The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-12-05
CHAPTER VIII.
ON THE 7 sAIL.


! little town at Miners Gulch toward the
hills to the east in the near distance.
rs nearly as possible, the former in
| formed the scout of the course Despard
| had taken in carrying away the recapt-
| ur, d maiden, lnez Tracey.
They soon found themselves threading
q rocky defile, along which the practical
| eye of the scout discovered evidences OF
recent travel.
"They have come this way" he said
| to Darrell.
"Then we may oycrtaka them"
"Not s. east as You think
"Why not?"
"They have fair start Of US, and
once in the mountains it will be difficult
to follow their trail"
Tho landscape became wild, and at
times almost impossible. as they pro-
cecded on their way. At midnight the
| scoat came to a halt, utterly at fault.
1--WE are in a quandary now," he re-
marked.
"liow?" asked Darrel.
"Ecrc the course divergos. The out
| laws may have gone down the va ley TO
| the wilderness beyond, IA sed through
| the guIch youdcr to the outlaw country,
| or struck dire through the II lis for the
| Indians"
For nearly an hour they racOnnoitcred
! a short distance i'll each direction. The
scouts face showed satisfied express
sion d he returned to the head Of the
canyon.
"HaYc YOU learned anything?" asked
| Darrell, eagerly.
"SeS?"
"What is it?'
"This
The scout showed a ribbon, which
| Darrell recognized as belonging to the
| dress worn by inez Tracey.
80 you recognize it," asked Ra phi.
"Ies
"Then the Ind an country is our des-
| tination. They are carrying the girl TO
their Old-timc allies, the Modocs."
Darrell looked deeply concerned, but
the scout seemed more encouraged and
vieilant than ever, and urged his horse
TO more rapid rate of speed
The morning light brought them en-
| couraging traces Of the persons they
sought They were toIing up a steep
ascent, when Darrell found u piece of
bride rein. it evidently belonged to
resPard's band, and they pressed on,
confident that they were Oh the right
trail.
Beyond here the mountains come to
: stop" remarked the scout.
"And beyond that?"
"rrairie and forest. and the camping
grounds of the marauding bands OF saw
ages. Ha. smoke"
As Ranger Ralph spoke, his com
ramon diSccrned g, slight volume of
smoke cmanating from so.Ec rocks be-
yond them.
They drove along as rapidly as the
broken roadway wou!d admit. At a
turn scene OF wondrous beauty and
extent held them mOmentariIy spell
bound.
The mountain of stone shot down
sheer thousand feet perfectly perpen-
dicular, and beyond it stretched a wood
cd plain far a. the eye could reach.
There seemed no means of reaching il
except by toilsome ride TO where there
was more gradual descent
Il ook," spoke the scout suddenly.
Darrell thrilled to keen excitement as
he glanced at point some distance be-
low them.
\ body of horsemen We're just disap-
pearing into dense stretch of timber.
"Despard and his mem" he cried.
1T must be them.
Then they have escaped Us
NO necessarily, the trail will be bet
tel Oh the lowlands than here. | think
! know DespariS plans"
What are they?"
40 reioin one of his old allies in stage
| robbery and war on the Sett ements.
AN !ndian?"
"Ies
"W no is he?"
shadow Snake, the Modoc warrior
What is that?"
Directly before them. emanating from
a rocky defile, smoke asCendcd-the same
| they had observe ed few minutes prcVi-
ouSly.
-Can it be party of lndians?" asked
| Dare.
q think not 1t is probably the de-
serted campfire of Despard's band
Both men halted perp eXed and be viii
| dered, as they traced the smoke TO its
source. AT cave-like aperture in the
racks, d large amount Of bushes and
reeds and leaves were piled. These had
| been recently iSniIed, and dense volumes
| OF smoke is ued from the heap.
The two men gazed at one another in
| the profoundcSt wonder
What does it mean" asked the mys-
tilted Darrell
81 do not know"
"You think Despards men built the
| fire."
-Yes: for they must have recently
| passed this spot"
| y or wha; purpose?"
| THAT ! cannot tell
| Then let us ascertain
They dsmauntod and approached the
cave Both started as a low wall, like
that of a person exhausted by pain
| seemed TO emanate from the smoking
! cave.
DO you hear that?' cried Darrel. ex
cisedy.
"GeS."
some one is in there
probably wild beast that they triec
10 smoke out"
The cry was repeated-agonized, muf
fed. but still p .riectly distinct.
barrel Grey turned pale
1t is womanS voice. he gaspcd
wildly. "Ah. Ralph. if it Should
~Who?,
"IneZ
The scout started.
NO, no; they wouldn't dare TO kill tht
girl that way"
You do not know them No crime i
too deep for these inhumaH ghouls
Quick. Aid me; | must know who is il
that cave"
II moment they were II work tear
ing and dragging the ha!f-1aming mas
from the mouth OF the cavern.
| Even after they had removed it thr