The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-26
BY WELDON j. COBB.
CHAPTER XXI-Continued.

w.
dim scene below.
| II understand their plans now," he
said at last
aWhat are they2" asked the scout
@They are trying to scale the clitf. L"
at is almost perpendicular.
sStill, under the cover Of the DARK
ness they hope to reach US
@They will not"
@No One thing has prevented the
success Of their enterprise. ...
HAnd that is"
@Their discovery" replied the old her
init, grimly.
As he spoke, Waliord went to cor
ner of the cabin. He lowered some OBJ
ject by rope from the window OF the
cabin Tinute later.
He ignited match and swung the
object clear of the window 1t proved
to be an immense open lantern. Its
rays, suddenly cast forth, illumined the
space beneath them bright as day.
1t showed the savages in half dozen
places in the act OF endeavoring to scale
the cliff and reach the refuge OF their
enemies.
: Cries Of rage and dismay escaped
them, as the action Of the hermit baftled
their plans. Both Walford and the
scout began firing at them and the Nc
docs retreated.
The flames OF the lantern soon died
away, leaving the valley In darkness
again. s' y
@They seem to have abandoned the
attack" suggested the scout, after
long pause.
@For the time being, perhaps, replied
Waford; "but we shall have more
trouble with them before the night is
over" ... ...-..
sYou think SOP" ~.r ......-
II know it. Look there!" -. T..
Both men peered curtously from the
window. A flaming streak OF fire parted
the darkness.
IAN arrow" said the scout
EXACTLY" .....
Tipped with fire." .
~Yesn -.'.
~They mean to burn Us out" .
Walford laughed grimly. @f they
can" -. 49,. ...... NJ.
@See! There are Others"
Half dozen fire arrows were shot up
ward from different points Of the valley.
Most OF those fell wide Of their intended
mark. Some shot over the cabin. Some
struck the cliff and were extinguished.
Others described circle and fell to the
ground. Some, however, it was evident
penetrated the under surface Of the ex-
posed floor beneath their feet These
they could not see. Walford seemed un-
disturbed at these episodes ~ ' ..
aAre you not sfraid?" asked the scout,
finally. .- -..
@Of what!" .
aOf the fire y ...... .
Il do not believe they can fire the
cabin"
@Why not9" ...
@The sides and floor are damp and
moss-covered."
sHa! what about that"
A decidedly smoky smell began to per.
wade the place.
.The logs are certainly on fire. re.
marked Ranger Ralph
@Well. wheD we are in danger we will
retreat"
"Where?"
@To one of the rocks"
ais there way to leave here?"
aYes."
aAnd reach the valley?"
Walford nodded assentingly. He saw
rs he watched from the window that
faint glow showed beneath the cabin,
"They've done it, he said, calmly.
= "Done what?"
"Set the cabin on fire"
@Then we had better leave here"
II suppose we had"
@Then let US do So"
~In moment Wait"
@Where are you go!nS?"
sTo see that the way is clear"
Walford left the hut on the side
farthest from the mountain. Ranger
Ralph remained at the window, looking
down at tho valley. Every moment the
glare increased. Evidently the bottom
Of the cabin was on fire. The arrows
of the Modocs had ignited the floor.
TIE scout could hear the flames
cracking fiercely. The smoke began to
fill the cabin, and he was impelled to
retreat .....---
Still he determined to await Walford's
return. Suddenly an anxious sound
startled and alarmed the old scout
There was tearing, crashing noise.
The hut seemed to rock and quiver
wildly. The floor appeared to drop
precipitately.
I'm q flash the scout realized what had
occurred. The fire had weakened the
joists that held the floor in place These
had been burned through, and the re-
suit promised dire disaster to the scout
He had just time to spring to one side
rs he saw what was about to transplre.
He reached the door leading to the spot
where the tree bridge had been, just as
the floor gave way. With crash 1t
went hurtling to the valley below.
Triumphant shouts Of demoniac glee
arose from the savages. They expected
to see the scout and the hermit dashed
70 pieces
Ranger Ralph had escaped unhurt
however, and Walford was not in the
cabin when the disaster came.
The scout gained the rock and hiss.
tened to get out Of range and sight OF
the Indians.
In his precipitate haste he stumbled
and fell. He dropped over the edge OF
the cliff and landed on ledge about
twenty feet below The fall made him
insensible.
When he awoke to consciousness it
was broad daylight and the valley was
deserted. After several days Of ardu-.
Gus endeavor to battle the outlaw Des-
pard and to rescue Inez Tracey, the
scout found himself alive, in peril, and
with nothing before him except compli-
Gated plots and broken trail
CHAPTER xxi.
Oh THE TRAIL.
One week sitter the occurrence Of the
avents narrated In the last chapter, q
solitary horseman emerged from the .Nst
of q series Of lonely mountain passes