The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-03-25

II was already moving steadily away.
and be sursriscd thai the currents 81
the singular lake. or river, 20 ran a. 10
carry The mass round and round the
cave
After slowly climbing upward for
six Or seven feet Macdonald came 10
the top Of The islam !. and then learned
that his theory as 70 the dim illuminn-
tion was correct The island was cir
eular. about half On nrre in extent. and
near its center was the Gre, now burn
ing low
The island shclvcd from lis elevated
sides toward tho center, and on ac-
count Of the bowl-lilte surface Il was
impossible to see the entire area, al
though the edges could not be distinct
~ seen on account Of the inability Of
fthc fire. except IN its Immediate vicin-
ity. to overcome the power Of the dark
ness.
Rolled in blankets and stretched
around the fire were eight robbers.
About ten feet from the firc was a wig
wan covered with strips OF straw mat
ting that had been iaii upon the slant
ing poles Of the frame. That his dear
Helen was In this wigwam Macdonald
felt almost certain.
How 70 act under the circumstances
was most perplexing TO attempt TO
rescue Helen, OF even 10 communicate
with her. would be an undertaking
fraught with the greatest hazard.
While our hero hcsitatcd his eyes
were attracted to some plnndcr that
the robbers had left in a pile short
distance from where he stood
Among the articles were heavy horse
blankets. A bright idea came 10 Mac
Donald. He removed his shoes. went
in his stocking feet to the pile, select
"a two blankets and approached the
fire and the eight men. who slept
soundly after the arduons work Of the
previous night.
Macdonald did not, however. spend
any time ia thinkingof the singularity
and peril 81 his situation. In the most
careful manner he proceeded To cover
tho burning sticks with the blankets
aud to smother the fire.
Once more the cave was wrapped In
inlxY blaclness. Macdonald moved the
slide Of his lantern sufficiently to give
him the little light that he needed.
He approached Che wigwam with a
beating heart.
Yes. Helen was therel
Shc recognized him and did not
Scream.
AT this moment one Of tho villains
nwolxe.
syvhnt IS the matter with the firc?s
he cried
Macdonald had taken the precaution
to close his lantern while Helen and be
were whispering, so that there waasno
danger of Immediate discovery.
Tho man got np and began to tumble
aronnd His companions nwoLc. md
asua~e Leoa~eo ti.sx he'd be-a ase
turbcyl
Tho situation was desperate. we'll
nigh hopeless. Macdonald feared that
he had played brave and most per-
nous part only to be defeated
Willie he WINS III terrible suspense,
not knowing what was best to do, the
girl whispered to him:
LET ua ny. There Is a boat. came
IN ii; there is stake with a red flag
on it that win guide me to it. n
Meanwhile the robbers had discov-
cred the blankets and were removing
them from the fire. Two Of the fell
lows approached the wigwam.
As they reached II Macdonald and
Helen left il, after he had hastily cut
the cords that bound the maidcn's
hands behind her back.
The robbers were now thoroughly
aroused. but they could not readily find
Ii lantern and could not tell where the
fugitives, running noiselessly In their
stocking feet, were.
Macdonald opened the slide of the
lantern as soon as he dared TO do 1t
They had reached the top Of the height
| jast above the shore, but no flag was In
sight
The robbers saw the fugitivcs, yelled
yiciously and fired their pistols. Bullets
whistled alartningly near the intended
victims
Macdonald closed the lantern, and
holding IIclen's hand walked along the
islantl's edge. Again he allowed q
Egleam OF light to escape. He saw the
| ilar ten feet from him, and closed the
lantern before the villains could fire.
The fugitives ran forward, expecting
each moment to be precipitated into
the water But fortune favored them.
They fell against the fagpolc, and re-
covering themselves in second, slid
down tho islands steep side.
4,RfaeDenald opened the lantern. The
boat was at their feet They sprang
| into it Macdonald handed Helen the
lantern, cut the rope. grasped the oars,
and they were afioat
AT this moment three Of the robbers.
waving pistols, gained the summit Of
| the bank.
..Shut the lantern, Mac Donald cried,
Before Helen could obey the cavern
rang with discharge Of firearms The
| three men threw up their hands and
fell forward into the water.
| Macdonald knew that his friends had
come 10 the rescue just In time. He
looked behind him, and saw on the lava
shelf his five brave companions waving
their hands,
Awed by the fate Of their comrades,
the Eve robbers on the island Rurren-
tered themselves. and, with most Of
the property they had stolen, were
taken back to Albuquerque in triumph.
Young Macdonald, the fair Helen
and their five gallant friends were re-
ccived with raptures by Col Blocker
and his wife and were lionized by all
the people 81 the city. ~. A. Bolles, in
Boston Globe.
xe,,tensea paaaed Nv the .Tudraa