The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-05


made his way toward the camp fire. .
Several forms sprang to their feet and
impeded his further progress as ne
reached the entrance to the cave. A
man whom he recognized as Vance
raised gun menacingly.
"What do you want? Who are you2
How came you here?" he demanded
quickly.
In accordance with his assumed char
acter, the scout folded his arms over his
breast and adopted a su1len, defiant e1=
preston of face.
"The Black Crow" he muttered. Il
must see him"
HWho are you?"
"Tallula, the half-breed."
@How did you come here?"
"The Modoc knows the hiding place
| Of the white men and the paths
| that lead to it,n was the scouts steady
reply, admirably couched in the Indian
! vernacular.
Vance stared.
"Ha!' he calculated, @you come from
the Modocs?"
II come from the emigrant train. I
bear a message Where ia the Crown"
sWhy do you wish to see him?"
ale will know when he remembers
his broken pledge to Shadow Snake"
1t was evident from Vance's manner
that he recalled the fact Of Despard's
double-dealirg with the Modoc chief
tain.
He glanced uneasiy beyond the sup
posed messenger from the Modocs
"Did Tallula come alone?" he asked.
Eyes"
aSit down by the campfire there; I
will spcak with the Crow"
Ranger Ralph smiled complacently to
himself at the success Of his imposition
80 far, but assumed q studied attitude
of sullen silence until Vance had re-
turned.
aCome,1 said the latter; @the Crow
wishes to talk with you"
aUgh!"
The scout was led into the cave
through several long passages, and final
ly into an apartment that was appar-
emily a portion Of a wooden hut that was
built over the river and into the cliff.
Despard and Danton sat at table
drinking, and the former glanced at the
somber figure of Vance's companion.
@Here is tho half-breed from the
Modocs," explained Vance.
sFrom Shadow Snake?" asked Des-
pard >
aUghl" replied the scout in disguised
tone Of voice.
@What does he wantP"
@His share Of the pl1nder taken from
the emigrant train. The Crow has
played him false, and he seeks restitu-
tion or revenge"
Despard evinced q cool unconcern OF
the scouts somber threats He listened
calmly while the disguised ranger In
cultural tones told Of the dissatisfac-
tion and anger of the Modoc chieftain.
Then he said:
SHADOW Snake demands gold''
GUgh!"
sand If it is not sent to him?"
sWar," was the laconic reply.
.@When must he have his answer?'
an two suns" -.
3Good. Before another day is past
Tallula shall know my decision You
can stay here until then"
Ranger Ralph retired with calm digni.
ty, and congratulated himself upon the
fact that he had not been recognized BY
the outlaw.
swatch that half-bresd closely, said
Despard to Vance; and the latter fol-
lowed the scout from the room.
"We have no time to lose," said Dan
ton, when they were alone
GThat is true"
sThe Modocs will march against us
unless we return share Of the booty. I"
@Then we will act at once. have To-
Gated the haunt of the old hermit"
sYes; and in the morning shall go
there. Once secure the secret Of Inez
Tracey's fortune, ! shall leave small
amount of plunder for them to divide,
and you and Vance, the girl, and myself
will leave this part Of the country for
ever"
Meanwhile Ranger Ralph had been
| led toward the river end Of the cave by
1 Vance.
He paused ere they reached the camp
| fire.
~Tallula is weary" he said
sAll right; you can sleep anywhere
here"
The pretended half-breed flung him
| self upon broad rock. Vance content
ed himself with proceeding to the spot
where his companions were, and after
| telling them to see that Tallula did not
leave the cave, paid no further attention
| to the scout.
The latter had fully decided to explore
the bandits haunt, in the hope or nna'
ing 1nez-
After a while he left the rocks, and,
unperceived by the men around the
campfire, began examining the various
passages and apartments Of the great
Underground cavern they occupied.
There was one dim corridor down
which he could see light burning, and
be stealthily made his way toward it,
He drew back in the shadow of pro-
] jecting shelf of stone as he saw, directly
ahead of him, in an embrasure in the
corridor, a man seated on the floor of
the cave.
His back was to the scout, aud he
seemed to be lazily nodding as If in
sleep
"A guard" :" muttered the scout, thrill
ing to quick interest at his discovery.
aThere must be some one in the cave
beyond, perhaps the girl herself"
Ranger Ralph peered cautiously be-
yond the spot where the corridor en-
larged. He started as he discovered
that large apartment terminated the
passageway. Upon rude log table
was a second lantern. and its rays
showed couch covered with a panther
skin.
Upon this the scous made out fa-
miliar form. 1t was that OF the very
| maiden who WAS the theme of all HIS