The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-11-07
CHAPTER VIII.
ON THE TRAIL.


CHAPTER VIM.
ON THE TRAu.
The night was bright as day as Dar'
rel and Ranger Ralph rode from the
little town at Miners Gulch toward the
hills to the east in the near distance.
As nearly as possible, the former in.
formed the scout Of the course Despard
had taken in carrying away the recapt-
ured maiden, Inez Tracey.
They soon found themselves threading
. rocky defile, along which the practical
eye Of the scout discovered evidences or
recent travel.
aThey have come this way" he said
to Darrell.
~Then we may overtske them"
mot 80 easily as you think
4Why not?"
"They have q fair start Of US, and
once in the mountains it will be difficult
to follow their trail"
The landscape became wild, and at
times almost impossible, as they pro-
ceeded on their way. At midnight the
scout came to halt, utterly at fault.
3We are in quandary now," he re-
marked
sHow?' asked Darrell.
aHere the course diverges The out
laws may have gone down the valley to
the wilderness beyond, passed through
the gulch yonder to the outlaw country,
or struck direct through the hills for the
Indians"
For nearly an hour they reconnoitered
. short distance in each direction. The
scouts face showed satisfied express
sion as he returned to the head Of the
canyon.
Darrel, eagerly,
sYes?"
a.Whst a:S1,s is lt2@
The scout showed ribbon, which
Darrell recognized as belonging to the
dress worn by Inez Tracey.
s.po you recognize it9' asked Ralph.
s~Yess I,
= sThen the Indian country is our des-
sination. They are carrying the girl to
their old-time allies, the Modocs."
Darrell looked deeply concerned, but
the scout Seemed more encouraged and
yigilant than ever, and urged his horse,
70 more rapid rate of speed.
The morning light brought them en-
couraging traces Of the persons they
sought They were toiling up steep
ascent, when Darrell found piece Of
bride rein. It evidently belonged to
Despard's band, and they pressed on,
confident that they were on the right
trail.
.Beyond here the mountains come TO-
STOP" remarked the scout -! =
"aAnd beyond that?"
<Prairie and forest, and the camping
grounds Of the marauding bands Of saw
ages Ha! smoke!" -
As Ranger Ralph spoke, his com.
panion discerned slight volume OF
smoke emanating from some rocks be-
yond them. ~.
They drove along IS rapidly as the
broken roadway would admit At q
turn scene OF wondrous beauty and
extent held them momentarily SPELL
bound.
The mountain Of stone shot down
sheer thousand feet perfectly perpen-
dicuIar, and beyond it stretched wood
cd plain far as the eye could reach.
There seemed no means OF reaching 1t
except by toilsome ride to where there
was more gradual descent
aLook, spoke the scout suddenly.
Darrell thrilled to keen excitement as
he glanced at point some distance be-
low them.
A body OF horsemen were just disap-
peartng into dense stretch OF timber.
GDespard and his men," he cried.
1T must be them"
Then they have escaped US"
Not necessarily, the trail will be bet.
ter on the lowlands than here think
] know Despard's plans"
what are they?"
80 rejotn one Of his old allies in stage
robbery and war on the settlements.
IAN Indian?"
"Yes"
sWho Is hep"
~Shadow Snake, the Modoc warrior
What Is that?"
Directly before them, emanattng from
q rocky defile, smoke ascended-the same
shey had observed few minutes previ-
ous!Y!:
Can It be o party of 1ndians?" asked
Dsrre.
Il think not. It is probably the dc.
serted campfire Of Despard's band"
Both men halted perp,exed and be viii
dcrcd, as they traced the smoke to its
source At cave-like aperture ip the
s?cks. a large amount OF bushes and
reeds and leaves were piled. Theoe had
boon recently ignited, and dense volumes
OF smoke issued from the heap.
The two men gGzed at one another in
tho peofoundest wonder.
What does it mcan?" asked tH' nys'
tiAcd Darrell.
II do not know"
aYou think DeSpard's mon built the
Hre?" ) ,.
passed th.b spot
sFor what purpose?"
sThat cannot tell"
sThen let us ascertain
They dismounted and approached tne
esye. Both started % low WALL Ike
that Of @ person exhausted by pain,
seemed to emanass from the smoking
cave
aDo you hear thsts' cried Darrell e1'
citedly
SYes."
ssome one Is in there!"
sProbably wild beast that they tr'eo
20 smoke outl" -. 80. - -" " -