The herald., 1898-01-23


found us. The Captain knew what he
was doing when he took the gun. He
may need it himself too, before he gets
back"
"He ought to be down there before
this" returned Dauphin. IF we
knowed where to find him it 'ud be best
to go down, wouldn't it, Harry"
But we don't. Besides, they will
probably go toward the Gopher Hole
and we would most likely be caught If
we tried to get down that way. We'd
best stay right here" So this is what
we did, for another two hours, as 1 be-
| lieve
At the end of this time light once
more flashed above us, and we curled
down among the rocks. We need not
have done SO, however for the next
moment the Captain slid down into
the Nest and said
Have you seen anything of those
fellows?"
Yes they passed here looking for us,
but though they came in the passage
they didn't find u.s." 1 answered.
we were lucky again." he returned
Il could not find them anywhere and
thought they We're gone back to their
cave and we could safely return to Fish
camp, but when L came to Rope Pit
on my way back I found our pole
Standing up in it, so I was afraid they
We're up here. But we'll hurry and eat
| What there is and then for something
else
we fell to on the last of the fish, and
one captain went on: Their rope is
stlll down Dauphins Pit, and the best
'uhlnS we can do will be to get down
the pole and hurry and get up that
rope. we can draw it up after us and
maybe hide it somewhere. If the five
OF them are still here there can't be
more than three at the Fort. and we
can fight our way out if worse comes
to worse. 1t will be three against
three though they're better armed
| than we are"
sneak up on 'em, Cap'n-that's what
we want to do Give me the gun and
IL settle them, aiming low as YOU
sdiu 10. That's what they need the
dlshonest thieves. Stand up for your
rishts' Gli' says they to me, and when
cone 1t what happened? I got"
fes' yes, Dauphin," broke in the
Captain; 1--WE know what happened.
ana L Know what will happen if we
don't stop talking so loud. Hark!" and
echoes Of voices, and soon the men
were near again. 1 held our torch low
among the rocks, and the Captain crept
up to the round hole. But the men did
not come very close this time, and fin
ally the voices died away. The Captain
came down and said:
Il think they've gone back down the
pole. They'll probably go to Fish
camp, where they seem to be staying,
for a meal before they go UP to their
cave. We had best wait ten minutes
ana go down the pole, too, and then
get up their rope if it is there vet, by
Whlch we shall know that they are still
down. We can't stay here and starve"
We left the Nest and went with great
caution to Rope Pit; but could not spy
the end of the pole anywhere. "T just
came up it and they must have gone
down it," said the Captain. Eyes, and
they've taken it down, too' He tossed
a piece of lighted torch stick down and
we plainly saw it lying beside the
stream. '"That pole has been a nuis-
ance." cried the Captain. IT wish T
had never made it. Come, we must get
down by way of the Gopher Hole"
This we did, though, of course, It took
some time. But at last we We're again
, creeping like cats along toward the Gun
; Barrel. We listened when we came to
the mouth ofsit, and were about to turn
down it when we thought we heard
voices. We listened longer and were
sure we did They seemed to be COM
ing from the direction of Fish River.
For half minute the Captain hesitat-
ed, then he exclaimed:
Come on-it's now or never! There's
plenty of time to get up that rope be
fore they reach here!'
We started down the tunnel on the
run, the Captain carrying the gun and
torch, while Dauphin and came be-
hind, all excitement. When we came
up to the pit the rope was still there.
The Captain stood his torch against
a rock, hastily tying the end of. the
rope around the handle, thrust the
stock of the gun in his trousers pocket,
bnttoned his coat around the barrel
and went up the rope hand over hand.
He was hardly to the top when Dau-
phfn said to me:
GO on-I climb UP them there things
slow"
Up went almost as fast as the Can
tain, though had never done such a
thing before. I was half way when I
heard a great shout at the top and a
man with voice Like a bull rOared out !:
"Stand still and throw UP your hands!
Take his gun, Bill" I stopped and
looked up. A man carrying a big torch
poked his head over the edge and
looked down. "QMck, give me that
gun, Bill" he cried, and I slid down
the rope like a shot. AS I struck the
ground he fired. I got up half stunned
and ran along the tunnel following the
torch ahead which Dauphin had and
thinking Gf I thought at alD what a
good thing it was that the gum was
crooked. Dauphin went out of the tun-
mel and dashed across the room at the
end. I thought to do as we'll, but in
stead I rushed into the arms of Isaac
London, just like a yearling colt rum
ming into an open barn door.
TO BE CONCLUDED. :
l