Evening journal., 1892-10-04

luck"
"Then I'll give ye something new,"
sneered Bob as he sat down. "rve got
plans about that gal and them as don't
like my plans had better go further and
work on their own hookl"
"Oh, come off with yer quarrels!"
called the fourth man as he rolled of
the bed Of brush and sat up. "Is there
any move by the party below"
Nothing except they hev gone into
camp for the summer, blocking our road
outr' answered the leader.
"And they are going to stay right
thar, ehl"
Not after tomorrer-not if my name
is Bob, and reckon it ar"
"They don't suspicion usf"
'Not the least. None Of 'em hev cum
up this fur yet, and so they hevn't seen
the wagon tracks"
"Hev we made any mistake about the
canyon?"
Mary one. I'll stake my life on It.
| went fur 'nuff up today to be sartain.
All we want is a clear road for day OF
two, and We'll load the wagon and be
off"
Harlins had gathered enough to be
certain that Bridger's cave and its treas
ures were known to the renegades as
well as to himself and Taylor. The
dying old hunter had said that he alone
possessed the secret, but it was evident
that it had been talked of to others.
These four men, outlaws though they
were, and probably as brave as that
class of men usually are, would not have
penetrated into the Indian country thus
far with no stronger force had not val
uable stake depended.
So the female was girl and pris.
oner?
If prisoner, then there must have
| been an act of violence to make her so.
Perhaps it was Bessl The father shiy-
cred at the thought, and the thought
would have led him to do some desper.
ate thing had it not been put away
almost Immediately. The prisoner
raised her head and looked around, aud
it was a face he had never seen before.
1t betrayed anxiety and suffering, and
he instantly resolved that he would take
any risk to help.
The sun was now hidden behind the
mountain and it was twilight around
the campfire. The men sat smoking OF
thinking for a quarter of an hour with
out a word, and then one Of them rose
and disappeared. Ten minutes later
he returned with bag Of provisions and
a bottle of whisky, and Bob said:
"Yes, we might as well hey a bite
now as any other time. Give the ga
her share. If she's still too mulish tC
eat let her throw it away"
The man carried some bread and meat
to the girl, but she gave him no heed
More wood was thrown on the fire, tbs
bottle passed from hand to hand, anC
by the time darkness had settled dow
the four renegades were in good spirit
and seemingly good natured.
Then Harlins could no longer see the
girl, though perhaps those at the fire
had her in view.
Here was a new and a double danger
he reflected as he carefully crept away
1t was not enough that the renegsdes ha,
come for the gold, but they were plot
ting against the wagon train and wOull
not stop at murder. 1t was clearly hi
duty to reach the train as soon as posi-
bic and warn his companions Of the pres
ence and designs of these intruders
Darkness had come on, but he knew the
general direction of camp and hoped tc
be able to reach it some time during the
night.
But what of the prisoner? Under the
circumstances not more than one mar
in a thousand would have done more
than to wish that he could help her
Harkins was that one man. He haC
been strangely drawn to her, and he
situation aroused all his sympathies
He determined to attempt her rescue
even atthe peril Of his life He drew
away from the mass Of rock, strapped
his rifle to his back, and then crept owe
, the rough ground on hands and knees
moving 70 flank the party on the right
1t was a rough and dangerous route
leading over great masses of rock, unde
thick pines and across seams or riffs, bu
l he moved with care until well in tn
rear of the camp.
. Then his route was down the side O
the mountain until all at once he cam
n upon the wagon. It had been pulled u
4 out of the valley to be hidden by tn
trees. The horses he could not see, the
. having been lariated out at some spc
o where there was grazing.
!, Looking up at the campfire from til
a wagon the Englishman could see til
. four renegades playing cards by til
: blaze. Between him and them was tt
y Ill IL loe;to4o1 on1xr 1opcr aro,,orl,
get his bearings and then began creel
ing upward. He felt now that more d.
pended on the girl than himself. If 81
II was asleep she might scream out as /
r aroused her. If she saw him con
s. creeping up she might take him for a
a Indian and alarm her captors. Eve
D should all 90 right up to that momen
], would she have the nerve and strengi
le to creep away with him?
Hale xr-oxy fn fha fro tha bVova En-