The times., 1898-01-16
we did, for another two hours, as be-

we did, for another two hours, as 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
| felfows?'
| Yes, they passed here looking for us,
but though they came in the passage
| they didn't find u.s. L 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 Fish
| Camp, but when / came to Rope Pit
| on my way back ] found our pole
| standing up in it, so / was afraid they
| were 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
the Captain went on: "Their rope is
still 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 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 tn 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-thats what
we want to do. Give me the gun and
I'll 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 it what happened? | got
1'Yac veG I0a11nbjp - brDkp in the
Captain; I'VE know what happened
And | know what will happen if we
don't stop talking so loud. Harki" and
at that very moment we heard the
echoes of voices, and soon the men
We're near again. / 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
and go down the pole, too, and then
get up their rope if it is there yet, by
which we shall know that they are still
down. We can't stay here and starye."
We left the Nest and went with great
caution to Rope Pit: but could not spy
the end of the pole anywhere. Il just
come up it and they must have gone
down it, said the captain Yes. and
they've taken it down, too" He toss
ed piece of lighted torch stick down
and we plainly saw il lying beside the
stream. THAT pole has been a nui-
sance'' cried the captain. Il wish /
had never made it. Come, we must get
down by way of the Gopher Hole"
This we did. though, of course, il took
seme time But at last we were again
creeping like cats along toward the
Gun Barrel. We listened when We
came to the mouth of ii, and were
about TO turn down it, when we
thought we heard voices. We listen
ed longer and were sure we did. They
seemed to be coming from the direc-
ton of Fish River. For half minute
the captain hesitated, then he exclaim-
ed:
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
a 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
rock, hastily tying the end of the rope
around the handle, thrust the stock OF
the gun in his trousers pocket. but
toned his coat around the barrel. and
went up the rope hand over hand. He
was hardly at the top when DauPhin
said to me:
Go on climb up them there things
slow
Up went almost as fast as the Cap
tain. though I had never done such
thing before. ! was half way when /
heard a great shout at the top and
man with a voice like a bull roared out:
stand still and throw up your hands.
Take his gun. Bill" l stopped and
looked up. a man carrying big torch
poked his head over the edge and
looked down Quick, give me that
gun. Bill,'' he cried. and L slid down
the rope like a shot. AS l struck the
ground he fired. / got up half stunned
and ran along the tunnel, following the
torch ahead which Dauphin had and
thinking tif l thought at alb what
good thing it was that the gun was
crooked. Dauphin went out of the tun-
mel and dashed across the room at the
end / thought to do as well. but in
stead I rushed into the arms of Isaac
London, just like a yearling colt run
ming into an open barn door.