The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-10-24

Il see no way except to meet and repel
them" said Darrell, stanchly; @these
men have not come across US again by
accident"
sBy design?n
aEvidently. They know the country
and knew we would probably come this
way, and have intercepted US by reach.
ing the canyon here n-advance OF u.s.
aAre we dlscovered?"
"They cannot but have seen Us. Miss
Tracey, I beg Of you to obey me, and
leave me here alone"
"But your peril-for my sake!"
II will not invite any unnecessary risk.
Ride as rapidly as you can down one OF
the side canyons, and do not wait for me
nor delay on my account. l will cover
your escape and, once satisfied you are
out of danger of recapture, will rejoin
you unless you reach the gulch before ]
do So"
Darrell cut loose the connecting strip
Of lasso as he spoke.
Inez cast an anxious, longing glance
at her brave protector. .
"Heayen grant you may not be forced
to meet Despard and his men!" she
breathed fervently.
SFly!" spoke Darrell, excitedly.
He could see that the horsemen down
the canyon were winding in and out the
rocks as rapidly as they could, and
would soon reach the spot where he was.
Darrell dismounted and led the horse
toward the shelter Of small ciump OF
high, thick bushes.
Then he himself selected place OF
espionage and defense behind some rocks.
The four riders came into view as he
cast quick glance down. the canyon
where Inez had gone.
To his surprise he could observe no
trace Of her.
aShe must have reached some diverg.
ing gulch and have pursued o new
course" /" he decided. aAt all events, she
is not in sight for the bandits to dis
cover"
Darrell resolved to force no encounter
with the latter unless necessity demand.
ed it; for his single revolver would be q
Door match for the full accouterments OF
his enemies.
The hoofs Of horses rang out sharply
on the clear morning air, and the quar-.
tette rounded the last Of the rocks
which had temporarily shut out view
of the persons they sought
aNowhere in sight, Despard, !" spoke
one of the men. .. T..
awe certainly saw them here" re-
marked Danton.
~Then they have taken the side can
yons," spoke Despard.
Danton laughed triumphantly. @They
are our game If they have, he said.
"Why SOP" asked one OF the men.
aBecause every last one of them ends
in blank wall"
Darrell Grey, from his place OF con-
cealment, started violently.
"What shall we do. Captain?" asked
one of the men of Despard.
aDivide. Here are four Of these side
canyons Down one of them our peo-
pie have certainly gone."
@They are nowhere in sight"
@They could have gone nowhere else.
Let each man follow one Of these side
branches, and signal when he discovers
them"
aThey will be found, never fear," said
Danton. aThey thought to escape, but
they are in trap this time Hold on,
Vance"
The man he had addressed had started
his horse toward the side canyon down
which Inez had disappeared few mo.
ments before.
@Why, what's the Watter?"
@You needn't search that pass"
GNot search it?"
&No."
@Why not?"
ut would be no use, and dangerous to
yourself. That is Quicksand Gully"
II never heard Of it BEFORE" said
Vance. r.t
aThat's because you don't know the
country as I do. The man who rides
into the shifting sands at the end OF that
gully never comes out again"
The heart of the horrifed watcher be-
hind the rocks stood still An appalled,
sense of peril overwhelmed the startled
Darrell Grey.
aQuicksand Gully! Great heavensl" he
gasped wildly. @Can this be true? The
quicksands! Is that the meaning OF the
sudden disappearance OF 1nez Tracey?'