The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1892-01-02
E0YAL RANGER RALPH;
The Waif Of the Western Prairies
BY WELDON j. COBB.
CHATTER XVI.
IN THE CAV F..

CHATTER XVI.
IN THE CAVE
Ranger Ralph the old scout, was not
Idle while al the event. described since
his mishap at the river were Transporting.
When the horses ran away and dashed
the wagon over the eff near Lone Can
Won Tavern, the ranger at first gave
himself up for lost
The descent was terrible one, and he
chung to the sides of the wagon as 1t
turned and fell, and finally struck the
water with a crash.
Then, dazed and bruised, he was half
conscious that the horses had become
separated from the vehicle, and that the
! latter, badly shattered, was floating down
| the stream.
It had now become so dark, especially
| in the shelter of the cliffs that lined the
river perpendicuarly, that he could not
! estimate his situation except that he was
/ being borne rapidly away from the scene
of the accident by the streams swift
| current.
I'm rid OF the outlaws. any way" he
muttered grimly, land probably near
| their stronghold | wonder if young
/ (I ey has managed to find the girl, or if
| she is still a captive and on her way to
| this desolate place."
/ His predicament was not peasant
/ one for the wagon box was immersed in
/ water and he was wet through from the
/ dip n the stream
| finally it began to sink 50 low that he
/ was c ,mpelled to climb out on the seat
! and thence later to the top OF the wagon
| cover itself.
From here he regarded the fast-fying
| landscape 81 emily and ciu z to his frail
| raIt as il was driven hither and thither
! by the rock choked current
| There was final crash, and Ranger
| Raph was flung head foremost into the
/ river
! The wagon was splintered to ,eces as
| ii came in contact with a huge rock in
midstream, and foated away leaving
! the scout flounderng in the water.
He managed to reach the shore. and
stood with dripping garments ruefuIIy
! surveying his situation.
/ Darkness and solitude surrounded him,
/ Gud there seemed no means OF leaving
! leaving the narrow. confined canyon :
! cept by the waterway up and down
/ stream.
! Suddenly a light appeared in the dis
/ lance, and the scout stood p"ering at il
for some time, yainly cnde vor:ng TO
make out its location and cause.
az must be lantern or campfire Of
! the outlaws lie de ided, and he deter
mined to endcaNor TO make his way
| toward it
/ In the darkness and amidst unfa-
miiar scenes this was no easy task, and
] his progress was slow and laborious.
CIinging to trailing vines and shrubs,
| scaling rocks, fording and swimming, he
= a E,.a tn az nal- e
directly beyond viii Il was the light he
/ had seen
! 1t proved to be as he bad Surmised, a
| campfire, built somewhat back in a
/ cave like al erture Of the rocks
! 1t was accessible by a narrow, dan
/ gerOus path from the cliff above, AMI
was evidently Que of the entrances 10
/ the mountain fastneSs of the bandits
dozen rough forms were visible in
| tho glow of the freight, and among
them Ranger Ralph readily recognized
| several whom he had known to be mem
| berS Of nespard.s outlaw band.
From his place of espionage the old
| scout could watch his enemies and de-
termine at leisure the best course 10
| purS e.
There was no fear of interruption, for
! while he might gain the entrance to the
/ cave it was not likely that they would
| come his way. He was 50 near to the
! entrance of the cave that he would al
most hear the laughter and conversation
! There was only this ledge of rock be
| tween him and the open space in front
! OF the cave
The scout crouched low as two men
came I ward where he was At first he
! determined to retreat, "a he feared they
| were coming oIer the edge; hut as they
/ paused at the edge of the stream near by
he diScerncd that one Of them bore a
| bucket in his hand. and that they had
! come To obtain some water for the camp
| whats the programme, anyway" he
! heard one of the men ask: and the other
replied;
AZ general breaking Up of the band,
! / hear the boys say"
AND a division of the profts?"
"Ies. It's whispered about that Des-
| pard is tired of the life. and that it has
| become too dangerous to suit him He's
] afraid OF trouble with Shadow Snake,
| and he's got some scheme for a fortune
| about the girl he has brought here.
| what trouble could he have with
| Shadow Snake?"
| Hes afraid the old Modoc chieftain
| to the princess"
"Nhita Fawn?"
Yes; and Danton and he ha c played
the Indians false
about what"
"The emigrant tran. They stO e most
of the plumber, and the Snake will re-
sent this and our desert or | won dn't
wonder if the Modoc chef sent mes
sengcr to demand restitution Anyway,
he's made enemies Of the sayageS by his
actions
The men returned to the cave just
then, but their conversation formed a
theme of thought in the scouts mind for
some tine after their departure.
The girl is here" muttercd the
ranger, and DeSpard has some plan for
leaving the country. | must learn what
his schemes are. and at once. But howe"
Ranger Ralph reflected deeply for over
al hour Then as a lold idea flashed
upon his mi1d, he determined on its i'm
mediate execution.
lie theorized readily that DeSpard
meditatcd leaving the country and that
he would probably take IncE Tracey with
! him. The girl was now doubtless a pris
oucr N the outlaws stronghold. The
fortune her father had left her was
/ the ODE Of TeSl ards plot.
To rescue the Cir and foil the rene
! gade in securing that fortune the scout
! felt that he must act quickly.
/ Ranger Ralph was noted along the
! frontier Tor his shrewdness, not only as
! G scout but a. a &c eetiye.
/ II was in the latter capacity that he
/ had now decided 10 act and although his
! des IN was Il bold one. he believed that
/ he would b. able To ~ ceSSfully carry il
I into execution.
Rapidly he formulated his plan. II
consisted. first in the assumption Of a
1 perfect disguise, and tie hardy old
ranger. fully prepared for u>t such Goa
| tingencieS as the present one. was soon
| al work on 4 thorough transformation
| of his rnrsnr, n 4 .lt..aa RI ncn