her head, nosing his silky rump, -and nickering softly. She was suddenly aware of many -things she had scarcely noticed before. She heard a rustling -in the thicket and sniffed the warm air nervously. A -faint odor of cat came to her and she snorted angrily. A -few minutes later a big bobcat stepped out of the thicket -and stood looking at her. Lady Ebony shook her head -and stamped her feet. The bobcat opened his mouth -wide, exposing rows of white teeth and a red tongue. He -closed his mouth and his yellow eyes stared at the mare -and her colt. Then he humped his sleek back and trotted -through the sunshine across the meadow to where his -mate was waiting for him.</p> - -<p>In one of the big cottonwoods a flicker hammered away -at the trunk of the tree. Even this steady rat-a-tat bothered -Lady Ebony. And when the flicker’s mate sailed -down from the sky and alighted on an anthill she snorted -again. The flicker up in the tree deserted his morning task<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">47</a></span> -and came down to join his wife in an ant hunt. They -danced and cavorted on the anthill, picking up the busy -little workers as they swarmed out to repel the invasion.</p> - -<p>A yellowbelly whistler came down out of the rocks and -set to feeding, sliding along the ground, sitting up to stare -intently across the meadow, chuckling to himself as he -munched the roots he dug up. He was joined by a pair of -cottontail rabbits who stayed close to cover as they fed.</p> - -<p>Midnight finished his breakfast and began walking -around on his wobbly legs, investigating everything he -came to with an inquisitive, pink nose. Lady Ebony followed -him nickering nervously. The little fellow halted -beside a clump of rattleweed. His ears pricked forward -and he listened. From the deep shade under the green -leaves came a warning rattle. The buzzing sound was repeated -as Midnight’s nose drew closer. Lady Ebony -sprang forward and stamped upon the patch of weeds as -she shouldered her son away from the danger spot. The -colt had met his first enemy, a big rattler.</p> - -<p>Lady Ebony showed by her actions that she considered -Midnight an important little horse. She followed his wobbling -course down the stream, then back again. After that -he tried to run but his legs doubled under him and his -body failed to do what he wanted of it. Finally he trotted -out into the warm sun and lay down. In a few minutes he -was sound asleep.</p> - -<p>Lady Ebony stood over him for a long time with her -head down. Finally she set to cropping grass near where -he slept. She knew that she must be constantly alert, -ready to repel attack from killers that had never bothered -her before. The morning serenade of a pair of coyotes -above the rock garden made her nervous. Their mad -chorus of yelping laughter and high, mournful notes -caused her to move close to Midnight and stand there<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">48</a></span> -with head erect. The song dogs of the dawn finished their -chorus and raced away across the meadow above.</p> - -<p>A great bald eagle wheeled above the tops of the red -cliffs, his round, glassy eyes staring down on the meadow, -his wings beating the air with powerful strokes. He saw -the mare and her colt and his powerful beak clicked several -times. His pinions stiffened and were held as rigid as -the wings of a pursuit plane as he banked sharply and -spiraled downward. He saw the black colt get to his feet -and wander away from his mother. With a piercing -scream he shortened his circles. His cry was answered -from the deep blue above and a second eagle came plummeting -down on folded wings, her body roaring through -the thin air as she dived. She flattened her terrific plunge -just above the red rock garden and circled with her mate.</p> - -<p>Lady Ebony jerked up her head and trotted to her son. -She tried to stand over him but he did not wish to be -bothered at the moment. He had discovered his own -shadow and was making a great show of challenging the -flat, black thing following him on the ground. He tossed -his head and laid back his ears, his furry rump bumping -up and down a little as he threatened to kick at his -mother.</p> - -<p>The eagles soared and dived over the mare and her -colt. The kings of the air were savage killers without fear -of any ground dweller. They had struck down fawns and -lambs and they knew they could smash the wobbly colt -if his mother left an opening. Midnight became more irritated -at his mother’s close guard. He tried to lash out at -her with his hind feet. Lady Ebony let him trot away -from her. He halted and snorted at his shadow.</p> - -<p>The king of the air saw his opening and dived. His -wings were folded tight against his sides and he dropped -like a bolt of lightning. Close behind him came his mate. -The attack was so swift that Lady Ebony could not reach<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">49</a></span> -the side of her son in time to shield him. The diving eagle -spread his wings a few feet above the back of the colt. -His heavy breastbone struck Midnight a smashing blow -while his long talons raked deep into the tender back of -the little horse. Midnight went down so quickly the she-eagle -missed him entirely. The blow which had felled -him was the same smashing stroke with which the eagle -broke limbs from trees when building a nest. It was his -stroke of death, but he had not gauged it as well as he -had intended. The breastbone struck Midnight across the -hips and not in the middle of the back where it would -have broken him down.</p> - -<p>With frantic snorts and eager whinnying Lady Ebony -nosed her son as he staggered to his feet. He crowded -close against her, willing now to be guarded. The eagles -rose straight up into the blue for five hundred feet before -they leveled off. They circled and looked down, their -screams ringing along the cliffs. Midnight stayed close to -his mother. His rump was smarting and he felt the need -of her strength. After a time the eagles widened their circles -and flew away.</p> - -<p>Midnight had learned another lesson. When Lady -Ebony sounded a warning call he rushed to her side instead -of humping his back and dancing up and down. He -wanted no more raking talons in his skin. He was beginning -to know the price of life in the wild. He was coming -to know that the strong live while the weak and the -foolish die soon.</p> - -<p>But the little horse’s fright passed quickly. He was a -true child of the wilderness and fear was a passing -shadow. With the circling killers gone from the sky he -forgot them and sought dinner. He was much stronger -now, his legs had stiffened and he was able to bounce up -and down. The blood of his father gave him something -Lady Ebony did not have, a vitality and a savageness all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">50</a></span> -babies of the wild must have to survive. Had he been -born with the band he would have been able to follow -them. He made a short circle among the rocks, then came -back to his mother’s side where he thrust his head under -her flank and began drinking lustily. Lady Ebony was -proud of him, but she was worried too, because there -were so many enemies in this wild country. She was a -horse trained to depend upon man, his fences and his -protecting rifle. Vaguely she knew she should be in a shed -during this important time. Midnight shared none of her -worries; he was typically a wild horse.</p> - -<p>That evening the big bobcat serenaded them from the -blue-black depths of the cottonwood grove. No man or -beast who has ever heard the terrifying yowling of the -cat-of-the-mountain when he is struck by a lonely mood -has remained calm and unfrightened. Even the cougar -and the wolf move off when he starts serenading. The big -cat began his plaint with long “me-ows” till after a few -minutes his cry was a series of “row-row-rows,” ending in -terrific screeches. The weird screaming echoed along the -rock walls of the gorge. It finally tapered off into long-drawn -wails filled with hopeless despair as though the big -fellow was condemned to a terrible fate and knew his -time was near.</p> - -<p>Lady Ebony rushed to the side of Midnight and began -frantically herding him up the canyon. She did not -have to urge the little horse. He struck out wildly, running -as fast as he could, looking back in terror, expecting -to see a monster leap on him from the woods.</p> - -<p>A pair of coyotes trotting up the canyon halted and -stood for a moment staring through the moonlight. They -whirled and raced back, casting glances over their shoulders -as they ran.</p> - -<p>After a time the big pussy with the bobtail walked -out of the grove and seated himself on a rock. Whatever<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">51</a></span> -had been troubling him seemed to have been -chased away by his vocal efforts. He yawned and -stretched his lithe body leisurely, then looked around -with a satisfied smirk. He had the canyon to himself and -seemed highly pleased.</p> - -<p>He was a male weighing perhaps twenty-five pounds. -His ears had black tufts at the ends, his lips were white -with whiskers springing from black spots. In this he favored -the lynx cat. But his eye rings were white and his -reddish-brown body was marked with cloudings suggesting -spots while his feet were small like those of a house -cat. His tail was not more than seven inches long, a -stubby bobbed-off tail, but it jerked nervously as he -sat smiling over his kingdom of rock piles and tall grass. -He was not hungry and the hunting mood did not fill -him. He had feasted well on wood rat and rabbit earlier -that evening. He had simply wished to clear all neighbors -from his presence. Now that he had done it he sat -and smirked on the top of his big rock.</p> - -<p>But the big cat did not reckon with one hunter who -was not impressed by his terrible song. A big, snowy -owl came beating along the canyon wall. His dim shadow -floated across the grass toward the rock where the cat -was sitting. The owl had not feasted that evening. Fate -had been unkind. Every rabbit pasture he had swept -over had already been raided by coyotes or cats. The -old owl was never choice about his prey. His way was -to strike at any living thing that came under his powerful -beak and talons. He saw the shadow on the rock -move. The animal sitting there was not bigger than many -he had killed before. With a scream he dived.</p> - -<p>His smashing body struck the surprised cat on the -neck and back. Long talons sank deep into the stringy -muscles while powerful wings battered the sleek sides, -knocking him off his perch and rolling him over. Instantly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">52</a></span> -the sleepy fellow was changed to a hissing, spitting -demon. He twisted his body and with claws and -teeth lashed back at the ripping beak and beating wings -of the owl. The owl drove his fangs deeper and tore at -his snarling victim with his hooked beak.</p> - -<p>The bobcat’s fangs found the neck of the owl and -sank into it with crunching swiftness. Blood spattered -and fur and feathers filled the air. The battlers clung to -their death holds and exerted all their strength. The bobcat’s -raking hind feet ripped feathers out of his assailant -and found the stringy flesh beneath them; his fangs -sank deeper. Over and over they rolled, the owl flapping -and clicking his beak savagely, the cat hissing and snarling -and yowling.</p> - -<p>Both fighters weakened quickly because their wounds -were deep and driven into vital parts. They tumbled into -a hollow between two big rocks. There they struggled -feebly for a time. Finally they lay still, the crumpled -and tangled body of the owl under that of the cat, his -big, round eyes staring savagely up at the stars. The bobcat -lay with fangs driven into the neck of his antagonist, -his yellow eyes closed to slits, his sleek coat marred by -tufts of torn hair.</p> - -<p>A little wind stirred down the canyon. It passed over -the hollow where the dead animals lay, it seemed to -spread the news that two deadly hunters had passed out -of the red rock garden. The bunnies crept out to the edge -of their thicket homes and the wood mice and rats ventured -into the tall grass. After the way of the wild they -started feeding peacefully.</p> - -<p>Lady Ebony and Midnight halted in the middle of a -meadow a mile above the spot where the battle had -taken place. Midnight, true to his wild instinct, had already -forgotten the fear that had sent him charging out -of the garden below. He saw a doe and a fawn feeding at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">53</a></span> -the edge of the meadow and started over to make friends -with them. Lady Ebony did not forget so quickly. She -was nervous and excited all that night and tried to keep -her son from walking up to the doe.</p> - -<p>Midnight approached the mule deer and her fawn. He -nickered softly and humped his back, doing a little dance -to show off before them. The doe snorted and shook her -head. She was not afraid of a colt but she would take no -chances with her baby. She turned about and led the -little one back into the brush.</p> - -<p>Lady Ebony stayed in the upper meadow. She wanted -to give her son time to get his legs under him before -moving on. By the third day the colt was able to race -around the meadow. He noticed the brightly colored -flowers, and made a great show of fear when a rabbit -hopped away before one of his charges. He was inquisitive -and shoved his pink muzzle close to everything that -interested him. That day he met one of the wilderness -dwellers who lived in a burrow under a dead stump. -Midnight was dancing about pretending to be frightened -by a pair of rockchips who sat on a stone scolding -and chattering because he had disturbed them. The -stranger walked out of a brier thicket and marched down -a deer trail.</p> - -<p>He was sleek and black except for broad stripes of -white running down his back. His tail was a handsome -plume of drooping hair, his snout was pointed, and his -little eyes stared out on the world like black buttons -sewed on his face. This stranger showed little interest in -his surroundings. His dull mind held but one thought. -Hunting for mice and bugs had been poor in the thicket -near his burrow; he was crossing the meadow to another -thicket. He had no fear of other animals. He claimed -the right of way on every trail and not even a grizzly -bear would have contested that right.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">54</a></span></p> - -<p>Midnight stared at the striped brother, then shook his -head and stamped his feet. He expected the big skunk -to scamper for cover, then he would chase him. When -the striped one paid no attention to him Midnight advanced -a little closer. Perhaps this dull-sighted fellow -was a little deaf. He danced and stamped his feet some -more as he extended his nose toward the skunk. The -skunk marched on, ignoring the little horse. Midnight -stamped close to the striped fellow; the skunk’s plume -lifted with a jerk as dirt and rocks showered over him -from the colt’s hoofs. Any other wild creature would have -fled from that danger signal. To Midnight this seemed a -friendly gesture. He whinnied eagerly and thrust his nose -closer to the striped one. The plume jerked twice as the -skunk halted in the trail.</p> - -<p>Lady Ebony saw the skunk. She whinnied a loud -warning. Midnight jerked up his head and looked -around. He expected to see an enemy descending from -the air or rushing out of the woods. His action saved him -considerable pain and surprise. A greenish flare of musk -shot by, close under his nose. Reeking fumes rolled -around him. Midnight whirled and galloped hastily toward -his mother. He dashed past her and thrust his -muzzle into the cool water of the stream. Then he ran -back to her side and stood staring at the striped brother, -who was marching at an unhurried pace down the deer -trail. The skunk’s aim had been low but he had taught -Midnight another lesson. The striped one was master of -all trails and not to be annoyed or disturbed.</p> - -<p>The musky smell hung so rank and strong over the -meadow that Lady Ebony led her son to the lower end -of the field where the breeze carried the smell away -from them.</p> - -<p>Lady Ebony did not move on up the canyon to the -long slopes dropping away from the higher benches of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">55</a></span> -the Crazy Kill Range. There would still be chill nights -and deep snowdrifts in the spruce near the peaks. She -wandered slowly up the little stream, halting for days -at a time in lush meadows where the grass was green and -tender. Midnight grew rapidly; his legs became strong -and steady. Lady Ebony watched over him constantly, -never letting him stray far from her side. When he raced -around a meadow she followed him, running at his side, -urging him to greater speed.</p> - -<p>She remembered the things she had learned on the -high mesa. When she made long stops she chose rock-bordered -meadows where the yellowbelly whistlers lived. -The yellowbellies always had sentries posted in the daytime. -At night when the whistlers were deep in their burrows -she lay down close beside her son.</p> - -<p>An afternoon came when she had need for her vigilance. -From a high perch on a red rim a lank cougar -sighted the mare and her colt. He was lying on a narrow -shelf where the warm sun beat down on his sleek -hide as he drowsed. Through slitted eyes he watched -Lady Ebony and Midnight feeding below his lofty -perch. There was no flesh he prized more highly than -young colt. He twitched the black tip of his tail and unsheathed -his sharp claws, but he did not move. Slow, -sure, and patient methods were those of the yellow killer. -Once he had waited on a ledge for four days in order to -make a kill, a scrawny colt from a wild band. The colt -in the meadow below would be easier prey because -there was cover close to the tall grass.</p> - -<p>The king cat lay watching until late afternoon. He -yawned many times and his red tongue arched between -his long fangs as he opened his mouth. As long shadows -began to creep out from the canyon walls he yawned -again, a stretching yawn, then got slowly to his feet. He -tested the wind and looked up and down the wall. Lank,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">56</a></span> -sag-backed, with high shoulders and high, projecting -hipbones, he was a killer to be feared even by a grown -horse.</p> - -<p>The cougar slid down among the big rocks piled at the -base of the walls. He moved on great padded feet without -sound. Halting beside a rock almost the same color -as his tawny robe he stood for a long time staring -through the evening light on the pair below. Midnight -was having his supper. He was feeding hungrily, butting -his mother’s side, twitching his tail. The cougar -stood, silent and unmoving, except for the tip of his -tail which snapped back and forth nervously. His nine -feet of stringy muscle and furry tail blended with the -great rock beside him.</p> - -<p>He appeared not to be giving much attention to the -scene below him. Really he was surveying the ground -he had selected as a hunting spot and was missing no -detail. He could creep out on the windward side of the -mare where a clump of buckbrush grew. From there he -would have two mighty leaps to make. He would wait -until the colt had moved away from his mother’s side. -Perhaps the youngster would wander close to the buckbrush. -His black whiskers jerked and his yellow eyes -flamed through slitted lids. Softly, silently he skirted the -piled-up rocks and slid into the timber to windward of -the feeding horses. Like a tawny shadow he passed from -one bit of cover to the next, his lank belly close to the -ground. He often halted his unhurried descent to stand -staring down on his victim.</p> - -<p>On reaching the last of the cover he flattened his belly -to the ground and crept forward through the tall grass. -He kept moving, slowly, noiselessly, until he lay behind -the clump of buckbrush. There he lifted his head and -stared out through the green leaves.</p> - -<p>Midnight had finished his supper and was nosing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">57</a></span> -about a few yards from his mother. Lady Ebony had -dropped her head and was pulling grass. She turned -slowly toward the open meadow, her back toward the -killer. She had no thought of danger at the moment. The -big cat listened intently. He wanted to be sure the yellowbelly -whistlers had all gone in for the night. His head -rested on his forepaws. There was no sound except that -made by the horses, but he waited, rigid.</p> - -<p>The dusk deepened and the big cat stirred. He raised -his head and peered out across the grass. And now his -eyes were wide open, yellow pools of savage eagerness -contrasting with his relaxed body. Midnight was strutting -about, sniffing and snorting, humping his back and shaking -his head. Lady Ebony was moving steadily away -from the clump of buckbrush. The cat’s belly dropped -to the grass, his hind legs drew up under him, his head -flattened between his massive forepaws. His yellow eyes -had located the exact spot where his first leap would -land him, a bare spot where the grass was dead. From -there he would hurtle upon the unwary colt. He meant -to strike the little horse down with a broken neck so -that no matter how well the mare might give battle the -colt would lie waiting for him when she moved away.</p> - -<p>For a moment the great body of the king killer was -tense and still, then he leaped, his body arching upward, -his great claws reaching out before him. He landed -noiselessly on the patch of dead grass and poised there -a split second while he drew his legs under him; then -he leaped again, rising high, hurling his body toward -the colt.</p> - -<p>An odd quirk of energy made Midnight jerk up his -head. He began bucking and bouncing. That sudden -impulse saved him from the smashing blow the cougar -intended to land. The yellow killer landed where Midnight -had been standing. His scream of blood lust rang<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">58</a></span> -out, but his long fangs and ripping claws missed their -target. Midnight squealed in terror as he saw the yellow -killer clawing and lashing beside him. He plunged toward -his mother, and Lady Ebony leaped to his rescue.</p> - -<p>She sprang at the enraged lion with uplifted hoofs -lashing and flailing. Mother instinct had completely banished -her fear of the yellow killer. The cougar reared -back and lashed at her but he did not stand his ground. -Before her hoofs could smash down on him he leaped -back, spitting and snarling. Lady Ebony did not stop her -charge. Her slender legs pumped madly. The cougar -was knocked off his feet and sent sprawling in the grass. -He rolled over, righted himself, then fled before the -pounding hoofs of the infuriated mare. Reaching the -cottonwood timber he bounded up a tree and lay licking -his bruises and spitting angrily.</p> - -<p>Lady Ebony charged back to Midnight and shoved -him up across the meadow. The cougar leaped down -from the tree. Circling, he followed the pair, limping. -Blood stained the weeds and tall grass along his trail.</p> - -<p>Lady Ebony headed out of the meadow and up a -deer trail. She kept moving, forcing Midnight to stay -close to her side. The white starlight dimly outlined rocks -and trees. They came to an open meadow but she did -not halt. Midnight forgot the fear that had very nearly -paralyzed him. He wanted to stop and rest. In the center -of the meadow his mother halted and let him drink. As -he eagerly fed she kept testing the night air, stamping -her feet nervously and looking back down the trail. -When Midnight had finished his lunch she moved on -toward the high, dim hills looming above the canyon.</p> - -<p>The cougar followed the trail of the horses for a while, -but his smashed shoulder was giving him much pain, -and he finally climbed on a ledge where he stretched -his tawny length on a rocky bed and fell to licking the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">59</a></span> -gash. Had he escaped unhurt he would have circled -above the mare and her colt until he found a ledge from -which he could attack again.</p> - -<p>Lady Ebony kept moving throughout the night. The -gray dawn found her going steadily upward. Just before -noon they entered the oak belt at the base of the Crazy -Kill Range. There she found a stream and an open -meadow. Midnight insisted upon lying down to rest. No -amount of coaxing would rouse him. He lay stretched -out in the sun and closed his eyes. Lady Ebony was hungry. -She began feeding close to where he slept. By the -time he had finished his sleep she was grazing peacefully.</p> - -<p>Mother and son spent long, sunny days in the meadow -surrounded by oak brush. Lady Ebony seldom thought -of the high mountain meadows. She had no desire to go -anywhere at all. Midnight was beginning to feel that he -was a grown horse. He danced and kicked and raced -around. He even tried to make his mother do what he -thought she should do. When she calmly ignored him -and went on feeding he would lay back his ears and -bare his teeth, nipping at her until she humped her back -and threatened to lash out at him.