Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-06-19
CHAPTER XXyII.
TIE MODOCS.

The plots and movements of Dyke
Despard, the bandit leader, were fast
appr, aching climax, as he was soon
to learn in tragic AMI unexpected
manner.
Tho Indians whom his spy had dis
covered in tho ravine were indeed men,
bers of Shadow Snakes tribe, and he
had avoided q deadly conflict by his
timely escape. The savages had located
his recent camp, had trailed him to the
rayne, and later explored the cliff, but
found 10 trace of him.
Darrell Grey had remained faithfully
ut his post in the fort
When the rain and mist obScured the
outlaws he did not retreat from the in
trcnchment, but cndeavorcd to watch
the cliff as bcst he could. Thus hidden
by the gloom, the outlaw escaped with
out his knowledge. He was amazel
when at last the mlsts wero dispersed
and he saw 10 trace Of his enemies in
the vicinity.
Instead, score Of dusky warriors
were ascending the winding mountain
paths.
What did it mean?
He was perplexc1 and somewhat
alarmed at the discovery. The sayages
seemed to be following trail and were
com ng directly to the summit of the
cliff. Sooner or later he must be discov-
cred, and resistance against such su-
rerior numbers would be folly. Besides
by this time White Fawn and Inez must
have Effected their escape.
He could not explain the mysterious
disappearance Of the bandits, but he OBJ
served that there was possibility Of
leaving the fort AMI retreating before
the Indians reached the summit of the
cliff.
Darrcl began to creep tehlnd the rocks
in the direction the Modoc princess and
Inez had gone. He saw, somc distance
away, a place where he might essay
descent to the valley, and fastened to
reach 1t.
Suddenly he started in dismay.
AS If by magic, two stalwart savages
had dartcd across his path. Before be
could retreat or advance they had seized
him securely.
They gave utterance to triumphant
yell, and began to lead him toward the
ravinc where their hef was. rarrel
faced his enemies boldly as they gather
4 ed around him.
Shadow Snake listened to the rapid
words of rarrel's captors, in explana-
tioL of their re .earches. 1heH lie turned
to the prisoner.
"Ugh" he calculated; "who is the pale
face?"
Shadow Snake did not evidently recog-
nize rarrel as the man he had liberated
at White Fawn's request at the outlaws
stronghold in Lone anyOn. In his new
disguise, the Modoc chief did not suppose
his present prisoner and his daughters
friend to be the same person.
IL am the friend of tho White Fawn,"
he said, simply.
The chief started
"Ugh! The palc-face knows the prin-
cess?"
"Yes"
"Yon have seen her Of late?"
"a few hours since"
"Where?"
Briefly Darrell related how he had met
the White Pawn He told the Snake
that he had once saved his daughters
life He related how he had rescued Inez
from Dcspard, and detail ed the pursuit
and tho attack on the mountain hut
The old chiefs eyes blazed fercely as
parrel spoke eSpard name
"Ughl" he uttered savagcly. "The
Black Crow shall be trailed Whithcr
has he gomez"
81 do not know.
"And the Fawn?"
Escaped by the ravino to the river
Shadow Snake held brlo' conference
with his braves.
"Thc Eagle shall be the friend Of the
Snake" :eid the Moloc chief to Darrell
"Togethcr we will tnd and pun sh the
Crow"
Iarrcl showed the rattlesnake chain