The Triumphs of Atropos [pp. 412-424]

41~ OVERLAND MONTHLY
less dare-deviltry of the "boys." A race their dinner at the ranch, set forth to bring
across the chasm and along the perilous in the cattle from the northern half of the
ledge was not perhaps more dangerous than range. Stratton's position being on the
the onset of an angry bull or of a stampeded east side of this drive, and his route leading
herd things not at all uncommom. But along the head of the main canon, the inthe Senora viewed this needless defiance of tervening slopes soon hid him from view
the King of Terrors with troubled eyes and then, instead of keeping a direct course, he
a dread of consequences that might issue turned squarely into the canon by the upper
from out the unknown. trail. Half an hour later, he repassed the
Sometimes, however, even the Fates, point where this trail debouched from the
smiling at the follies of men, suspend the canon, and riding rapidly northward,
tragedies of life for a season; and the sad- passed across the crest of the plateau and
browed Atropos, for this time, laid her disappeared in the wide-spreading plain
lifted scissors down again. The riders re- beyond.
turned in half an hour, their horses dripping The rays of the setting sun yet lingered
with sweat and all unscathed. on the tops of the bluffs as Markham, re "How did Ticklefoot take the bridge?" turning homeward up the Canon Hondo,
inquired Markham. reached the mouth of the ladder-bridge
"Like a daisy," answered Jack, beaming trail; and the distant lowing of cattle ahead
with triumph. "He cleared the whole con- told him that the herds had just been driven
traption without touching either end." in, more than a mile above. The shadows
"Yes," said Bob, "but you just ought to were thickening in the deep ravine, and on
have seen em when I got`em stampeded on the narrow ledge his horse, suddenly throwthe down-grade along that narrow path, ing up his head, came to a full halt. Juanita
and they found they was in for it and no stood at the lower end of the bridge, her
stopping; and me whooping right down small figure pressed against the face of the
after`em like the Judgment Day a-coming! bluff, her glad eyes yet showing the fright
Jack looked back at me once, and I`11 her perilous surroundings had inspired.
swear his eyes stuck out so far you could "Hallo, Little Johnnie, and what are you
have brushed`em off without touching his doing here?"
face. Ugh! me big Injun; make pale-face "I came to meet the senor, and," with
heap run!" And this doughty Comanche a shuddering glance at the chasms beneath,
brave slapped his leg and roared with "and 0,1 was much afraid!"
laughter after a fashion illy befitting the Markham rode up beside her, and reachgravity of the aboriginal character. ing down, took her arm to lift her to the
`~The great C~sars!" exclaimed Jack, the saddle. She held the lower ends of her
dauntless, much disgusted that his exploit apron, enclosing some shining pebbles, and
should be thus held up to derision. "If I the movement of raising her threw them to
could lie like that, I'd never drive cattle the ground beneath the horse. Releasing
for a living not another day. I'd start the child's arm, the rider dismounted to
to Congress tomorrow morning." In this gather them up. The horse was in the way
perspective of a career in politics, it will be and the ledge narrow.
seen that Jack had allowed no time whatever "Cross over, Selim," he said; "we will
for the necessary intervention of a gullible mount on the other side."
constituency, so shiningly had his compatriot The noble animal hesitated, then sprang
exhibited the talent chiefly requisite to po- forward on the bridge, and in an instant,
litical success. both horse and bridge went headlong into
the abyss. There came up from below the
III. sharp rattle of timbers on the rocks, a shrill
and agonizing scream, followed by the dull
GOD DISPOSES sound of a heavy fall at the bottom, and
then all was still. Markham leaned over
"But Zeus fulfills not the thoughts of man." the precipice and called aloud the name of
his horse, but there was no response. He
Ox THE January day aforesaid, the men turned to Juanita.
having finished the lower drive, and also "Well, Juaniscita, dear little Johnnie