</p> - -<p>Many enemies passed the meadow and several paused -to look at the fat colt and his mother. Two old lobos -halted and calmly watched the colt at play. Coyotes -trotted through the meadow in pairs or singly. An old -bear shambled out of the oak brush and charged after a -ground squirrel. He passed close to the frightened mother -and her son but paid no attention to them. The killers -were finding life easy. The hills abounded with grouse -and rabbits as well as every species of squirrel. There -were many mule deer, too. Old does watched over playful -fawns growing strong and independent. The killers -need not face the lashing feet of an infuriated mother<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">60</a></span> -horse to kill all they could eat. So they looked and went -their way.</p> - -<p>Midnight tried to make friends with the does. They -were not afraid of him but they were not friendly. They -stared at him out of calm eyes when he came near them, -and they snorted and trotted at him when he tried to run -with their fawns.</p> - -<p>One evening Midnight saw a deer feeding at the edge -of a clearing. He trotted over to the big-eared one in a -friendly manner. But this one was different from the -does. He had long, branching antlers and snorted aggressively -when he halted and whinnied eagerly. Midnight -stood staring at the strange deer with branches -on his head. The buck snorted again. His horns were beginning -to harden and the velvet was dropping away -from their sharp spikes. With the hardening process his -shoulders had begun to swell and his temper was becoming -uncertain.</p> - -<p>Midnight moved a little closer. He humped his back -and kicked up his heels. The buck grunted angrily, then -snorted. With a shake of his head he lowered his sweeping -antlers and trotted toward the colt. Midnight circled -and the buck circled. Midnight whirled and raced away. -This fellow wanted to play. He’d give him a run around -the meadow.</p> - -<p>The buck jerked up his head and shook it. He had -routed the enemy and was satisfied. He began feeding -again, cropping the weeds and shoots, champing steadily. -Midnight circled and galloped back to the old buck. -This time the big fellow charged. The colt realized that -the antlered deer wanted to fight and not play. Kicking -his heels high he fled to his mother’s side.</p> - -<p>Lady Ebony ran toward the buck and the big fellow -bounded into the timber. Midnight felt he had won a -great victory. He celebrated by charging around the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">61</a></span> -meadow at a terrific pace. Lady Ebony watched him as -he ran.</p> - -<p>But a day came when the mare felt an urge to move -on. Summer had slipped away and fall had brought frost -and sharp winds from the peaks above. The high, barren -reaches above timber line were white with new snow. -Lady Ebony remembered the roundup when riders came -to the high mesa and drove the horses down to the feed -grounds in the valley. She moved about restlessly and -finally struck off up the slope. Winter was coming and -she was ready to go down the long trail to the home -ranch. Her brief training with the wild band was forgotten, -she was again a willing captive of man’s way.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>With the passing of summer Sam grew more listless -and weary. He hated to take his daily walk in the padded -yard behind the high walls which shut out the sight of -his mountains. He preferred to sit in his cell and stare -at the changing cottonwood branch. He had chalked -another fall on his cell wall, but he thought about it for -a week before he put the mark down. He was tired but -he’d get over that once he was back on his mountain -mesa where he could sit in the sun and watch his -neighbors.</p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="divider" /> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">62</a></span> -</div> - -<h2><a name="vii" id="vii"></a>7. The Way of the High Country</h2> - - -<p class="noi"><span class="smcap">There</span> were many inviting meadows along the trail -which led up to the high mesa. The aspen groves were -inviting in the daytime, the rugged hillsides were rich -with herbs and frost-ripened grass. Lady Ebony and -Midnight did not hurry. Indian summer filled the valleys -below with purple haze and the air was warm and -smoky. They passed through a wild, rough country, -across a high ridge by way of a deep saddle, then they -dropped down to the mesa where Lady Ebony was born -and where she had spent all her summers except one.</p> - -<p>Below the mesa the aspen belt flamed in garments of -brilliant yellow. The rustling leaves would cling to the -branches for a few more days. The first gale sweeping -down from the snow peaks would loosen them and send -them sailing to their beds along the slope. The oak belt, -below the aspens, was red and purple like the upholstery -of a piece of expensive furniture in its design and blending -of color. Fall was flaunting its brightest colors for a -few short days. Lady Ebony stood on the edge of the -meadow and looked across the brown grass to Sam’s -cabin, silent and deserted. She nickered softly and -trotted toward the weathered cabin. Halting before the -closed door, she pawed the ground and whinnied louder.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">63</a></span> -There was no answer. Old Sam did not come shuffling -out to give her lump sugar.</p> - -<p>The old yellowbelly sentinel chuckled from his perch -on the high rock. He did not seem to understand that -the black mare had been away. He did not shrill his -warning whistle or jump down from his high perch. The -calico chips dashed about in frantic haste, their cheeks -pouched out with seeds and dry bits of roots. They -realized that there was but a short time in which to -complete their work of filling caches of food. The fat-bellied -rockchips sat and stared into the blue-and-purple -haze. They intended to do a little more work but the -sun was warm and they were fat and lazy.</p> - -<p>A saucy chipmunk jumped to the top of a weed and -sat there, swaying back and forth. His high-pitched -“chock, chock, chock” rang across the meadow. Instantly -every member of his tribe mounted a sing perch and -their chorus rang out. The song pitched higher and -shifted to “check, check, check, chir-r-r-up.”</p> - -<p>At the far end of the meadow the dog town burst into -excited barking and saucy “squit-tuck’s.” Lady Ebony -tossed her head. This was home and her welcome back -was what it should be except for the closed door of the -old cabin. Midnight bounded around, kicking his heels -high and bucking. Lady Ebony walked around the cabin -and sniffed eagerly. Her nose told her something was -wrong. The familiar smells were dim and cold, the taint -of Sam’s rank pipe, the pungent smell of the man himself, -a smell so definite and different from that of the -dwellers of the wild. Midnight raced about. He was -not greatly interested in the cabin, though he had never -seen or smelled anything like it before. He wanted to -play, so he galloped away across the meadow, dry clods -flying from his pounding hoofs.</p> - -<p>Lady Ebony settled down to wait. She expected Sam<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">64</a></span> -with his lumps of sugar and she expected Tex and the -boys from the ranch. These thoughts were rather vague, -but they were strong enough to keep her in the meadow -and to overcome her uneasiness as her nose warned her -of coming storms. A week of Indian summer passed with -warm hazy days and snapping cold nights. Both Lady -Ebony and Midnight had grown thick, warm coats and -the nights did not bother them. Frost carpeted the -meadow with white jewels every night, and every day -the sun melted the frost. Sam did not come and Tex did -not come galloping out of the timber at the head of his -roundup crew. The crew had finished its work in the -high country the week before Lady Ebony’s arrival, and -had left the brown grass and the everlasting green spruce -to the blizzards and the deep snows. The horses and -the white-faced cattle were all accounted for.</p> - -<p>One afternoon a change came in the weather. The -air had been snapping cold for days with the sun’s rays -softening it but little. It became softer and warmer. -Gray clouds raced over the timbered slopes, rolling low, -touching the tops of the highest spruce. The gray wall -swept down over the spruce and over the meadow. Snow -began falling, big, soft flakes that sailed down like -loosened leaves. The snow settled through a deep silence -which filled the woods and lay heavy on the meadow. -The chickaree squirrels in the tall spruce worked frantically, -cutting cones from the branches, dropping them -to the ground with steady, thumping sounds. They chattered -and scolded as they worked. The old yellowbelly -left his perch and romped to his den under the castle -rock. The calico chips and the chipmunks and the fat-bellied -brownies retired for the long night which was -to last until spring came. The mesa was deserted, leaving -only Lady Ebony, Midnight, and the big flakes of snow.</p> - -<p>The wind rose and came roaring down. The great<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">65</a></span> -spruces swayed and moaned as the wind rushed through -their branches and tore at their needles. The big flakes -were powdered to fine dust and eddied in and out among -the brown grass stems. The aspen leaves danced and -swirled as they floated from the white branches. In less -than an hour the uplifted arms of the silver trees were -naked. But where each leaf had loosened its hold a -brown bud peeped down, wrapped up in a warm little -muffler and hood. The round leaves whirled along the -ground and piled deep on the lee side of big trunks and -in deep hollows on the slope. Under the bed of leaves the -columbine and the paint weed and the lupine felt safer -and warmer.</p> - -<p>Lady Ebony led Midnight to the lee of the cabin -where they stood with heads down, backs to the sifting -snow. All afternoon the white wall pressed close around -them. Darkness came early, a black, solid darkness -which blotted out every object, even the cabin wall -close to their noses. In the morning the blizzard was still -raging furiously. The snow was deep on the meadow, -as deep as the knees of the black colt.</p> - -<p>Lady Ebony fought her way out to the edge of the -mesa and began pawing for grass. Midnight went with -her and helped. They dug down and found a mat of -rich, cured grass. With their tails to the lashing wind -they fed. When they had eaten their fill they returned -to the lee side of the cabin and Midnight had a scant -but warm meal. Then he lay down. The snow melted -around his body and froze into ice at the edges of the -curves.</p> - -<p>For three days the storm raged. When it cleared and -the last of the gray clouds scurried away over the tops -of the green spruce on the wings of the dying wind -three feet of snow lay on the level mesa and four or five -feet in the hollows and drifts. In places the wind had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">66</a></span> -swept the dry snow away from the grass and feeding was -easy for the horses. But snapping, biting cold followed -the storm, making their breath plume out in wreaths -of white fog and causing icicles to form on their nose -hair and chins. Their faces were covered with white frost -from their breathing.</p> - -<p>Midnight showed keen interest in this new world. It -was a white world, a silent world of snow and green -spruce. The biting cold made him plunge through the -deep drifts and snort eagerly. One other dweller of the -high country, who could not sleep through the cold -months, came to the meadow. An old timber-line buck -had chosen to stay in the high mesa country defying the -cold and the snow. The does and the fawns and the spike -bucks had drifted downcountry before the storm. The -two-points had gone with them and most of the four-points. -The timber-line monarch stayed because he was -wary and shunned the ranch-dotted valleys below the -storm belt. He preferred the savage cold and the stalking -killers to the rifles and dogs of the men who lived -in the low country.</p> - -<p>He dug down into the snow seeking herbs and twigs. -He did not care for the dry, rich grass, and he watched -the mare and her colt without interest, staring at them, -then shaking his heavy antlers and returning to his feeding. -The old fellow knew the dangers he faced, he had -met them before and expected to meet them again.</p> - -<p>The clear, cold weather held for a week. The days -were sparkling and crisp, the nights blue and bitterly -cold, with white stars reflecting their countless points of -light upon the gleaming snow fields. In the aspen groves -trees snapped and popped as the frost sought their -hearts. Lady Ebony left the lee of the cabin and found a -sheltered spot beside one of the big castle rocks at a -point near the edge of the deep canyon. A narrow ledge<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">67</a></span> -trail led up to the shelter and an outthrust layer of rock -furnished a roof so that the earth under the shelter was -free from snow. A shoulder of the wall shut off the -wind, making the retreat really a barn.</p> - -<p>A crevice in the roof of the shelter harbored a nest of -pack rats. Sticks, pine cones, bright rocks, and other -things dear to the heart of a trade rat had been crammed -into the crevice until they spilled out on the floor. The -whole cave was tainted with rat smell, pungent and -musty.</p> - -<p>The black robes of the mare and her colt grew shaggy -and thick, as the bitter cold deepened. Lady Ebony and -Midnight were forced to seek grass at the upper end of -the meadow below the cabin because the wind struck -that part of the mesa, clearing the snow away. Every -morning they plunged through deep drifts to reach the -wind-swept portion of the meadow, returning again at -night to their shelter.</p> - -<p>The week of clear weather was broken late one afternoon. -Clouds began to cluster around the high spires -of the Crazy Kills. They crept into high craters and -wound around the tall, granite cathedrals on top of the -world like great cats stalking their prey. Above they -were silvery white and gleamed like jeweled blankets, -below they were dark gray and, in spots, black.</p> - -<p>A feeble sun shone on the mesa, and two yellow sun-dogs -blazoned forth on either side of it like sentinels. -The air was still and the silence deep. Slowly the temperature -rose and Midnight sniffed eagerly and plunged -about in the snow. He was disturbed but did not know -why. Lady Ebony jerked up her head and tested the air. -She knew another storm was coming. Then the clouds -rolled down over the spruce, blotting out the shining -mountain peaks, the big soft flakes came and later the -lashing wind. Another blizzard gripped the high mesa.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">68</a></span> -With the wind came cutting cold that stabbed through -even the thick coats of the horses. Lady Ebony headed -across the meadow toward their shelter.</p> - -<p>For many days the blizzard raged and roared and the -snow fell. When the storm cleared, the snow was deeper -than it had been in many winters. It piled in great, hundred-foot -drifts along the comb ridges, in lips which -thrust themselves out over the spruce below. Slides -roared into the canyons as those lips broke and shot -down the steep slopes. The white terrors mowed swaths -through the spruce and tore great boulders from their -beds, grinding them to dingy gray rivers of twisting, -roaring debris which cascaded into the creek bottoms -and slid up the far slopes. The thunder of the slides -shook the mesa and the ridges, starting new rivers of -snow.</p> - -<p>When the white death roared, Midnight always -crowded close to his mother’s side and stared up at the -ridges trying to see the monster that could roar louder -than any animal he had ever heard. Lady Ebony was -disturbed but she nickered reassuringly to her son and -did not lead a charge through the deep snow.</p> - -<p>Digging for food was a job which required all the short -day. The upper end of the meadow still offered the best -feed ground, though the snow lay three feet deep on -that part of it. The timber-line buck came down from -a bed in the rocks and fed close to the horses. He ate -much grass now because he could not scoop the snow -away so easily as the horses did. And he browsed on -willow growing along the stream, but such feeding meant -fighting snow six feet deep. Sometimes he followed the -horses and ate the weeds they uncovered and left untouched.</p> - -<p>Lady Ebony and Midnight came to expect the timber-line -buck to join them in their battle for food. The three<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">69</a></span> -fed close together in comradeship. Theirs was a common -fight against a common enemy. The buck no longer -charged at Midnight when the little horse walked up to -him. And Lady Ebony no longer whinnied warningly -when her son approached the antlered monarch.</p> - -<p>Life was hard for the three on the mesa, but not as -hard as it was for the killers who roamed the silent -forests. The gray wolves and the cougars hunted daily, -their sides gaunt. The snowy owls beat along the edges -of the timber, their glassy eyes staring down savagely. -But there was little food. The snow had not crusted and -the gray wolves and the cougars could not overtake the -hardy mule deer remaining in the mountains. They -wallowed and floundered while the deer and the elk -bounded up and clear of the clinging drifts. Night and -day the killers hunted with savage intensity, their yellow -eyes flaming with savage hunger. When one of a wolf -pack was wounded or crippled, the pack turned on him -and devoured him as they would any lesser prey.</p> - -<p>A day came when the weather moderated, the sun -shone, and the snow softened and settled. A warm wind -blew from the valleys below. The wind melted the top -snow to a depth of several inches. That night the cold -returned, the trees popped, and the air was still and -brittle. Frost crystals coated the willows along the -stream and made brilliant jewelry of every branch and -twig rising above the snow. The trees looked like rock -candy. The slushy snow froze into ice and the world was -coated with a hard armor. And now the gaunt killers -could race swiftly over the surface while deer and elk -broke through. The killers slaughtered savagely, gorging -themselves on fresh meat until they could not run. The -coyotes and the owls fed at the tables of the great ones -after the hunters had passed on to fresh kills.</p> - -<p>Lady Ebony and Midnight found the battle to reach<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">70</a></span> -the cured grass under the snow much more difficult, -now that the ice had come. They were forced to feed -later into the night in order to fill their bellies. They -pawed and smashed at the thick armor covering the -drifts. A full moon shone down, its white light flashing -back from the glistening ice. The air was snapping -cold as night settled, but Lady Ebony delayed returning -to their shelter. They had not fed well that day. She was -pawing down the crust, then scooping away the loose -snow. The old timber-line buck followed close behind -the two horses. He was gaunt and lank. His slender hoofs -made poor weapons against the ice.</p> - -<p>The air was still with the stillness of a dead world. -Suddenly Lady Ebony jerked up her head. From the -ridge above the mesa came the cry of an old lobo wolf -and his bachelor pack. They were racing down from -the high barrens seeking prey. The old lobo had not led -his sons into the lower country. He was wise and cunning -and had kept his pack high above the ranches with -their poison sets, their traps, and their guns. He preferred -the savage struggle of the snow-locked high country -to the sure death lurking in the open valleys. He -had ranged above the belt where the deer and the elk -wintered and had not led his sons to a kill in more than -a week. The slaughter going on lower down the slope had -not been shared by these gaunt killers.</p> - -<p>Lady Ebony listened intently. The pack was running -down the ridge above the mesa. She shook her head -restlessly and looked across the meadow toward the -castle rocks. Turning she took a few steps toward the -lower end of the meadow. The timber-line buck grunted -protestingly as he floundered out of her way. Midnight -kept on digging in the snow. He was still hungry. The -snarling of the pack sounded farther down the ridge -and Lady Ebony turned back to where Midnight was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">71</a></span> -pawing. The howling rose in savage crescendo. The pack -had swerved and was heading toward the meadow.</p> - -<p>The timber-line buck did not wait to listen. He began -floundering and plunging across the open toward the -woods where he knew the warm sun had not softened -the snow so that it crusted. Here he could double and -bound; his speed would save him from the gray ones.</p> - -<p>Lady Ebony snorted and whirled. She took one long -leap, then halted and looked back, nickering loudly, -warningly. Midnight stood looking at her. He was chewing -a mouthful of grass he had pulled from under the -snow. He swallowed the grass and thrust his head back -into the hole. He had found a good mat of grass and -meant to finish it. The howling pack did not disturb him -greatly. He had never been attacked by wolves. All the -wolves he had met had loped away when he ran toward -them.</p> - -<p>Lady Ebony leaped back to his side and crowded -against him. She whinnied excitedly and pawed the -snow, then whirled and leaped a few yards toward the -rocky point. Midnight pulled up a tasty mouthful of -grass and munched at it, then dived down for more. -Lady Ebony was frantic. She plunged at him and nipped -his rump sharply.</p> - -<p>Midnight’s hips jerked and he lashed out with his -hoofs, striking his mother a smashing blow. She had -never bitten him so severely before and his temper -flared. Lady Ebony charged at him again. She had to -make him follow her.</p> - -<p>Up in the spruce the old lobo heard her whinny and -the tone of his howls changed from hungry yelping to -savage eagerness. Instantly his sons, leaping at his side, -took up the cry. After many days of stark hunger the -old one had led them to a kill.</p> - -<p>The gray killers burst out of the darkness under the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">72</a></span> -spruce, running madly, their fangs gleaming, their red -tongues lolling. They flashed into the gleaming moonlight -like shadows. Midnight jerked up his head. He -saw the glowing, yellow eyes of the killers, the white -fangs, and the red tongues as the wolves leaped across -the crusted snow. Fear gripped him, and with a wild -squeal of fright he plunged away, breaking through the -crust, floundering, stumbling.</p> - -<p>Lady Ebony did not rush after him. She knew they -could not both escape the swift shadows so close upon -them. With a toss of her flowing mane she plunged toward -the pack. After charging a few yards she halted -and her front hoofs rose. A defiant, screaming cry came -from her chest. The wolves leaped in on her, dodging -her flailing hoofs, their fangs reaching from every side. -The old lobo leaped straight at her throat while his -sons swarmed around her. One smashing hoof struck -the lobo and sent him spinning across the glare of ice. -But as she hurled the old one from her, two young -wolves ripped her flanks while another tore a gash in -her shoulder. They leaped and lashed and ripped, springing -in, darting away.</p> - -<p>Lady Ebony could not run and the deep snow kept -her from pivoting to meet the rear attack. She was -doomed and she knew it, but she did not try to plunge -away. Her son was floundering to the safety of the ledge -and she had to hold the pack where they were until he -reached the castle rocks.</p> - -<p>The old lobo scrambled to his feet. Lady Ebony’s flank -was turned to him. He leaped and his fangs sank deep, -driving toward the tendons of her leg. He did not waver -and spring away. He struck with savage recklessness. -His sharp fangs severed the tendons and Lady Ebony -went down. Instantly the whole pack swarmed over her, -tearing at her sleek coat.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">73</a></span></p> - -<p>Midnight plunged on across the meadow. The pack -was so busy tearing at the black mare that they did not -follow him. He reached the ledge trail and plunged up -to a shelf where there was room for him to whirl about. -He stood staring out across the meadow, listening to the -snarling of the pack as they fed on the carcass lying in -the snow. He was still standing there when the pack -turned away from the bloody bones of his mother and -began looking for him.</p> - -<p>They picked up his trail and raced across the gleaming -snow. He watched them come, and courage, the -courage of a cornered animal, plus the wild and savage -fighting heart given him by the chestnut stallion came -to him. He shrilled a challenge and reared up on his -hind feet, his little ears laid back, his teeth bared.</p> - -<p>The old lobo was the first to leap up the ledge trail. -He lunged at the black colt. Midnight’s lashing hoofs -met him and sent him tumbling back upon his leaping -sons. The bachelors swept past their father and closed -in. They were not so hungry but the blood lust ran hot -within them. They wanted to kill again and their easy -victory over the mare made them feel certain of their -victim.