Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-04-24
Tho young scout was IN position OF
terrible peril.
CHATTER XtIf.
At THE STAKE,

chagrin and dismay, seemed for the mo-
ment bcwildcred at the disaster that had
appeared a. tho time of apparent suc'
cess.
"Sparc him! Do not kill him. Ho Is
my only protoctor-my frlond'" she
cried, wildly.
Inoz endcavorcd to spring forward
and intercept the blow Of the irate
Trailing Wolf, but Dcspari caught her
roaghly.
"IIa! begin to understand tnis, he
muttcrcd, a ealOuS li;ht coming into
his evil eyes.
"The young fellow who ran away with
her, eh?" calculated Vance, DeSpard's
companion.
"Yes Hold" cried the outlaw leader
to the savage. "The Wof shall have his
revenge at the stake-at the torture
Seize him and bring him to the chlel
tent" ordered Dcspard.
With sulen, lowering brow, the In
dian whose identity Darrell had sto.en
cast aside the tOmahawk
At the same moment Darrei Grey
realized his position and recovered from
ali his bewildcrment
He COmprehended that to remain IN.
ert, to impassively fall into the hands OF
his fees, meant certain death amid their
revcngefu numbers
IneZs frantic cndeavOr to save him
thrilled his very soul with Joy and cour'
age as he recognized her love and devo-
ton.
1t inspired him to think beyond the
present A prisoner, he would be help
less to aid her Free, he might yet out
wit his foes.
He surprised savageS AMI rene3adeS
alike by sudden movement They ad-
Judged him a thoroughly baille1 and de-
fcated victim. The whre therefore
tota ly unprc1arcd for the desperate
rush hc abruptly made.
Courage, Incz! you shall yet be
rescued" he shouted
Then he sprang forward, Overturning
two of the savageS and dartiny straight
in the direction Of the horses OF the
camp.
The outlaws did not follow him. but
the group of excited, yelling Indians
startc in hot purSui'.
Inez stood clasping her hands in ter
rOr.
ooh! they will captur9 and kill him.,
she cried.
Dc ,pard laughed hOarsely
ola. In love, eh?"
She flushed in indignant resentment
at DeSpards coarse tones.
Coward. Assassin" she brcathcd, her
eyes flashing adherence and a erSlon
upon her dreaded captor.
al here will be one less lover in few
moments" continued Dcspard. "Gir,
Won struggle vainly to escape my power.
nave too many friends and allies"
"See here, Captain"
Vance had touched the outlaws arm
"Wcl?" inquired EeSpard.
awe are wasting valuable time here.
"Thats true Let us move at once.
We can take advantage of the confusion
to leave the camp"
"Shall get the horSes?"
"Yes; and bring them to the river to-
vond the camp. co ahead; I'll meet you
there. You come with me.
Dyke Despard make no preteasc OF
gentlcnes5 as he seized Incz'S arm
roughly. He for, cd her to accompany
him away from the MOdOc camp.
At thicket near the river he paused
to await the arrival of his accomplice,
Vance. His eyes glOwed with the malice
and triumph of villain as he noted
Inez's deep distress.
He was angry and .calOuS at his dis
coveIy of her evi lent preference for a
rival.
"tirI," he h sscl, as h bent toward
her, "if you are listening for SOM token
of your lovers escape, abandon the
thought"
Inez was silent and dropped her eyes
to veil their evident expression of
anxiety for the fac of the man she had
learned to love within the past few
hours.
ale is doomed" continued the morci-
less DeSpard. "Even if he eluded cap
ture for brief time, he would soon be
found. I hon the Stake-the torture.
Incz shudGercd at his heart ess words.
aft YOU want to be sensible" pursued
j Despard. "yOu will save yourself and
others trouble 1t will be wise for you
If we understand each other perfectly
now"
81 understand you only too WE'LL mis-
creant," cried Ine7.
"Hard words will not help your case
any," replied Despard.
aNo name is too hard for your cruel
nature"
"You will soon change your tactics,
my girl, if I'm not mistaken, remarked
Despard, menacingly "Hou are com
pletely in my power in few moments
VIC leave the Indian camp Do you know
where we arc going?"
Jnez did not dcgn to reply.
81 am going to take you to retreat
so safe and iso ated that no friend Will
ever penetrate to it--Of which even tho
savagcs are in ignOran"e Between it
and civil alton is a safe barrier of saw
age hordcs, friendly to my designs
Trusty friends and strong walls of rock
surround me- Thee You will be my
prisoYcr-secure, With no hope of escape
There YOU will be my vile. "
"Ncver."
Dcspard laughed confidently.
ave shall sec, he taunted. ooh, you
will soon tire of playing the indignant
role 10 you hear that?"
Vcngcful, triumphant cr'cs from the
direction of the Mo iOc camp told the
anxious Inez that her worst fears we're
confirmed
They seemed to announce that her
bravo protector Darrcl Grey had fallen
prisoner into the hands OF his murder
Gus foes.
Sho led Ecr face in her hands in
mute anguish, while DcSparl peered
from the thi ket. as two savages, su'
pcrbly mounted dashed by toward the
camp. TT.
A minute later Vance appeared. Hc
was riding a hors1 and leading two 9th
crS.
"Quick! we had better start at once
he said.
Incz knew that it was useless to strug'