The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-11-28

tempted to kill her, as has been seen.
Darrell asked the Indian girl why she
| did not 60 to her father with her story.
"Not till White Fawn is certain the
| Jaguar is dead, and until She has killed
Black Crow" she replied, ominously.
She listened intently as Darrell related
| his own adventures with the bandit
Then she said: @White Fawn knows
where Black Crow has gone"
"You do?"
Eyes"
GWhere?"
aTo Lone Canyon"
as it far from here?" =.
"a nights Journey"
aAnd you will guide me thlther9e
aYes."
Before an hour had passed Darrell
knew that the intrepid White Fawn was
valuable and dauntless ally to his
cause.
She seemed inspired with but one idea,
and that was to confront the man who
had wronged her so terribly.
White Fawn understood the country
thoroughly, but they may slow progress
Many times they concealed themselves
to avoid passing savages, and it was
night when they came to the canyon
where the stronghold Of the bandits was
located.
They skirted the gulch where the Lone
Canyon tavern was situated, and de-
scended into the wild gully beyond, that
was desolate and isolated in the ex-
treme.
The moonlight showed the river with
the towering hills on either side.
aLook!" said White Fawn. aYonder
is one of the hiding places Of the pale.
faced renegades."
Darrell saw dilapidated log structure
which seemed to be built out from an
immense cave in the mountain side.
"You think Despard is there?" he
asked.
Eyes"
@And the girl?"
ais his prisoner there, or near by. Re-
main here. White Fawn will soon re-
turn"
"Where are you going?" asked Darrell.
ITO find out how many there are-to
learn how we may reach them"
She was gone like flash. The mo-
ments sped by and Darrell anxiously
awaited her return.
He was standing on s ledge Of rocks
which jutted out over the river, and
vainly scanned the scene for some indi-
cation of the presence Of his foes.
Suddenly, TO his right and inland, he
saw light fash.
He began walking toward It, clam
bered over huge boulder, and was
amazed to view q natural basin in the
landscape which resembled an immense
pit
Its sides were almost perpendicular,
and were overspread with vines and
bushes.
The light moved across the open
space at the bottom Of this indentation.
Apparently, it was lantern carried
by some person.
Darrell observed that the place was
directly back Of the elevation in which
the log cabin was located. 1t was evil
dently part of the abode Of the bandits.
As he stood regarding the lantern curl
ously it suddenly disappeared.
At the same moment, in leaning too
far over the edge Of the pit, he lost his
balance and fell forward. Down, down
he went, slightly breaking very heavy
fall by clutching at the vines and shrubs.
He landed at the bottom Of the pit,
badly bruised and half stunned.
There was no way Of climbing out of
the place, and as he recovered his senses
he endeavored to find some other outlet
from his strange place Of Imprisonment.
He finally groped his way to an opening
that seemed to lead into the mountain
side.
Undoubtedly, he reasoned, the man
with the lantern had disappeared by this
egress.
He crept along narrow passage-way,
and saw, some distance ahead, glim-
mer Of light. Darrell paused, as against
its radiance he made out large, cave
like apartment. Two men were stand
ing within it
One was Dyke Despard. The other
was man bearing lantern In his
hand.
"Well," the former asked, us every
thing all right?"
ayes, Captain"
@No spies or visitors since we left?'
sNone.s
sAnd the way Of escape by the pit9"
s1s closed up until we need to use It,"
sVery we'll. Now, then, as to your
expedition down the canyon?"
I'm search OF the old hermit?
sWalford-yes.
Darrell started. He remembered that
this was the name OF the man to whom
Tracey had left the fortune for 1nez
u have located him"
SGood."
ut is about ten miles from here"
1Could you guide me there?"
"Readily."
as he alone?"
always"
aAnd not prepared for visitors?"
"He imagines no one knows the way
to his abode"
Then we will make visit"
"When?"
ITO morrow"
The two men left the place. Darrell
followed them at q distance. Suddenly
the light was shut out from his vision.
A large stone seemed rolled into an
aperture leading from the cave.
He approached 1t and peered beyond
the edges. A cry Of delight escaped
his lips. In an underground apart
ment stood the object Of his quest.
1t was Inez Tracey, the girl he so de-
votedly loved.