</p> - -<p>One of the youngsters leaped at Midnight’s throat. -Two lashing hoofs met the gray body in mid-air. The -killer screamed with rage and pain as his body writhed -on the snow. He slid down toward the canyon rim and -over the edge, hurtling into the shadowy depths below. -Another youngster leaped and was smashed back.</p> - -<p>The pack backed away from the flailing hoofs. Their -bellies were gorged with meat and much of their savageness -had left them. There was no way to surround the -colt or to leap at his flanks. They sat down on the snow -and glared at him, their yellow eyes flaming eagerly, -their red tongues dripping as they extended above white<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">74</a></span> -fangs. The old lobo licked his wounds and growled deep -in his chest.</p> - -<p>Midnight waited, poised. But they did not attack -again. One killer lay dead at the base of the canyon wall, -while another crawled around on the snow, snarling -and whimpering, his ribs caved in by the hoofs of the -little stallion. Presently the old lobo got to his feet. He -made a feint toward Midnight, but when the pounding -hoofs lifted menacingly he turned and trotted away -with his pack close behind him. They paid no attention -to the wounded wolf.</p> - -<p>Out on the meadow Midnight heard them pause at -the carcass of his mother and begin feeding again. He -stood for a long time listening, nickering softly, calling -to his mother, trying to tell her that he had beaten the -pack. There was no answer except the pack’s snarling -and the yelp of a coyote that had smelled the fresh -blood and come to the edge of the woods to wait until -the gray ones were done with their banquet.</p> - -<p>Midnight stood guard until the pack finished worrying -the bones in the meadow. After they had loped away -into the timber he turned back to the shelter and stood -waiting for his mother.</p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="divider" /> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">75</a></span> -</div> - -<h2><a name="viii" id="viii"></a>8. The Strong Survive</h2> - - -<p class="noi"><span class="smcap">When</span> the little black stallion came out of his shelter -the morning after the wolf raid the sun was shining on -the glare of ice which covered the meadow. The old -timber-line buck was plunging toward the feed ground. -Midnight whinnied eagerly for his mother and shook -his head impatiently. He was hungry and wanted her -badly. When he got no answer he moved down the -ledge trail. At the spot where the wolves had attacked -him he halted and sniffed the snow, blowing loudly, -pawing the ground angrily.</p> - -<p>He moved out across the meadow. The old buck lifted -his head from a hole in the snow and stared at him. Midnight -whinnied again. He was glad to see the buck -calmly feeding. It drove away some of the fear that he -felt because he could not see his mother. The buck -dropped his head to feed. Midnight walked to the place -where the snow was spattered with blood. He sniffed -and shied back. Standing with legs apart and head bent -forward, he looked at the frost-coated pile of bones lying -in the trampled snow. Breaking a trail around the spot he -moved close to the monarch and began breaking the -crusted snow. The buck let him feed close to his side -but when the little horse would have shouldered against<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">76</a></span> -him he jerked up his head and snorted. He shook his -bony lances threateningly and Midnight backed away.</p> - -<p>Midnight set to work pawing, breaking the crust and -scooping the loose snow aside. He worked steadily all -through the day, pausing at intervals to call for his -mother. Two lean coyotes came out of the spruce and -slipped across the meadow. A little fox thrust his sleek -head out of a thicket which had been swept clear of -snow. He wrinkled his nose as he crept forward. His -furry, red brush waved back and fourth. Hunger had -driven the three hunters into the open in the white light -of day, hunger and the smell of fresh meat. The coyotes -poked among the bones gnawing and snarling. The little -fox sat down to watch and to wait. He was sure there -would be a few bits of gristle left for him.</p> - -<p>Midnight snorted and shook his head at the coyotes. -He pawed into the drift savagely, then rushed at the -coyotes as far as his trail went. The coyotes leaped back -from the carcass and faced him snarling and snapping. -Midnight stared at them for a long time, then turned and -went back to his feeding. He was learning the lessons -of the wild.</p> - -<p>A lynx cat with tufted ears and big furry pads on his -feet thrust his head from behind a drift. He, too, had -forsaken the twilight of the spruce country, which was -his natural home. He blinked his eyes before the glare -of the sun and stared at the pair of coyotes and the little -fox. His nose twitched hungrily. He seldom ventured far -from the green dusk of the forest but he had eaten -only one small morsel in two days, a field mouse dug -from the roots of a dead aspen tree. His green eyes fixed -on the little fox and he shifted his padded feet nervously. -He had feasted on fox before and the stringy meat -was to his liking.</p> - -<p>At the same moment the fox’s sharp eyes and pointed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">77</a></span> -nose discovered the lynx cat. Turning, the sly one raced -over the crust toward his burrow in the thicket. The lynx -cat bounded over the snow, cutting across to head the -fox away from his hole. The little fox ran swiftly but he -had a greater distance to go. The cat closed in swiftly -and the fox whirled to face him. The lynx arched his -back and circled slowly around his intended victim. He -knew the fox had deadly fangs and that he would use -them. The sly one was shy and timid but he could fight -when cornered. The air was filled with the yowling -and spitting of the lynx and the snarling of the fox. -Both coyotes sat up and watched. Midnight and the big -buck jerked up their heads and stared at the battlers. -The old buck sniffed the cat scent and made off along -his trail to the timber. Midnight stood still. He was -afraid but did not know what to do.</p> - -<p>The big lynx cat circled a second time. He was cautious -even though he was desperately hungry. With a -lightning movement he leaped at the fox, who was -crouched down with his chest on the snow. The fox -leaped to meet him and slashed at him savagely. A big -tuft of hair from the cat’s neck scruff sailed high and -floated to the snow. The cat backed away spitting, his -big feet planted wide apart.</p> - -<p>When the lynx leaped back the little fox whirled and -raced for the timber. He had tricked the cat and his -red tongue lolled out over his white teeth very much -as though he was laughing at his clumsy antagonist.</p> - -<p>The lynx bounded after him and the fox whirled -again. Again the fox made a stand and the dweller of -the spruce twilight circled around him. Again the lynx -leaped and was met by the lashing fangs of the slim -hunter of mice. The cat leaped back and red drops of -blood dotted the snow. Both times his lashing paws had -missed the dodging, weaving fox. The fox whirled and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">78</a></span> -ran, this time almost to his thicket. The lynx bounded -upon him and he whirled, his brush sweeping across the -glistening snow.</p> - -<p>The lynx did not strike again. If the snow had been -soft and loose he would have been the victor and would -have feasted upon the carcass of the tough little fox, because -his snowshoe feet would have carried him over the -surface while the fox floundered. The hard crust which -spelled death for the elk and the deer gave the little fox -a surer chance to live. Slowly the fox backed to his den -under the bushes. He halted in the opening and crouched -there, his muzzle resting on his forepaws, his little eyes -flaming.</p> - -<p>The lynx cat arched his back and sidled up to the -den, spitting and snarling. He halted well out of reach -of the flashing attack of the little hunter. He sat down -and stared back at the fox. Finally he walked away to -a drift. He hoped the fox would venture away from -his hole under the bushes. But the fox could see the -big fellow seated on the drift. He drowsed, his eyes half -closed, waiting for the killer to tire and go his way. -Finally the lynx cat got up and padded back into the -spruce.</p> - -<p>Two eagles came and the great owls beat along the -edge of the clearing. The wolf pack raced down along -the ridge at dusk, seeking the little stallion. But Midnight -and the old buck were safe in their shelters long -before dusk. Both remembered the experience of the -previous night and left the feed ground early. They -bedded down on stomachs only half filled, but they -rested better than the killers who could not get even half -a meal.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>There came days of sunshine and days of storm. When -the blizzard came the wind swept the new snow across<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">79</a></span> -the hard, smooth surface of the meadow, piling it in the -timber or swirling it into the deep canyon.</p> - -<p>One cloudy day a lean cougar padded through the -spruce at the upper edge of the mesa. He halted -and stared out over the sheet of glistening ice. His -yellow eyes suddenly flamed with eagerness. He had -sighted the timber-line buck and the little stallion. His -amber eyes flicked over the old buck and fastened on the -colt beside him. His nose jerked and the black tip of his -tail twitched. It seemed almost beyond any good luck to -find a fat colt and a buck deer together. He had hunted -for days and was heading toward the lower country. The -only living things he had met were wolves and coyotes as -hungry as himself.</p> - -<p>The cougar moved to the edge of the woods, his eyes -wandering over the snowy expanse. It did not seem possible -for the colt to escape him. The little horse had a -long way to go to reach cover. The snow was crusted so -that the killer could bound over it while the horse would -break through and flounder. He located a drift which ran -out into the meadow like the fin of a great fish. He would -slip out along that fin. He would not need to get close. -His eyes roved eagerly over the meadow, seeking to locate -any weak point in his plan of attack.</p> - -<p>Midnight and the old buck fed steadily, the buck following -the trail Midnight had broken. He was about -twenty yards back of the little stallion. Midnight pulled -a tuft of grass up out of the snow and chewed it eagerly. -Swallowing it he ducked his head and nosed about for -more. He pulled another mouthful and looked around -him. He was fast learning the tricks of the old buck. Look, -listen, test the air after every exploration under the crust.</p> - -<p>It was the buck who warned him of danger. The monarch -snorted loudly and whirled about. The wind had -shifted and his keen nose had caught cougar scent. Midnight<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">80</a></span> -looked and saw the gaunt killer rising above the -drift in a long, high leap. The big cat screamed savagely, -angered because he had been discovered before he was -ready to attack. Midnight plunged after the old buck. -The cougar landed on the hard crust, skidded, then -righted himself and bounded again. His leaps were terrific -and carried him down quickly on the two struggling -and panic-stricken comrades. His ears were flattened and -his tail was lashing. His yellow eyes checked the distance -he had to cover. His last leap must send him smashing -down on the back of the colt. His tawny body shot upward -and out in a twenty-foot leap, while his claws unsheathed -and he bared his fangs for the death thrust.</p> - -<p>With a wild plunge of speed Midnight charged past -the old buck. The ancient monarch was a scarred warrior. -He had been attacked by cougars before and had always -managed to escape. This time he was trapped. He could -not flounder to the deep, soft drifts in the spruce. Like -any wild thing, he whirled to fight because that was all -there was left for him to do. He had lived to old age in -the high country because he had been able to meet desperate -situations. When he whirled he lowered his sharp -antlers until they formed a shield for his neck and shoulders.</p> - -<p>The leap of the yellow killer had been aimed and timed -so that its force would smash down on the back of the -colt. Instead of smashing upon the unprotected back of -the little horse the cougar landed upon the bony lances -of the old buck. His hundred pounds of weight hurtling -down on those horns would have been damaging enough, -but the old timber-line monarch charged forward just as -the cat landed, adding to the effectiveness of the defense. -The buck was smashed back on his haunches, but instantly -his powerful legs straightened and with a grunt he -lunged again.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">81</a></span></p> - -<p>The lances of bone drove deep into the chest and neck -and legs of the cougar. When the buck lunged he twisted -those knives and drove them deeper. He ripped and tore -in mad fury. Flight was forgotten now that he was in a -battle. He thought only of destroying his attacker. The -cougar was startled by this attack from a prey which had -always fled in a wild fear before him. He screamed savagely -as he struggled to toss his body out of the path of -the ripping horns. Rolling over and over in the snow he -scrambled away from the charging deer.</p> - -<p>The buck made another lunge but the big cat had had -enough. He bounded away across the snow leaving a trail -of blood which froze in round red jewels on the crust.</p> - -<p>The buck shook his head and snorted savagely. Midnight -watched him from the safety of the ledge. Finally -the little horse trotted down the trail to meet the monarch, -who was stalking along, his rump patch fanned out, -his breath whistling angrily. Midnight halted before the -buck, and they stood looking at each other.</p> - -<p>After that the bond was a little closer between the two. -Midnight realized that there was safety in being close to -the big buck. He was convinced the old fellow was the -master of the yellow killers so terrifying to him. The monarch -gave the matter no thought. He had escaped from -another cougar, but he did not intend to allow one to get -near him if his nose and his keen sight warned him in -time. But he followed Midnight’s trail and ate the weeds -and brush tips the little horse uncovered and left.</p> - -<p>So the cold winter passed. The pair who came daily to -the meadow kept vigilant watch for the killers and -slipped away from the feed ground early each night. The -little stallion was nearly as quick of sight and smell as the -old buck by the time the snow began to soften. They were -always hungry, never able to dig up enough grass and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">82</a></span> -feed to fill their stomachs, but they were also wary and -alert.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Spring waited for them on the snow-bound meadow -one morning when they came down to feed. A chinook -wind was blowing and the air was soft, promising life, -alive with earthy smells carried up from the lower valleys -where green things were already growing on the south -slopes and in the canyons. Midnight bucked and pranced -excitedly. The old buck shook his head and grunted. He -was a sad-looking monarch now. His sides were thick -with matted hair and he had shed one horn so that he was -forced to carry his head on the side. He moved about -more timidly and seemed eager to be near the black colt.</p> - -<p>The snow settled down and down. At night it froze but -not with the bitter hardness of the deep winter. Each day -the snow sank lower and packed harder. It shrank until -bare patches of meadow appeared. Then it retreated into -the spruce where it would make its last stand against the -sun. There were blustery days when snow fell and raw -winds blew, but this was spring and nothing could halt -its coming.</p> - -<p>The wolves and the coyotes raced across the bare -ground, leaping over the dirty drifts in the shade, racing -on and on, as fast as the steady wind which blew up out -of the green valleys below. The wolves were not seeking -prey, they were running in pairs, leaping through the -dusky twilight or the pale moonlight, seeking romance on -distant ridges, trysting places under the stars.</p> - -<p>The resurrection came swiftly. Grass sprouted and -flowers shoved forth their buds, some of them poking out -their hardy blossoms at the edges of the drifts in the -twilight of the woods. But the real and certain arrival of -spring was announced by the yellowbelly whistlers. They -awoke and came out of their dens to blink at the sun.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">83</a></span> -They romped across the bare meadow and bounded -among the rocks at the base of the castles. A day or so -after the whistlers had come out the calico chips appeared. -They had been ready for some time but had been -careful not to hurry.</p> - -<p>One day the chipmunks appeared. They held a concert -at once, and the meadow rang with their “chock, chocking.” -The fat little brownies came with the chipmunks. -They selected stones and spent much of their time sitting -in silence looking down into the blue valley. Only the -cabin at the edge of the timber remained lifeless and -dead. It went on sleeping. Its one dusty window stared -out drearily on the lively scene. Its door did not open to -let the spring air into the cabin, there was no one to open -it. The willow chair sagged beside the doorstone. It sat -there much as though it had stepped outside to wait for -the owner of the cabin.</p> - -<p>Midnight became restless. He raced around the -meadow and mud flew from his hoofs as he splashed -through puddles in the hollows. The only spot he avoided -was the dog town. There the ground was soft and the -holes made it treacherous. The dogs barked and scolded -when he thundered past but they accepted him as one of -them. He whinnied and kicked and pranced. The old -whistler, perched on his high lookout, stretched his neck, -chuckled several times, then pulled his head back into -his ball of fur.</p> - -<p>Midnight still used the shelter under the rim. Habit -made him return to it at dusk. The old timber-line buck -knocked off his remaining horn, then wandered into the -twilight of the spruce and did not come out again. He -would seek a sun-drenched glade where he could nurse -his new antlers through the period when they were in the -velvet. In a short time nubbins of furry, blood-filled soft -horns would appear, rising from the scars of his old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">84</a></span> -spread. During this time the monarch would be quiet and -shy. He would not fight and he would avoid charges -which would take him into the timber.</p> - -<p>Midnight was climbing the ledge trail one night when -he was faced by a strange and terrible creature. A great -silvertip, with the sleep of winter still dulling his little -eyes, came shambling down the narrow ledge. He was -gaunt and in a savage mood. Midnight had come to consider -this as his own trail. He had met the wolf pack almost -on the spot where he now stood. He snorted and -reared on his hind feet. The old silvertip kept on shambling -toward him. Midnight laid back his ears and -squealed. The ledge was too narrow to turn about easily, -and it was his ledge.</p> - -<p>Then the little stallion got a good whiff of rank bear -scent and panic seized him. He tried to whirl about but -the ledge was too narrow. The very thing that had made -the ledge safe for him against the wolf pack made it a -trap now. He reared again and his trim hoofs lashed out -at the massive head and hairy chest of the silvertip.</p> - -<p>The old bear saw the little horse for the first time when -Midnight reared. His great jaws opened and a roar came -up from his chest. He did not desire meat to eat, he -wanted certain herbs and he wanted cold water, things -to help his shrunken stomach adjust itself. But he never -gave the trail to any except the skunk and the wolverine. -In his present mood he was ready to smash anything that -tried to halt him.</p> - -<p>He straightened up and stood like a shaggy giant, advancing -as a man would. One massive paw swept out. -The blow struck Midnight with glancing force. Had it -landed squarely it would have finished him. It over-balanced -him and he slid off the trail. Kicking and lashing -he plunged over the canyon rim.</p> - -<p>The old silvertip shoved a swaying head over the edge<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">85</a></span> -and growled deeply, then he ambled down the trail and -headed across the meadow, growling and grunting to -himself. The yellow-belly sentinel blasted shrilly and the -little dwellers of the meadow raced to their dens. The -dogs slid down their runways and defiant “squit-tucks” -came out of the ground. The silvertip paid no attention to -the commotion he had caused. He strode on across the -mesa.</p> - -<p>Midnight dropped a few yards and landed with a -thump on another ledge. A pile of earth matted with -grass and berry bushes broke his fall. His head hung over -a yawning chasm. Quickly he gathered himself together -and scrambled to his feet. For a few minutes he stood -pressing against the rock wall and trembling; he saw that -he was on a ledge which sloped gently down to the -meadow. There was no chance to leap back to the trail -above, so he moved along the cliff, sliding, crowding -against the wall.</p> - -<p>He slid off the ledge onto solid ground matted with dry -grass. He was in a cup-shaped hollow on the side of the -canyon wall. He trotted through a matted tangle of willow -and brush to the edge of the basin. From where he -stood he could look down into Shadow Canyon. He could -see the foaming waters of the Crazy Kill River. But a -sheer wall prevented him from climbing down, so he explored -the hollow.</p> - -<p>There were not more than seven acres in the basin. -Aspens grew close together over most of the ground, except -in the center where a beaver colony had cut them -away. In this clearing nestled a tiny lake. Two old beavers -were swimming around in the water, inspecting the -horseshoe-shaped dam at the lower side. When Midnight -halted at the edge of the water the old beavers dived, -slapping their tails with explosive sounds.</p> - -<p>Midnight turned away from the lake. He did not like<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">86</a></span> -the confining feel of this little mesa. He limped as he -walked and his shoulder pained him, but he was not hurt -badly. He wandered all the way around the mesa and discovered -no trail leading off it except at the lower end -where a ten-foot crevice cut through a ledge along the -side of the canyon wall. He turned back and began feeding -uneasily on the green shoots pushing up through the -dead grass.</p> - -<p>The old beavers came up again and set to work. A -ptarmigan strutted in the dry leaves under the aspens -and a snowshoe rabbit hopped out of a thicket. The big -bunny sat down and began nibbling on a tender weed-stalk.</p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="divider" /> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">87</a></span> -</div> - -<h2><a name="ix" id="ix"></a>9. Prisoner</h2> - - -<p class="noi"><span class="smcap">Midnight</span> fed on the rich, new grass until he was no -longer hungry, then he made another trip around the rim -and along the cliff wall. He wanted to escape from this -tight little pasture. The only avenue of escape lay across -the crevice and along the ledge beyond. Midnight stood -at the edge of the yawning abyss and shook his head restlessly. -The leap was a long one, too long for him to try.</p> - -<p>The little stallion turned back to the beaver lake. The -pair of beavers were busily lacing willows along the top -of their dam. As they wove the willows into place they -plastered black mud on them. They were master engineers, -and their dam was sturdy and strong. They -stopped work and gazed at Midnight but they did not -plunge into the water. They accepted him as one of the -dwellers of their little world under the rim, a harmless -animal who would not attack them.</p> - -<p>Midnight trotted into the aspen grove and lay down. -Above him green buds were bursting and pale-green -leaves had begun to show. The bushes along the wall -were leaved out and many flowers bloomed. The little -mesa lay facing the sun. Its protected acreage afforded -growing things a chance to get started before other mesas -came to life. The spot Midnight had picked for his bed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">88</a></span> -was near the cliff face. He could see the rim above. A -group of five Englemann’s spruce grew near the wall. -Their straight trunks towered well above the rim and -looked out across the high mesa where the cabin stood. -One of them grew so close to the cliff face that its trunk -touched the rim above.</p> - -<p>Midnight drowsed, his eyes fixed lazily upon the leaning -spruce. Suddenly they popped wide open. He saw a -big brown bear slide off the rim above and come down -the trunk, sliding and scraping the bark loose in a shower -of wood bits. The bear was descending tail first, moving -around the tree as he came down.