The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-06-22

der he saw the second mate. in the act
of kndling fire.
Even as the guilty man looked his
shipmate turned suddenly toward him
and started toward the entrance of the
tent, while Rider turned his head away,
but could not lift his feet from the spot.
Hold on!" said Green,
Rider dared not look up. He had been
taken so completely by surprise that he
could do nothing but stand STILL Each
second he expected to feel Green's hand
on his shoulder, and he was too con-
fused to think of any plausible story.
do they suspect me?" .r.
This was the one thought that flashed
through his brain as he waited.
Hold on!" repeated Green, thrusting
till get the fire going. Doesn't need
but one of u.s."
With a gasp of srelief the mate
slouched his hat over his eyes and hur-
ried away from the spot as though a
ghost were pursuing him. He did not
stop until he had joined Bowers, who at
once noticed his disordered appearance,
and exclaimed:
whats up, pard? You look like yer
was scared ter DEATH"
Hes here! 1 saw them just now
Whats that? Saw who?"
Scott! And Green is with him!"
And who the devil is Scott and
Green? Can't yer talk plain an not
STAN thar splutterin' like yer was goin'
ter flop? What's the row, that's what l
want ter know?"
BY this time the mate had found his
tongue, and he said. hurriedly:
Scott is the young chap got the
papers from, and the other was second
mate of the vessel with me- We must
get out of this quick!"
Right ye are. They must hev come
over from Skaguay on the boat yester-
day. "Twouldn't do fer them ter see
yer roun' here. They'd be on ter yer
racket. Chuck them clothes on that
boss, an let's light out. We've got ter
git a"big start on EN-, anyhow. 'Tain't
likely they'll start to-day"
II don't see how they got here" said
Rider, as they started off through the
tents. leading their horses. II took
every cent he had, and don't believe
the second mate had much
Wall, they're here" replied his COM
panion, philosophically. IAN of course
they're bound for that mine. He's
raised the stuff somehow. We've got
ter sit thar first"
Half an hour later they had left Pyra-
mid harbor behind them, and were rid
ing along the trail as fast as they could
urge the pack horses, while Tom and
Green were discussing their rude break
fast, in blissful ignorance of how mar
rowly they had missed the man who
they fully believed TO have already
reached the writer of the lost letter
Although they were eager to be off at
once, it was impossible to start till the
horses had fully recovered from the sea
voyage. They were too valuable to take
any chances with and one of them was
slightly lame from fall in his cramped
quarters on the steamer. TO replace an
animal was also impossible, for fabu-
lous prices were being offered for any
thing that could by any possibility bear
a burden.
Then again, it was necessary to make
a careful search about the camp to see
if the man Tarbox, mentioned in the
letter, had arrived yet. If they could
find him all would be plain sailing, and
he could pilot them back. There was
also a chance that the dead miners
brother might be even then on the spot.
But they found it difficult task to
get any information. The population
of the camp was changing daily. No
one paused longer than was absolute
ly necessary, and each was too busy
with his own affairs to take notice OF
others.
Besides this, they were obliged to
avoid giving many details which might
perhaps have helped them, and at the
close Of the second day Tom said, as
they sat in front of their tent, smok-
ing:
''It's no use, Green. We might as we'll
be off and trust to luck. We can't ask
what we want to know without arous-
ing suspicion and we'd better give it up
The horses seem to be in pretty good
shape now and l move we start off in
the morning."
Before his friend had time to reply
a woman's voice sounded clear and dis
tinct through the darkness:
Help! Help!"
The two men sprang to their feet.
Tom was little in advance as they
dashed off in the direction of the cries
and was first to arrive at little open
ing, where red-shirted figure was
holding struggling form in his arms
AS he was nearly within striking dis
lance the female managed to free her
self, but instead of running away she
dealt the man a resounding slap on the
cheek and painted:
"You big brute! You-you-"
What she would have added was lost
for the ruffian, maddened by the sting
ing blow, raised his hand to strike her
He was too late, however, for just al
his fist was raised Tom dealt him 6
straight Highlander that stretched
him on the ground at full length.
He ma6a an effort 1o1 +<