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Show ' 316 THE MORMON LION Lil The sound of hoofs on the road nerved me to peer out agam. A small man was J;iding along the trail past me on a b1g mule, his head downbent to study the tracks m the dust before him. I did not need to see his face to know that he was Waller. I raised my nfle ; but my hands were shU shaking. I hesitated and dec1ded to hold my fll"St shot for Chilcott. I had beaten Jake Waller once. It was not he of whom I was afraid. I turned to peer out at Chilcott. He had dismounted and was watering his riding mule and a pack mule, together with our pair of runaways. Had he been any other man I could have shot at him with a certainty of hitting my mark. But with him I dared not risk the shot at that range. When he coolly opened the bag of oats in the wagon and started to feed the mules, I turned again to Waller. He had reached the beginning of the rocky road and had stood erect in his stirrups to peer westward down into the valley. He twisted half about to scan the ledges where we had turned off the road. My heart stood still. ... He tw1sted about to the other side. I gasped with relief. He wheeled his mule and trotted back to the wa9on. ' Well ? " demanded Chilcott. "Jest what I told you,:· replied Waller. Through the hot stlll a1r I could hear their voices as distinctly as if they had been beside me. " Streaked out afoot-out of sight, hey ? " said Chilcott. "Not so much streaking to it," cackled Waller. " They started off mighty easy-like. Bet Dave calc'lated he clean used me up an' there wouldn't be no one to start a pursuit. He could figger on you lookmg round a day or two for him an' me, before leavmg the Medders." "The way he came through this far, he could have figured on beatmg us clear to San Bernardino, if it ............. ~4 .... " ••• THE MORMON LION 317 hadn't been for his mules getting loose," remarked Chilcott. " 'Tain't the first time his mules got loose," said Waller, and he burst into a cackling laugh. " Shut up. What you talking about? " growled Chilcott. "Well, I'llbedummed! Yousureain'tforgotthat, Bill, have you? Don't you rec'lect back at Nauvoothat night you an' me was sent after him an' his dad? You got the old man on the hilltop, 'longside his wife's grave, an' I thought I got Dave. It turned out I missed him- an' I missed catching them mules. This time I got the mules, an' you'll gtt Dave." Again he burst into his shrill cackle. The hair of my head bristled with fury. These, then, were the murderers of my fatherChilcott had fired the ball that killed him! My nerves tingled to my finger tips. I not only had Lucy to protect- ! had my father to avenge. I levelled my rifle over a rock and waited until Chilcott faced me. His broad chest offered a fair mark at the range. I sighted for his heart, and pressed the trigger. For an instant the smoke obscured him from me. It dissolved. I saw him staggering back with his left hand on his right shoulder. Another instant, and he was rushing towards me, roaring. I dropped back and started to reload with feverish haste. Rifle bullets began to"splatter on the rocks about me. I heard the rapid reports of Chilcott's clip rifle. Waller was firing it as fast as he could, to keep me close. But my only concern was Chilcott. His deep shout seemed very near. Dropping my rifle, I caught up"my revolver and peered under a corner of the rock. Chilcott was less than thirty yards away and coming at a tremendous speed. Had I seen his face, his fury might have appalled me. But I could see only as high as his shoulders. I thrust out my revolver and fired. He |