</p> - -<p>The black colt scrambled to his feet. The memory of -the savage silvertip was fresh in his mind. He tossed his -head and snorted loudly. The brown bear halted his descent -and peered down at him, then began to slide again. -Then Midnight saw another bear, larger than the first, -swinging off the mesa above. The big fellow came down -amid a shower of bark and twigs. Midnight whirled and -fled as far as he could get away from the spruces. He -halted and stood watching the two bears, ready to dodge -and run if they charged at him.</p> - -<p>The two bears paid no attention to Midnight. They -grunted and growled as they walked into the aspen -grove, where they prowled about rooting into the dead -leaves, overturning rotting logs. Then both sat up letting -their big paws droop over their shaggy bellies. They sat -looking up at the spruce trees. Down the leaning tree -came two more bears. Midnight pawed frantically but he -was as far away from the bears as he could get. The two -newcomers joined the first pair in the aspen grove. There -was much growling and grunting, with many deep woofs -added. Midnight remained where he was, trembling and -pawing the ground. Within an hour seven bears had arrived<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">89</a></span> -by way of the leaning spruce, and the grove was -noisy with their gruff voices.</p> - -<p>One he-bear walked to an aspen tree. Lifting himself -to his full height he gashed a mark on the trunk with his -teeth. Another male, who had been sitting watching him, -got to his feet and walked to the tree. He gashed the tree -higher than the other had been able to reach. Then a big -fellow with a furry red face strolled to the tree. He -grunted several times as he stood up. He marked the tree -a full six inches above the highest mark, then dropped to -the ground and faced the other bears. The males backed -away from him as though recognizing his superior -prowess. He strolled to one of the she-bears and nosed -against her. She accepted the caress and the big male -turned toward the spruce trees. He ambled to the leaning -tree and started to climb. The she-bear followed him -obediently.</p> - -<p>One of the other males edged close to a female, rumbling -in his chest as he moved toward her. Another male -stepped forward and the two big fellows faced each -other. An angry argument followed. The aspen grove -rang with the roars of the two males, but they did not -fight. One of them backed away and the other led the -she-bear to the sloping spruce in triumph. They went up -the tree and out on the mesa.</p> - -<p>There were two males and one female left. The smaller -fellow, a smudged, black-faced bear, had edged close to -the last she-bear. He woofed and grunted in an attempt -to get her to go with him, but she just sat and looked up -into the aspen branches. The larger he-bear walked toward -her. The little bear with the black face crowded in -front of her, growling warningly.</p> - -<p>The big bear shuffled up to him, reared, and cuffed him -hard alongside of the head. The little fellow danced up -and down and his roars shook the branches of the aspens<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">90</a></span> -and echoed along the rock walls, but he backed away -from the she-bear.</p> - -<p>The big fellow walked around her and grunted deeply. -Then he headed toward the leaning tree against the wall. -She followed him while the little bear sat with a sad expression -on his face watching them. He remained where -he was until they had climbed out onto the mesa above. -He whined a little, ambled to the tree, and began climbing -out of the basin.</p> - -<p>The love moon of the bears had risen. This secluded -spot was the scene of their first summer romancing. The -pairs would wander away into the woods and remain together -for a while. Midnight did not understand the nature -of the gathering, but he did realize that they had not -come to the mesa prison to attack him. He edged out toward -the grove which reeked with bear scent. Snorting -and jerking his head, he trotted around to the lower end -of the mesa where he nibbled a few blades of grass. The -wind carried the strong bear smell to him and he moved -to the upper end again where he bedded down for the -night.</p> - -<p>Then next morning while Midnight was feeding close -to the beaver lake he met another stranger. The animal -was not large and it waddled along at a slow pace. It had -long, yellowish hair and it seemed too dull-witted and -slow to be dangerous. Midnight advanced. The dull-witted -one lifted the hair on his back but otherwise paid no -attention to the little horse.</p> - -<p>Midnight had never met a porcupine. He thought the -spines sticking out of his back were long hairs. The dull -gnawer of bark sat down when Midnight got close to -him. Only his tail moved, jerking up and down. Midnight -extended his soft muzzle and sniffed in a friendly manner. -He kept his legs planted wide so that he could leap if the -porky came to life suddenly and attacked him. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">91</a></span> -gnawer did not move, he huddled into a ball of spiny fur, -pulling his head back until only the tip of his snout -showed. Midnight tossed his head and pawed, his nose -extended closer as he sniffed and sniffed. Suddenly he -felt a quick stab of pain in his tender muzzle. He leaped -back with a snort. An ivory barb that was half black with -ebony stuck out of his lower lip.</p> - -<p>Midnight galloped away through the aspens, across the -little meadow to the far side. The pain in his lip increased -as the barb dug deeper. He halted and thrust his muzzle -into the fresh, black dirt of a pocket-gopher mound. He -raked his nose back and forth in the damp earth. The cool -dirt soothed the burning sting but it also drove the barb -deeper into the tender flesh. Midnight next tried rubbing -the wounded spot against the trunk of a tree. The quill -caught in the rough bark and pulled free. It came away -red with a little piece of Midnight’s flesh clinging to it.</p> - -<p>After that he left the dull gnawer of bark strictly alone. -The porky fed on the meadow or in the tops of the low -bushes where he hung like a spiny ball. His clicking -grumble could be heard at any time during the day.</p> - -<p>And each day Midnight circled his prison seeking a -way to get off the mesa. He was uneasy and wanted more -room. There was plenty of feed and there was water, but -there was no room to gallop. The confinement worried -him. He was not like the dull porky or the beavers, he -was used to wide spaces and an elevation from which he -could look down on the world. From the little mesa he -could see nothing but trees, the canyon wall, and the -lake.</p> - -<p>One day late in the spring two men rode down past the -cabin at the edge of the mesa. The meadow was green -with waving grass, flowers rioted in their hurry to produce -seed before the brief high-country summer slipped -away. The ridges were blue with lupine or gold with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">92</a></span> -mountain daisies. In the shade clumps of columbine lifted -their delicate blue bells, exposing white hearts. Major -Howard and his range boss, Tex, were riding together.</p> - -<p>Tex halted near the upper end of the meadow. He slid -to the ground and bent over a scattered mass of bones. -Major Howard lighted his pipe and waited. The eyes of -the range boss were intent. He remained bent over the -bones so long that the major spoke impatiently.</p> - -<p>“What’s so interesting about a pile of bones?”</p> - -<p>Tex straightened and his eyes wandered to Sam’s cabin -thoughtfully.</p> - -<p>“Winter kill by a pack of wolves,” he said briefly.</p> - -<p>“A horse the boys missed in the roundup?” the major -asked with a show of interest.</p> - -<p>Tex nodded. “Some hide and hair left,” he said and his -slow smile showed for a moment. “I reckon this hoss was -Lady Ebony.”</p> - -<p>The major did not dismount. But he turned his horse -and stared down at the bones. He knew what Tex was -thinking and it irritated him. He shook his head grimly.</p> - -<p>“Couldn’t be,” he said shortly.</p> - -<p>“I figure it that way,” Tex answered. “It explains a lot -of things fer me.”</p> - -<p>“You never did think old Sam stole that mare,” Major -Howard said.</p> - -<p>“No,” Tex replied quietly.</p> - -<p>“I did and I still do. You cow-country boys are too soft-livered. -The old fellow left his cabin for three weeks or -so. He refused to tell where he had been. He had three -hundred dollars in cash to pay an attorney. He refused to -tell where he got the money.” The major’s lips pulled into -a tight line. “You’ll have to dig up more proof than that -pile of bones.” He was staring at the desolate cabin, trying -hard to urge away the doubt Tex had raised in his -mind. Major Howard was at heart fair and honest. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">93</a></span> -smiled suddenly. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see that -mare at one of the races this summer.”</p> - -<p>Tex shook his head. “You won’t see her at any track, -boss.” He paused and his gaze was somber; he was -watching the chipmunks romping in the grass over by the -castle rocks. Sam had brought those little fellers in. He’d -be right surprised to know there was at least a half dozen -more of them now. Tex made a mental note of the increase. -He’d tell Sam when he stopped by to see him.</p> - -<p>“The old fool is better off where he is. He has decent -grub and a warm place to sleep,” the major said gruffly.</p> - -<p>“He don’t seem much interested in anything. Did ask if -the mare showed up, though, when I stopped by to see -him.” Tex swung into his saddle.</p> - -<p>“You let your feelings get the best of you,” the major -said. It irritated him the way Tex stubbornly clung to his -belief that Sam was innocent. “Besides, he came near killing -a man,” the major added as though to clinch the argument.</p> - -<p>Tex said no more. The major was not his kind. He was -really a stranger in the high country, and a good deal of a -tenderfoot in many ways. Like Sam, Tex had lived all his -life in the rough mountain country. The range boss had -long since ceased trying to understand his employer.</p> - -<p>“I reckon he did plug that deputy,” he agreed. His -manner and tone said plainly that he would have done -the same thing.</p> - -<p>They rode on in silence. Tex drew himself into his shell -and spoke only when he had to answer a question, but -he kept thinking about the pile of bones. He thought of -Sam too. The last time Tex visited the old fellow Sam had -a strange look in his eyes. Tex could not forget that look; -it haunted him. It was a homesick, lonesome look.</p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="divider" /> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">94</a></span> -</div> - -<h2><a name="x" id="x"></a>10. Escape</h2> - - -<p class="noi"><span class="smcap">Midnight</span> was never quite satisfied within the confining -walls of his prison. There was plenty of fine grass, shade, -and water, but the constant feeling that he was being -held a prisoner irked him. He worked out a route around -the outer limits of the meadow which gave him a chance -to run. There was an open stretch along the high walls. -From there he made a trail above the beaver lake through -a pile of slide rock that had fallen from the cliff above. -The trail swung to the lip of the canyon, following a -crooked course until it curved back and around the lake -again. Big rocks and fallen trees offered barriers. The -little stallion soon learned to take these barriers in clean -jumps which sent the blood pounding through him.</p> - -<p>The racing gave him an outlet for his energy, a chance -to give play to his growing muscles. Snorting, shying, and -whinnying shrilly he would race around and around, his -mane and tail flying, his nostrils flaring. The exercise kept -his body tough and hard. The blood of the chestnut stallion -which flowed in his veins would not let him surrender -to the peaceful existence offered by the sheltered -meadow.</p> - -<p>Midsummer found the little horse rapidly growing into -a big and powerful brute with a body which combined<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">95</a></span> -the slender legs, the intelligent head, and the great heart -of Lady Ebony with the rugged strength of his father. -His eyes betrayed the wild horse in him. They flashed -white rims when he was excited or angry and he bared -his teeth savagely when roused.</p> - -<p>One day Midnight heard sounds which excited him -greatly. They came from the mesa above. He heard the -pounding of many hoofs and above the nickering and -snorting of mares rose the squeal of a stallion challenging -the world defiantly. Midnight was resting in the shade of -the aspen grove after a wild run around the meadow. He -dashed out into the open and stood staring at the top of -the canyon wall.</p> - -<p>As he stood there a horse appeared. A pinto filly stood -with lowered head looking down into the canyon. She -was a trim little mare with a lithe, slender body and a -yellow mane and tail which flowed in the breeze. Midnight -called to her eagerly and she turned her head to -locate him. Her ears pricked forward as she answered his -call with a quick eager whinny. Instantly wild excitement -surged through the black. He raced back and forth, keeping -in the open, looking up at the pinto as he danced and -kicked.</p> - -<p>The little mare seemed to appreciate his efforts. She -edged closer to the rim and nickered softly. The sound of -her call sent Midnight leaping through the timber, -pounding around the trail he had made. As he flashed -into the sunlighted spaces below the rim he looked up to -see her standing still, cut sharply against the sky, looking -down at him. Again Midnight raced around his beaten -pathway. As he flashed past the crevice which barred -him from escape he halted and stared at the wide crack -in the rock shelf. The trail beyond that fissure led to the -little mare!</p> - -<p>Midnight -<a name="backed" id="backed"></a><ins title="Original has 'back'">backed</ins> -away a few yards, lowered his head,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">96</a></span> -and sniffed. He suddenly lost his fear of the deep gash in -the earth. With a defiant squeal he charged straight at the -gaping crack. His flying hoofs sent rocks sailing into the -canyon below. As he charged down on the barrier he -gathered his hard muscles under him for the long leap. -Like a black meteor he shot through the air. Leaping -over barriers along this race course had given Midnight -needed training. His body arched as he hurtled into space -above the crevice. His forefeet reached for the far ledge, -landed and clung while he lashed with his hind feet in an -attempt to pull himself to safety. For a moment he hung -there, poised above the chasm, plunging and struggling, -then he stumbled forward, safe on the ledge trail.</p> - -<p>Snorting and kicking, he pounded up the ledge until -he came to the main trail leading out of Shadow Canyon. -Doubling back along that trail he charged upward. With -a clattering of loose stones he burst out on the edge of the -meadow and halted to look for the pinto. The little mare -had turned away from the rim. She stood looking at him, -her neck arched, her mane blowing around her shoulders. -She nickered and pawed at the grass tufts under her feet.</p> - -<p>Midnight plunged toward her, eager to make friends. -When he was within a few yards of her she whirled and -fled. Midnight raced after her, calling wildly. The pinto -ran toward the band of mares feeding in the center of the -mesa. Above them the chestnut stallion stood guard, his -sleek coat gleaming in the sun, his massive head erect. -His protruding eyes watched the pinto as she raced toward -the mares with the black colt close behind her. Midnight’s -speed was greater than that of the little mare and -he was soon racing shoulder to shoulder with her.</p> - -<p>A scream of rage broke from the chestnut stallion. With -ears laid back, nostrils flaring, he charged to meet Midnight. -His teeth were bared and his eyes flamed. He -meant to finish this young upstart at once. Midnight saw<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">97</a></span> -him coming and shoved over against the little mare, -heading her away from the band. The boss of the herd -came on at top speed. He was running at an angle to the -course the two colts had taken.</p> - -<p>Midnight had no fear of the big stallion. He was so -wildly glad to see a band of horses that he had no thought -of battling any of them. The chestnut came on with terrific -force. He struck Midnight a smashing blow which -turned the colt halfway around and sent him staggering. -Midnight twisted and fought to keep from going down. -The chestnut reared and lashed out with his forefeet. His -teeth reached for the colt’s shoulder and his scream rang -across the meadow.</p> - -<p>As Midnight righted himself a terrible rage took him. -He wanted to fight the big stallion, to smash him, to tear -him. Swerving, he let the little mare dart into the band, -then he whirled to meet the chestnut. The big stallion -was eager for the kill. He had smashed young stallions -before, driving them out of the band, and he expected to -make short work of this fellow. Midnight answered the -challenge by lunging to meet the leader’s second charge. -The big stallion raised his heavy hoofs and met Midnight’s -attack with smashing blows which battered the -colt back. Pain brought a realization that the big stallion -wanted to kill him just as the wolf pack had often tried. -He dodged the next attack, but lunged in as the chestnut -missed his target.</p> - -<p>His feint only half saved him. The chestnut’s teeth -ripped his shoulder and a crushing blow staggered him. -Midnight leaped away from the next charge, which came -as soon as the big fellow could wheel about. The little -black was outweighed and his strength was nothing compared -with that of the chestnut. The band of mares -watched without showing much excitement. The pinto<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">98</a></span> -stood in their midst, her ears well forward, her eyes rolling.</p> - -<p>When the chestnut charged again Midnight whirled -and fled. He raced away down the meadow with the big -stallion thundering after him. The chestnut was filled -with savage eagerness. The victory was his and he meant -to overtake this black stallion and kill him. But Midnight -was the son of Lady Ebony, and had her fleetness. For a -short distance he sprinted as fast as he could run and in -that time discovered that he could easily outrun the big -leader of the band. When he had satisfied himself of this -he circled around the meadow whinnying defiantly and -kicking up his heels.</p> - -<p>The chestnut was wild with savage rage. He thundered -after the flying colt, but though he strained every -muscle he could not overtake Midnight. Nor could he -seem to outwind or tire him. The colt raced and dodged -without seeming to feel the terrific pace. Around the mesa -they raced, then around again. The chestnut began to -tire. His breath was whistling from his nostrils and his -flanks were streaked with lather. Suddenly he swerved -and came to a halt beside the band of mares. Blowing and -snorting he pawed defiantly, challenging Midnight to -come and fight. Midnight halted and nickered eagerly to -the pinto filly.</p> - -<p>The pinto answered his call. This angered the chestnut -and he whirled to lunge at her. Before the little mare -could leap aside, his big body smashed against her and -his teeth sank deep into the fleshy part of her back. -Squealing and kicking, the pinto sprawled on her side in -the grass. The chestnut reared threateningly as she scrambled -to her feet. With a squeal of fright the pinto darted -out of the band and ran away across the mesa. The chestnut -did not follow far. He was watching Midnight, fearing -the black would try to steal some of his harem.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">99</a></span></p> - -<p>Midnight leaped after the pinto. He soon overtook her -and raced along beside her. The chestnut stallion was -furious. He forgot the other mares and plunged after the -colts. His speed was great enough to overtake the pinto, -and he forced her back into the band. Midnight charged -the big fellow and the chestnut whirled to give battle. -The filly raced in among the mares and stood watching.</p> - -<p>The chestnut was eager to close with Midnight again. -He lunged in and his weight sent Midnight staggering -back. Then he lunged once more, before the black could -get his balance. He landed squarely against Midnight’s -shoulder and the colt went down. He rolled and lunged -while massive hoofs pounded him and the chestnut’s -teeth ripped gashes along his side. Finally Midnight staggered -to his feet. He ducked drunkenly and saved himself -from another smashing blow from the shoulder of the -chestnut. Pain stabbed through his shoulder joint and -hampered his speed as he tried to run away. The chestnut -sensed that his victory was about to be complete. With -squeals of triumph he charged on the colt. Midnight -thought of the ledge trail where he had always found -haven when wolves and cougars came. If he could reach -that ledge he would make a stand.</p> - -<p>Desperately the little stallion plunged toward the -castle rocks. The chestnut overtook him and smashed him -aside, but Midnight dodged and raced on, not stopping -to fight. Again the chestnut smashed him, his teeth ripping -gashes across Midnight’s rump. The black staggered -and weaved under the terrible battering but he kept going. -He reached the ledge and plunged upward with the -chestnut slashing at his back, trying to smash him to the -ground where he could finish the fight.</p> - -<p>Midnight tried to whirl about on the ledge. He suddenly -realized that if the big fellow got him trapped in -the shelter at the end of the trail the chestnut would kill<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">100</a></span> -him. He managed to turn around and face the charging -leader of the band. They smashed together and Midnight -went down, sprawling and kicking on the narrow ledge. -He rolled over and his hoofs slid over the rim. In a moment -he was sliding down over the edge.</p> - -<p>Screaming and pawing, the chestnut glared over the -rim. He saw his adversary land on a shelf below and stagger -slowly to his feet. The big stallion raced up and down -the trail but saw no way to reach the colt below.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The spot where Midnight landed was only a few yards -below the place where he had landed when the silvertip -shoved him over the edge. He got to his feet panting and -blowing. For a long time he stood trembling, favoring his -pain-raked shoulder. Then with a squeal of defiance he -hobbled along the ledge and down to the little meadow -where he had lived before the band came to the mesa. He -was eager to cross the crevice again and join the horses -above, but when he reached the aspen grove he halted to -ease the pains shooting through his shoulder. After a bit -he moved on. He halted at the edge of the crevice and -stood listening. He did not try to leap across the narrow -chasm, he would have to wait until the pain left his shoulder. -Above he could hear the triumphant snorting and -calling of the chestnut stallion. Slowly he turned and -walked back to the aspen grove. After a time he lay down -on a bed of dead leaves and grass.</p> - -<p>He lay still and listened. From the mesa came the -sounds of the feeding herd. For a time the chestnut -pranced about nickering and snorting. The mares fed -eagerly, not paying any attention to him, except when he -came close to one of them. The ears of the little horse in -the aspen grove followed every sound intently. He -snorted and struggled painfully to his feet when the chestnut -blasted a warning to the mares. There was a rolling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">101</a></span> -thunder of hoofs as the wild band charged across the -mesa and into the timber. Midnight tried to race to the -crevice but at the first step he stumbled and almost fell. -Slowly he hobbled to the edge where he stood shaking his -head and calling loudly. The rhythm of the pounding -hoofs died away quickly and Midnight was alone again. -He turned back and hobbled at a slow walk toward his -bed in the aspen grove.</p> - -<p>In the days which followed Midnight listened for the -sound of racing hoofs and the whinny of the band, but -the big stallion did not lead the mares back to the high -mesa. He ranged far up on the side of the Crazy Kills -where the trails were steep and broken and the meadows -small and surrounded by dense cover. In the barrens -close to timber line few cattle ranged and none of Major -Howard’s riders cared to make the steep climb, knowing -the stray cows that climbed up that high would come -down long before roundup time.</p> - -<p>Midnight dropped into his former way of living. As -soon as his shoulder became sound he began making his -usual rounds of the little race course. And many times he -charged to the edge of the crevice where he would slide -to a halt and stand snorting and shaking his head. His leg -was still stiff, too stiff for so long a jump, and he did not -have the nearness of mares to fill him with wild excitement. -He did not forget the wild band and the pinto filly, -but his wild desire for freedom was not hot and driving. -His body filled out and his legs and chest took on a ruggedness -which made him lose the coltish look.