The Winslow mail., 1900-09-13
CHAPTER X.-CoNT1NuEn.

The rest of the party now retired,
Avery and his daughter occupying one
tent and the three younger men the
other, while Dick Taylor loosened his
revolver in his belt made sure that
each cartridge was in place, and then
took up his post in the dark shadow of
huge rock where no ray of light could
betray his presence to a watcher
Soon not sound was to be heard but
the low murmur of his companions
voices as they discussed the situation,
then these died out, and chorus of
snores testified to the soundness of
their slumber.
Hour afer hour passed until it was
fully midnight. Then the miner entered
the tent where his partner was sleeping
and laid his hand lightly on his Shout
der.
In an instant the sleeper was wide
awake, and a moment later the two
were outside.
''Hear anything?" asked Tarbox soft
ly.
''No," replied the other, ''but some
how 1 feel uncomfortable. never had
this feeling yet but what there was sure
to be trouble ahead. l wish it was day
light. Keep out of sight as much as you
can. Joe. [ didn't say much before the
rest, but l believe that scoundrel we
saw at Ladue's place would think moth
ing of shooting man in the back if he
had any cause to do it. It's pity this
all happened. We might have all got as
much as we wanted before anyone
found out about it. Now there's no tell
ing what may happen"
Five minutes later he was asleep, and
Tarbox was standing sentry over the
silent camp.
1t was nearly daybreak when he re-
plenished the fire, for the air grew very
chilly. Soon gray streak appeared in
the southeast, and as Tom came out of
his tent the sun was just rising over
the rolling land over which they had
travelled the day before.
The rest of the party were soon
awake, and Taylor said at once:
81 believe we have not been seen yet,
but we must get out of sight before
breakfast. Joe, turn the horses loose
and start them off. The rest of us will
begin to pack in the stuff"
He grasped a heavy package as he
spoke, and the others followed his ex-
ample. When they reached the face of
the cliff he paused and said, solemnly:
Il am going to show you a wonderful
secret. All | want is your word that
you will never reveal it until I give you
permission. VIII you promise this?"
His three companions readily gave
their promise, and looked curiously
about them
Their guide stepped up to the rocky
wall and carefully pushed aside the
mass of moss and creepers, disclosing to
their wondering gaze the same aperture
from which he had issued the previous
night. Looking inside, they could see
that for several feet the rock overhead
was unbroken, forming an arch like
doorway at the height of some seven or
eight feet, but the light which showed
beyond was apparently from above.
Taylor led the way with his burden
after looping the creepers to onesidet to
prevent them from being torn away. A
few steps brought them beyond the arch
of rock, and simultaneous eXclama-
ton of astonishment broke from all the
men.
They found themselves standing at
the bottom of deep chasm in the solid
rock. On either side of them the walls
rose perpendicularly to the height of
some so feet as smoothly as if chiseled
by human agency. Far above them a
narrow strip of blue sky wound like a
ribbon, and in front, at distance of a
few yards, sharp curve in the rocky
way shut off all further view.
Where they stood the passage wild
ened abruptly for a space of some ten
feet, and Taylor said
"This is the bed of some old stream
which must have run here thousands of