Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-04-01

had not fingered at the Snore as az
had hoped that it would.
1t was already moving Fsteadily
Q away, and he surmised that the cur
rents of the singular lake, or river,
so ran as to carry the mass round and
round the cave.
After slowly climbing upward fol
six or seven feet Macdonald came tc
? the top Of the island. and then
learned that his theory as to the dim
Illumination was correct The island
was circular, about half an acre iin
extent, and near its center was the
: fire, now burning low.
The island shelved from its ele-
waited sides toward the center, and
on account of the bowl-like surface
} it was possible to see the entire area,
although the edges could not be dis.
tinctly seen on account of the inabil-
ity Of the fire, except in its immedi-
ate vincinity, to overcome the power
of the darkness.
Rolled in blankets and stretched
around the fire were eight robbers.
About ten feet from the fire was a
wigwam covered with strips of straw
mating that had been laid upon the
slanting poles Of the frame. That his
dear Helen was in his wigwam Mac
Donald felt almost certain.
How to act under the circum-
stances was most perplexing. To at
tempt to rescue Helen. or even to
communicate with her, would be an
undertaking fraught with the great
est hazard.
While our hero hesitated his eyes
were attracted to some plumber that
the robbers had left in a pile a short
distance from where he stood.
Among the articles were heavy
horse blankets. A bright idea came
to Macdonald. He moved his shoes,
went in his stocking feet to the pile,
selected two blankets and approached
the fire and the eight men, who slept
soundly after the arduous work of the
previous night.
Macdonald did not, however, spend
any time in thinking of the singular
ltY and peril of his situation. In the
most careful manner he proceeded to
cover the burning sticks with the
blankets and to smother the fire.
Once more the cave was wrapped
in inky blackness. Macdonald moved
the slide of his lantern sufficiently to
give him the little light that he
needed.
He approached the wigwam with a
beating heart.
Yes, Helen was there!
She recognized him and did not
scream.
At this moment one of the Williams
awoke.
"What is the matter with the
fire." he cried.
Macdonald had ttIen the precau-
tion to close his lantern while Helen
and he were whispering. SO that there
was no danger of Immediate dis
covery
The man got up and began to fun
BILE around. His companions awoke,
and swore because they had been dis
turbed.
The situation was desperate, we'll
nigh hopeless Macdonald feared
that he had played brave and most
perilous part only to be defeated.
While he was IN terrible suspense,
not knowing what was best to do, the
girl whispered to him:
LET us fly. There is a boat. I
came in it; there is a stake with
red flag on it that will guide me
to It,"
Meanwhile the robbers had discov-
cred the blankets and were removing
them from the lire. Two of the fell
lows approached the wigwam.
AS they reached it Macdonald and !
Helen left it, after he had hastily cut |
the cords that bound the maiden's
hands behind her back.
The robbers were now thoroughly
aroused, but they could not readily
find lantern and could not tell
where the fugltives, running noise
lessly in their stocking feet were.
Macdonald opened the slide of the
lantern as soon as he dared to do it.
They had reached the top of the
height Just above the shore, but no
flag was in sight
The robbers saw the fugitives,
yelled viciously and fred their pistols
Bullets whistled alarminglY near the
intenoed victims
Macdonald closed the lantern, and
Helen's hand walked along
the islands edge. Again he allowed
a CLEAN of light to escape, He saw
the flag ten feet from him, and closed
the lantern before the villains could
fire.
The fugitives ran forward, expect
ing each moment to be precipitated
into the water. But fortune favored
them. They fell against the f1agpole,
and recovering themselves in a second,
slid down the islands steep side.
Macdonald opened the lantern.
The boat was at their feet. They
Sprang into it. Macdonald handed
Helen the lantern, cut the rope,
and they were afloat.
At this moment three of the rob.
bers, waving pistols, gained the sum.
NIT of the bank.
'sShut the lanternm Macdonald