The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-10-16


waving his gun, "Tell any visitors
that you may have that we're out for
the evening and AK 'em to await our
return. Good-bye"
Our course was nearly due west, and
for a time through q rolling country,
thinly timbered and filled with little
streams, so that we were able to travel
rapidly; but shortly after the moon
rose we struck some heavily-wooded
ridges, rough and rocky, and our pro-
gress was necessarily slow. We did not
talk much, but kept bright lookout for
both outlaws and Indians, and we
marked our way by the stars that glim-
mered overhead.
The night was cool and still, the only
sound which broke the silence being the
grind of the gravel under our feet, or
the occasional cry of some far-away
wolf. - .-
We had proceeded thus for perhaps
four hours, and had covered a dozen
miles or more, when we found ourselves
at the entrance of a narrow canon,
| through whose dreary shadows our
| course lay. 1t was an uncanny"
place, and instinctively l loosened my
knife in the sheath as we entered its
yawning mouth, but old Tom tramped
| unconsciously on, and must need fol-
low. Deeper and deeper grew the dark
ness, the towering walls fairly threaten
| ing to meet overhead, while more and
more rough grew the path beneath. At
| length we were obliged to crawl from
point to point, so tllickly strewn with
masses of rock was the uneven floor.
Suddenly a sharp turn opened before
us the unexpected vision of broad
park. covered with short grass, through
which ran a little stream, and about
which, sitting, standing and lying, were
dozen as rough-looking deperadoes as
the border land could produce, while
the W hole scene was brilliantly illumin-
ated by the light of a great fire which
burned near the center Of the glade.
We had fallen into the very trap we
were seeking to avoid, This was the
night camp of Bed Jim's gang!
1t was too late to retreat, for even as
we looked, two or three of the men
sprang to their feet, and, with weapons
half raised, cried out to us, HALT"
So, with a whisper, "We're busted
miners; ask for shelter" Tom threw up
his hands and shouted loudly:
Friends"
Then, with assumed boldness, we both
entered the arena, and were at once sur
rounded by the scowling, -browed
crew.
Tom told our story--broken-he hearted
prospectors trying to return to the min
| ing camps over the range, and travelling
at night for fear of the Indians. Would
| they give as supper and shelterp
A short consultation was held, Red
Jim, brawny ruffian, with blood
colored name of hair and beard, putting
some close questions t. us both; and at
length, with not the best grace in the
world, our request was granted, and we
were told to draw up and help ourselves
from the open provision pack upon the
ground.
Hungry from sour long walk, we
needed no second invitation, and were
soon eating and talking with those about
us us familially as though horse thieves
and cut throats ourselves.
| We dissembled fear, and made no at
tempt at private communication. Time
for that by-and-bye. We must disarm
all suspicion, or our throats would be
sore before morning.
| The meal was nearly over, and I had
just washed down my last bite of .jerked
vcnsion with draught OF fiery whisky
from the canteen of a hideous dwarf
who sat near me, when Red Jim again
approached us. -, -,
| What's ye'uns names?" said he.
Mine is Baldwin-Hank Baldwin, :"
said old Tom. quickly, and this young
'un is Major Dick Smith. He was in
the Roosian war, and is green at this
country miner, where / worked nine
years afore ! ever seed this cussed
| region"
The ruf1ian looked at him sharply for
an instant, and then said:
| "Hold out YOUR left handn
With sudden fear | saw Toms face
grow ashen pale. and almost impercep-
| tihly his hand move toward his pistol
belt; then, recovering himself, he obeyed
with a laugh.
"Thar it is, pard; what's left ofit''-
| there were but two fingers and thumb.
81 crushed it in Halls Gulch smelling
| works in IT,"
Red j i'm leaned forward and examined
the member carefully. Then his face be-
came lurid, and his wolfish eyes cleaned.
"You lie, you dog! you never saw the
San Juan country, and you lost those
hidden camp in Arizona! You lost the
fingers and gave me this to remember
you by" and he pointed to a long scar
that ran across his forehead, and I've
never forgotten you. I've prayed to
Satan these five years that might meet
you. and he's turned my friend at last I!
Seize him, boys" he continued.
"There's no. tree handy, but in the
morning We'll try throwing the knife
Seize him!
In an instant my comrade was bound
hand and foot, and made fast to an i'm
mense bolder. He made no signs of
resistance; it would have been worse
than useless, and was motionless with
terror.
"Red Jim," said Tom, and his voice
was husky, "ye have got me and ye
can do with me as ye please. I'm not
| a half-breed nor woman to cry at the
whiz of a knife, but, for Gods sake, let
that young man go! He's an honest
miner, and only knows me as such. He
never saw me until last fall. Do not
punish him for my score"
The chief turned to me.
docs he lieP"
81 met Tom Blackburn last fall for
the first time in my life. I only came
from the East one year ago. | know
him as miner, and nothing else, and,
as he said, we have been prospecting,
are broke, and want to get back to the
camps over the range, That's the whole
truth as know it."
For a moment there was hesiteney
in the manner of my captor, and trem-
bled; then, with an oath he said:
CT .at II not 7 will bala,,a ~ g.. 80