The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-28

as to their chieftain; I'VE will have to get it
out of here"
How to do it was a question they were
always discussing, as they gathered OF the
mountain crest in n little group in order to
be able to watch the Mexican camp below.
take part and hide the rest until we could
return for g." suggested one.
Eyes, n what we would leave behind
the Mexicans would get before we were out
of sight. Damn them. why don't they get
up and go! This is a white mans country,
anyway" said another.
'No. We can't do that" said Jack. 1--WE
will have to send to Wickenburg for a pack
train, and two of you will have to go for it.
You can leave tonight and the three of US
who stay will look out for the gold. Now,
who will go? ia the question:"
No one answered. Instead. each looked
at the other, as if wishing that his neighbor
would volunteer.
'"There's no danger. What's the matter
with you? Are you afraid to trust each
other with the gold?" asked Jack.
No one replied. yet each knew that he did
him. They were beginning to distrust each
other as they disttusted the Mexicans.
well, We will draw lots, and the two
who get stuck will have to co. said Jack.
The lots were drawn, and the two men to
whom it had fallen to make the journey re-
buEueu VI camp Huu GTlSu W steep uuUll
night came. When it was so dark that they
could not be seen they arose, and silently
Slipping out of amp began their trip across
the desert.
The next mo ming one of the three men
who remained behind, while watching, saw
one of the Mexicans take his gun and start
around the base of the mountain, IA If to
hunt. He called the attention of his
two comrades to it. AS the three watched
the Mexican, they saw the latter sud
denly stop and look intently at the ground,
and then his face turned upin the direction
of the mountain top. rs if to discover
whether he was observed. Apparently sat
isfed that he was not, he began TO walk
back and forth, az if looking at foot-tracks;
then, rs if satisfied, he turned abruptly and
returned to the camp he had just left.
HE has found the boys trail, and knows
that they are Rone," said Jack.
His two companions merely nodded.
Jack was going to say, and what he was
thinking of.
When the Mexican had returned to his
camp, the three men could see HIM seated
with his comrades in conversation. There
were five of them. and they appeared to
be talking long and earnestly. Occasion
ally they glanced toward the camp where
the gold WAS, as if trying to see ii they were
watched. At last one of them rises; going to a
roll of blankets he picks up a gun, and, re-
turning to the group. begins to clean 1t.
His comrades look at him and laugh, IA if
at a joke. and then all the rest of them
ariso and get their arms.
They are going to try to get the gold."
says Jack, "and il we dom do something,
they will pick US off one by one and be on
the road to Sonora before the boys get
back"
"What can we dol" asks one of his COM
rades.
"We can 90 down there and tell them
that We know what they are after, md that
they have got TO CO." replied Jack. ny
slipping up undsr cover of the brush and
bowldees, We can be right among them be-
fore they know it. and, If we got the drop
on them they will have to do what we say.
Get your guns and come on."
The thros men arose. and, taking their
arms, began the descent of tho mountain.
Slipping from boulder to boulder, and. tax
ing advantage of the stnntsd underhrush,
it was not long before they we're close to