Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-05-29
ROYAL RANGER RALPH,
The Vaif Of The Western Prairie&
BY. WELDON ]. COBB.
CHAPTER XXI-Continued.

dow, and his keen eyes were fixed on the
dim scene below.
81 understand their plans rOw," he
said at last
"What are they?" asked the scout.
"Thcy are trying to scale the cliff.
at is almost perpendicular.
"Stil, under the cover of the dark
ness they hope to reach US"
"They wi ! not
NO. One thing has prevented tho
success of their enterprise"
"And that is"
"Their discovery" replied the old her
nit grmly.
As he spoke, Walford went to cor
ner of the cabin. He lowered some OBJ
ject by rope from the window of tho
cabin a Tinute later.
He ignited a match and swung the
oh ect clear of the window. 1t proved
to be an immense open lantern. Its
rays, suddenly cast forth, illumincd 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 ballled
their plans Both WafOrd and the
scout began firing at them and the Mo-
does retreatcd.
The flames Of the lantern soon died
away, leaving the valley in darkness
again.
"They seem to have abandoned the
attack" suggested the scout, after
long pause.
"For the time icing, perhaps" replied
Walford; "but we shall have moro
trouble with them before the night is
over"
"You think SOP"
81 know it, Look there"
Both men pecred curiOusly from the
window. A flaming streak of fire parted
the darkness.
"An arrow" said the scout.
Exactly"
clipped with fire "
"Yes."
"They mean to burn us out"
Walford laughed grimly. of they
can"
"See! There are Others"
Half a dozen fire arrows were shot up
ward from different points of the valley.
Most OF these fell wide Of their intended
mark Some shot over the cabin. Some
struck the cliff and were eXtinguished.
Others described a 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.
"Are you not afraid?" asked the scout,
finally.
"Of what"
"Of the fire
81 do not believe they can fire the
cabin"
why not?"
"The sides and floor are damp and
mOSS-COvered."
"Ha what about that"
A decidedly smoky smell began to per-
wade the place
The logs arc certainly on fire." re-
marked Ranger Ralph.
"Well. when We are in danger we Will
retreat"
"Wherc?"
To Ole Of the rocks"
ais there a way to leave here?"
eyes"
"And reach the valley?"
Walford nodded assentingly. lie saw
q, he watched from the window that a
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"
81 suppose we had"
"Then let us do so"
ain a moment. Wait
"Whcre are you gOng?"
HTO see that the WaY is clear"
WaIfold left the hut on the side
farthest from the mountain. Ranger
Ralph remained at the window, looking
down at the valley. Every moment the
glare increased. Evidently the bottom
of the cabin was on fire The arrows
of the Modocs had ignited the floor
The scout could hear the flames
cracking fercely. The smoke began TO
fill the cabin, and he was impeIled TO
retreat ,s,..
Still he determined to await Walford
return. Suddenly an anxious SOUND
startled and alarmed the old scout
There was a tearing, crashing noise.
The hut seemed to rock and qulVcr
wildly The floor appeared to drop
precipitatcly.
In a flash the scout realized what had
occurred The fire had weakened the
ioists that held the floor in place. These
had been burned through, and the re-
sult nromised a dire disaster to the scout.
He had lust time to spring to one sac
rs he saw what was about to tranSplre.
lie reached the door leading to the spot
whore tLe tree bridge had been, Just as
thc floor gave way. With crash II
went hurting to the valley below
Trinmnbant shouts of demoniac glec
oroso from the savages. They expected
IN soc the scout and the hermit dashed
TO pieces. Lut
Ranger Ralph had escal ed uhhurt'
however, and WalfOrd was not III the
cabin when the disaster came
The scout gained the rock ana mas
tened to get out of range and sight OF
the Indians. o.,,h,od
In his precipitate haste he stumbled
and fell lie dropped over the edge OF
the cliff and landed on ledge ABOUT
twcntv feet below The fall made MIN
inScnSible. .ou :.
When he awoke to consciousness II
was broad daylight, and the valley was
deserted. After several days OF ardu-
ous cndeavor to battle the outlaw DeS-
nord and to rescue Incz Tracey, the
Sc ut found himself alive, in peril, ana
with nothing before him except cOmplt
Gated nlots and broken trail
CHAPTER Mi.
ON THE TRAIL.
Opo ,neek after the occurrence OF the