</p> - -<p>The old beavers increased their efforts. Helped by a -brood of youngsters, they cut trees and peeled bark from -early morning until late at night. They had long since -ceased to worry about being about by daylight. The -seclusion of the little meadow had changed their habits a -great deal. Their storehouses were bulging but they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">102</a></span> -worked feverishly anyway, as though they were facing a -famine period. And they built houses over the land openings -where their runways came to the surface of the -meadow, tall piles of mud and sticks, laced together and -padded down into a tough, warm masonry which would -keep out the biting frosts of winter. Midnight watched -them lazily. He could not know they were expecting another -hard winter. But he did have an uneasy feeling -when the first frosts came. The wild strain in his blood -stirred and he would have left the high country had he -been free to go. One morning he trotted to the edge of -the meadow and found it white with glistening frost. The -white carpet disturbed him. He rushed to the edge of the -crevice and stood there snorting and pawing. But he did -not try the long jump.</p> - -<p>The frosts deepened. The aspen leaves swirled down -to cover the roots, the bulbs and the seeds bedded under -the soft loam. The grass turned brown and the big spruce -trees standing close to the wall moaned as a cold wind -swept down from the new snow fields high on the barren -peaks of the Crazy Kills. The haze of an Indian summer -day was swept away by the first snow of winter and again -the world turned white and the air became snapping -cold. Midnight put on his heavy robe of shaggy hair -which turned the sharp blasts whirling downward.</p> - -<p>The snow deepened and Midnight dug for grass. He -moved his bedground to a needle-padded spot under a -giant spruce where the snow never fell. Now he was interested -only in a battle to keep his belly filled. He was -still growing and his body demanded food for new muscles -and sinews as well as for warmth. The storms came -and the snow on the meadow became deeper and deeper. -The mesa above was lashed by bitter winds but the sheltered -meadow did not feel their lash. On its surface the -snow settled down in loose, deep smoothness which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">103</a></span> -formed a warm blanket for the grass and the flowers. -Great drifts formed along the rim above, fanned out by -the wind and the drifting snow on the upper bench. -Their white lips thrust far out over the edge of the canyon -like the rounded curves of giant mushrooms.</p> - -<p>One -<a name="moonlit" id="moonlit"></a><ins title="Original has 'moonlight'">moonlit</ins> -night as Midnight lay on his dry bed -of needles he heard a strange sound and felt the earth -tremble under him. The sound came from the rim above. -He peered upward but could see nothing except the protruding -snowbanks and the gleaming whiteness of the -world outside his shelter. The sound was a deep, grating -rumble that reminded him of distant thunder. One of the -overhanging lips of snow had broken under the great -weight of tons of snow and had settled down. For a few -minutes it moved slowly, grinding rocks off the wall, settling, -sliding, packing the snow into ice. Then its speed -increased and the dull rumble broke into a terrible roar -as thousands of tons of snow shot downward. Midnight -leaped to his feet and trembled as he watched.</p> - -<p>The mass of snow plunged and boiled as it shot downward. -It seethed around a stand of spruce. The big trees, -many of them several feet through at the butt, jerked and -swayed like saplings, then went down to be swallowed up -by the maelstrom of ice and snow. Boulders were torn -from their beds and from the face of the cliff. They were -ground to sand in the maw of the slide. The whole cataract -became dirty gray in color. Its roar shook the mesa -as it poured into Shadow Canyon. A startled snowshoe -rabbit, routed from his bed under a fallen log, leaped -into the air, plunged forward, then bounced high as the -dirty mass caught him. For a moment he hung above the -seething mass, then dropped into it and vanished, ground -to nothingness.</p> - -<p>The slide struck the lower end of the little mesa. It shot -into the deep crevice, filling it full, then boiling over to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">104</a></span> -roll on down into the main canyon. It cut a swath through -the spruces and aspens growing on the steep slope of the -big gulch. The timber went down like grass before the -bar of a mowing machine.</p> - -<p>The white death was only a few seconds in passing but -it struck fear into the heart of the black stallion. He -snorted and pawed excitedly. And he was not alone in his -fear. Up on the high mesa the old timber-line buck, who -had returned to his feed grounds, leaped from his bed -under a spruce. He stood staring out into the white world, -rigid, shaking his heavy antlers and grunting. Every wild -creature within hearing stopped and listened, tense, -ready to break and run. They all knew the terror of the -white death and each knew that to try to dash away -would be useless because of the terrible speed and the -uncertainty of the course it would take. They would try -to run if it came hurtling upon them, but until they saw -it they did not move. It was an hour before Midnight -bedded down again.</p> - -<p>In the morning the colt plowed his way to his feed -ground near the beaver lake. He stood for a time staring -at the spot where the crevice had been. The deep fissure -was filled with dirty snow, yellow, resin-oozing timbers, -torn and ripped apart, and broken boulders. It was -packed as hard as the frozen surface of a lake. Carefully -Midnight ventured out on it and found it solid. His -weight did not make it settle at all.</p> - -<p>He worked his way step by step across the dirty snow, -then headed up the trail leading to the meadow. The -snow was so deep he had to plunge, rising on his forefeet -and lunging. When he rested the snow pressed close -against his sides. Coming out on top he halted to look -out across the meadow. A sharp, icy wind cut at him and -loose snow swirled around his legs. He saw the old timber-line -buck digging for weeds near the timber. Midnight<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">105</a></span> -whinnied eagerly and plunged toward the ancient -one. The old buck jerked up his head and watched Midnight -as he floundered across the mesa. They met and -stood staring at each other for some time. Finally the -buck turned his back and began digging again. Midnight -set to work pawing for grass.</p> - -<p>Bitter winds swept across the meadow and cut through -Midnight’s shaggy coat. Snow swirled before the wind -and piled into deep drifts. The mesa was more bleak and -icy than the little meadow under the rim. And the grass -was not so good when it was uncovered. But the black -stallion had companionship of a sort. He worked busily -all that day to fill his belly with grass. At dusk he headed -toward his haven under the rim. Darkness settled before -he reached the canyon trail and the moonlight gleamed -on the snow. Midnight was tired when he reached his dry -bed under the big spruce.</p> - -<p>After that he stayed on the bench under the rim. It was -warmer down under the wall and the grass was easier to -get. He could dig without much effort. Now that he knew -he could leave the little mesa whenever he chose he did -not want to go.</p> - -<p>Up on the high mesa the old buck was finding life hard. -He had no help in digging for food and his legs were stiff, -with a tightness he had never felt before. Age was slowing -the spring in his powerful muscles. His horns still held -patches of velvet. The patches clung in dry, furry spots -on his polished lances. The old buck had not had the -energy to polish them and scrub them as he should have. -Midnight did not know that he had deserted his friend at -a time when the ancient monarch needed him badly.</p> - -<p>Late one afternoon the black stallion was startled by a -familiar cry. A pack of lobo wolves had swept out of the -spruce at the edge of the meadow above. Their cry came -when they sighted the old timber-line buck, and the cry<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">106</a></span> -was the cry of the kill. Midnight plunged to his shelter -under the big spruce and stood there tossing his black -mane. His eyes rolled white and he snorted savagely.</p> - -<p>Up on the mesa the old buck had whirled about to -dash for the safety of the timber and the castle rocks. He -had ample time to escape and should have outdistanced -his pursuers, but his stiffened legs refused to lift with the -smooth power he had always possessed. Before he was -halfway to cover the pack was leaping around him, their -yellow eyes flaming, their red tongues jerking over white -fangs.</p> - -<p>There on the flat mesa the old monarch made his last -stand. With sweeping, thrusting antlers he met the leaping -attack of the gray killers. They darted and lunged -and dodged around him, keeping up a mad chorus of -yelping and snarling. The old buck could not guard his -vital parts against all the wolves. One after another they -slid under his frantic, thrusting antlers to rip gashes in his -flanks and legs. Snorting and blowing savagely he fought -with horns and lashing hoofs.</p> - -<p>The wolves knew they would win and they kept up -their ripping, tearing tactics, never fastening on the big -fellow long enough for his sharp hoofs to strike them. -Weakened by the loss of blood, staggering as each new -wound opened, the old fellow fought his way stubbornly -toward the timber. Every foot of his retreating trail was -marked by bloody, trampled snow.</p> - -<p>One of the wolves, taking advantage of the slowing -thrusts of the old buck’s antlers, dodged in and slashed -the tendons of a hind leg. Slowly, with antlers still lashing, -the old monarch settled down into the snow and lay -beating with his forelegs and jerking his head. Instantly -every wolf was on him and their howls were more savage -than before.</p> - -<p>The end of the monarch was the destined end of all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">107</a></span> -wild dwellers. The end of a life of struggle and constant -alertness. The law of the wild was fulfilled. While youth -and vigor gave him power and speed the buck lived and -went his way, but when that strength slipped from him -he went down before the gray killers.</p> - -<p>Under the big spruce Midnight stood listening to the -growling and snarling of the pack as they tore the warm -flesh from the bones of the old buck. He watched and -waited, expecting the pack to come leaping down the -ledge trail and across the slide-filled fissure. But they did -not scent him because the wind always blew off the high -mesa and seldom came up out of the canyon except in the -spring. When the killers had stripped the bones and -cracked the ones their powerful jaws could break they -left the mangled carcass and raced away through the -moonlight, seeking another victim.</p> - -<p>Then the little fox came out of his den and a pair of -coyotes trotted up from the shadows under the spruce at -the lower end of the mesa. The little fox and the coyotes -fought over the bones, dragging them away to spots -where they could lie down and gnaw them or crack them -and lick the still warm marrow fat from their centers.</p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="divider" /> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">108</a></span> -</div> - -<h2><a name="xi" id="xi"></a>11. New Trails</h2> - - -<p class="noi"><span class="smcap">Spring</span> came with a chinook and a sudden thaw which -broke a week of bitter weather. The transformation was -in the nature of a miracle. Soft breezes blew up from the -valleys, warm winds which settled the snow and filled it -with water. Midnight smelled the earthiness of the wind -from the lowlands and pranced eagerly. A change as sudden -as the change in the weather had come over him. -For months he had given all his attention to the gnawing -hunger which was always demanding more dry grass; -now he was stirred by another urge. He wanted to be free -to run, to seek something he did not understand.</p> - -<p>Shaking his head he galloped through the slush and -mud to the ledge trail. The dirty ice filling the crevice -had not settled. The force of the slide had packed it so -hard that it melted only a little on the surface. Midnight -walked across the fissure and up the ledge trail. He stood -on the edge of the meadow and looked across its gleaming -surface. With an eager nicker he plowed through the -wet snow. The old timber-line buck was not there to greet -him and the only answer to his call was the harsh and -irritated chatter of a crested jay in the timber.</p> - -<p>Midnight moved out on the mesa and began pawing -for grass. He was hungry and now that he was in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">109</a></span> -open he did not know what he desired or where he -wanted to go, so he set to feeding. After a time he moved -down beside the castle rocks and stood staring into the -smoky haze of the valley country.</p> - -<p>Toward evening he went to the castle rocks and -climbed up to the shelter he had shared with Lady -Ebony. He sniffed about, pawing and snorting as he -smelled cougar scent. The cat smell mingled with the -pungent odor coming from the pack rat’s nest in the corner. -The cat smell was cold but it stirred him to uneasy -anger. He tore to bits the bed of sticks where the king -cat had slept, scattering them about on the rocky floor.</p> - -<p>That night the cold came again and the slushy snow -froze into a coating of ice. In the morning the meadow -was locked under a thick rust of icy armor and Midnight -was forced to work hard to get a meal. For several weeks -he battled to keep his stomach filled. But with the passing -of each day the air grew warmer and softer, the snow -settled, and bare spots began to appear. Midnight was -able again to eat his fill. He raced around the meadow -giving play to his powerful muscles. He was big and -strong; another season would see him a magnificent black -stallion.</p> - -<p>As the snow line crept back into the timber to make its -last stand in the shadows under the spruce, the buds on -the trees burst and the first flowers shoved their heads out -of the ground. Green shoots pushed up through the dead -grass. Their lush juices tantalized the black horse. He -could not get enough of them, yet he could not let them -alone. His efforts always ended by his eating a great deal -of the cured grass in order to fill his belly.</p> - -<p>The bears came ambling across the meadow in pairs -and singly to slide down the leaning spruce for their -spring meeting before the flowering of their love moon. -The wolves ran under the spring stars or howled on barren<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">110</a></span> -ridges. Midnight did not pay much attention to the -gray killers. He had come to know by their howls when -they were hunting and when they were serenading. The -old tom cougars stalked through the timber while the she-cats -sought them out, which is the way of the big cats. -And the little folk left their winter dens to race about in -the warm sunshine. The yellowbelly whistlers blasted -their shrill warning from the sentinel stone while the -calico chips and the rockchips stayed within the protected -area where they could pay attention to the warnings -given by the whistlers. The hawks circled in the blue -above, billowing with the gusts of spring wind, while the -eagles circled high above them in the still upper air. One -day the chipmunks came out and the meadow rang with -their chock-chock song as they celebrated their awakening.</p> - -<p>In all this celebrating and excitement the cabin at the -edge of the meadow stood silent and disconsolate, dead -and lifeless. It seemed older and more weathered than -before. The weeds on its dirt roof did not break into -green foliage as soon as those in the meadow. One of the -eaves boards had given way, letting the dirt covering slip -from a corner of the roof and exposing the split slabs beneath. -The spring showers made little gullies and seams -which looked like wrinkles. At the door the willow chair -lay on its side, tipped over by the snow or some inquisitive -visitor who recognized that the man smell was long -cold and dead.</p> - -<p>Midnight visited the cabin often, smelling about. He -used its rough log corners as a scratching post against -which he leaned and rubbed while he grunted with pleasure. -The rubbing loosened mats of hair from his sides -and soon his coat was sleek and shining, new as the blue -flowers crowding the shady spots at the edge of the timber. -As spring advanced Midnight became more nervous.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">111</a></span> -He ran more often and for longer at a time, sometimes -circling the meadow several times before halting to paw -restlessly. He did not leave the meadow but he was always -listening and often paused to call shrilly.</p> - -<p>Down on the desert the chestnut stallion and his band -had met with an ordeal unusual for them. There had -been only light snows all winter and the spring rains had -been so light they did not settle the dust or harden the -sand. The grass was short and poor in quality. The big -stallion had trouble forcing the mares to do as he wished. -The wise old ones knew that there was grass and water -in the mountains and were determined to head that way. -Finally the chestnut gave in and led them toward the -Crazy Kill Range. They worked their way quickly -through the foothills where cowboys were shoving white-faced -cattle out on the spring range. The mares would -gladly have stayed to feed and put some fat on their lank -frames in the low country where the grass was growing -lustily, but the chestnut drove them higher, toward the -bleak meadows under timber line where the riders would -not come.</p> - -<p>One morning the band arrived at the high mesa overlooking -Shadow Canyon. The mares and colts came up -the narrow trail first, with the chestnut bringing up the -rear. When they broke from the canyon they spread out -and began feeding. The pinto filly was the second one to -reach the mesa. She was stronger and tougher than any of -the other mares and had stood the winter better.</p> - -<p>Midnight was resting in the timber close above the -clearing by the cabin when the pinto and her mother -walked out into the tall grass. He plunged to his feet and -whinnied loudly. The mare halted and looked at him -without answering his call, but the pinto tossed her head -and nickered eagerly. With a flash of her heels she trotted -to meet him. Midnight charged across the grass and slid<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">112</a></span> -to a halt beside her. The pinto pivoted and lashed out at -him with her trim heels. Midnight dodged and the filly -headed across the meadow with the black swinging along -at her side. They raced the full length of the mesa and -back again, to halt at the base of the castle rocks where -they stood, snorting and prancing.</p> - -<p>Their second run took them charging through the band -of mares spread out on the meadow. The scrawny colts in -the band bounced after the fleeting racers until they were -outdistanced while the mares watched without interest. -Just at that moment they were far too busy pulling grass -to care about this black stallion.</p> - -<p>The chestnut trotted out on the meadow and stood -looking about for danger signs. He sighted the black and -the pinto racing across the grass and his eyes rolled, his -ears flattened, and he blasted a savage challenge.</p> - -<p>Midnight and the pinto whirled and were standing on -high ground at the upper end of the mesa. The pinto -tossed her head and leaped away toward the mares as -she saw the lord of the herd charging toward her. Midnight -sent his own challenge ringing across the meadow -as he leaped to meet the big stallion. His feelings were -much different than they had been at their first meeting. -Now he was eager to accept the challenge to battle, and -savage rage, as great as the rage of the chestnut, filled -him. He had his father’s fighting blood in his veins.</p> - -<p>The two stallions crashed together and the greater -weight and power of the chestnut sent Midnight staggering -back. He was not yet so rugged and heavy as his -father. He recovered his balance and reared with teeth -bared and hoofs pounding. The master of the band raised -his massive hoofs and struck back as he reached for Midnight’s -neck with his teeth. The two stood like boxers, -hammering away at each other. Again Midnight was -pounded back.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">113</a></span></p> - -<p>The chestnut had only one idea in his head and that -was to smash this black stallion who had dared challenge -his mastery. It would not have mattered had he known -that Midnight was his son. He was sure he would soon -end the career of the black; he knew his advantage and -rushed upon the colt with savage eagerness.</p> - -<p>Midnight met the next charge and was hammered back -once more, giving ground slowly as the heavy hoofs -pounded him and the bared teeth ripped tufts of hair -from his shoulders and neck. Slowly the chestnut pushed -him toward the rim of the canyon. But Midnight refused -to turn tail and run. This time he had a different urge to -keep him fighting. He was not a lonesome colt seeking -companionship, he was a stallion desiring the rightful -place of a leader. He could easily have outdistanced the -chestnut had he chosen to flee, but he was filled with hot -rage. He had a wild desire to kill the big stallion who was -battering him. Slowly he gave ground, moving down the -gentle slope of the mesa toward the rocky edge of the -canyon. Behind him the walls of Shadow Canyon -dropped away in a sheer face a hundred feet in height. -There was no brush-padded ledge close under the rim at -that point, but the black paid no attention to the danger.</p> - -<p>Foot by foot the two moved down the slope. Blood -spurted from wounds on shoulders and necks. The smell -of it increased the fury of the battling stallions. Their -savage screams rang through the spruce timber and -echoed back from the walls of the castle rocks.</p> - -<p>The chestnut reared and plunged, eager to smash his -antagonist to the ground. Midnight met the smashing -charge with counterblows, but he was driven backward -though he remained on his feet. A red wound gaped on -his chest and blood trickled down across the white splash -on his forehead but his fury was so great that he did not -feel the pain. His hind feet struck solid rock and stones<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">114</a></span> -flew into the canyon behind him. He was poised on the -very edge of the chasm. Then he saw his danger, as he -shifted sidewise to dodge the blows of the big stallion. -His hind feet were planted inches from the rim as he -reared to meet another attack. The chestnut was blind -with fury, he did not see the sheer drop ahead. With a -terrible scream he lunged.</p> - -<p>Midnight had met every charge squarely, desiring only -to match blows with his foe, but the dizzy space under -his feet made him suddenly change his tactics. He leaped -aside to avoid being shoved over the edge. The chestnut’s -lunge carried him forward like an avalanche. Too late he -saw the rim and the empty space ahead. Plunging and -sliding he shot toward the abyss. Midnight’s rump was -toward him and close. With a shrill cry the black lashed -out with his hind feet. His hoofs landed against the side -of the struggling stallion poised on the dizzy height. The -chestnut might have saved himself but for that hail of -blows. With a defiant, savage squeal he plunged into -space.</p> - -<p>Midnight whirled about and stood with lowered head, -hot breath whistling through his flaring nostrils, his eyes -rolling so that their white rims gleamed in the morning -sunlight. He watched the body of the chestnut turn over -and over in the air as it shot down to land in a mangled -heap on a pile of rocks. Stamping and snorting he waited -for the chestnut to get to his feet and start back to finish -the battle. The chestnut did not move, but lay, a mangled -heap of broken bones and twisted muscles at the foot of -the cliff. Midnight challenged his adversary many times -as he stood there on the high rim. When he got no reply -he turned toward the mares who had not stopped their -eager feeding. The pinto nickered eagerly and left her -grass pulling to trot toward him. The mares lifted their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">115</a></span> -heads for a moment as he came closer. Midnight trotted -to them, dancing as he approached.