The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1892-01-09
CHAPTER XVIII.

laws
"She knows you now. You are the
| great scout"
Ranger Ralph, yes. But how came
you here?"
The Fawn will tell her friend and
rescuer all; but they must not remain
here.
There is danger2"
"Yes: the renegades will soon be on
our trail. Come"
She led the scout from the spot to a Sc
Guided portion of the valley Ranger
Ralph noticed that near by there was a
horse bridled and saddled.
In rapid tones the Modoc princess re-
lated how she had rescued Darrell Grey
and had led him hither
She exp aimed that when she left him
to reconnoitcr the It onghold Of the
bandits he must have wandered into
the valley and later had been captured.
The scout listened interestediy TO her
graphic recital, and noticed the fierce, re-
vengeful light in her dark eyes when She
spoke the name OF her relentless foe.
Dyke Despard,
You have seen him-you penetrated
to his haunts to night?' he asked.
Yes"
"And you know his p!ans?"
Il know that with the morning he in
tends visiting the old hermit they call
Walford. "
Ranger Raj PHI started
"Iou are sure of this" he asked.
Eyes: White Fawn is not mistaken
"Then the outlaws have located the
recluse?"
"Onc of their men has, and he will
lead the crowd there with the morning.
This information disturbed the scout
not little The reader already knows
that this man Walford was the friend to
whom IneZ Tracey father had intrusted
the charge Of the fortune intended for
his orphan daughter
The old scout knew Walford, but he
had net seen him for years.
He did not know his place of resi-
dcnce, however, except that it was To-
Gated somewhere in the vicinity.
Now that Despard had discovered it,
thn scout readily saw that unless Wal
ford was warned the former would sue
! coed in his plans to secure the fortune.
"Do you know where WalfOrd lives?"
he asked anxiously of the Indian girl.
NO. White fawn only knows that
it is about ten miles down the canyon ;"
The old scout reflected deeply In
evitabc disaster seemed imminent TO all
his plans for reScuing Inez Tracey.
The Modoc princess watched his face
impressively. Finally she asked:
What will my friend do?"
u do not know. Grey and the girl are
captiyes, and the cave is well guarded.
We can do nothing to rescue them. :"
"White Fawn will"
There was determined look in the
duSky face.
How
"iiy going back to my father. Shame,
disgrace at my misery, caused me TO
fear to return to my tribe. For the
lake Of the friends who saved her lite,
the Fawn will 90 to the ModOcs. They
shall know all, and a terrible vengeance
shall be brought against the Crow and
his rcncgades. !"
"Iou will go at on"e?"
yes ! stole horse from the out
laws I can reach my tribe III few
hours"
"Iou must make haste. Once Despard
has seen the man named Walford, he
will fix the country"
Fear not The Modoc warriors shall
be on his trail With the earliest morning
light
They will rescue my friends-they
will not Include them in their yenge-
ancc""
Fear not The Fawn will plead with
her fathers braves for the safety of her
friends
White Fawn sprang t. the saddle of
the horse near by as she spoke. Ranger
Ralph saw her disappear rapidly down
the canyon. lie knew that he must re-
main inactive. 20 far as the outlaws were
concerned, until the morning.
He realized that it would be folly TO
again attempt to penetrate TO their
stronghold The thought of Walfori.
however, caused him to determine TO
endeayor 10 find the reclu>e, if pos
sible.
He mad 4 wide detonr Of the cave
and started down the canyon in the di
rection where he supposed the mountain
home of the rccluse to be
1t proved to be a profitl"ss Journey.
Al the long night through ne wandered
up and down he valley. Not a trace of
human habitaron could he find.
The morning light did not materially
change the situation of affairs He
final determined TO keep close watch
for De>pard, theorizing that the outlaw
leader would set out on his journey that
morning for Walford's place of abode.
He enSconced himself in a thickct at
the side Of the canyon, and watched aud
waited patiently. 1t was nearly noon
when his vigilance was rewarded. Com
ing down the canyon, he saw finally a
dozen or more persons.
As they neared him he made out Des-
pard, Danton and Vance on horseback.
On another steed was lnez Tracey, sur
rounded by several Of the bandits on
foot.
They had evidently left Darrell Grey
prisoner at the cave with the rema iuder
Of the band.
They passed so near TO the scout that
he could almost hear their conversation.
\ look of utter despair pervaded the
countenance of Inez Tracey. Apparently
the threats of the heartless Despard had
induced Inez 10 agree To his schemes.
To save her lovers life she had consent
ed TO sacrifice her fortune.
The scout waited for some time after
the cavalcade had passed by. Then.
cautiously and stealthily, he took up
their trail.
The bandits proceeded straight down
the canyon, aud Ranger Ralph followed
them az a distance until they finally
came TO halt. They seemed to have
some difficulty and delay in locating the
hermit nome, their evident point cI
visitation.
Suddenly the entire party disappeared
from view in break in the canyon.
When the scout reached the spot lie
found large opening in the rock. Into
this cave-like aperture the bandits had
evidently disappeared.
Ranger Ralph threaded a dark. low
passageway. CROPPED his way blindly
around and then paused. Far above his
head he could see a light glimmering
i dimly A series of steps cut in the solid
+ rock seemed 10 lead to the point where
i the light was.
The horses of the party had been left
i Just outside the place.
The scou. began TO ascend the steps
and at last arrived at the top. Beyond
him was large apartment filled with
evidences OF a long career as hunter and
trapper, consisting of trophies OF the
hunt, the skins Of various animals
"A bich HING IN about the MACE