Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-06-12
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE RESCUE.

THE RESCDE
ca fantastic and unreal werc the ac-
tions of the hermit that Despard had
evidently abandoned his susp' 'cions Of
his being spy. Like DantOn, he began
IN believe that their strange visitor was
some one of those dementcd creatures
nfton met with on the frontier
The hermit Ia opened his hat and
bad taken IRON it several small pack
ages
~The first thing will be q balloon
ascension he said
lie had produced and lighted small
alcohol lamp, and he allowed the hot air
if produced to ascend into a fine rub
ber object he had in his hand
"Watch the balloon, gentlemen" he
said. "and you'll sec it ascend and eX-
plode in mida'r."
The bag began to fill, and finally arose
in the air Every eye was lifted to watch
IFS course. AMI the hermit prepared for
his final move in his clover game to de-
lude the bandits. The balloon arose a
few feet Suddenly it exploded
Simultaneous howls Of pain arose
from the throng. Every man seemed
gone Id suddenly The balloon, as
Walford had intended in exploding had
released some cayenne pepper, which
had ial'cn into the e cS of the gaping
bandits blinded and in pain, they were
for the most part helpless.
Despard and Dant)n, however, had
escaped tie general suffering, as they
had watched the hermit at little dis
tanco As Nalford noticed this, he
flung a package of powder over the
lamp Immediate dense vapor
spreal over the scene.
- he girl-the wagon" cried DcSpard.
"This is all a trick Of our enemies See,
the man has disappeared"
The hermit had certainly left the spot
where last they had seen him DeSpard
and Danton made simultaneous rush
for the wagon At its rear stood the
man they sought
Danton seized him by the arm and
hcld him firmly. Dcspard tore ASIDE the
canvas and pecred into the vehlcle
"The girl is gone." he cried.
Walford started, fully as much amazed
as the bandits
"Gcne?' echoed Danton, incredu-
| lousy.
~Ycs. 1t was all a plot Who IS
taken hcr?" he demanded of Vallejo.
"Tcl me, or | will kill you.
81 do not know"
"You dot was some friend of yours
In his rage, DcSpard dea the hermit
a blow that fclcd him to the ground IN
sensible. Then he rushed back to his
men. BY this time they hat got the
pcpEsr OFT of their eyes, but were still
in deep pain. Hastily, DcI ard eX--
Dlaincd what had Occ lrrcd. He divided
the men into pa ties, and sent them ont
in search of the missing lncz.
He himself and DantOn, with several
of the men, also started on the quest
They learned later what had really oc-
CURED.
Darrell Grey had rescued Inez Tracey.
lie had reached the bandit camp, and
while the hermit engaged the attention
of the outlaws had hurried her away
He went direct to the rlvnc. The hap
Nv npz did not delay their flight by
auestioning him. Together they reached
the place where White Fawn awaited
them. Darrell hast ly explained all tha'
had occurred
awe must not remain here, SAID thc
ModOc princess
as il not a safe rctreat?"
"NO."
"Why not?"
ave will be purs cd.
"But the hermit
"He will care for himself Como.
She led the way rapidly down the ra
vine.
"Look!" she said, after they had pro
ceeded some distance 1--WE are pursued
They could see hurrying forms oehlnt
them.
1--WE must reach the cliffs" said White
Fawn.
She finally found path leading froH
the valley. 1t was a tOisOm9 ascent
but they finally gained the top OF th'
cliff. 1t proved to be kind of natura
foltiication. On the other side stream
flowed fifty feet below.
There was no way of going on. The.
must remain where they were, or retrea
the way they had come
ave are IL tap" murmured Nhlt'
Fawn.
"The outlaws may not trac3 us here,
remarked Darrc
They crouched behind some ro ks AM
waited. White Fawn watched the ia
vine lelow. 1T was Just beg nning L
get light. Fay was breaking. She say
several dusky forms coming up tho mar
row mountain path
1--WE are pursued, she said. "Let tn
Rangers friend prepare for deSperat
conflict"