Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-06-12


cautiously to the valley Here he joined
Dospard and his party, and a close con-
sultation was held They seemed to be
devising some plan to surround and cap
ture the fugitiveS barrels ObserYa
tons were interrupted by the appear
anco of VIII tc Fawn.
"What have you dScorercd?" ne
asken.
"a means of escape; But it is peril
ous one"
an what way?'
awe must lower ourselves from cliff TO
cliff, to the other side of the valley"
"Thcn let us not delay"
"Somc one must remain here to keep
back the outlaws aud give time for the
escape"
Darrel glanced anxiously at Inez, but
said. 81 will do that
Come said White Fawn to Inez.
The latter cast tender J ok at hcr
brave lover, and followed the Indian girl
Tarre's attention was now e1tlrely
centered or the foes he was to keep at
bay. lie had confidence in White Fawn,
and knew that her long familiarity with
frontier life OnStitutCd her safe guard
ian of the woman he we'd.
Dcspard and his mon, to Darrcrs sat
isfa ton, did not apparently suspect tho
attempU to escape. They appeared in
stead. to be combining their forces for q
general assault on the summit OF the
cliff, where the lone defender was sta
toned
Several times they started boldly for
ward up the torturOls mountain pain.
barrels steady fire, however, dismayed
item. and drove them to cover again.
Each onslaught brought them nearer 10
the fort of rocks. and this fact the young
scout noted with some an icty.
A r]ance behind him showed no sign
Of his recent companons. White Fawn
and Inez had disappeared, and he hoped
they had found means OF cs ape TO the
val ey in :afcty.
Meantime it hal begun to rain, and
dim mist began to gather over the
ravine 1t PARTIALLY shut out the posi-
tion of his enemies, and he feared would
cnabe them to make secret advance
TO his stronghold.
In this his fears were not groundless
but the climax came in different manner
from what he had appreh ondcd 1t seemed
that the bandit leader had, few mo-
mcnts previous been made aware OF the
exact position of affairs A man ho had
sent TO recOnnoiter had returned very
much excited.
"Wcll. what have you lcarned?" asked
Despair.
"That there's only ono person in the
fort up yOnder
"Thcn the girl who escaped"
81 don't know whore she is; sEe ain I
in the place there" -,
Despard looked perplexed, He had
believed that, whoever was delondlng
the fort, the rescued lncz was also there.
"If there is only one person" he said
to Danton, "thc girl has been sent away
"Whcre?"
"Perhaps there Is descent to the
other side of the valley"
Danton started.
"Ha! | never thought Of that" he
muttcrcd.
"And whoever Is In the fort Is simply
holding us at bay to cover the girls cS-
cape.
"What shall we dO?"
"Some of us hurry around to that sde
of the rayinc"
awe can't do that, Captain, spoke the
man who had reported tho state OF al
| fairs.
"Why not?"
"Because, wore in bad fix"
"A bad fix, What do you mean' MANI"
"IndianS."
"What?"
eyes, Captain; Modocs. I saw them
in the valley from over yonder
Hespard looked very much concerned
care there many of them?"
"Two to one against u.s."
"Sl adow Snakes men
"They look like it. l saw them before
the mist came down upon us
Dcsrard and Danton discussed the
situation for some time They finally
decided to continue their ascent, but IN
q line beyond the fort. Their enemy
did not notice their movements, or did
not care to attack them for their prog
res3 was uninterrupted.
They rea .hel the eminencc, and Des-
Uard at once began to investigate inc
other side Of the cliff. In h S wander
ingS he cam1 to a pla who're some
twisted grape vines showed signs OF
recent passage from rock to rock. a
bit of cloth torn by bram5'e from
dress tod him tat Inoz must have fled
til 5 way.
"Wcre on the right trail" he said tc
Danton, confidently.
"You think the girl has gone this
way?" asked the latter.
81 en- sure of it,"
"But there seems no way to reach tho
valley"
Except by careful climbing from rock
to rock.
"Can you 60 that way in safety"
"The girl seems to have donc So"
every well; we can try It,