</p> - -<p>With the pinto beside him he raced once around the -meadow, then the two joined the mares. Midnight was -too excited to start feeding. He walked around sniffing at -the colts, edging up to the mares. The old ones laid back -their ears and warned him to keep his distance. When he -tried to nose one of their colts they humped their backs -warningly. But they accepted him as the master of the -band and waited for him to assert himself in the savage -and harsh manner to which they were accustomed. But -Midnight lacked much in leadership. He really wanted -to be a member of the band and not a leader. He wanted -to play with the pinto filly. His rage had cooled and with -it had gone much of the strange power he had felt while -battling the chestnut stallion. The pinto did not understand -why she was interested in Midnight but she stayed -close to his side and divided her attention between him -and the lush grass.</p> - -<p>Toward evening the mares became restless. They were -used to seeking cover before night fell. One old mare -moved away from the band. She had decided that this -new leader was not going to seek a safe retreat. She shook -her head, then moved into the timber. The others followed -her with Midnight and the pinto coming along behind, -nipping at each other and making a great show of -kicking their heels and lashing at each other. And the old -mare changed the course the chestnut had so insistently -followed. She headed across the ridge and down into a -deep valley.</p> - -<p>The mares followed their new leader. They expected -the chestnut stallion to come charging through the woods -after them to drive them back toward the high ridges, but -they did not want to go higher and did not intend to head -that way until he came.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">116</a></span></p> - -<p>The moon swung up over a spruce ridge and flooded -the valley with white light. The wise old mare selected a -sheltered little meadow for a stopping place. It was small -and the band of thirty horses had to crowd close together, -but it smallness offered protection against cougars and -wolves. The cunning and harsh leadership of the chestnut -stallion had taken much of the natural wariness away -from the mares. They had always depended on him to -guide them.</p> - -<p>Late that night Midnight had his first chance to take -his place as protector and lord of the band. The mares -and the colts had bedded down. Midnight and the pinto -had raced around the clearing and come to a halt on a -wooded knoll overlooking the meadow. They stood close -together, snorting and pawing and playing. They pretended -to see forms in the black shadows under the -spruce. While they were standing there a lank cougar -passed below the high point. His nose wrinkled and his -long, black-tipped tail lashed as he scented the mares and -colts sleeping in the open.</p> - -<p>Circling to windward the yellow killer crept to the -edge of the meadow. He was looking for the sentinel he -expected to find on guard over the band. When he saw -no guard he snarled softly and his yellow eyes flamed. He -peered intently at the bedded horses and his eyes fastened -on a colt standing close to his mother who was lying in a -deep hollow. The colt’s head was down and his furry -rump was toward the king cat.</p> - -<p>Silently, like a tawny shadow, the cat slid through the -grass toward the unsuspecting colt. When he was within -striking distance he drew his powerful legs under him -and flattened his head between his massive forepaws. His -long claws moved slowly in and out, sheathing and unsheathing -their sharp points; his lips pulled away from -his fangs.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">117</a></span></p> - -<p>Up on the knoll Midnight was dancing on his hind legs, -his ears back, his bared teeth reaching to nip at the neck -of the pinto. She whirled and lashed out at him with her -slender feet. Midnight dodged the blows and crowded -against her, shoving her roughly to one side. She laid back -her ears and sunk her teeth into the loose skin of his -shoulder.</p> - -<p>The pain angered Midnight and he whirled to teach -her a lesson. His lunge was halted as the savage scream -of the cougar cracked the stillness. His forefeet struck the -ground with a thud and he stood beside the pinto, staring -toward the mares. The frightened whinny of a colt mingled -with the cry of the big cat. That cry from the stricken -colt sent a surging rush of rage through Midnight. He -plunged straight down the slope toward the spot where -the cat had made his attack. In the meadow the mares -had lurched to their feet and were snorting and milling -about. With a ringing call the black stallion charged to -the rescue.</p> - -<p>The cougar had landed on the colt’s back, striking him -down instantly. The little fellow was dead in a moment. -Standing on the limp body of his victim, the yellow killer -faced the angry mares who plunged around him. Midnight -charged through the circle and leaped at the killer, -his ears laid back, his battle cry ringing. This was something -the cougar had not expected. He had decided there -was no stallion with the band. Now he arched his back -and reared to meet Midnight. He lashed out at the black -as he came in.</p> - -<p>The cougar stayed a minute too long in facing the enraged -Midnight. He expected the stallion to swerve and -rush past, but Midnight did not swerve. He lifted his forefeet -and struck straight into the face of the killer. His -smashing hoofs descended on the head and shoulders of -the king cat. The blows sent the cat rolling and tumbling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">118</a></span> -over and over on the grass. Instantly the mares joined the -attack. Once a leader had braved the terrible fangs and -claws of the cat they were ready to finish the job.</p> - -<p>Screaming and rolling, the cougar tried to escape, to -get to his feet and leap clear of the smashing hoofs, but -the hoofs beat him down and trampled him. Teeth tore -at him as he twisted and lashed. His claws and teeth were -poor protection against the sharp hoofs of the horses. He -was battered back on the grass each time he tried to get -his feet under him. In a minute’s time he was a bloody -pulp and the mares had backed away. They stood in a -circle around him, their nostrils flaring, their eyes rolling.</p> - -<p>Midnight danced about snorting and blowing excitedly. -He was aware again of his power and was beginning -to understand the job he had taken over from the chestnut. -The mares stood waiting for him to decide what -should be done. When he did not offer to lead them away -from the scene of the kill an old mare struck out and the -others followed except the mother whose colt was dead. -She stood over him nickering and calling, trying to get -him to his feet.</p> - -<p>The pinto went with the mares. She had been badly -frightened by the attack and wanted to stay close beside -her mother. Midnight trotted after the band and stood by -while they bedded down in another meadow near the -scene of the attack. He walked around sniffing and snorting, -expecting another cougar to come out of the night. -When nothing happened, he lay down for a few hours’ -rest just before dawn. One of the old mares at once got -up and set to feeding apart from the herd. She seemed to -sense that Midnight had much to learn about leadership.</p> - -<p>The next day the band fed in the meadow until the old -mare decided they should move on. Midnight did not -offer to lead them, so she struck out. They headed deeper -into the lush grass country. They passed many white-faced<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">119</a></span> -cows and yearling steers. Occasionally a lordly bull -would saunter out of the shade to watch them. The band -had invaded Major Howard’s finest grass belt. They did -not know the danger this would bring, all they thought of -was the fine grass and the plentiful supply of water in the -clear, rushing streams. There was aspen shade for the -middle of the day and there was spruce timber for shelter -from the sudden and violent thunderstorms with their -cold rain.</p> - -<p>The band soon forgot the chestnut stallion. Midnight -was an easy master. He let them wander where they -wished. But he was a fierce and terrible fighter when -roused. They accepted him without much concern, giving -way to his few demands.</p> - -<p>The thunderstorms seldom lasted over half an hour and -the spruce needles shed the rain. Midnight was happy in -the easy life. The pinto played with him, racing over the -grass in the mornings or at dusk. She did what he demanded -without making any demands of her own. And -now Midnight had begun to watch for enemies while the -herd fed. He was slowly learning what was expected of -him.</p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="divider" /> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">120</a></span> -</div> - -<h2><a name="xii" id="xii"></a>12. Doom of the Band</h2> - - -<p class="noi"><span class="smcap">Tex</span> dropped the saddle he was dragging across the yard. -He faced Major Howard, his lean face expressionless. -The major was out of sorts that morning and when he -was in such a mood he was short-spoken. In his irritation -he did not notice that Tex was not in a jovial frame of -mind either.</p> - -<p>“The boys tell me there’s a band of thirty wild horses -down on the aspen range. I want you to take a crew up -there and clean them out.” He added as an after-thought, -“Use rifles and make sure none of them get away.”</p> - -<p>Tex scowled. He was dead set against shooting any -sort of horse, even a scrub.</p> - -<p>“Why not round ’em up and sell ’em?” he asked.</p> - -<p>The major grunted disgustedly. He could never understand -the quirks in the nature of his range boss. Tex -knew the wild horses were worthless on the market. -They would be tough and mean to handle, half of them -never could be broken, and they would not bring ten -dollars a head. To the major this was a simple matter of -business. Tex did not object to raising fine cattle for -slaughtering, therefore he should not object to killing a -few head of worthless horses. The major spoke impatiently.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">121</a></span></p> - -<p>“You know it would cost more to corral and handle -that bunch than we could get out of them,” he snapped. -“Kill them all. While I had more open range than I -could use I wasn’t so particular, but I’ve just bought -two big herds of whitefaces. It will take every foot of -grass I own to run them.” The major noticed that Tex -was not convinced. He added more quietly, “This is -business, big business.”</p> - -<p>“I reckon so,” Tex answered as he reached down and -caught the horn of his saddle.</p> - -<p>The major was ruffled by Tex’s reply.</p> - -<p>“If you don’t want to handle this job I’ll get another -man to take charge of it.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll handle it,” Tex said grimly. Then he added almost -to himself, “I thought that chestnut stud was the smartest -hoss on the range. Never figured he’d trail his herd down -into cow country where the boys ride regular.”</p> - -<p>“Well, he has and I want that scrub stuff killed,” the -major answered.</p> - -<p>Tex dragged his saddle into the corral and whistled to -his bay gelding. The bay trotted to meet him and Tex let -his mouth relax into a grin as he patted the big fellow’s -neck.</p> - -<p>“I reckon we’ll have to do the dirty work,” he said -softly.</p> - -<p>Tex picked four men to go with him, men who could -handle saddle carbines expertly. He did not want any -careless shooting. The kills would have to be clean. When -he explained the major’s orders to the men they growled -but none of them refused to go. They all shared Tex’s dislike -for the job, but they would carry out the boss’s orders.</p> - -<p>The execution crew rode away from the ranch with -thirty-thirty rifles slapping under their stirrup flaps. The -boys who had reported to the major had given the location<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">122</a></span> -of the herd. Tex did not expect to find the band -where the boys had seen them, but by riding to that -meadow they could pick up the trail. Thirty horses would -leave plenty of tracks.</p> - -<p>Tex speculated gloomily on the foolish turn the habits -of the wild band had taken. The big stallion at their head -must have lost his cunning or else he had met with disaster -and a younger leader had taken his place.</p> - -<p>Silently the men rode through the timber and up the -long ridges leading out of the lower valley. They entered -the aspen belt and took a trail which ran along -the top of a rocky ridge. From that ridge they crossed -over to another and finally followed a red-granite cliff -wall which led them into a narrow meadow. Towering -rims of granite formed a half circle around the meadow -with scattered spruce close to the wall on the lower side -where the meadow broke off into the lower country. The -entrance to the narrow valley was grown over by a -stand of young aspen trees. Tex hoped to pick up the -trail of the herd in this meadow and follow it from there. -He halted his men in the dense cover and scowled across -the meadow.</p> - -<p>At the upper end fed the band of wild horses he -sought. They had not moved their feed ground since the -boys had first located them. Tex was disgusted with -them; they were acting like brood mares in a farm pasture.</p> - -<p>“The chestnut stud isn’t running that bunch,” he said -gruffly.</p> - -<p>The men nodded agreement and Shorty Spears, horse-breaker -for the ranch, spoke up.</p> - -<p>“Must be an old mare at the head of that herd. This -is just the spot an old biddie would pick, grass knee-high, -water close in.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">123</a></span></p> - -<p>Tex nodded. He was studying the band carefully. -Finally he gave his orders.</p> - -<p>“Two of you take the upper side along the wall. Keep -in the brush cover until you work your way down close -to them. Make clean jobs, no gut shooting or broken legs. -Shorty, you and Cal take the lower side along the rim. -They won’t break down over that wall. I’ll wait here in -the outlet and pick off any that break past you boys. -They have to come out this way. Now get going.”</p> - -<p>The men divided forces and rode away. They were -eager to get a bad job done. It would be no sport for -them, shooting down a band of mares and colts. The -horses were trapped and would be helpless before the -repeating rifles. Tex watched them go. He noted grimly -that even the wind was against the wild horses. They had -no sentinel posted and Tex could spot no stallion among -them. The execution should be quick and complete.</p> - -<p>Midnight fed beside the pinto filly. They had just -finished a race around the meadow and were standing -in a clump of young spruce and balsam looking down -over the lower valleys. The rim at their feet broke off -steeply. It was matted with brush; ragged rocks jutted -up through the green leaves. The black stallion was -nervous and uneasy, though he did not know why. He -had a feeling of confinement, similar to that he had felt -while he was a prisoner on the meadow below the high -mesa. He tossed his head and pawed, snorting impatiently. -He was making ready to drive the band out of -the closed meadow.</p> - -<p>With a sharp nicker he whirled and laid his ears back. -The pinto edged away from him. With mane flaring and -tail flowing around her heels she kicked high into the air -and dashed away toward the mares. Midnight charged -after her, sending his warning call ringing across the -meadow. The mares jerked up their heads and stared at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">124</a></span> -him, then looked around uneasily to see what had startled -him. When they saw nothing they fell to feeding again. -They had no intention of leaving this horse heaven until -they were driven out, and their experience with Midnight -did not make them leap into action the way a command -from the chestnut would have acted on them. This -meadow was a safe retreat from cougars and wolves. No -killer could slip up on them with the steep rim on one -side and the high walls on the other.</p> - -<p>Reaching the first mare, Midnight rushed at her, and -when she did not leap away he fastened his bare teeth -on her rump. The mare squealed in pain and surprise. -Humping her back and bucking up and down she fled -before his lashing attack. Midnight rushed at another and -sent her staggering as his powerful chest smashed into -her. It had taken him days to get worked up to this nervous -and panicky pitch, but he was roused now and meant -to drive the band out of the meadow.</p> - -<p>He was swinging around the band, slashing at the -mares with his teeth or crashing into them to get them to -hurry when the silence of the valley was shattered by two -crashing reports from near the base of the cliff. An old -mare near Midnight staggered, turned halfway around, -then sank to the grass without making a sound. Another -mare plunged into the air and slid on her side until she -came to rest in a grassy hollow, her legs beating the air -in jerky spasms. The two shots did more to snap life and -action into the band than Midnight had been able to accomplish. -The mares charged wildly toward the aspen -grove which marked the outlet to the trap. Mothers -crowded colts along as fast as the little ones could run. -The spitting and crashing of rifles echoed along the canyon -wall and mares plunged into the grass mortally -wounded at every leap the band took. A cloud of dust -rolled up behind the charging band and in that cloud of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">125</a></span> -dust Midnight ripped and lashed as he drove the wild -ones on.</p> - -<p>The pinto filly had rushed to her mother when the first -two shots rang out. Together they were leading the -flight. Suddenly the mother swerved and staggered, -plunged down into the grass. The pinto planted her feet -and halted. Her sudden checking of speed saved her -from a bullet which had been aimed to break her neck. -The lead burned across her forehead raising a red welt. -The little mare whirled and plunged back into the mass -of plunging horses. She found Midnight savagely working -to force the pace, and crowded close to him.</p> - -<p>The charging rush of the mares was checked and they -swerved in bewildered fashion as a new burst of flame -and death leaped at them from a scrub-oak clump on -the edge of the rim well down toward the aspen grove. -Mares collapsed and colts leaped and ran about wildly. -Midnight had only one thought, to drive the mares out -through the aspen grove and into the open country. This -was his first meeting with the deadly guns of man and, -like all wild things, the death which struck from far off -filled him with terror. But he did not desert the mares. A -great rage possessed him and almost crowded out the -terror. Screaming and biting he worried the flanks of the -rapidly thinning band.</p> - -<p>Death held the little meadow in its bloody grip. The -grass was marked by twisted bodies. But Midnight knew -there was one avenue of escape. When the mares hesitated -before the guns of Shorty and Cal he attacked -their flanks with fury and drove them on. This was not -just the way Tex had planned it. He had figured that the -fire from the oaks would make the band circle back -around the meadow, giving his men at the lower end a -second chance to kill. He had been sure the band would -mill around and around the mesa until all were shot<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">126</a></span> -down. Now he sat in his saddle waiting grimly. It looked -as though he would have to turn them.</p> - -<p>Midnight had driven the mares into full gallop again. -Many went down as they swept close to the oak clump -where the two men were hidden, but they charged -straight past. Suddenly the vicious crack of a rifle broke -from the edge of the aspens. Tex had opened fire, his carbine -working with speed and murderous accuracy. In the -hail of lead mares went down, bucking and twisting. The -attack was too much for the remnant of the band. They -dodged and tried to double back. Midnight reared and -plunged at them, screaming madly. The bewildered and -panic-stricken animals turned toward the rim and the -black stallion sent them plunging toward it. When they -would have halted at the dizzy drop, with its matted and -ragged rocks, he lashed them on over the edge. They -tumbled downward, plunging, rolling, sliding, and twisting. -One mare went down with a broken leg, another -struck a jagged pinnacle of rock and rolled over. Behind -them Midnight and the pinto took the leap as they came -to it.</p> - -<p>Tex lowered his rifle. His eyes were on the black stallion -and there was an excited gleam in them. He had -never seen such a magnificent beast or such a feat of -reckless daring. But all these feelings were over-shadowed -by something else. He was looking at the long legs, -the powerful chest, and the slender body of the stallion. -He was sure he knew the sire and the dam who had -brought him into the world. Here was the son of the -chestnut stallion and Lady Ebony! He wet his lips and -then grinned eagerly. He did not give the escape of a -small part of the herd any thought. His mind was making -plans, leaping ahead to what he would tell Major Howard. -He was remembering the voice of Sam saying that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">127</a></span> -Lady Ebony would come back to the high country. He -was roused by Shorty’s amused voice.</p> - -<p>“What’s eatin’ you? You look like you was seein’ angels -or somethin’. Me, I’m plumb sick to my stummick.” -Shorty moved over to where he could see the trail -the band had made in escaping. He bent forward and -stared at it. “You don’t mean to say some of ’em went -over the side here?”</p> - -<p>Tex nodded, reloaded his carbine, and made ready to -end the misery of the mare who had broken her leg.</p> - -<p>“How many got away?” Shorty asked. He had a sudden -suspicion that Tex had not taken full advantage of -his chance to clean out the band. Certainly the slope -where the wild ones had plunged down to safety was -open and within easy range of the spot where Tex was -planted.</p> - -<p>“Ten head and a stud,” Tex said and spoke as though -to himself.</p> - -<p>“Must have been a fire-eater of a stud to force them -mares down over a cliff like that,” Shorty said with a -quick grin.</p> - -<p>“He’s a fire-eater,” Tex agreed softly.</p> - -<p>The other boys had ridden up and were looking at the -trail. Cal spoke in his slow drawl.</p> - -<p>“I passed up one shot an’ you can report it to the major -if you want. I had a broadside at a black stud but jest -couldn’t find my sights for watchin’ him tear into those -mares.”</p> - -<p>“That stud learned something here today that he won’t -forget,” Tex said grimly.</p> - -<p>“I’ll bet a month’s pay we don’t ever catch that bunch -in a place like this again,” Shorty said.</p> - -<p>The others grinned. They knew the stallion would be -wiser and more wary now that he had met the guns of -men. They were not sorry he had got away. Any horse<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">128</a></span> -that would lead a crazy charge down the face of a brush-matted -cliff deserved a break and was no scrub. One of -the others said:</p> - -<p>“I caught a glimpse of him through the dust. He’d -make any of the major’s blooded stuff look like a broom -tail if they were stood up side by side. Can’t figure where -such a hoss could have come from, must be a freak.”</p> - -<p>Tex grinned but said nothing. He knew where the big -black came from. As he moved away he remarked:</p> - -<p>“I reckon he might have some good blood in him.”</p> - -<p>A plan was forming in the mind of the range boss -and he was eager to work it out. He wanted to be alone -so that he could get it all ready. He turned to his men.</p> - -<p>“You boys ride on down to the ranch and report to the -boss. Tell him I’m staying on the trail of the ones that -got away. I’ll be in late tonight.”</p> - -<p>Shorty grinned. “Figure you might be lucky enough to -dab a rope on that black?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“I’d trade every horse in my string but the bay for -him,” Tex admitted.</p> - -<p>Shorty laughed. He had missed the real significance -of the remark. He thought Tex wanted the black as a -saddler. Tex was a nut when it came to saddle stock. He -remarked in an amused voice:</p> - -<p>“It’ll be a case of sneaking and trailing from now on, -and when you do dab a rope on him you’d best have -some help handy. That baby bites and kicks like a -cougar.”</p> - -<p>Tex nodded full agreement as he rode away from the -men. He took the regular trail off the mesa and rode -around to the foot of the cliff. He had no desire to send -the bay down over the trail the black had made for the -mares. At the bottom of the cliff he picked up the trail -and followed it. He did not have to dismount to tell the -tracks of the stallion and those of the mares. The tracks<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">129</a></span> -of the leader were clean and deep, with perfect alignment. -The trail led up the mountain in an almost straight -line and the horses did not halt until they reached the -barrens high under the rims of the Crazy Kill peaks.</p> - -<p>As he rode along Tex planned his course of action. He -would ambush the black and drop a rope on him. Taking -him now would be possible, Tex figured, because the -black was still a colt and could be handled if properly -worked. If he stayed in the wild another year he might -develop into a horse that could never be broken. He was -just learning the tricks of leadership; that was shown by -the trap the mares had walked into. Tex grinned eagerly -as he planned. He was sure he could convince the major, -once he looked at the midnight black, that his theory -about Lady Ebony was correct.