Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1892-11-16

wish we'd hev let the wolves pick he1
bones! never knowed any such foolin
around with wimmin folks to bring
luck"
"Then I'll give ye something new"
sneered Bob as he sat down. "1've got
plans about that gal, and them as don't
like my plans had better 60 further and
work on their own hook"
"Oh, come off with yer quarrelsp'
called the fourth man as he rolled off
the bed of brush and sat up. "1s 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, eh?'
"Not after tomorrer-not If my name
is Bob, and reckon it ar"
"They don't suspicion us?"
"Not the least. None of 'em hev cum
up this fur yet, and 80 they hevn't seen
the wagon tracks"
'Hev we made any mistake about the
canyon?'
Nary one. I'll stake my life on it.
went fur 'nuff up today to be sartain.
All we want is q clear road for day or
two, and We'll load the wagon and be
off,"
Harkins had gathered enough to be
certain that Bridger's cave and its treas
ures were known to the renegades as
we'll 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
liable stake depended.
So the female was girl and pris-
oner?
If q prisoner, then there must have
been an act Of violence to make her so.
Perhaps it was Bess! The father shiv-
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, and
it was face he had never seen before.
It 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 or
thinking for quarter of an hour with
out 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 hev bite
now as any other time. Give the gal
her share. If she's still too mulish to
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, the
bottle passed from hand to hand, and
by the time darkness had settled down
the four renegades were in good spirits
and seemingly good natured.
Then Harkins could no longer SEQ the
girl, though perhaps those at the fire
had her In view.
Here was new and double danger,
he reflected as he carefully crept away.
It was notenough that the renegades had
come for the gold, but they were plot
ting against the wagon train and would
not stop at murder. 1t was clearly his
duty to reach the train as soon as posi-
BILE 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 to
be able to reach it some time during the
night.
But what Of the prisoner Cnder the
circumstances not more than one man
In thousand would have done more
than to wish that he could help her.
Harkins was that one man. he had
been strangely drawn to her, and her
situation aroused all his sympathies.
He determined to attempt her rescue,
even at the peril Of his life. He drew
away from the mass Of rock, strapped
his rifle to his back, and then crept over
the rough ground on hands and knees,
moving to flank the party on the right.
It was rough and dangerous route,
leading over great masses Of rock, under
thick pines and across seams or riffs, but
he moved with care until we'll in the
rear of the camp.
Then his route was down the side Of
the mountain until all at once he came
upon the wagon. It had been pulled up
out of the valley to be hidden by the
trees. The horses he could not see, they
having been lariated out at some spot
where there was grazing.
Looking up at the campfire from the
wagon the Englishman could see the
four renegades playing cards by the
blaze. Between him and them was the
girl. He hesitated only long enough to
get his bearings and then began creep
ing upward. He felt now that more de-
pended on the girl than himself. If she
was asleep she might scream out as ne
aroused her. If she saw him come
creeping up she might take him for an
Indian and alarm her captors. Even
should all 40 right up to that moment,
would she have the nerve and strength
to creep away with him?
Half way to the fire the brave Eng
lishman halted to canvass the chances
with himself. He realized the hazards,
but after couple of minutes he contin-
ued on his way. BY and by, as he ele-
vated his head above bowlder, he saw
the girl before him and not five feet
away. She was sitting upright and had
her face turned toward him.
Harkins lifted his right hand as sig
nal.
The girl lifted hanl in answer.
Then he beckoned to her to come.
She answered with a sweep of her
hand, which told him that she was tied
to the tree.