The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-23

they didn't find us" ! answered.
I'VE were lucky again. he returned.
Il could not find them anywhere and
thought they were gone back to their
cave and we could safely return TO flsh
Camp. but when l came TO Rope flt
on my way back l found our pore
. standing up In il, so | was afraid they
were up here. But wen hurry ana eat
what there is and then for something
else"
We fell TO on the last Of the fish, and
; the CAPTAIN went on: Their rope IS
stin down Dauphin's Pit. and the best
thing we can do will be TO get down
the pole and hurry and get up That
| rope We can draw IL up after us ana
maybe hide IL somewhere. III the hYe
OF them are still here there can't be
more than three at the Fort, and we
can fight our way out II worse comes
to worse. 1t will be three against
three. though they're better armed
| than We are
sneak mp on 'em. Capn-thats what
We want 20 do Give me the gun ana
III settle them, aiming low as you
said TO- That's what they need; the
! dishonest thieves stand up for your
! rights. GIL. says they to me, and when
/ / done II what happened? l got
Eyes. yes. Dauphin." broke in the
| CAPTAIN: I'VE know what happened.
And / know what will happen If we
don't stop talking so loud. Hark!' and
at that very moment we heard the
I echoes Of voices, and soon the men
were near again. ! held our torch low
among the rocks, and the Captain crept
! up TO the round hole. Bpt the men ala
not come very close this time, and mn
! 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 80 up TO their
cave. We had best wait ten minutes
and 20 down the pole. too, and then
/ get up their rope If it Is there yet, by
| which we shall know that they are sun
| down We can't stay here and siarVe.
We left the Nest and went with great
| caution 10 Rope Pit, but could not SPY
the end Of the pole anywhere. i Just
| came up 1t and they must have gone
/ down it," said the Captain. yes. ana
| they've taken it down too lie tossed
a piece Of lighted torch stick down ana
! we plainly saw it lying beside the
stream. That pole has been NUS
ance' cried the Captain. Il Wish l
| had never made it, Come, we must get
( down bv way of the Gopher Hole
| This we did. though. OF course. it took
some time But at last we were again
creeping like cats along toward the Gun
! Barrel. We listened when We came TO
J the mouth Of IL. and were about 10 turn
down II when we thought we heard
/ voices. We listened longer and were
sure we did. They seemed TO be coming
| from the direction Of Fish River. For
| half a minute the Captain hesitated' then
he exclaimed:
! Come on-it's now or never! There's
| plenty Of time to get up that rope De-
] fore they reach here
| We started down the tunnel on the
run. the Captain carrying the gun and
a torch. while Dauphin and l came be-
hind. all excitement. When we came
ND TO the pit the rope was still there.
! The Captain stood his torch against
n rock. hastily tying the end of the
rope around the handle. thrust the
| stock of the gun in his trousers pocket,
| buttoned his coat around the barrei
and went up the rope hand over hand'
He was hardly TO the top when Dau-
| phn said 10 me;
go on climb up them there things
slow"
I'm went almost as fast as the Cap
tain though / had never done such
thing before. I was half way when !
J heard great shout at tf< top and a
man with a voice like a bull roared out
stand stin and throw up your hands.
| Take his gun. Bill" l stopped ana
/ looked ND. A man carrying big torch
| nolxer his head over the edge and
| looked down. Quick give me that
| gun. BIZ" he cried. and ! slid down
| the rope like "A shot. As ! struck the
ground ne fred. l got up half stunned
| and ran along the tunnel. following the
| torch ahead which Dauphin had ana
| thinking Of ] thought at alp what a
| good thing il was that the gun was
| crooked Dauphin wen out of the tun-
! mel and dashed across the room at the
| ond I Thought TO do as well. but in
] stead l rushed into the arms of Isaac
/ London just like yearling colt run
| ming into an open barn door.
| There were two men with London
| When 7 ran out Of the Gun Barrel he
| snapped me up like dog catching a
! rabbit coming out OF its burrow. taking
| me bv the collar and jerking me around
| without the least ceremony. Then he
| snatched out his revolver l thought 10
| shoot me without any more ceremony
| hut il was only 10 shoot al Dauphln'
| which he did not do after all. as the
fellow was out Of sight along Bat street
in no time at all. Seeing which London
! said. quick as flash:
"Joe. YOU and Tom go after him.
Don't fetch him back-understand' They
started and London said 10 the other
man: you go back and get Pete. Put
out the fire fore you leave" Then Lon
! don held up his lantern and had better
| look at me.
yes" he said. II reckoned I was right.
| I amt generally wrong. I've saw you
| before. This trouble all comes Of my being
so soft and easy. That friend OF yourn
I'm the bank amt bothering us any and
YOU wouldn't be neither If l wasn't a
| regular old woman. Now, you answer
| right: What you doing in here cave?'
1--WE are exploring It," ] answered.
Eyes. you were exploring IL! Wen ex-
! plore YOU. What was that shooting /
| heard?"
zone Of your men shot at me"
ooh II he don't learn 10 shoot better
I'll shoot him. Now. where's that old
! chan Archwav that's along with your
HE climbed up the rope and / think
your men have got him
''rhey have. have they Wen Just go
ND and see And then wen just have the
two Of YOU give us the particulars. the
! truthful particulars. bout where you got
in. and how many there is Of you, and
what YOU want. Then mebbe you'll just
mention-sorter just mention. you under
stand-how you expect 10 get OUT and
he burst into laugh and led me down
the Gun Barrel
When we came into the pit I could SEQ
that a light OF some sort was burning
Il.I bat