</p> - -<p>He was also sure that, once convinced that Sam had -not stolen the mare, the major would get the old man -out of the pen quickly. Major Howard was an influential -man and a determined one when he set out to do anything. -He was a shrewd judge of blooded horses, and that -would help.</p> - -<p>Tex was eager to capture the black at once. He had a -feeling that if Sam was ever to come back to his high -mesa he would have to be set free that summer. He had -talked to the warden and to the doctor at the prison and -both agreed with him. It was Tex’s way never to consider -failure. The bay he rode was the fastest horse on -the range and Tex had accumulated some money and a -great many possessions betting on his speed. He was at -his best in rough country where sure-footed accuracy -counted for more than speed, and he was powerful -enough to handle the black once Tex roped him. The -bay could lay a five-year-old maverick on his side without -budging when the bulk of the critter hit the rope.</p> - -<p>Tex halted behind a clump of bushes on a ridge and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">130</a></span> -sat looking up a long, narrow valley. His keen eyes -lighted up with excitement as they rested on a small band -of horses feeding close to the timbered edge of the valley. -He spotted the black stallion with a pinto filly feeding -beside him. Deliberately Tex studied the ground and -laid plans. It would take most of an hour to circle the -band so as to have the timber as a screen for his approach -and the wind right. And his plan called for sending -them back into the lower country instead of higher -into the barrens where trailing would be tough. He was -sure the band would feed for at least an hour. The mares -were fagged and hungry, he could see that, even at a -great distance. Heading the bay up a narrow ledge, he -climbed to the top of the rim overlooking the valley -and dropped down on the far slope.</p> - -<p>The pace Midnight had set in driving the mares into -the high barrens had taxed their strength. They had -finally refused to go any further and he had let them -pause to feed and rest. But he was nervous and kept -moving about, jerking his head high, sniffing and snorting. -The excitement of the battle on the mesa below was -still in him. He lacked the experience of the chestnut stallion -and he did not know the country into which he was -headed. Instinct had made him strike for the barrens, but -he did not know where to go now that he had reached -the rough country. So he let the mares feed while he -moved about pulling a mouthful of grass here and there. -The pinto stayed close by him as though sure he would -protect her from all danger.</p> - -<p>Midnight fed above the mares and close to the narrow -trail leading up to a saddle on the ridge above. The -meadow was really a bench with a rock wall on one side -and a slope on the other. It lay along the edge of a deep -canyon but it was not a trap as the little meadow had -been; it was wide open at both ends and timber grew<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">131</a></span> -close, affording shelter which could be reached in a few -seconds. Midnight watched the trail above and the meadow -below, he tested the air, and he listened.</p> - -<p>Suddenly he stiffened, his nostrils flaring as he listened -intently. The sound of a loosened stone had come to -him. The pinto sensed something and edged close to his -side. Midnight snorted warningly and the mares instantly -lifted their heads, ready to leap to cover.</p> - -<p>Then Midnight saw a rider come charging out of the -timber above him. The man was mounted on a bay gelding -and he was standing up in his stirrups whirling a -rope around his head. The bay was reaching out with -powerful strides which carried him over the rough -ground at terrific speed. Midnight shrilled a warning to -the mares. The pinto froze into terrified stillness. She did -not run but stood rooted beside Midnight, staring at the -oncoming rider. Midnight expected the roar of guns but -no explosions came. He was sure other men were hidden -below to cut off any retreat. But he was on the wrong -side of the band of mares to drive them upward. He did -what the charging cowboy least expected, something the -chestnut stallion never would have done. He laid back his -ears, bared his teeth and charged straight at the bay, -screaming his challenge as he leaped forward.</p> - -<p>Tex was startled by the action. He gave the bay his -head so the big horse could save himself. The bay -swerved, dodging aside as he would have dodged the -charge of an infuriated bull. The loop Tex was swinging -sagged and jerked into a useless snarl as the bay lunged -aside. Midnight plunged in and reared, lashing out with -his hoofs, reached for the bay with his teeth. His pounding -hoofs missed the saddler but his teeth nipped a gash -in the horse’s flank. The bay was a high-spirited, nervous -beast. He plunged and ducked his head. Grunting and -snorting he started to pitch. Tex had to ride as he had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">132</a></span> -never ridden before to control his mount. He saw Midnight -whirl past, then wheel to charge again—the black -stallion had gone stark mad. His hand dropped to the -butt of his forty-five. He might have to shoot the big fellow -to save himself. He jerked out his gun and fired -twice into the air over Midnight’s head.</p> - -<p>The crashing reports jarred some of the rage out of -the black stallion. He pivoted rapidly. In that moment -Tex got the bay under control and jerked in his rope. -The shot had helped quiet the saddler. With the pinto at -his side Midnight broke for the trail leading upward.</p> - -<p>Tex set his spurs and sent the bay thundering after -the black stallion. This was just what he wanted. He -worked desperately to swing out a loop. The black had -a hundred yards of go in the open the way he was headed. -With the big colt running away Tex could drop a -rope on him and pull him down. He raised himself in -the stirrups and swung out his loop. Then Tex’s eager -grin vanished. The black stallion was running away from -his bay! He was leaving the fast saddler behind in a way -that made the saddler seem slow. Tex overhauled the -pinto and passed her. She was running her best, with -neck stretched out and mane flowing, heading upward in -an attempt to follow the black.</p> - -<p>Tex held on until the black stallion thundered out into -the saddle above and vanished down the far slope. He -had not used his spurs on the bay. He knew his horse -had given everything he had. On the ridge Tex pulled -up while the bay blew and pawed. Suddenly Tex -laughed. He had never seen such speed. Now he was -certain he had to capture the big fellow. He just couldn’t -have a horse on the range that was faster than the one -he owned. Then his laugh died away. He had a more important -reason for catching the black; in the excitement -he had forgotten it.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">133</a></span></p> - -<p>Midnight charged through the timber and kept going -until he reached the bottom of a canyon. He halted in a -dense growth of river alder and called long and loud -to the pinto. From far up the mountainside she answered -him. Her call was frantic and excited. Midnight listened -and heard a shout from the man who had chased him. -He kept still for a long time. Finally he called to the -pinto again and she answered him from lower down the -slope. She was hurrying to him as fast as she could make -her way down the rough slope. Midnight waited and listened. -After a time he decided the bay and his rider were -not coming down into the canyon. He could hear the -pinto rattling stones and nickering eagerly but there was -no other sound.</p> - -<p>The pinto broke into the alder stand in answer to Midnight’s -call as she reached the bottom of the canyon. -They stood close together, watching and listening.</p> - -<p>Up on the ridge Tex turned the bay and headed him -back down to the long meadow. Night would soon settle -and he would have no chance to trail the black after -dark. His best course was to follow the mares and drive -them into the lower country so that the black stallion -would have to come down to round them up. He sent the -bay galloping along the trail the fleeing mares had made -as they raced off the bench.</p> - -<p>Deep in the canyon Midnight was undecided what he -should do. He was certain he could not stay where he -was. The man would be sure to follow them. He finally -followed his instinct, which was to put many miles between -himself and the country which had proved so dangerous. -He did not have a strong urge to follow the mares -and round them up. His instincts for leadership were not -strong enough to make him look for them. He knew -of only one place where he had always found safety -and where he had never been attacked. That place was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">134</a></span> -the little meadow under the rim below the high mesa. -With a snort he headed up the sloping side of the canyon.</p> - -<p>The high mesa was far across the mountain on the -southern edge of Major Howard’s range lands. The old -mares had led the band along the backbone of the continental -divide and down into the lower valleys. Midnight’s -wild instinct led him unerringly toward the place -of his birth and early colthood. All that first night the -two horses moved steadily south and east, climbing upward, -following the twisting course of the divide. At -dawn Midnight and the pinto fed close to a stand of -balsam and spruce. Five mule deer and a band of elk -fed on the same meadow. Midnight had a feeling that the -deer and the elk would take alarm if anyone approached, -or it might have been his early friendship with the old -timber-line buck that made him select the spot as a feed -ground.</p> - -<p>The deer and the elk paid little attention to the two -horses. They recognized them as friends and harmless. -Neither of them was tainted by man smell or the reek of -a saddle blanket pungent with leather oil.</p> - -<p>Midnight had learned another of the lessons of the -wild, a lesson that had long since been mastered by the -elk and the deer. He would feed at dawn and at dusk, -when the dim light made rifle sights blur and when the -eyes of the upright walking killer play tricks on him. All -other wild things had learned that this was the law. The -sunlighted meadows were death traps by day, but in the -soft dusk of early morning or evening there was safety. -The big killers obeyed the rule but they did it as much -because their prey came out of hiding at that time as for -protection.</p> - -<p>The band of elk was headed by a lordly bull who was -master of the ten cows by virtue of his power and savage<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">135</a></span> -willingness to battle any other bull who challenged -him. As soon as his own sons grew to the age where their -antlers began to spread into sweeping weapons and their -desires led them to notice the cows he drove them out of -the band. They were then lone bulls for a time until they -were able to win a harem of their own. Nor was he satisfied -with defense of his cows. He challenged the world to -come and try to wrest supremacy from him. His battle -moods came in midsummer and fall when his shoulder -veins were swelling with hot blood, and his antlers had -hardened to polished lances of bone.</p> - -<p>The old wapiti bull was beginning to feel this pugnacious -mood. For weeks he had been rubbing and polishing -his antlers. They gleamed like the varnished surface -of a piece of fine furniture. During the gray of dawn -he had fed near the cows. Now that the white light from -the sun-bathed peaks above was making the meadow -bright he began to show signs of restlessness. The cows -fed on, eager to fill their paunches before they sought -deep cover to lie down. The old wapiti shook his horns -and lifted his muzzle. He trotted to a little knoll well -above his band. He was filled with courage and desire, -proud of his fine antlers, conscious of the power within his -twelve hundred pounds of weight. He halted and filled his -lungs with air, raised his muzzle, and poured forth a guttural -roar that increased in pitch to bugle tones, higher -and higher until it was a blasting whistle which screamed -through the still air of the mountainside. The high notes -quavered and faded, ending in a half dozen savage -grunts. The old bull seemed to know that he had just -executed one of the most inspiring pieces of music in all -nature’s mountain songs. He shook his head and listened -intently.</p> - -<p>From a ridge above the challenge of the lord of the -band was answered. The challenger’s bugle was not so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">136</a></span> -high and shrill nor so powerful, but it was eager and defiant. -The bull on the knoll shook his head and grunted -angrily, then he lifted his muzzle and sent his call ringing -out through the high, thin air. Again the challenge -was answered. A young bull was coming down the slope.</p> - -<p>In a few minutes the challenger appeared, breaking -out of the spruce at a trot, his head swinging back and -forth. He was lighter than the old bull by a few pounds -and his antlers were not so well filled, but he was big -boned and young, a lone knight seeking the end of the -lonesome trail, desiring to take his place at the head of a -band of cows.</p> - -<p>The old bull squealed a few short, sharp blasts, his -horns swept low, he charged to meet the invader. The -young bull came on, his pace increasing to a fast lope. -The two great brutes crashed together, their horns locking -as they grunted and twisted. For several minutes -they tussled in this manner, each trying to sweep the -other off his feet. The young bull was forced to his knees -but came up with a lunge which set the old one back. -Then they parted and backed away, heads still lowered, -spreading horns protecting vital parts of their bodies. For -a moment they halted with eyes glaring and breath -whistling into the grass, then they charged again and the -force of the impact sent them both to their knees. The old -bull was well aware of the advantage his few extra -pounds gave him and he kept hammering away, thrusting -the youngster to his knees, eager to weaken him so -that he would expose himself to the ripping thrust of -horns.</p> - -<p>The combatants had moved down the slope and the -young bull was now on the downhill side, moving slowly -toward the spot where Midnight and the pinto stood -watching the battle. A yellow band of sunlight had -slipped out across the grass. The mule deer, led by an old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">137</a></span> -doe, had slipped into the timber to seek a hiding place -for the day. The cow elk ceased feeding and stood watching -the combat out of calm eyes which betrayed no hint -of favor for either warrior. They would accept the lordship -of the winner without question. After all, their real -leader was a wise old cow who knew the ways of the -trail and the best hiding places. The lord of the herd was -master only for the time of the love moon.</p> - -<p>The smaller bull began to retreat a little before the onslaught -of the old bull. They had been fighting a quarter -of an hour and the youngster’s wind was beginning to -give out. They had backed away, the challenger still savagely -willing to charge but very short of breath. As they -lunged together, the young bull went down; this time one -foot slipped and he fell sidewise. Instantly the monarch -shook his horns free, backed away a step and lunged, his -lances lowered. The sharp daggers of bone ripped into -the side and flank of the young bull. He floundered and -struggled as the death wound racked him, then he got to -his feet with an effort. Staggering but with his defenses -again down and ready he lunged at the old bull. The -monarch smashed at him. This time he was down with -his whole side exposed and the victor was on him.</p> - -<p>But the old bull was at the end of his strength, too. -He tried to tear his adversary into shreds but did not -have the power. After a half dozen weak thrusts he -backed away and stood, blowing and grunting savagely, -while the youngster got to his feet and staggered toward -the woods seeking a secluded spot where he could lie -down.</p> - -<p>Midnight snorted and pawed. The cows shook their -heads and turned toward the woods following the lead of -the wise old cow. With a savage grunt the monarch -trotted after them.</p> - -<p>Midnight turned away. With the pinto filly at his side<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">138</a></span> -he trotted into the timber and there they bedded down -for the day. That night they moved again, heading along -a ridge with the white stars lighting the rocky trail. All -night Midnight kept going and dawn found them at the -edge of the high mesa. With the gray light about them -they fed close to Sam’s deserted cabin. Midnight felt -safer in these familiar surroundings. Even the cabin -seemed to give a friendly protection to him. He crossed -the meadow and halted near the head of the trail leading -down into Shadow Canyon. The pinto was afraid of -the cabin at first but when Midnight walked up to it in -passing across the meadow and sniffed about, she joined -him. The man smell was dead and old. It lacked the pungent -freshness which roused fear and caused flight.</p> - -<p>The old yellowbelly whistler mounted his perch on the -high rock and sounded an “all’s-well” whistle. The mesa -came to life with the chipmunks singing their chorus, -the prairie dogs barking, and the other chips racing -about. With the coming of life to the meadow Midnight -headed down the trail to cover.</p> - -<p>The two horses came to the crevice which lay across -the ledge trail. It was no longer a barrier, being filled -with rocks and torn tree trunks with gravel piled in the -cracks. Midnight moved down into the sunken mass and -over it. Together the two plunged up the far side. Now -Midnight felt secure. With the high walls towering above -him and the sheer drop into Shadow Canyon guarding -the lower side, there was only the entrance across the debris-filled -crevice and that was hidden from the main -trail by bushes screening the rocky ledge.</p> - -<p>He set to feeding and the pinto joined him. They -stayed in the shade of the aspen grove which afforded -them complete protection from anyone who might halt -on the rim above and look down. All such a pair of -eyes would see was the pale-green canopy of the aspen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">139</a></span> -grove. They grazed peacefully until they had eaten their -fill, then Midnight led the pinto to the bed of needles under -the Engelmann’s spruce over near the wall. There -they lay down in the cool shade.</p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="divider" /> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">140</a></span> -</div> - -<h2><a name="xiii" id="xiii"></a>13. Tex Takes the Trail</h2> - - -<p class="noi"><span class="smcap">Tex</span> followed the trail of the mares until almost dark. -He came up with them several times and sent them galloping -into the lower valleys. He did not shoot any of -them because he wished to leave them as an attraction -for the black stallion. With less than half an hour of daylight -left he headed over a ridge to one of the high-country -cabins where food and horse feed were always -kept ready for wandering cowpunchers and for the boys -who rode the high range during the summer.</p> - -<p>As he slid from his saddle he saw that someone else -was using the cabin for the night. Yellow light streamed -out of its one dusty window and the smell of frying -bacon and boiling coffee floated down to the corral. Tex -unsaddled the bay, watered and grained him, then -rubbed him down. He always cared for his horse before -thinking of his own comfort.</p> - -<p>As he shoved open the cabin door he saw Major Howard -and Shorty sitting at the plank table nailed to the -wall under the window. They were just finishing a meal -of hot biscuit, sugar syrup, bacon, and coffee which -Shorty had fixed.</p> - -<p>“Hello,” Tex greeted them. “Any grub left?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">141</a></span></p> - -<p>Shorty grinned widely and the major nodded. Shorty -shoved aside the packing box he had been sitting on.</p> - -<p>“I’ll scorch some bacon and warm up the coffee,” he -said. “I overestimated the boss’s appetite for biscuits, so -there’s plenty.”</p> - -<p>“Shorty made enough biscuits for six men,” the major -said.</p> - -<p>Tex eased his lank frame down on the packing box. -He was ravenously hungry. Reaching for a biscuit he -broke it, exposing its snowy center. The major watched -him as he crammed half the biscuit into his mouth.</p> - -<p>“I have been down to the meadow where you trapped -those wild horses. You did a nice job, Tex.”</p> - -<p>Tex grunted as he shoved the other half of the biscuit -into his mouth.</p> - -<p>The major added by way of defending himself against -killing the mares:</p> - -<p>“Not a single head worth rounding up.”</p> - -<p>“I reckon not,” Tex agreed. Then he leaned forward -and spoke with considered slowness: “The stud got away -and he’s a winner. He outran my bay on level ground -in a straightaway run.”</p> - -<p>The major showed his interest at once. He had always -wanted to capture a real wild stallion that had quality. -He had an idea he could do some crossbreeding that -might have interesting results.</p> - -<p>“Stallion?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“A black stud, long two-year-old. Fine racin’ legs, big -chest, and the heart of a winner. He turned on me and -come near knockin’ me out of my saddle.” Tex grinned as -he remembered that charge.</p> - -<p>The major smiled too, an eager smile. “He must have -spirit. Racing legs and body—h-mmm.” He picked up a -biscuit absently and crumbled the corner of it. Then he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">142</a></span> -shot a penetrating glance at Tex and asked, “And you -think you know his sire and dam?”</p> - -<p>“That colt is out of Lady Ebony by the chestnut stud -that led the wild band. The chestnut is the thief that -stole your mare, major. The chestnut is gone, can’t figure -exactly how he got killed, but I’m sure he’s dead. The -black colt couldn’t handle him, not yet. But the black -was running the band and he got the job too young.” -Tex reached for another biscuit. “I reckon he’s learning -fast, though.”</p> - -<p>Major Howard got out his pipe. He loaded it carefully, -then lighted it. He was watching Tex narrowly. -For a full minute he puffed deeply, the blue-white -smoke curling up around his graying hair. When he spoke -his voice lacked the assurance it usually carried.</p> - -<p>“You never give up once you get an idea, do you, -Tex?”</p> - -<p>“It’s as clear as day to me,” Tex said simply.</p> - -<p>“This long two-year-old can outrun anything on my -ranch.” The major spoke almost to himself.</p> - -<p>“And rest while he’s doing it,” Tex said.</p> - -<p>“You better bring him in. He may not be so good as -he looked today, but if he has the markings of that black -mare I’ll know it. I’d like to experiment with a stallion -like that.”</p> - -<p>“I figure on bringing him in if it takes all summer.” -Tex leaned forward. The bacon Shorty had set before -him went unnoticed. “If you figure I’m right you could -do something for Sam?” Tex knew he was treading on -dangerous ground. Mention of Sam always irritated the -major.</p> - -<p>“When I’m convinced, I’ll do what I can,” he said -gruffly.</p> - -<p>Tex knew there was no use talking any more about it. -He would round up the black and bring him in. Once<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">143</a></span> -the major set eyes on the stallion he would know the -black was Lady Ebony’s son. Then the major would get -Sam out of his cell. Tex had the major figured that way.</p> - -<p>With supper over the men rolled up in their blankets. -The major slept in the wall bunk while Tex and Shorty -bedded down on the floor. They did not stay up longer -than the time it took to wash the dishes and split some -wood for the breakfast fire. They would all be up and -in the saddle by daylight the next morning. Tex meant to -ride the upper range and to map out his campaign. He -had a feeling there was need for haste. The black stallion -would have to be brought in that summer. Sam had -to be got back to his high mesa if he was to come at all.</p> - -<p>The next morning Tex was up before the other two -men had wakened. He made coffee in the blackened pot -and finished up what had been left of Shorty’s biscuits. -With a can of tomatoes, a tin of fish and some coffee -from the cupboard he left the cabin.