The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-01

the face of the cliff up to that ledge. In
some places the rock is cut away alto
gether, and then they have got ladders
which they would no doubt draw up at
once If they, were attacked. You see,
the lower ones have already been pulled
up. Like enough, sentries are posted at
each of those breaks when they are
threatened with an attack. Besides. the
chances are that If they thought there
were any risks of our getting up they
would kill the senorita.'
II see all that. Antonio, and I have no
thought of making my way up by the
steps; the question is, could 1t be climb
ed elsewhere? The other end of the ledge
would be the best point 10 get up at,
for any watch that is kept would certain
ly be where the steps come up
Antonio shook his head. Unless one
could fly. senior, there would be no way
of getting up there"
II don't know that" Will said shortly
wait till have have had a good look
at IT,"
Lying on the ground, with his chin
resting on his hands, he gazed intently
at the cliff, observing even the most
trifing projections, the tiny lodges that
here and there ran along the face.
ut would be a difficult job and dan
gerous one he said, but / am not sure
that 1t cannot be managed. At any rate,
l shall try II am a sailor, you know,
Antonio, and am accustomed when we
have been sailing in the gale, to hold on
with my toes as well as my fingers. Now
do you go back to the others. I shall
want two poles, say fifteen feet long, and
some hooks which 1 can make from ram
rods. Do you see just In the middle of that
ledge where the large square entrance is,
the cliff bulges out, and l should say the
ledge is twenty feet wide; this Is lucky,
for il there are seutries on the steps they
would not be able to see beyond that
point. If they could do so I should not
have much chance of getting up. for 1t will
be a bright moonlight night. When / get
to the top, that is. IL do get there, shall
lower down a rope. You can fasten the
lariats together They would hold the
weight of dozen men. The lightest and
most active of you must come up first.
When two or three are up we can haul
the rest up easily enough. Now you can
go. / shall be here another half hour at
least ! must see exactly the best way
to climb. calculate the number OF feet
along each of those little lodges to a point
where can reach the one above with my
hook and get the whole thing well in my
mind
Antonio went away shaking his head
he thought that 1t was nothing short OF
madness TO attempt 1t. Such was the
opinion of the rest of the vaqueros and
! the two Indians when, on arriving at the
| fire, he told them what VIII proposed do
| ing. Their leader, however, when he Join.
| ed them, had a look OF confidence on his
! face.
II am more convinced than ever tina
1t can be DONE" he said. When the mea
! of bears flesh had been eaten he lit hi,
pipe and began to smoke quietly. TIL,
chief came up and spoke to him.
What does he say Antonio?"
He says that you are a brave man
senior, but that no man could do wha
you are talking of. and that you will
throw away your life"
Tell him / will bet my horse agaius
his that / shall succeed and you shall
be witness TO the bet in case don't COM
back again"
The chief nodded gravely when the offe
was made TO him. Indians of ell tribe
are given to wagering, and, as the hors
win was riding was far better one tina,
his own, he regarded the matter rattle
rs a legacy than a bet.
An hour later Sancho came down ar
companied by several OF the Mooui In
dams, leading four sheep as a present an,
followed by women carrying pans of milk
baskets of eggs and cakes OF various de
Seriptions. Sancho presented the chiefs t,
l|Will.
They are quiet friendly, senior: the,