Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-06-05


and the relentless cNptor, as ho claspcd
his revolver In his hand.
March on, he said, gently "w) have
lost time"
He glanced and down tho deserted
mountain roau There was no trace OF
either Danton or tho horses that had
broken loose from the wagon.
"Hold on" said Despard.
"Well, what is it?"
"You intend to take mo to Miners
Gulch?"
ayes"
"Nhat for?'
% you ask? Your many cr'mos"
"l, ill be poor satisfaction to you
"N hy?"
"You are losing time "
. ain what way" asked HarrcL
"In seeking revenge on mo, you are
leaving your friends in danger
"N hat friondS?"
"Ranger Ralph and the girl, Inez
Tracey?"
"Rangcr Ralph is dead"
"No; he ESCAPED at the old hermit'S
cave l saw him.
"Allowiny that, he can take care OF
himsolf."
"But the girl She is prisoner with
tho Modocs See here: I'm wiling to
help you find her, if yoi will allow me
my liberty"
"No: | shall place 20 in safe hands.
Then shall fin the girl alona and TN
aided. March on"
Tc ;pard obcycd the mandate, and
started down the real with s1llen
face The menace of Tarrc 5 revolver
was sufficient to make him an abject
and unrcsisting captive.
Not a word was spoken as tn journey
was resumed. Tarrcl resolved to con-
vcy his prisoner to the next mining set.
tlcmcnt, and thcrc make known his
crimes, and ret IN to search for tho
driver Of the wagon, who had been shot
ly DantOn.
Later, he learned that the driver had
escaped with a Slight wo@nd
For over an hour the lonely tramp
continued Several times as they camc
to where the road was more tortrous,
Darrcl pa sed.
lie imagined he could hear hOr e5
hOofs in the distance, BIT finally at
tribgted the sound to some raync wa
tcrway or cataract He was not aware
that willy foe was upon his trail, that
np.pard's ac OmpliCc, DantOn had FOL
lowed them, intent on rescuing the for
mcr.
As they ro~nded a point of rocks,
Grey started quickly. Too late t. avoid
a catastrophe, Darrel sayed to lire at
an advancing foe d1cn revealed be-
hind them. 1t was DantOn, aud he was
on horseback
With deft movement aSSo shot
out from the saddle bow The rope cn-
closed his form, pinionng his arms
tightly.
Tho revolver fell to the ground. With
cry Of fierce delight DoSpard cized it
/ Danton gave the lasSo tightening jerk,
sccu cd the other end round his vast
and faced his captive with malignant
10y depicted on his evil face.
"The tables are turned, my friend" no
ieercd
Parrel was silent with discontinue
and cha2rin.
Despard proceeded to see that tho
lasso was firmly tied around the pris-
oncr.
ave won't delay here" remarked
DantOn. "Somc of this mans friends
may be on our trail Come along Cap.
tain
nanton urged forward his horse
Despard walked by his side conyerSing
with him. Darrcl was compelled to
keep pace with them, secured to the
other end of the rope He could hear
enough of the conversation Of his cap
tors to knew that they wee discussing
his fate.
lie made every effort possible to r..
lease his hands, and had almost sue
cccded in getting one arm loose, when
Danton sudd anly halted.
"What IS it?" asked DCspard.
"Look ahead"
"A fire."
"YcS"
"Pcrhaps a campfire of the Indians
"That yo1 must learn ReconnoiteI
and see who it is
Despard left them and went in the di
rection of a gov of light in thicket
short distance away, Danton sat care
les,lv regarding Darrel, unit Desparl
returned The leader reappearcd fla
ly greatly excited
"Ne'r1 in luck, anton!' he cr.cd.
"What do you mean?"
at is a camp yonder in the thickot "
"Redskns?"
"NO."
"Vigilantes?"
"NO."
"What thCn?'
"A dozen OF one Of Our old bands
| Danton uttered satisfied ejaculation.
| He started the horse forward so sud
! denly that Darrell was thrown from his
| icct.
| The latter was at that moment neal
| tho edge of the cliff and fell prccip tate
ly over il With yell Of fright Danton
was dragged from lis horse The as
tound(d Dcspard saw the two men dis
appear from sight with cry OF alarm,
The lasso, attached to both, whipped
around a tree that grew near the Cdgc OF
the road Glancing over, Iespard saw
tLc two men come together with shock
Their weight evenly balanced, they
were unable to as end. Darrel had
managed to get one arm free with tn s
he clutchcd the laSso.
Tor moment DantOn was terrified
Then he dScerncd means Of escape. II
| he could lower Darrel and raise himself,
he could reach p ace Of safety. He
seized the side Of the lassO supporting
Darrcl and ShO up several feet Then
selling some twigs growing out of the
cliffs. he endcavOrcd to ascend still
higher
In a fash Darrell comprchcndcd his
peri. He disccrncd that when DantOn
reached tic tree across which they were
swung, he would cut the rope and send
him to his death bc.Ow With FREQ
hand he seized the foot of DantOn.
"Lct go." yelled the landit.
1 UT wi ! NOT Van will LOT mo ascend