</p> - -<p>The rising sun found him on a high ridge overlooking -the sweep of the lower slopes of the Crazy Kills. He -studied the meadows below, watching the timbered -edges of the clearings, but he saw no sign of the black -stallion. After that he set about checking the meadows, -following the trails from valley to valley. About noon -he came on two of the wild mares. He did not alarm -them and they did not know he had seen them. Later he -came on three more in a meadow far from where he had -located the first two. At four that afternoon he found -two others feeding beside a stream miles from the others. -And he had come across no sign of the black stallion, -not even his tracks. He began to wonder what had happened -to the colt. And he was beginning to wonder if -the band had not separated for good. The mares he had -come on had been feeding or lying down. They had not -seemed to be looking for the others. Tex refused to be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">144</a></span> -worried, but he rode until darkness forced a halt. He -built a little fire to heat water for coffee. He had eaten -the tinned fish and tomatoes at noon. But he was determined -to camp where he was and go on with the search -in the morning.</p> - -<p>The next day Tex rode until evening without coming -on the black or crossing his trail. He was convinced now -that the stallion was making no effort to round up the -mares, that he was too young and inexperienced to have -developed band leadership. He knew he faced a tough -job but he had no idea of quitting. He would need a pack -horse and supplies to stay in the hills more than two days. -That meant he would have to return to the home ranch.</p> - -<p>He rode back to the high-line cabin and cooked a meal. -There was no one at the cabin and he rolled up on the -bunk as soon as he had eaten. The next day he headed -for the home ranch.</p> - -<p>The major did not object when Tex told him his plans. -But Tex knew that a week would probably be all he -would be allowed for the hunt. The major would be -calling him in to take charge of other work. He was convinced -his boss was giving him this time so that he would -have a chance to settle the matter that had been between -them since Sam was taken away.</p> - -<p>Tex rode into the high country. He laid his plans carefully. -He meant to cover the range from timber line down -in a careful check of all meadows and feed grounds. He -was sure he would miss no spot where a wild horse -would stay because he had ridden the Crazy Kill slopes -for fifteen years and knew every foot of the ground.</p> - -<p>Methodically he worked, from the north limits toward -the south. He accounted for all the wild horses except -Midnight and the pinto filly. At the end of the week he -was worried. The black stallion must have gone down -into the desert or over the divide into the wild country<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">145</a></span> -beyond Major Howard’s range. He had to admit he had -failed in a job that seemed to him important. He knew -there was no use trying to make a ride into the desert. -That vast expanse of sand and canyons stretched clear -to the Mexican border, while the wild country beyond -the Crazy Kills was worse than the desert. It was canyon-slotted -and grown dense with timber. No ranchers used -it as a range. It was virgin wilderness and it was a hundred -miles deep.</p> - -<p>When Major Howard ordered Tex to take charge of -the drive that would bring the new herds of cattle to the -high country from the railroad yards he did not object. -He had had his chance and had failed.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>At the foot of the high walls overlooking Shadow -Canyon, Midnight and the pinto stayed hidden in the -aspen grove by day. At night they either fed in the little -meadow or climbed up to the high mesa. When they -were on the high mesa they raced and played. They -never stayed after dawn broke. Twice they scented man -smell on the wind and dashed to cover along the ledge -trail.</p> - -<p>The day Tex checked the high mesa for tracks or -signs they were feeding below and had not been on top -for several days. Rain had come and their tracks had -been washed out. He had passed on after looking inside -Sam’s cabin and noting how it was falling apart from -disuse.</p> - -<p>The pinto pony trusted Midnight and he had his past -experience to make him feel secure in his hideout. But he -did not forget the lessons he had learned, and no buck -deer was more alert and watchful than he.</p> - -<p>Many times Midnight led the pinto around the track -he had laid out. They often ran by daylight, around and -around, leaping over logs and rocks and pounding in a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">146</a></span> -reckless chase over the rough trail. Midnight could easily -outdistance the filly, but he never ran away from her -when she dropped behind.</p> - -<p>As the days passed, both horses became sleek and fat, -but Midnight did not lose his speed or power. He never -became lazy, because of the nervous, high spirits which -filled him. He was fast coming to the place where he -would not be satisfied with the company of one filly, but -another season would pass before he was ready to go -forth.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>In a town below the ridges and wild barrens, behind -drab, gray walls old Sam had at last given up the fight. -One morning he did not answer early call and they -found him lying on his cot peacefully sleeping. He -would not stir and seemed not to have the wiry strength -that had carried him along. The warden and the doctor -came. Sam was taken to the hospital and placed on a -white bed. Outside the door of his room the doctor faced -the warden.</p> - -<p>“The state will not be burdened over a couple of -months longer by that old codger,” he said.</p> - -<p>“What ails him?” the warden asked.</p> - -<p>“What would ail any wild thing that was cooped up -in one of your cells?” the doctor asked, then turned -abruptly away.</p> - -<p>The warden went back to his office and looked into -Sam’s file. No one had taken any interest in the case except -Tex and he had written only one letter because writing -was something he seldom did. The warden put the -file away and made a note of what the doctor had said.</p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="divider" /> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">147</a></span> -</div> - -<h2><a name="xiv" id="xiv"></a>14. Beside the Castle Rocks</h2> - - -<p class="noi"><span class="smcap">With</span> an uneasy jerk Tex tore open the envelope the -major handed him. He was not used to getting letters -and this one was postmarked at the state prison. He -fished out a single sheet of paper and stared at it. The -major had read the postmark and stood waiting for Tex -to speak.</p> - -<p>There was a brief line at the beginning of the letter. -The message was from Sam and the warden had written -the letter for him. Tex turned away from the major and -walked down to the horse corral before he read any -further. He wanted to be alone. Leaning over the pole -gate he finished the letter. The message was brief, very -much like Sam. Tex’s lips moved as he repeated the -words to himself.</p> - -<p>“I put off writin’ figurin’ to see you. Reckon I won’t, -so the warden is writin’ this to you. They got a buryin’ -spot down here they call Woodpecker Hill. It’s good -enough fer an old gopher miner but I still got a hankerin’ -to get back to the top of the world. If it won’t put you -out too much, Tex, I’d like to be planted near the ledge -trail at the foot of the castle rocks. Jest lift the rock under -the right front leg of the stove and you’ll find a poke -of dust I cached. There’ll be enough in it to do the job.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">148</a></span> -I want you should keep what’s left over. Figure I’ll hang -on till I get a letter back from you. The doc says no, but -I’ve fooled ’em before. Sam.”</p> - -<p>Tex folded the sheet into a wad and shoved it into -the pocket of his chaps. He stared for a long time -through the white sunlight. His bay gelding came over -to the fence and nudged his arm. Tex turned around.</p> - -<p>“We shore let old Sam down,” he said grimly. “But -this time we’ll not flop on him.”</p> - -<p>He reached over and caught the horn of his saddle -which was tossed across the top pole of the corral. As -he was jerking the cinch tight around the belly of the -bay a few minutes later, the major’s shadow appeared -near the gate. Tex did not turn around. He did not feel -like telling the major anything. The last time he had tried -to talk to him about getting Sam freed his boss had been -irritated and short in his refusal. Tex had a feeling the -major even believed he had invented the story about the -black stud, with the help of Shorty, in order to get his -sympathy. The major watched in silence until Tex faced -the gate, then he spoke.</p> - -<p>“I want to have a look at the new stock. You can ride -into the aspen range with me and show me around.”</p> - -<p>Tex nodded. There was no use in writing to Sam -now. The mail would not be picked up until the next -day. He could take a couple of days off and ride in, but -he didn’t feel equal to facing the old man after the way -he had let him down.</p> - -<p>By midafternoon the pair were high in the aspen -country and close to the spruce belt. Tex had taken the -major to the meadows where the new stock grazed. They -had halted on a ridge as the major had a way of doing -and were gazing over the vast country below. The major -always got a thrill out of looking over his vast domain.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">149</a></span> -He never tired of the rolling foothills and the wide, -grassy valleys, all his.</p> - -<p>Tex could see the high mesa on the rim of Shadow -Canyon. He could see the castle rocks where Sam wanted -to be planted. A desire to ride down to the spot laid hold -of him. He could get the poke of gold while he was there. -When the major was ready to move on, Tex headed down -the slope. Within an hour they broke out on the high -meadow. The major looked across at Tex questioningly -but said nothing. He knew none of the new stock were -run that far south. But he was more interested in the letter -Tex had got than he cared to show and was sure this -visit had something to do with it. He feared the old man -had died in prison, and the thought stirred the old train -of doubts as to the course he had followed.</p> - -<p>They rode down to the castle rocks before going to the -cabin. Tex dismounted and stood at the base of the rocks -where Sam had said he wanted to lie. When he looked -over the expanse of country below he knew why Sam -had picked this spot. From the ledge he could see far -across the hazy lower valley to the distant peaks of the -Sleepy Range, while on the right he could look out over -the purple expanse of the desert with its spires and red -rims gleaming in the late sunlight. At his feet yawned -Shadow Canyon. From its twilight depths came the -rumble of a rushing stream. The music rose and fell in -steady cadence. Tex drew in his breath sharply and -turned toward the major.</p> - -<p>As he turned a flash of movement below caught his -eye. He stepped closer to the canyon rim and looked -down on a little meadow. At first he saw nothing but a -little beaver lake, a grove of aspens, and a stand of -spruce. Then a black horse flashed out of the timber -running madly. Close on his heels came a pinto filly. -They were heading straight at a barrier of logs. They<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">150</a></span> -reached the barrier and lifted like birds, sailing over -it easily. Their manes and tails flowed out as they pounded -along.</p> - -<p>“Look!” Tex called hoarsely as he pointed downward.</p> - -<p>The major slid from his horse and stood beside Tex. -The flying horses had vanished into the aspen grove and -Tex grunted disgustedly. In a moment they appeared -again and took the log barrier in a mad leap. Both men -stood in silence watching the big black stallion as he -cleared the barrier and raced away. The horses vanished -but appeared again as they charged around the little circle -below. Then they vanished and did not appear again.</p> - -<p>For a long minute the two men faced each other. It -was the major who spoke.</p> - -<p>“Tex,” he said gruffly, “I’m a stubborn fool.” He held -out his hand. “Let me see that letter you got from the -state prison.”</p> - -<p>Tex dug out the letter and handed it to him. The -major read it quickly. When he had finished he folded -it carefully and handed it back to Tex. Relief and eagerness -showed on his face, as he turned toward his horse.</p> - -<p>“We’ll ride for the ranch. If I hit the trail hard enough -I can catch the midnight train at Painted Rocks.”</p> - -<p>Tex grinned. He said nothing, but he was in his saddle -before the major reached his horse.</p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<hr class="divider" /> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">151</a></span> -</div> - -<h2><a name="xv" id="xv"></a>15. Home to Stay</h2> - - -<p class="noi"><span class="smcap">The</span> old yellowbelly whistler was uneasy. He scented -the coming of a cold snap, a heavy snow perhaps. The -aspens were flaming yellow, the oak brush purple and -red, its rounded clumps looking like fine upholstery laid -on an immense piece of furniture. The calico chips darted -around in frantic haste as they gathered seeds to add to -their bulging granaries. Even the rockchips were more -active than usual. They did not spend so much time hugging -their fat bellies and mooning into the distance. The -dog colony was as noisy and busy as usual but there was -a difference in their chatter. This was a time of uncertainty. -Indian summer had to end. It had held the high -country in its drowsy spell for many days. Now the air -had a different feel.</p> - -<p>Down by the castle rocks there was a newly made pile -of rocks. This disturbance of the scenery had upset the -small folk of the meadow for a while but now they were -used to it. The calico chips used it as a hiding place and -even the whistlers had explored it carefully.</p> - -<p>Suddenly the meadow rang with an eager whinny, -followed by a loud snort and the pounding of hoofs -against the dry, hard ground. A black stallion and a pinto -filly broke from the head of the Shadow Canyon trail.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">152</a></span> -They raced wildly around the mesa, kicking and dodging. -They swung down past the castle rocks and the black -stallion made a magnificent show of shying and plunging -as they passed the pile of rocks. Saluting the mound -with a flash of his heels he raced back toward the old -cabin.</p> - -<p>Midnight slid to a halt before the cabin and called -loudly. He advanced toward the door shaking his head -and snorting, his eyes rolling wildly.</p> - -<p>The door of the cabin hung open. A blue-white wreath -of smoke curled out and up into the air, then old Sam -stepped through the doorway. He stood for a moment -steadying himself, one hand against the casing, then he -shuffled outside and sank down on the ancient willow -chair. As he seated himself he dug into a pocket of his -worn jacket and brought out a handful of dingy lump -sugar.</p> - -<p>“No human critter could of got me outside today the -way my rheumatiz joints is shoutin’ fer a storm,” he -said.</p> - -<p>He held out one hand with two lumps of sugar in it. -The black stallion edged closer, his legs trembling, his -nostrils flaring eagerly. The pinto filly crowded ahead -of him and her pink nose deftly whisked the sugar out of -Sam’s palm. Old Sam chuckled as he placed two more -lumps in his palm.</p> - -<p>“Lady, you act plumb scandalous fer a wild hoss,” he -said.</p> - -<p>Midnight had edged close now. He gathered up the -two lumps and crunched them eagerly. Even after weeks -of coaxing and tempting Sam had not quieted all the -fears in the heart of the stallion. Sam doled out the -sweets slowly, making them last as long as possible. -When they were gone he got to his feet, and picked up -a tin pail beside the door. Walking to a bare spot of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">153</a></span> -ground near the corner of the cabin he poured out a -liberal measure of oats.</p> - -<p>Midnight stood watching, ready to charge away. The -pinto shouldered up close to Sam, letting him run his -hand along her neck. Watching her gather up the oats -was too much for the black; he crowded in to get his -share, but not until Sam had backed away.</p> - -<p>Midnight and the pinto gathered up every grain of -oats, then they trotted out into the meadow and began -feeding. Sam filled his pipe and settled back to let the -sun warm his joints. He was glad his visitors had routed -him out. The sun was really fine. After a few minutes of -its warmth he began thinking about walking down to the -new prospect hole he had dug at the base of the castle -rocks. He chuckled to himself as he thought about it but -he did not move. He was remembering how he had written -to Tex asking him to dig a hole on that very spot. He -wondered what Tex would have done if he had dug that -hole and then discovered he had uncovered a vein of -gold-bearing quartz. Sam had a feeling Tex would have -dug a buryin’ hole and let it go at that. That was what -he thought of Tex.</p> - -<p>Out on the meadow a chipmunk had mounted a stone. -His voice rang out. “Chock! Chock! Chock!” like the -rattle of an old alarm clock. Instantly every chipmunk in -the meadow raced to his sing perch and the meadow -rang with their song. The fat yellowbelly on guard -stretched his neck and blasted a short whistle, then -pulled in his neck with a deep chuckle. He always disapproved -such a chatter.</p> - -<p>Sam’s pipe rolled to the corner of his mouth and turned -upside down. One fumbling hand found the gold chain of -his big watch. He pulled it out and bent above the dial. -His lips moved as he counted. When the chorus died -away he was grinning happily.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">154</a></span></p> - -<p>“One hunnert eighty a minnit,” he mumbled. “That -there’s a youngster jest comin’ into his growth. Come -spring he’ll do two hunnert.”</p> - -<p>As he tucked the ancient watch back into his pocket -he sniffed the air. Twisting his neck he looked up at the -spruce ridge. Gray clouds raced above the tops of the -trees, and he could hear the moaning of a cold wind -rushing through the needles. Below the clouds moved a -curtain of white, swirling flakes. Sam got to his feet. His -watery eyes rested for a moment on a pile of baled hay -stacked against the end of the cabin and flanked by a -great stack of split firewood. Tex had fixed everything. -Let the snows come, he’d be snug as any one of the yellowbellies. -And the two horses would not have to worry -either.</p> - -<p>“I reckon I’ll jest hole up fer a spell,” he said.</p> - -<p>Down on the meadow Midnight had jerked up his head -and was watching the storm sweep across the mesa. -Sam stood at the door looking out on the scene until the -form of the big stallion was swallowed by the wall of -snow.</p> - - - -<div class="section"> -<hr class="divider" /> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">155</a></span> -</div> - -<p class="center p140">As handsome as he is wild—that’s</p> - -<p class="center p180">MIDNIGHT</p> - -<p class="noi">Son of a beautiful purebred mare and a -wild stallion, the gangling colt grows up -under the stern law of the wild ... until his -flying hooves and bitterly learned store -of experience make him leader of his own -untamed band.</p> - -<p class="noi">The thrilling tale of a freedom-loving horse -in the Western mountains.</p> - -<p class="center">SCHOLASTIC BOOK SERVICES<br /> -<b>SBS</b> New York · London · Richmond Hill, Ontario</p> - - - -<div class="section"> -<hr class="divider" /> -</div> -<div class="tn"> -<p class="center">Transcriber’s Note:</p> - -<p>Spelling and hyphenation have been retained as they appear in the -original publication except as follows:</p> - -<ul class="nobullet"> -<li>Page 20<br /> -and cerainly limited <i>changed to</i><br /> -and certainly limited</li> - -<li>Page 95<br /> -Midnight back away a few yards <i>changed to</i><br /> -Midnight <a href="#backed">backed</a> away a few yards</li> - -<li>Page 103<br /> -One moonlight night as Midnight <i>changed to</i><br /> -One <a href="#moonlit">moonlit</a> night as Midnight</li> - -</ul> -</div> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Midnight, by -Rutherford George Montgomery (1894-1985) - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MIDNIGHT *** - -***** This file should be named 60458-h.htm or 60458-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/0/4/5/60458/ - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Laura Brown and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project -Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you -charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you -do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the -rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose -such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and -research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do -practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is -subject to the trademark license, especially commercial -redistribution. - - - -*** START: FULL LICENSE *** - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at -http://gutenberg.org/license). - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy -all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. -If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" -or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the -collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from -copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative -works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg -are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project -Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by -freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of -this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with -the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by -keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project -Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate -access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently -whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, -copied or distributed: - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived -from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is -posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied -and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees -or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work -with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the -work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 -through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional -terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked -to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the -permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), -you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a -copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon -request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other -form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided -that - -- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is - owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he - has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the - Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments - must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you - prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax - returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and - sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the - address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to - the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." - -- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or - destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium - and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of - Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any - money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days - of receipt of the work. - -- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set -forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from -both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm -collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain -"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or -corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual -property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a -computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by -your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. -To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 -and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at -http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent -permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. -Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at -809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email -business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact -information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official -page at http://pglaf.org - -For additional contact information: - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To -SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any -particular state visit http://pglaf.org - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. -To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - http://www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - - -</pre> - -</body> -</html> |