The Last of the Plainsmen 



had to dismount and lead the horses, thus losing 

 ground. Jones forged ahead and reached the top 

 of the ravine first. When Wallace and I got up, 

 breathing heavily, Jones and the hounds were out of 

 sight. But Sounder kept voicing his clear call, giving 

 us our direction. Off we flew, over ground that was 

 still rough, but enjoyable going compared to the 

 ravine slopes. The ridge was sparsely covered with 

 cedar and pinon, through which, far ahead, we pretty 

 soon spied Jones. Wallace signaled, and our leader 

 answered twice. We caught up with him on the 

 brink of another ravine deeper and craggier than the 

 first, full of dead, gnarled pinon and splintered rocks. 



&quot; This gulch is the largest of the three that head 

 in at Oak Spring, 1 said Jones. &quot; Boys, don t forget 

 your direction. Always keep a feeling where camp 

 is, always sense it every time you turn. The dogs 

 have gone down. That lion is in here somewhere. 

 Maybe he lives down in the high cliffs near the spring 

 and came up here last night for a kill he s buried 

 somewhere. Lions never travel far. Hark ! Hark ! 

 There s Sounder and the rest of them! They ve 

 got the scent ; they ve all got it ! Down, boys, down, 

 and ride!&quot; 



With that he crashed into the cedar in a way that 

 showed me how impervious he was to slashing 

 branches, sharp as thorns, and steep descent and peril. 



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